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Detroit City Council Presents Resolution Supporting Renaissance Links Award-Winning School Computer Program
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1/1/2007
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The Renaissance Chapter of The Links, Inc. received a Detroit City Council Resolution recognizing their community service and continuing support to Detroit public schools through their award-winning computer program and hands-on, fully equipped computer laboratories. .
The Detroit City Council honored and endorsed the Renaissance Links’ computer program and two state-of-the-art laboratories which enhance the overall educational experience at Courtis Elementary School and provide over 1200 students, parents and teachers with much needed technology and ready access to the “Information Highway.”
The Resolution, introduced by Detroit City Councilwoman Alberta Tinsley-Talabi, follows the recent opening of the second computer lab at Courtis Elementary School. Councilwoman Tinsley-Talabi, who praised the Renaissance Links for the work they are doing in the public schools and community, presented the Resolution at the City Council Chambers during their formal session last Spring on Wednesday, May 10, 2006.
Renaissance Chapter members, bonded by a chain of friendship and service, are committed to improving the quality of life for others in the community. Each member of the chapter is a volunteer who contributes many hours of involvement in a number of service programs and projects. These volunteer hours represent a level contribution by the Renaissance Links of $250,000 per year in charitable efforts in Metro Detroit alone.
The award followed on the heels of the Renaissance Chapter opening and dedication of its second fully equipped computer laboratory at the Courtis School, in partnership with the Lear Corporation and with a grant from AT&T. This marked the first time in the Renaissance Chapter’s twenty-year history of community service that any outside entity has contributed funding directly to endorse and help expand an established Chapter program.
The Renaissance Links have worked since 1993 with the staff and students at Courtis School to develop programs that enhance the curricula.
“We work very closely with school administrators, teachers and parents to identify and address specific needs that are not being met by the public educational system due to significant program and budget cuts, “ said Joya Harris-Sherron, president of the Renaissance Chapter of The Links, Inc.
Recognizing what the absence of computers at the school meant, the Renaissance Chapter created, developed --- and ignoring considerable personal expense--- funded in November 2004, the first Courtis School computer program and lab complete with a paid instructor and 36 high-end Dell plasma screen computers. Today, both computer labs, valued at well over $300,000 serve more than 1200 students, teachers, parents and the outlying community six days a week during the school year and in the summer.
Educators, corporate supporters, community and political leaders have commended the Renaissance Chapter for its work. The Detroit Public School District and others have visited Courtis School to study the computer program which enabled Courtis, along with only eight other schools in the Metro Detroit area, to participate in the innovative, revolutionary educational program, “Experencia,” that offers teachers training and students an environment where they “learn by doing.”
In 2005, The Links, Inc., the national governing body headquartered in Washington, D. C., awarded the Renaissance Chapter’s Computer Program 1st Place for “Services to Youth.” And, in 2006, for the first time ever, two companies, Lear Corporation and AT&T, impressed with the Chapter’s efforts, have partnered with the Renaissance Chapter to help expand its computer lab program. The Renaissance Links can add the Detroit City Council to its lists of supporters.
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