The ECE Prep School

Something COOL… Something NEW… Something EXCITING… Something DOPE… is launching soon! Stay tuned for more information!

A Black Men Read, Ready Readers, and The Believe Projects collaboration.

We are ensuring all children become confident and competent readers by the end of third grade.
www.thebelieveprojects.com

THANK YOU, School District of University City, for the recognition as a PACEsetter during the 2023-2024 U Are Special Event, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. What makes the PACEsetter honor special to me is the recipients have been recommended and voted on by the entire school community. The acknowledgment represents individuals who support the district’s mission and students.

We are proud to support three School District of University City elementary schools with The Believe Projects initiative through the generous support and partnership of Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation at Believe 6 Literacy Lab at Pershing Elementary School, Believe 9 Literacy Lat at Barbara C. Jordan Elementary School, and The Dr. Kashina Bell Believe 11 Literacy Lab at Jackson Park Elementary School. Thank you, Dr. Sharonica Hardin-Bartley, Superintendent of Schools, for graciously welcoming us into the district and supporting our work. We offer our utmost gratitude to the Believe principals for your commitment and collaboration, Dr. Deitra Colquitt, Dr. Dorlita Adams, and Mr. Jim Triplett.

We are ensuring all children become confident and competent readers by the end of third grade.
www.thebelieveprojects.com

Today, Jim Triplett, Principal, Dr. Ian Buchanan, Founder, Nia Education Group and myself were pleased to host Christopher Lockwood, Director, National English Honor Society, and Katie Mudd, Communications Director, National English Honor Society (NEHS) for a tour of The Dr. Kashina Bell Believe 11 Literacy Lab at Jackson Park Elementary School in The School District of University City. St. Louis Black Authors of Children's Literature is a 2024 Honoree of the National English Honor Society.

I am looking forward to being a featured speaker at the NEHS Annual Meeting, Friday, April 5, 2024. NEHS will acknowledge the work of The Believe Projects® and its dedication to literacy and how “…the free expression of diverse experiences can powerfully, and positively, transform the world.”

We are grateful!

We are ensuring all children become confident and competent readers by the end of third grade.
www.thebelieveprojects.com

Principal Jim Triplett and I have completed the final walkthrough for the ribbon cutting celebration of The Dr. Kashina Bell Believe 11 Literacy Lab at Jackson Park Elementary School in the School District of University City. Thank you Mrs. Patricia McGarvin, Librarian, for creating this beautiful Believe display for tomorrow's visiting guests.

Come celebrate with us, Thursday, March 14, 2024, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., 7400 Balson Ave., 63130. Please RSVP on Eventbrite at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dr-kashina-bell-believe-11-literacy-lab-at-jackson-park-elementary-school-tickets-853569478287

See you there!

We are ensuring all children become confident and competent readers by the end of third grade.
The Believe Projects, www.thebelieveprojects.com

THANK YOU, Nike Inc. Black Employee Network (St. Louis), for the invitation to attend the 3rd Annual Sneakchella and serve as a featured panelist along with host Michael Buford, Data Protection at Nike; Charlotte Clay, Operations Manager of Logistics at Nike; and Joshua Peters, Manager, Social and Community Impact at Nike.

St. Louis Black Authors of Children's Literature is a Nike Black Community Commitment 2022 Education Innovation Honoree. Nike’s investment made Believe 7 Literacy Lab at Barack Obama School in Normandy Schools Collaborative a reality. The students at Believe 7 have been exposed to more than 2,000 new narratives authored by Black voices.

We are ensuring all children become confident and competent readers by the end of third grade.
www.thebelieveprojects.com

Often, I receive questions about St. Louis Black Authors of Children's Literature St. Louis Black Authors of Children’s Literature and The Believe Projects having a major fundraiser or gala. Well, FINALLY - we have created our version of a fundraiser or what some may call an UnGala – the launch of The Believe Projects® retail, a wonderful way for everyone to support the work of our organization financially and share important early literacy messages through fashion and culture.

Please join us on Thursday, February 29, 2024, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at House of Vision (HOV), 2727 N. 14th Street, 63106 – one street block down from Crown Candy Kitchen. Enjoy the musical stylings of Pianoman Potter, refreshments, and be generous with your purchases. Invite your friends – this event is open to the public – help us to sell out!

We are thrilled to grow this side of the organization in partnership with Dream Builders 4 Equity and the House of Vision.

We are ensuring all children become confident and competent readers by the end of third grade.
www.thebelieveprojects.com

WE are thrilled to share Believe Preschool 2 Literacy Lab will open at Urban League of Metropolitan Saint Louis Head Start Peter H. Bunce Water Tower Center during the National Week of the Child in April 2024. The Believe Projects® preschool initiative provides early childhood learners with more than 1,000 books, parent and teacher training, and author visits to ensure kids are ready to read in kindergarten.

To celebrate our second preschool literacy lab, St. Louis Black Authors of Children's Literature presented to Dr. Gwendolyn Wilson Diggs, Vice President of Head Start/Early Head Start at Urban League of Metropolitan Saint Louis, copies of Antwan Eady's newest children’s book The Last Stand, and illustrated by friends of The Believe Projects®, Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey. This book is now on my top five 2024 best children’s books releases. A beautifully written story that tells of a grandfather’s harvest and his heart for his community and family.

We look forward to the public joining us for the ribbon cutting celebration. More information about the event is coming soon.

