13/03/2024
The good ole days! Was looking for something else and came across this ole article:
Sanchez adopts middle school
By Lezlie B. McCoy, Tribune Correspondent
It was three years in the making, and the hard work of a community
was celebrated with the official ribbon-cutting dedication of the Sonia
Sanchez Literacy Center (SSLC) at Shaw Middle School Monday.
Creating better tools for literacy is a concern for schools across the
board in America, and Shaw Middle School and its SSLC partners have
concerted their resources to strengthen the reading and writing efforts
of their students.
Sonia Sanchez is a renowned poet and author with a solid record of
universal community service. With a career spanning decades, she has
served as a positive role model for Philadelphians, teaching at Temple
University and continuing her love affair with writing. Philadelphia
youth have been greatly influenced by Sanchez’s body of work.
Sanchez has adopted Shaw Middle School, and assures her personal
involvement with the SSLC.
SSLC is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Education’s GEAR UP,
or Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs,
organization. It was designed to increase the number of low-income
students that are preparing to enter and succeed in postsecondary
education.
Due to funding issues, GEAR UP was unable to continue its work at
Shaw. Enter WES Health Center, the largest and leading African-American
behavioral health system in this area. WES assisted Shaw in continuing
the literacy and educational efforts that GEAR UP initiated.
Shaw and WES developed an after-school program that focuses on
enhancing the literacy performance of the students attending Shaw.
Along with Sanchez, who submitted her personal stamp of approval on the
project, Shaw and WES dedicated the SSLC to total wellness, educational
enhancement, creative exploration and community building. The
collaborators aspire to change the lives of each participant by
introducing them to art, spoken word, creative writing, chess, reading
and other avenues of education.
Since its opening in January, the SSLC has hosted after school
programs that include the Young Reporters Club, City Year Newsletter
Club, Chess Club and Computer Club.
The dedication ceremony began in Shaw’s auditorium with a video
presentation of Sanchez. After the video, Zyhkeya Waller-Young of the
Turner/WES Beacon Community Center welcomed the guests and introduced
the master of ceremonies, Shaw Principal Sharif El-Mekki.
The SSLC is a dream for El-Mekki, who has followed Sanchez’s career
since he was a child.
“I remember Dr. Sanchez when I was in elementary school,” said
El-Mekki. “She motivated us to focus on education, literacy and things
that were important.”
The audience was treated to performances and poetry offerings from
community guests.
After receiving flowers from the SSLC participants, Sanchez graciously
offered words of encouragement to the students and community. She
considered it an honor to adopt Shaw Middle School, and to have the
SSLC inform and inspire students.
The new literacy center’s namesake is elated “to have a place where
young people come in and read, do work on computers, listen to poetry,
do their homework and participate in workshops. We will be very sure
that our young people continue to read and write, and move up in this
world the way they are supposed to. We care that they learn. As long as
I walk on this earth, I will be a part of this school to make sure that
not only you survive, but you come to school to learn.”
The ceremony continued with a ribbon cutting ceremony upstairs in the
SSLC, which is comprised of two connected classrooms. These rooms
showcased the computers and materials dedicated to the enhanced
literacy of Shaw students.
Upon entering the SSLC, Sanchez shared thoughts about the occasion.
“I am so thrilled and honored that someone would name a literacy
center after me,” she said. “I’ve had rooms and lecture series named
after me at universities, but this is the first one from a middle
school, and in a place where I’ve lived, Philadelphia. I am honored not
just by the room, but what will be happening here.”
El-Mekki stated that the SSLC event shows the caring spirit of the
community.
“No school can be successful without their support,” he said.
“Literacy is extremely important, and I’m proud of the community for
their support.”
Waller-Young displayed her enthusiasm about the SSLC event. “I think
it was great, and it will be very important for the kids,” she said. “I
believe it will get more people involved because (Sanchez) actually
came out.”
Shaw Middle School is at 5400 Warrington Ave. in Southwest
Philadelphia. Other sponsors and supporters of the Sonia Sanchez
Literacy Center include the School District of Philadelphia, WES Health
Centers, Philadelphia Safe & Sound, Turner/WES Beacon Community Center,
City Year, Inc, and Southwest Globe Times. Shaw instructor Garnette
Davis oversees the after school programs at Shaw.
