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Darlette Willis, Chicago GEAR UP Parent wins first Parent Award at NCCEP 2007.
Congratulations to Darlette and all the other Chicago parents that work to support their communities through GEAR UP. |
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For nearly eight years, Darlette Willis has exemplified the positive effects that parents can bring to the education of children. She has served as the quintessential role model as a parent partner to support academic success and opportunities not only for her own family but also for other parents and students who participate in the GEAR UP program. In her leadership capacity, her unbridled enthusiasm, creativity and commitment have provided numerous opportunities for families to find a voice and a platform to reach their individual and collective academic goals with love, support and encouragement. |
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Co-Chair—GEAR UP Parent Partners. Since its inception, the GEAR UP Parent Partners has created a leadership team to represent the individual schools that participate in the Roosevelt cluster. Darlette Willis has served a one of the three co-chairs for the past eight years. This group meets once a month to bring the concerns of their constituents to a planning forum. As a result, workshops and activities are created and implemented. Through this strategy, the needs of the greater parent community are met with an opportunity for input and empowerment. These meetings have helped to forge alliances among the schools and have brokered tolerance and understanding to meet common goals that positively serve students and families. |
Darlette Willis, Darlene Pearlstein, Rep. Flowers, and Gloria Murry at the parent organized Literature Alive Conference. |
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Host—Parent to Parent Cable TV Show. For the past six years, Darlette has served as the host of Parent to Parent, a weekly cable TV show that provides an opportunity for parents and students to access information and to communicate with each other. Through this medium, the community is encouraged to participate in meaningful dialogue about how to reach educational goals and overcome barriers to academic success. Topics have highlighted the issues of Financial Aid, Understanding Your Teen, Preparing for College Visits, The Vocabulary of College Admissions, How to Complete the FAFSA Application, The College Checklist, How to Access Community Resources, Homework Without Headaches and much more. Through this low-cost method, the GEAR UP message of opportunity and access has been able to reach hundreds of families who are not able to attend traditional meetings.
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Facilitator—Third Thursday Program. Darlette has been instrumental in implementing the programs that provide parents with information about educational issues in a setting that promotes a link between elementary and high schools. Toward that end, the Third Thursday Program was developed at Hyde Park High School. Now in its fifth year, this monthly meeting attracts large crowds of families from participating elementary and high schools in our network. Darlette not only facilitates and helps secure the speakers for this “positive parenting” series, she also obtains the funding to provide refreshments and supplies for each event by accessing funding through NCLB funds available to encourage parent involvement. |
Darlette Willis and Yolanda Watson hosting Parent to Parent cable tv show. |
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Founder—The Black Roses. Having raised a teenage daughter who is enrolled in college with the support of the GEAR UP program, Darlette wanted to offer an avenue for success to other young ladies who may be struggling with school related and social issues. Toward that end, a mentoring program was developed to provide elementary and high school girls with an opportunity to talk and share their concerns in a safe and nurturing environment. As Director, Darlette serves as a surrogate mother to dozens of girls. This ongoing venture has helped to bridge the communication gap between parents and children and has resulted in students who are better able to handle peer pressure and academic challenges. |
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Darlette Willis with The Black Roses |
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