We are ensuring all children become confident and competent readers by the end of third grade.
The Believe Projects®

MSNBC Host Joy Reid stopped by St. Louis on her national book tour featuring what she describes as one of the greatest untold love stories, Medgar and Myrlie (HarperCollins 2024). By invitation of the St. Louis County Library, Carol Daniel, Senior Producer and Host at Nine PBS, facilitated a wonderful in depth “at home like” conversational with Ms. Reid at the Shalom Church City of Peace.

I was fortunate to have already listened to five chapters of the Audible version of the book prior to hearing Joy Reid speak. For me, the love in this story is bigger than the love between Medgar and Myrlie, but it is the unshakable Love Medgar has for his family and Black people. It is the essence of a Black man’s love. Reid does not describe love in this way, at least she did not at the author’s visit. She focused more on Myrlie’s love and support for Medgar and the bigness of that love – which is important. But however, there is a unique phenomenon that is Black male love. In Joy Reid’s book, Medgar is the perfect demonstration of it.

It was also great running into several of my high school friends – Metro Academic and Classical High School. Not surprised at all because WE LOVE BOOKS! LOL!!!

We are ensuring all children become confident and competent readers by the end of third grade.
The Believe Projects®

In January 2024 I officially became a Board Emeritus Member of Turn the Page STL after serving four years as a Founding Board Member. Lisa Greening, Chief Executive Officer, Lisa Carrico, Board President, and Nicole Clawson, Founding Board Member and I served as the first founding members of the organization.

Turn the Page STL is St. Louis’ Chapter of the National Campaign for Grade Level Reading. We are a city-county wide literacy initiative dedicated to increasing the number of children that are reading proficiently by the end of third grade. https://www.turnthepagestl.org/about

Thank you to my wonderful colleagues for this incredible acknowledgement of service. We have accomplished much, still we know there is more to complete. I am here for it!

Tremendous love to you, my Turn the Page STL Family!

We are ensuring all children become confident and competent readers by the end of third grade.
The Believe Projects®

The Believe Projects® and Metro Theater Company in collaboration with Normandy Schools Collaborative is preparing to bring HarperCollins author Idris Goodwin to St. Louis to premier his first picture book Your House Is Not Just a House. More than 1,000 Believe students will help Mr. Goodwin launch his book on the first stop of his national tour!

Thank you, Principal Gerold Nave Jr., Normandy High School, and . DrNetra Taylor, District Director of Continuous Improvement for the phenomenal tour of the first class newly structured Viking Hall. We are looking forward to hosting Mr. Idris Goodwin in partnership with the Vikings!

To learn more about the award-winning playwright and poet Idris Goodwin, visit his website at https://www.idrisgoodwin.com/

Pictured Here:
Quis Jackson, The Believe Projects®
Zaria Moore, Metro Theater Company
Julia Laurenson, Metro Theater Company
Julia Flood, Metro Theater Company
Julius B Anthony, The Believe Projects®
DrNetra Taylor, Normandy Schools Collaborative
Gerold Nave Jr., Normandy Schools Collaborative
Alexandria Barnett, Normandy Schools Collaborative
Ashley Ellis, Normandy Schools Collaborative
Darryl Jones, The Believe Projects®
Andreana Wilson, The Believe Projects®
Shelia Caradine, The Believe Projects®

We are ensuring all children become confident and competent readers by the end of third grade.
The Believe Projects®

The Believe Projects® Literacy Labs will expand in Normandy Schools Collaborative. In May 2024 Believe 12 and Believe 13 will open at Bel-Nor School, Dr. Duane West, Principal and Washington School, Dr. Pamela Hollins, Principal.

Dr. Tony O. Brooks, Executive Director of Student Support Services, facilitated a great meeting and walkthrough at Washington School. A special thank you to the Community Impact Network for their generosity and financial support that promotes children to become readers!

PICTURED HERE at Washington School in Normandy Schools Collaborative:
Dr. Tony O. Brooks, Executive Director of Student Support Services
Alexandria Barnett, Administrative Assistant, Department of Student Support Services
Ashley Ellis, Parent Involvement Community Specialist
Dr. Pamela Hollins, Principal, Washington School
Julius B Anthony, Founder, The Believe Projects®
Shelia Caradine, Executive Assistant, The Believe Projects®
Marquis Quis Jackson, Believe Art Curator, The Believe Projects®

We are ensuring all children become confident and competent readers by the end of third grade.
www.thebelieveprojects.com

WE ARE The Believe Projects®! In 2024 The Believe Projects® will expand its literacy work into preschools beginning with Believe Preschool 1 at Guardian Angel Settlement Association Child Development Center. Soon we will open Believe Preschool Literacy Labs at Good Shepherd Early Learning Center, Urban Sprouts, and Urban League Head Start Peter H Bunce Water Towner Center.

Stay tuned and join us for the celebrations!

Thank you to the generosity of Gateway Children’s Charity, YouthBridge Community Foundation, Build-A-Bear Foundation, Urban League Head Start, and the Whitaker Foundation.

We are ensuring all children become confident and competent readers by the end of third grade.
www.thebelieveprojects.com

https://youtu.be/hhjyF0vDfkk?si=hE9CObT9RxNiFnq0

Believe Preschool 1 Ribbon Cutting at Guardian Angel Settlement Association Child Development Center The Believe Projects opens its first preschool literacy lab; Believe Preschool 1 at Guardian Angel Settlement Association Child Development Center.Julius B. ...