Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was difficult and stressful for everyone. Stay at home measures, school closures, and social distancing made it challenging to connect with certain parts of our local community. However, the Midtown Atlanta Rotary Club (MARC) decided to persevere by continuing to connect and build relationships with community partners.

One such partner is The Gideons Elementary School, part of the Kindezi school system. The mission of the school system is “To transform public education in Atlanta by providing more students—including those with the highest needs—access to a genius-awakening education, built on family-sized classrooms, scholarly excellence, socioeconomic integration, and holistic growth.”

One of the Gideons Elementary School’s goals is to compile a library of books that positively show the African American culture for its 2nd grade student body. The goal is to begin with 10 different titles and then continue to expand the library. MARC’s Board along with the Service Projects Committee agreed that assisting with purchasing books and volunteering to read these books to the 2nd graders would fit perfectly into MARC’s mission to advance education in our region. In 2020, MARC donated 50 copies of Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall to the 2nd grade library project. Additionally, several MARC members read to the 2nd graders via Zoom. In 2021, MARC will continue its support of the Gideons Elementary School 2nd grade library project by donating 50 copies each of Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 by Helaine Becker and Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner.

MARC volunteers again will read these books to the 2nd graders via Zoom. MARC looks forward to a continued partnership with the Gideons Elementary School and yearns for the day to connect with these future leaders in person. If you are interested, you can make a donation to the Kindezi Schools.