St. John's Jumpstart Chapter Reaches Out to Community in Honor of Black History Month

February 21, 2008

Queens, N.Y. -

St. John’s University’s chapter of Jumpstart, a national early literacy organization, will join the staff at All My Children Day Care and Bright Beginnings in giving back to the community by facilitating an “Embracing Diversity” Event in honor of Black History month. 

Approximately 30 St. John’s University Jumpstart volunteers will participate over the two-day event, which began on February 20 at the All my Children Day Care and will continue today at Bright Beginnings Day Care. 

The “Embracing Diversity” Event is designed for early childhood students to realize the importance of cultural acceptance.  Students and administrators from Jumpstart and St. John’s will be on hand for several group readings highlighting the Ugly Duckling, Jackie Robinson, Louis Armstrong, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Other projects planned for the day include sponge painting, hand tracing, and unique t-shirt designing. 

St. John’s Jumpstart program regularly provides service to the University’s surrounding community through its program.  Since 2004, undergraduate students have been paired one-to-one with preschool children to assist them in building language and literacy, initiative and social relations skills.

For more information about St. John’s Jumpstart program, please contact Senior Site Manager Theresa Pumilia at (718) 990-2662, or pumiliat@stjohns.edu, or Associate Site Manager Amanda Lenar at (718) 990-7630, or at lenara@stjohns.edu