LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – Understanding your “why” instead of your “what” can make a huge difference in a child’s life.
The director of the Emmy Award-winning documentary Preschool to Prison was in Lima conducting a workshop focused on breaking the pipeline from early education to incarceration. Around two dozen educators, counselors, and individuals who work with children participated in a day of exercises to explore why they do what they do to help kids.
The director of the Emmy Award-winning documentary Preschool to Prison was in Lima conducting a workshop focused on breaking the pipeline from early education to incarceration.
“At first, I didn’t know, so I sat there,” said Jordan Baughman, Juvenile Probation Officer. “Really had to think about it and really just to help kids be the best version of themselves, getting kids involved, getting kids engaged, not only kids, but families. It’s been a difficult process, but it could be very rewarding at times as well.”
Staying engaged can be a key factor, not only for the child but also for the mentor. Older kids often say they are bored at school, and teachers may view them as uninterested, which can lead to both sides putting in less effort. Communication and collaboration are essential to changing that narrative.
“It can’t be solely left on the schools and educators to dismantle the pipeline,” said Dr. Karen “Dr. K” Baptiste, Director of Preschool to Prison. “It has to be a community effort. What are the contributions of parents? What are the contributions of the court? What are the contributions of community organizations? How is everyone coming together and saying as a goal, we want our community to thrive? Well, what does that look like if we want our community to thrive? Once you have that understanding, then you can start identifying the next step.”
Preschool to Prison is available for viewing on Amazon.
