We were given background information about Sumner and many of us were concerned about how such a big institution was only enrolling to 1/5 of its capacity and was in real danger of being shut down.

After our initial tour we saw how passionate alumni members were about keeping the school up and running. The administration was facing strenuous odds but had a lot of support from their alumni organization.

Sumner's values were very clear and are laid out in their creed:

"I believe in the ideals of good citizenship, both in my school and in my community. I resolve to obey the laws of the school and its traditions. To be respectful and obedient to my teachers. To be courteous and kind to my schoolmates.To do my work as thoroughly as I can.To be punctual in attendance and clean in mind and body."

KIPP Inspire is a relatively new charter school in St. Louis. They get their charter status through Washington University in St. Louis. KIPP Inspire promotes academic excellence through their rigorous course load that 5th - 8th graders are exposed to. They do this to educate students with the necessary knowledge to succeed in "high quality high schools and colleges and the world beyond."

"If your actions INSPIRE others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." - John Quincy Adams

Their mission is to prepare middle school students for their future in academics through affordable schooling and academic support. Learning, growth and success were often emphasized throughout the classroom as well. Students were often challenged with the work they were presented with but were encouraged to think "outside the box" so they could foster a higher level of abstract thinking and problem solving.

Kingdom House works with the goal of helping people to have better lives. They help people in age ranging from infants and toddlers all the way to seniors. They have an early childhood center, after school programs, and programs that help teenagers prepare through teaching them life skills. For adults they have resources to teach them financial skills, maternal mental health resources, etc. For seniors, they provide companions and have a senior resiliency program.

Ready readers is a volunteer organization that sends volunteers to read to preschoolers in areas of low income. They hope to prepare preschoolers for kindergarten by getting a head start on reading ability.

We sat in on a school board meeting for the East St. Louis District 189 where community members and parents brought many concerns to the table. During the meeting we could see the passion that parents and community members shared. They valued their children's education and mental health highly. They were also concerned with the academic level their children were performing at and asked for a better curriculum, so they could perform better academically. They also advocated for the well-being of teachers and to foster a safe environment for both faculty and students.

Evident Values:

• Academics
• Mental Health
• Safe Learning Environment

Overall the group that came out that night was very positively motivated to make a change within their school district for the better.

Overall the group that came out that night was very positively motivated to make a change within their school district for the better.

Overall the organizations and schools we visited had a strong value that was shared among them all, academics. Academics is the bases to success and these schools and organizations know it as well.

Kingdom House and Ready Readers do a tremendous job by advocating education at an early age and providing materials and programs to marginalized communities within the St. Louis area.

Sumner is fighting against very strong odds and a threat of being shut down but even then, its alumni are doing what they can to keep it afloat. Although they have a minimal number of students they provide classes and teach the basics. KIPP has a very rigorous curriculum and I believe that the lack of visual arts and performing arts classes is a disappointment, but they at least plant the idea of a strong education in each student.