Feb. 9, 2021 -- Tamika Williams has come back to her roots. The new coordinator for the 21st Century Grant-funded Boulevard Blast, was born, raised and educated in Cleveland Heights, having graduated from the high school in 1994. She can name every principal she ever had, going back to one of her heroes, Dr. Lauree P. Gearity, at what was then called Belvoir Elementary School.
Armed with a Masters in Education and Curriculum Design, years of experience working with youth, and a deep belief in educational equity, Ms. Williams began running Boulevard’s after-school enrichment program in January for ten students recommended by their classroom teachers. “We wanted to start small,” said Ms. Williams, to really get to know one another and build a strong foundation for a bigger, more effective program when school reopens in person.
Similar to Oxford HUB (another of the district’s five 21st Century Grant programs, featured here), each week of Boulevard Blast is organized around a theme. During the initial All About Me week, students began by filling out a survey covering everything from their pets and siblings to their favorite foods and book genres to the one place they’d visit if they could go anywhere in the world. Because a number of children said they wanted to visit Disney World, Ms. Williams surprised them with a virtual field trip to the park. “We even got to ride rides,” she said. “It was really fun.” She’ll continue to use their responses as she plans for future weeks. “I want to tap into their likes and figure out ways to keep them engaged. I really want them to know how special they are.”
With the goal of developing the whole child, another week was centered on Health and Wellness. Students practiced yoga, learned mindfulness strategies, and ate healthy snacks while Ms. Williams demonstrated how to make a green smoothie. “We spent a lot of time talking about how Covid has affected all our lives,” said Ms. Williams. “But we also focused on the things we can still enjoy and how to be kind to ourselves and each other.”
This segued nicely into their first monthly service project. Students painted their own versions of “The Ladybug Flower” by Cristin Coffey with supplies dropped at their homes by Ms. Williams. The finished products were delivered to a local nursing home along with letters of encouragement for residents to enjoy.
Ms. Williams has big plans for when the program is able to run at full capacity, with the goal of enrolling 50 students when pandemic restrictions are eventually lifted. “We will focus on supporting the whole child and the whole family,” she said, looking at everything from attendance and test scores to family strengths and challenges. “Whatever the need is, we can fill it.”
From digging deep into increasing math and literacy skills to developing students socially and emotionally, Ms. Williams also hopes to build their character and confidence, and help them regulate and express themselves. “My love for children is what drives me.”
