At Belvedere Middle School, LAEP’s community school coordinator started a parent book club to inspire a love for reading and support the parents in utilizing literacy techniques at home with their children. In addition to fulfilling its original goal, it also gave parents a safe space to share personal challenges they have experienced in their own educational journey and being parent educators to their children. The club was so successful that it expanded to parents in our other partner LA elementary and middle schools in East LA, with 20 parents consistently attending. They have increased their tools and sense of efficacy to engage their children in dialogue about literacy and how their cultural identity can be found and captured in books and conversations.
I’m always recommending the book we read, La Distancia Entre Nosostros, to other parents and to schools.
The book helped me to speak up and to heal. There was a lot of my childhood trauma that I hadn’t healed, and I didn’t know how to talk about it. I discovered that silence causes a lot of damage. I was very excited about that book.
We [parents] are the example. If we read, our children will read. If they see us on the phone, our kids are going to be on the phone. I learned that I can inspire my children. I was able to meet with my daughter and have conversations about the book. She read it in English [The Distance Between Us], and we talked about what happened. My daughter thought things didn’t happen until she read them.
I learned that I can do things like read and educate myself through books. I can learn how to help my children, understand adolescents. Before, when my children got bad grades, I yelled at them and punished them. I learned that they need support, not punishment. Everyone is different, they are going to like different subjects, they will have different skills. The question should be, how can I help you? How do you want me to support you?
The club helped me to share with other parents from other schools, exchange ideas and see what works and what doesn’t.
LAEP is always willing to help. They asked us if we were okay, they care and seek needed help. They support parents with education.