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Detroit Families: Every Child Needs a Champion

By Sharlonda Buckman, CEO, Detroit Parent Network

Every child deserves a champion who is an unapologetic advocate for their successful matriculation through life.

They need an advocate who is there to listen, encourage, redirect, and have tough conversations. They serve as a sounding board and create access and opportunities for children to reach their full potential. They assist in helping them navigate the path of hurdles they are sure to encounter and they are always the one to whisper or shout "You can do it"!

On a child's big race day, when their stomachs are full of butterflies and they are anxious and need reassurance, this adult is the cheering face in the crowd that puts them at ease.

Champions are the advocates to push back on the naysayers or those who would steer our children wrong or uphold injustice. In many cases, this champion is the parent or another caring adult that knows from life experience that no one gets anywhere alone.

Every child deserves a champion; however, many do not have one. In a recent conversation with Senator Geoff Hansen, he stated he was committed to supporting the Coalition for Detroit Schoolchildren's efforts to move education in Detroit forward.

We spoke about accountability, quality schools, and the lack of coordination across Detroit's educational landscape. He lifted up the importance of state-wide solutions as he is from the Western part of Michigan and certainly understands the impact failing schools systems have on all Michigan's children and families.

Our children will bear the repercussions of this education movement and as champions for our children, we better get in it. We need Senator Hansen's support; however, we need champions for children to rally around the quality education their kids deserve and are not receiving. We need champions to rally around the teacher vacancies impacting their student's learning. We need champions to rally around the lack of transportation impacting their children arriving at school on time.

We need champions to rally around the opening and closing of schools causing inconsistencies in their children's lives. We need champions to rally because the decline of public dollars is taking away from student services and classroom necessities. We need champions to rally because their children can't learn and teachers can't teach with 40 students in a classroom. We need champions to rally because all our children are being robbed of a high quality education and they need an unwavering and uncompromised voice to speak on their behalf.

We are calling ALL champions for children to join us on Tuesday, September 29th, 2015 for a Lansing Day of Action to encourage legislators to support what is best for our children. Are you a champion for your child? Our students can't wait another day. Get on the bus with us! For more information or to RSVP for this event, call 313.309.8107.

For more information on the Coalition for the Future of Detroit Schoolchildren, visit: http://choiceisoursdetroit.tumblr.com/

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