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 BattleCreek 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 beforeheading to New Jersey.
“It’s a national conversation,”
Wilson said.
And conversing in the CDF’s stopSee DEFENSE on 29