We were spotlighted by Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers and Oakland University Office of Public School Academies in their February monthly newsletter! Check it out below.
Dove Academy of Detroit has partnered with Beyond Hashtags, an organization whose mission is to inspire, motivate, and change the lives of young men by equipping them with strong life skills through transparent leadership. The partnership was initiated by Dove principal, Tommy Brooks, and currently has 39 middle school boys who participate in the program aimed at building confidence and personal development.
Typically an in person program, the pandemic has compelled Beyond Hashtags to serve the Dove students virtually. Weekly sessions are still the norm, along with monthly topic exploration both taking place via Zoom. Beyond Hashtags staff help students with their social-emotional needs and work with them on homework, projects, and organizational skills. Beyond Hashtags connects with each teacher that has a student participating in the program through weekly check-ins, and work in conjunction with the school to help each child succeed.
Principal Brooks and Michael Hale Jr., CEO of Beyond Hashtags teamed up in September to conduct a Success Strategies Question and Answer session live on Facebook. The pair discussed topics aimed at parents, concerning parenting in a pandemic, adjusting to a virtual schooling environment, and how to help their child balance logic and emotion.
Brooks is eager to continue the partnership with Beyond Hashtags, stating “The future with Beyond Hashtags and Dove Academy will look like a partnership that equips students with soft/ social skills needed to excel in an ever- changing global market. Beyond Hashtags and Dove Academy will continue to be a pillar in the community, finding ways to keep all stakeholders vested in creating a world where everyone soars.”