Contributed by: Center for Financial Planning, Inc.®
The Center’s Hero Campaign aims to spotlight local nonprofits amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Our goal is to raise awareness and support the community. This is our 2nd post in the Q+A series featuring Beyond Basics.
What is your nonprofit?
Beyond Basics is a 501(c)(3) literacy nonprofit dedicated to one-on-one reading intervention and holistic literacy enrichment programs for students and families in Metro Detroit. Our proven methods have unlocked the miracle and power of reading and opened a whole new world and future to those who need it most. We developed this model by partnering with principals and schools in Detroit since 2002, to work with children who were farthest behind to get them reading at grade level. Our holistic literacy programming also engages mentors, art and writing to help students in vulnerable communities learn to read. This intervention has transformed thousands of lives.
Illiteracy is a silent epidemic, yet America's most solvable disability. It is a crisis because it has gone unaddressed for decades, leaving thousands of children attending school each day who can’t read. The good news is there is a solution. While low literacy levels can be found at all income levels and backgrounds, poor and minority students are more likely to be affected. Beyond Basics sets up our programming in the communities that need it most.
Who do you serve?
Students and adults in Metro Detroit —including Detroit, Pontiac, and Taylor. We serve students of all ages (from elementary through high school). We also have recently opened at Family Literacy Center in the Durfee Innovation Society to reach those in neighboring communities that need help with literacy.
How have the communities you serve been impacted by COVID-19? And how has it impacted your nonprofit?
The pandemic has closed schools (which is where we typically saw our students), as well as causing high levels of unemployment, illness, and deaths. The students have been subject to great change during these unprecedented times.
Our nonprofit has been impacted as well. We had to convert our tutoring system into an online platform quickly, so that we could reach our students. It was crucial for us to continue to deliver literacy intervention to the students that need it most.
What can people and businesses do to support your organization and nonprofits generally during this unique environment?
You can support our organization, and other nonprofits, financially by funding our online tutoring program and families with financial hardship. Donate here.
Read more blogs in this series:
