Sunday, May 24, 2015
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
A nonprofit professional women’s organization is sponsoring a forum focused on youth literacy.
The forum, “Fertilizing the Dream,” is sponsored by the Youngstown Chapter of The Links Inc. and runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the multipurpose room of the Jewish Community Center, 505 Gypsy Lane.
It’s open to the public, and attendees are asked to RSVP by Tuesday at www.eventbrite.com/e/links-literacy-forum-tickets-16733150303.
It will be a panel discussion on the factors in the Mahoning Valley that contribute to the achievement gap existing between the socioeconomically secure and those who are vulnerable.
“Findings and suggestions brought forth between panelists and attendees will directly contribute to The Links Inc. Youngstown Chapter, initiating or supporting an existing literacy initiative,” said Margaret Person, a Links member.
She said closing the achievement gap is a target of a partnership between the Links and the Kettering Foundation, a nonprofit research foundation.
“The partnership is focused on coordinating community forums that concentrate on eliminating the educational disparities faced by disadvantaged children,” Person said. “A diverse group of community members engage in key discussion components, which include raising expectations and demanding accountability, closing the spending gap and addressing root causes of low literacy levels.”
The event’s format is a panel discussion and town-hall meeting. Panelists include educators, representatives from nonprofit organizations, the judiciary and the state Legislature.
According to its website, The Links Inc., founded in 1946, is one of the oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of women committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other people of African ancestry.