KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Individuals and organizations that provide special support to area schools and their students will be honored at a special event in Kalamazoo next week.
Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo (CIS) is hosting its 17th annual Champs event at The Radisson Thursday, April 25 at 4:00 p.m.
CIS says the event honors individuals and community partners who share their vision, which is an engaged community where every child fulfills his or her promise, by actively putting forth time, energy, talent, and resources to drive the vision to reality.
This year’s award recipients include:
SLD Read will be honored with the Champ Award which recognizes an individual or organization who provides sustainable, comprehensive services or supports to address a school or student needs in Kalamazoo. SLD Read has been serving West Michigan for 50 years by strengthening community through literacy. For over 15 years, CIS has partnered with SLD Read to bring resources directly to students through coordinated tutoring and intervention supports along with tapping into their specialized training for CIS volunteers.
Jay Yelton III and James Liggins Jr., attorneys with the law firm Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, will be honored with the Gulnar Husain Volunteer Award, which recognizes CIS volunteers who emulate Gulnar’s belief that there is no greater calling than serving children. Yelton and Liggins have worked with CIS to establish the CIS Career Prep Club.
In its third year of implementation, the Career Prep Club is supporting students at Kalamazoo Central High School and Loy Norrix High School. The club is designed to connect students to a mentor who will serve as their “career guide” from their freshman to senior year in high school.
Charles Parker will be honored with the Diether Haenicke Promise of Excellence Award. The award is named for Western Michigan University President Emeritus Diether Haenicke. CIS says for over 50 years, Charles Parker has been an advocate and specialist in youth development programming on the Northside of Kalamazoo.
As a community leader supporting youth programming, Parker was the Program Director for the Greater Kalamazoo YMCA, founder of the Kalamazoo Black Achievers Program, founding member of the Northside Neighborhood Watch, and Achievement and Behavior Support Specialist for Kalamazoo Public Schools. In 2013, with the help of his family, Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E (Pursuing Leadership and Community Engagement) was founded.
Jen DeWaele will be honored for her commitment to students and families as a CIS site coordinator, having directly supported KPS students for over 10 years at Woodward School.
Additional program details can be found at ciskalamazoo.org/champs.
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