Imagine yourself as a minority child. Uninsured, living in poor areas, poor economic situations, it all seems like torture to those who are fortunate enough to have the right opportunities. Thousands of families, specifically the children, are growing up in poor lifestyles that they do not even deserve. Even though segregation laws were outlawed in the 1960s, the economical situation has forced many minority families to live in the poorest areas of the city and to attend the poorest schools known. Many believe that minority children and their families should live as a lower class just because they’re different even though ironically, they make up a majority of the population. Out of all the 9,069,000 uninsured children in America, more than 60% are racial or ethnic minorities such as black and Hispanic children. Successfully, there are 3 organizations that have devoted their time and thoughts to helping minority children gain the knowledge they would use in the future. Because of the rising number of minority children living in poverty, The Josh Project, Young Black Scholars and The Perry Preschool Project are organizations that have been founded in order to allow minority children to have the education and opportunities they deserve.
Some minority children are born with gifted skills and they are not able to have the proper education they deserve. One organization called ‘Young Black Scholars’ helps African American children that are academically and mentally prepared with their college and university admissions. Because of the current economic situation, many of these children are situated in under-developed schools that don’t provide the challenges some children may need. This organization attracts their audience in a unique way. Young Black Scholars conduct workshops, seminars, and conferences as a way to invite people to this opportunity. “YBS conducts more than 40 workshops, programs, seminars, and conferences throughout the academic school year.” (Young Black Scholars) By publicly advertising this organization and showing what they can offer, they are inviting their audience to come take advantage of their program. Young Black Scholars wants to inform the minority population of Los Angeles that their program is worthwhile. If these children take advantage of this opportunity, it would lead them to a safe and successful future. Young Black Scholars doesn’t only help African American children, but also prepare parents for what these children are going to enter into. “They also help both scholars and parents prepare for college admissions, selection, and continued success.” (Young Black Scholars) Provided that generally minority children are not used to having these opportunities such as a college preparatory program, some children may find the program frustrating and may want to quit. Young Black Scholars believe that if educating the parents on supporting the child on achieving their dream, then the child will be more successful on approaching this goal. As a successful outcome, Young Black Scholars has improved the lives of over 1,000 African American children by providing the opportunity of university preparation to those who are prepared.
Minority children grow up in a lifestyle full of poverty and they come from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Perry Preschool Project works to provide education to those minority children who have experienced disadvantages their whole life. This organization calls people out to take part in this opportunity by opening up preschools, home-based child care programs, which specifically target the youth of the minority population. “The High/Scope preschool approach is used in public and private half- and full day preschools, nursery schools, Head Start programs, child care centres, home-based child care programs, and special needs programs.” (High/Scope Perry Preschool Program) The Perry Preschool project creates programs targeted for 3-4 year olds for a reason. By influencing these children from young, they will have the right education to make the best choices they are offered in the future. When children are young, their brain acts like a sponge. It soaks up all the information you give them and they learn new knowledge quickly. By feeding them the right information, the Perry Preschool Project is ensuring a perfect future where these minority children will make the right choices when they are adults. This preschool also have very physical ways of teaching children. “High/Scope’s goals are for young children to learn through active involvement with people, materials, events, and ideas….learn to plan and execute activities, then talk with other children and teachers about what they have done and what they have learned (PlanDo-Review)…. Active learning: Children learn best from activities they plan and carry out themselves.” (High/Scope Perry Preschool Program) The main approach Perry Preschool Project fosters is active learning. Many studies show that young children learn their best when they are active. Performing in activities and active involvement are some of the best ways for young children to learn. Children do not respond to being told to watch or read something, they have to experience these hands-on activities by themselves. Because of these ways of teaching, the Perry Preschool Project has drastically the lives of many children of the minority population.
Children are the most vulnerable and the most at risk to be involved in an accident especially minority children, as they are not able to swim due to financial troubles. An African American woman hopes to change these statistics. Wanda Butts, the founder of The Josh Project, has experienced this tragedy hands-on. This organization helps minority children by giving them swimming lessons. “In 2007, she started the Josh Project, a non-profit that provides low-cost swimming lessons for children in Toledo, Ohio.” (CNN Heroes) Due to the fact minority children are mostly at risk to accidents such as drowning, Wanda is determined to prevent mothers from refraining their child to water safety. She wanted to help these mothers and Wanda also helps in another way by providing low cost lessons for those who are financially challenged. Many minority families are often living in areas struck with poverty and are therefore not able to afford high-class lessons. This shows the caring side of Wanda and how she cares for others also. But even though the Josh Project has already helped more than 1,000 children learn how to swim, Wanda’s goal has not been fully accomplished. “Butts said she has two goals for the future: One is to change the drowning statistics of minority children, and the other is to have an aquatic centre where the children can swim daily instead of just once a week.” (CNN Heroes) Swimming at public pools are very expensive to pay for and if children are not able to practice what they have learned, then it was a waste and a loss for the Josh Project. The organization’s sole purpose is to improve the lives of other minority children, and if their students are not able to apply their skills everyday, then they are not expected to excel. The Josh Project has devoted their life to enhancing the lives of minority children in a very unique way and this has classified their unique ways as successful.
To this day, all 3 of these organizations have achieved their individual goals and have even set new ones. Each organization also has their own unique ways of teaching and each organization has devoted life to improving the futures for minority children. Through the work of these organizations, the education of many minority children has been enhanced and has changed from poor to beneficial. These organizations are insuring a good and healthy future for these children by providing opportunities dedicated to giving minority children opportunities they deserve. It’s because of these actions, that these organizations have been rewarded with the recognition they have today. They have accepted a bold challenge of helping under-privileged children and have succeeded in their dream. These organizations set a good base and inspiration for others who have thought of saving the futures of these minority children. No child should be restricted to what they are capable of, and Young Black Scholars, Perry Preschool Project and the Josh Project have allowed them to blossom to their maximum growth.
