Michelle Goldshlag is the Co-founder and CEO of Cultured Kids (CK), a nonprofit organization that believes a student’s sense of belonging is the primary catalyst for their success.
In her six years at the helm, Cultured Kids has partnered with schools and community organizations in Northern VA and the Metro Boston area, as well as provide consulting services for international museums and global organizations like the Holistica Foundation in Brazil. Our after school Art & Storytelling Program curriculum was developed to increase sense of belonging for 4–6th graders.
Strategic and focused progression of themes align with the book text and allow participants to easily create connections between them and book characters and one another.
Themes:
1. Identity
2. Empathy
3. Belonging
Art projects also scaffold along with the themes and the reading. Working from individual, to small group, and finally large group projects.
Our in person pilot showed a significant increase in student belonging at school and an almost unanimous sense of belonging in the book club itself.
Virtual program during Covid also successful and brought together family members for our closing celebration from as far as Egypt.
Giving Tuesday fundraiser has created opportunities for us to expand this program to other areas outside dc are where currently focused. We are looking for 5 new schools to partner with.
Criteria for partnership:
* A core team at the school willing to work with us. Admin, educators, school counselor.
* Two School staff willing to facilitate book club and work through training. 20 hours total (training & program) and $750 stipend.
* All materials and teacher stipend are covered from through fundraising efforts
* Fee for teacher training that Ed/administrators can use as SEL professional development.
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