News from Making It Better

Month Year

Vol 1, Issue 1

News from

Making It Better

March, 2011

Vol. 1, Issue 1

Greetings!

We are so excited to bring you our first quarterly e-newsletter!! Many of you know that Making It Better (MIB) was founded in 2006 by Jerry Davis in response to his desire to level the playing field by addressing the severe disadvantages faced by low income children in the Houston area. Jerry's past experience as a special education case manager, coach, and Dean of Students at Westside High School help MIB to fill a significant gap in service within the Houston Independent School District (HISD). MIB offers a variety of programs that are tailored to meet the needs of each campus. Whether the program is academic or enrichment, delivered during or after school, on a school campus or in an apartment-based program; MIB's overarching goal is always the same . . . developing relationships and improving self-esteem by sparking creativity, fostering the desire to succeed, developing social skills, and expanding life experiences.

2011 has begun with bang at MIB! Our kids are making great strides, both academically and socially and our programs continue to grow as does our staff! Thanks to our wonderful donors who, along with two successful events, have enabled double the number of children we are serving this school year . . . we are currently serving 702 children attending 7 HISD schools! Our website has a fresh new look! Check it out! Take a look below and see what our kids are up to. We encourage you to come visit one of our programs and see, first hand, the wonderful things that are going on at Making It Better!

Mentoring and Art is "Making it Better"

Making It Better has partnered with ARTreach, to bring art and education to children at risk attending Making It Better's After School programs. ARTreach is a non-profit bringing the arts to neglected populations including children at risk. This partnership, made possible in part by a grant from Texas Commission on the Arts and assistance provided by Young Audiences of Houston, will help ensure that all children receive a high quality education that includes art.

At Frost Elementary students have been introduced to Joseph Dixon, a professional artist and drummer of the D-Young Artists Ensemble and outreach director for Young Audiences of Houston. Jospeh shares his skills as an artist and a mentor in community service programs serving children at rist and children with special needs. Dixon teaches West African drumming and students are treated to a powerful interactive experience of rhythmic collaboration through which they explore self awareness and artistic expression.

ARTreach 2

At Shadowbriar Elementary students have been introduced to professional artist, Danny Russo, who works with the students to create something amazing. He teaches a unique screen printing course that utilizes hand cut paper designs and an emulsion and light screen burning process.

ARTreach 4

The result of his teaching is a masterpiece that students own and respect. It's an eye-opening experience for many when they learn how easy it is to make something great happen when you work together as a team and share the responsibility by helping one another.

1st Semester Results

After School Programs

Frost and Shadowbriar elementaries, Belmont Place Apartments

87 Students, Grades K through 5

36.2% of students improved their grades.

17.4% of students improved their attendance.

31.9% of students received an "Excellent" rating in conduct.

Literacy After School

Literacy Programs

Askew, Piney Point and Shearn elementaries

152 Students, Grades 1, 2 and 3

80% of students participating in MIB's Literacy Program during the 2009-10 school year showed overall improvement in their reading grade levels. We have every expectation that results from 2010-11 will be similar.

"We have been so impressed with the educators' professionalism, punctuality, knowledge-base and positive energy. Every lesson is action-packed, full of dialogue, engaging and meaningful. Pure joy exudes from every struggling reader as they make strides in their literacy development. It's quite the safe-zone for any child who needs special accommodations. We also appreciate the accessibility we have with the tutors to learn about our students' progress. MIB is certainly supporting our campus by helping students achieve. "

Bobbie Swaby, Principal at Piney Point Elementary

Questions may be directed to Kelly Bukolt at kbukolt@mibtx.org or 832-814-6054.

Thank you for your response. We look forward to seeing you!

Sincerely,

Jerry V. Davis

CEO/Executive Director

Quick Links

Mentoring Through Art

Danny Russo

Joseph Dixon

Join our Mailing List!

Our kids need YOU!!

$75/month allows you the privilege of sponsoring a child in one of our After School Programs.

Please donate to

Making It Better.

Your donations help provide much needed programs that positively impact the future of the at-risk children right here in our own back yards.

DONATE HERE

"This is Shadowbriar Elementary's third year to partner with Making It Better for our after-school program. MIB provides very high quality fine arts, character education, physical education, and tutorial programs for our students. The students served would otherwise be unsupervised after school. This program gives them a positive alternative to involvement in high risk behaviors. We are blessed to have this enriching program as a part of our school."

Patti May, Principal, Shadowbriar Elementary

MIB Demographics

MIB Annual Results

2009-10

UPCOMING EVENTS

Ribbon cutting

Making It Better has a NEW HOME!!!

Thanks to the generous donation from Mike Tenney, of the Tenney School, we now have office space to call our own! Perfectly located on Gessner between Westheimer and Briar Forest, we now have a place to call "home"!!

Join us for our Official Ribbon Cutting

TODAY!!!

Monday, March 21st

5pm - 6:30pm

2055 S. Gessner, Ste. 280

SAVE THE DATE!!!

Style show kids