SB Nation's Democracy Prep Relief
Donation protected
SB Nation is raising funds to help Democracy Prep, a charter school in Baton Rouge, get back on their feet in the wake of devastating flooding.
We only ask that you give what you can: For instance, listeners of SB Nation's "Podcast Ain't Played Nobody" have been asked to throw in $5 apiece, which isn't much!
We've asked Democracy Prep principal Michelle Gieg to tell you more about this community and where your money is going specifically:
I began my teaching career in North Baton Rouge in 2006 and quickly came to understand that the Prescott Middle School facility had come to be synonymous with untapped promise. Eight years later, when I was in the process of founding Democracy Prep Baton Rouge, I insisted that our school operate on that campus. My vision was that had been an institutional symbol of decline would become a pillar of community revival.
One short year into its new incarnation as the home of Democracy Prep, Prescott once more finds itself in crisis. When the flooding started in earnest last Saturday, I was relieved to find the interior of our campus undamaged. I knew our families would be suffering, and I immediately understood the role that our school community would play in helping restore some semblance of normalcy amid the devastation.
My relief waned 48 hours later when I returned to find that the building had taken on upwards of two feet of water. In a kindergarten classroom, that essentially puts everything -- furniture, materials, supplies, signage -- underwater. Now, in addition to the human toll of a disaster that has left over 80 of our families destitute, we would have to scramble to find an alternate location in which to educate, support, and love our students.
On Monday, August 22nd, Democracy Prep Baton Rouge will start Constant Learner Academy in the wake of the horrific flooding that impacted many neighborhoods in Baton Rouge and surrounding communities. Our historic building, Prescott Middle School, sustained two feet of flooding throughout. Despite not having a physical space for operation, our staff rallied to put together a vision and plan for school at a local YMCA.
It’s critically important that we get scholars back to school so that they can reclaim something ‘normal.’ Our staff is eager to support our scholars through learning, love and support through this incredibly difficult time.
In the immediate aftermath of the flooding, our staff gathered Monday to make one-on-one calls to every scholar’s family. What we learned is that of our 280 scholars, 79 have reported losing everything and 111 needed immediate resources to support their families. While the primary goal is to get scholars back into school, we also put together teams to bus resources to the doors of families and are in the process of building Recovery Kits that will help families start building a life in a new home.
Democracy Prep is an elementary and middle charter school in its second year in Baton Rouge. Our mission is to educate responsible citizen scholars for success in the college of their choice and a life of active citizenship. Democracy Prep Baton Rouge is part of a national network of highly successful charter schools.
Where we could use your help is in rebuilding our Athletic program.
That's right: SB Nation, a community of sports fans and creators, is going to START AN ATHLETIC PROGRAM. Democracy Prep was set to field their first sports teams before the flood; since then plans have been delayed indefinitely. Let's change that! Your contribution will go towards equipment, uniforms and restoring the flooded gym where DP students play every day.
We only ask that you give what you can: For instance, listeners of SB Nation's "Podcast Ain't Played Nobody" have been asked to throw in $5 apiece, which isn't much!
We've asked Democracy Prep principal Michelle Gieg to tell you more about this community and where your money is going specifically:
I began my teaching career in North Baton Rouge in 2006 and quickly came to understand that the Prescott Middle School facility had come to be synonymous with untapped promise. Eight years later, when I was in the process of founding Democracy Prep Baton Rouge, I insisted that our school operate on that campus. My vision was that had been an institutional symbol of decline would become a pillar of community revival.
One short year into its new incarnation as the home of Democracy Prep, Prescott once more finds itself in crisis. When the flooding started in earnest last Saturday, I was relieved to find the interior of our campus undamaged. I knew our families would be suffering, and I immediately understood the role that our school community would play in helping restore some semblance of normalcy amid the devastation.
My relief waned 48 hours later when I returned to find that the building had taken on upwards of two feet of water. In a kindergarten classroom, that essentially puts everything -- furniture, materials, supplies, signage -- underwater. Now, in addition to the human toll of a disaster that has left over 80 of our families destitute, we would have to scramble to find an alternate location in which to educate, support, and love our students.
On Monday, August 22nd, Democracy Prep Baton Rouge will start Constant Learner Academy in the wake of the horrific flooding that impacted many neighborhoods in Baton Rouge and surrounding communities. Our historic building, Prescott Middle School, sustained two feet of flooding throughout. Despite not having a physical space for operation, our staff rallied to put together a vision and plan for school at a local YMCA.
It’s critically important that we get scholars back to school so that they can reclaim something ‘normal.’ Our staff is eager to support our scholars through learning, love and support through this incredibly difficult time.
In the immediate aftermath of the flooding, our staff gathered Monday to make one-on-one calls to every scholar’s family. What we learned is that of our 280 scholars, 79 have reported losing everything and 111 needed immediate resources to support their families. While the primary goal is to get scholars back into school, we also put together teams to bus resources to the doors of families and are in the process of building Recovery Kits that will help families start building a life in a new home.
Democracy Prep is an elementary and middle charter school in its second year in Baton Rouge. Our mission is to educate responsible citizen scholars for success in the college of their choice and a life of active citizenship. Democracy Prep Baton Rouge is part of a national network of highly successful charter schools.
Where we could use your help is in rebuilding our Athletic program.
That's right: SB Nation, a community of sports fans and creators, is going to START AN ATHLETIC PROGRAM. Democracy Prep was set to field their first sports teams before the flood; since then plans have been delayed indefinitely. Let's change that! Your contribution will go towards equipment, uniforms and restoring the flooded gym where DP students play every day.
Organizer and beneficiary
Steven Godfrey
Organizer
Nashville, TN
Elizabeth Manieri
Beneficiary
