2018 Summer Reading in NJ
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BEAM’s successful summer literacy program, “Students with a Goal” was developed to reduce summer reading loss and advance reading achievement for economically disadvantaged youth. The literacy program began in 2013 as a collaboration with Community Investment Strategies, a provider of affordable housing and BEAM. The program has provided a structured environment where resident children of affordable housing communities throughout NJ thrive and build their literacy skills.
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At each selected community, local teachers engage the children in literacy building activities and themed reading. The grade school participants complete their school summer reading assignments while reading books for pleasure. The children keep journals, immerse themselves in writing, share book reviews and engage in confidence building exercises.
Upon completion of the program, the children are rewarded with Kindles and gift cards for books and school supplies. A celebration is held to acknowledge the participants’ achievements and to encourage reading as a daily activity throughout the school year. |
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Highlights from the Summer of 2020The Summer of 2020 has been a rewarding experience for the resident children at the affordable communities BEAM works with throughout NJ. BEAM began planning in early spring for a virtual reading experience due to the pandemic. Much of the literacy research has indicated that the transition to online learning during the late spring of 2020 has resulted in greater learning setbacks. With this in mind, our summer reading program for 2020 included an innovative virtual learning experience to better meet the needs of the parents and children we serve. This transition to more remote learning has required at a minimum: a strong internet connection, device availability and, most importantly, an available parent to help. Ultimately, our goal was to offer summer support in building literacy skills, completing summer assignments, encouraging journaling and easing the isolation of online learning.
We worked with local teachers at each of the communities to determine how best to engage the children in virtual themed readings and literacy building activities. The programs incorporated the 2020 Collaborative Summer Library Program theme, Imagine your Story. The grade school participants really thrived as they shared thoughts on books while immersing themselves in journal writing, and engaging in other confidence building exercises. Upon completion of the programs, the children were rewarded with gift cards, books, reading devices, backpacks and school supplies. A virtual celebration was held to acknowledge the participants’ achievements and to encourage reading and writing throughout the school year. To that end, we are planning frequent check ins with the kids to offer tutoring, book discussions and peer support. We are so proud of all the children who participated this year and look forward to an in person programs for the summer of 2021. |
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BEAM's gardening initiatives provide educational, environmental and nutritional benefits to lower income residents. The programs are a collaboration between Community Investment Strategies, BEAM, and Groundwork Elizabeth, a non-profit with a goal of building healthy and sustainable communities. It is a labor of love for residents to learn about gardening, harvesting and preparing healthy, nutritious foods that they have grown.
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BEAM collaborated with Groundwork Elizabeth to provide a “Grow Together” garden program promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles for seniors. The program incorporates gardening classes and interactive demonstrations.
Residents of a senior community participated in a Build Day, planting Earthboxes that included a variety of herbs and vegetables. As the recipient of a 2019 County Green grant, BEAM worked with Groundwork Elizabeth to expand the urban senior garden to include a large handicap accessible raised garden bed where residents planted herbs and veggies in the new bed. |
"A common vision of changing places and changing lives inspires our plans." -- Groundwork Elizabeth
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BEAM also works with residents in more suburban locations allowing for large raised bed community gardens. At one location, the residents have fully embraced their community garden with each family “adopting” their own raised beds and sharing their harvest of tomatoes, eggplant, pepper, cucumber, basil, beans, mint and strawberries with one another.
Resident children at a South Jersey community participated in a “hands on” gutter gardening project which included planting a variety of vegetables and herbs in a gutter garden structure built by University student volunteers. 
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Residents and their children from BEAM partner sites attend fun and informative cooking events provided by Shoprite’s dietitians. The presentation always focuses on utilizing fresh, seasonal ingredients that are healthy and delicious. Healthy eating tips for preparing simple yet nutritionally balanced meals are provided.
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