Participation in nonprofit cohort program and additional technology guidance have helped Bright Stars improve academic achievement of under-resourced students in East Charlotte.
The mission of UMBA Bright Stars is to bring equity in academic achievement to One Bright Star Scholar at a time through excellence in After School and Summer Programs for children in grades K-5. The mission centers on making a significant difference in closing the learning gap that exists in many of our schools through four Integrated Experiences: Academic, Extended Enrichment, Core Values/Character Development and Parent and Family Engagement.
In 2022, Bright Stars joined United Way’s Unite Charlotte cohort. Their founder and Executive Director, Pearlie Cureton-Thomas, sought the funding and capacity-building support this program provides to local grassroots organizations advancing racial equity and addressing economic mobility and hoped to increase their effectiveness at eliminating the achievement gap through afterschool & summer programs for under-resourced children in East Charlotte.
As a key element in this cohort program, Pearlie was introduced to Apparo in our Technology Foundations program for the Unite Charlotte cohort. In addition to the education received in this program, Pearlie also took advance of support provided through Apparo’s Tech Therapy program.
Hear Pearlie share her perspective on the significance of her work with Apparo.
“I was probably at zero in understanding technology, what it could do, how it could help our nonprofit Bright Stars to flourish. Apparo… helped put me on the path of understanding the possibilities that technology can do to bring into reality some of the things that I had always thought and dreamed about.
“The kinds of activities, plans that teachers have been able to access using technology has made a difference in the kinds of activities that children do on a daily basis. Children are growing in their academic, they are reading more fluently. The dream is now a reality with children becoming stars; becoming all they can be. I hope to continue to have a partnership with Apparo as we continue this journey and we’ll have bigger and greater stories.”
