Lee-Harvard | Youth and Families
Chrishawndra Matthews, is a Cleveland Resident with a five year old son who understands the school-to-prison pipeline. She knows the Cuyahoga County statistics for low income families and literacy and she understands if her child fails the third grade reading test a prison bed may have his name on it. Realizing that, she asked herself, “What can I do to help in my community?” She answered that question by working in collaboration with the “Barbershop Literacy Project” to raise literacy rates in Northeast Ohio. She found a sponsor to provide free haircuts and the children are read to while they wait and receive free books. She instructs parents and caregivers on the importance of reading aloud to a child 15-20 minutes a day. Her dream project, “Literacy in the Hood” will assist families struggling to ensure their third grader passes the reading test, as well as provide youth with books and various reading and learning materials. Chrishawndra is an AmeriCorps Volunteer, facilitating financial literacy and workforce development, and presents teen workshops for local non-profit organizations.
