by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Smiles.
Though Jacksonville child and community activist Gertrude Peele has been recognized both locally and nationally for her efforts to improve the lives of area children, the only reward she is after is their smiles.
Presented with the Daily Points of Light Award from Pres. George H. Bush in 2000, Peele plans to keep producing those smiles as the “home away from home” she has developed with the help of numerous nonprofit groups and volunteers continues to grow.
“I have a passion for children, especially those I see in underserved communities,” said Peele. “That passion leads me to want to do something for children; to find solutions to their problems.”
The Reed Educational Campus is one of those solutions.
Through the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) Inc.’s Child Watch Partnership of Jacksonville, Peele worked to establish the campus, which was donated to NCNW by Allene Reed, a friend of Peele’s, whose only wish was that the house be used to help the community.
That help provides free educational assistance to girls age 9-12 in areas including math, reading, language arts, sustainable development studies, arts, nutrition, spanish, science, health, basic computer training and physical activity. Certified teachers and counselors are on-site to help children with their studies. Children are also taught how to set a table and proper table etiquette. These skills are used when children sit down to a hot meal or a snack at the campus.
“The meal program is part of the success of the campus,” said Peele. “A lot of the children come from homes where the food is not sufficient, and that can affect their ability to learn. So when they come here they get a hot meal and a snack.”
The key is to make learning exciting for the third-fifth graders, said Peele. They may get a hot meal at the campus, but they also learn about gardening and nutrition, so they can grow and cook their own meal.
“We take a holistic approach to education,” said Peele. “Our whole concept is thinking outside of the box.”
The campus will soon be looking more like a box, or square, when it expands from its rectangular lot on Lentie Street to encompass the adjoining lot. The empty lot consisting of dirt and weeds will be turned into vegetable and rose gardens, and a fitness path will wrap around the outside of the gardens.
“We couldn’t do this on our own,” said Peele. “It takes a village to raise a child.”
The campus is supported by a village of nonprofit organizations including, Women’s Giving Alliance, Jaguars Foundation, Jacksonville Community Foundation, University of Florida Pediatric Department at Shands, River Region Human Services, Harte-Hanks Shoppers, Kid’s Cafe-America’s Second Harvest Food Bank, Remmer Foundation, Sontag Foundation and NCNW.
This village helps the campus to bring in a mental health counselor, who the children have nicknamed “The Listener.” Children can also talk to a doctor who visits two hours a week.
“Girls are going through so many changes at that age,” said Peele. “It’s good to be able to provide someone who can listen and give them answers to their questions.”
There are no questions about the success that Peele has created at after school learning program, according to Family Division Circuit Court Judge Karen Cole, who is also a member of the campus’s Community Advisory Board.
“Some people help globally, some locally,” said Cole. “(Peele) understands that if you help locally then you can help globally. She has created a small oasis in a challenged neighborhood and she has done it by partnering with area nonprofit organizations and community volunteers.”
Any girl age 9-12 is eligible to attend the campus. It is open Monday-Thursday from 2-5:30 p.m., early release days 1-5:30 p.m. and summer months 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Peele can be contacted at 634-0367.
356-2466