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28 Thursday, July 18, 2024 BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com

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WILL KOWALSKI
Sports Editor/Asst. Editor

The president and CEO of the
national Children’s Defense Fund
(CDF), Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, met
with parents, caregivers and commu-

National Children’s Defense Fund president visits B.C.

Young students and family members associated with the local R.I.S.E. Corps Freedom School – plus Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson (white shirt top right), president
and CEO of the national Children’s Defense Fund – gather for a group photo last Friday following a read-aloud session at Kellogg Community College in
Battle Creek. (Shopper News photo by Will Kowalski)

nity leaders – as well as with teach-

ers and K-8 students associated with

the local R.I.S.E. Corps Freedom

School – last Thursday and Friday

(July 11-12) to get perspectives on

what the CDF can do to help Battle

Creek community families better

face the challenges of today’s world.

The CDF – the largest child and

youth advocacy organization in the

country that’s based in Washington,

D.C. – made its stop in Battle Creek

as part of its national tour ahead of

the upcoming presidential election

and beyond.

On Thursday, July 11, Wilson and

staff met with scholars, community

leaders and parents at R.I.S.E. Corps

in Battle Creek and then met with

youngsters during a read-aloud ses-

sion at Kellogg Community College

on Friday, July 12.

“Meeting with the parents, care

givers and community leaders, we

did a listening session regarding

some of the challenges they see for

children in Battle Creek and what

they think we need to be doing in

local efforts, as well as national

efforts, to make changes,” said

Wilson, who noted that his CDF tour

schedule is a busy one.

Wilson said that prior to stopping

in Battle Creek, his group was in

Charlotte, NC and Indianapolis, Ind.

and that his next stop would be at a

couple of cities in Tennessee before

heading to New Jersey.

“It’s a national conversation,”

Wilson said.

And conversing in the CDF’s stop

See DEFENSE on 29