PAST partnerships Include the Following:
Family Learning Solutions, Inc. founded in 1997 and implemented mentoring and tutoring services to the above apartment and community centers from 1997 to 2007. FLS does not charge participants and operates an extremely cost-efficient community-based model, utilizing volunteers and stipends to mutually benefit the career development of adults while offering enrichment activities to youth who would not otherwise participate. Entry level work development-career pathways have allowed adults to develop career skills while serving youth for no charge in the schools and community. This model is utilized in all of our prior and current partnerships/programs.
Family Learning Solutions, Inc. offered support during the COVID crisis - sending volunteers to help distribute food during their food donation programming at the hub that was set-up for food distribution. We also held collaborative discussions to strategize and raise awareness on the benefit of utilizing hydroponic food-growing technology to increase the sustainability and output of community food systems.
Easterseals Child Development Center, Silver Spring:
Family Learning Solutions, Inc. has partnered with the Easterseals Child Development Center of Silver Spring to bring Food Grown Home’s sustainable food-growing projects into pre-k classrooms. College interns and other FLS staff supported young students as they engaged in hands-on, hydroponic food growing activities such as growing broccoli, radish, and fenugreek sprouts in mason jars, in addition to students learned about the process of growing different herbs/produce such as kale, basil, and lettuce through the use and observation of countertop hydroponic growing systems.
Family Learning Solutions, Inc. proudly provided support to extremely motivated high school students who were determined to volunteer and help peers with advanced math and other tutoring subjects. Volunteer high school students attended the Poolsville High School magnet program and are especially focused on math and higher level academic projects. The mission of FalconVision Tutoring aligns with our goal to empower youth to achieve academic success and we are available to support youth volunteers in the future.
Family Learning Solutions, Inc., for approximately 17 years, offered youth enrichment activities to students residing in Gaithersburg City and attending Gaithersburg public schools. We connected tutors to students during the day and after-school. We also offered food growing activities and nourished an outside garden for the community at the community center. FLS was able to help GC with requests such as supporting adults in need of connection to work opportunities and attending various meetings regarding possible youth development program expansion. FLS proudly supported adult volunteers and paid mentors while they implemented targeted mentoring services to middle and high school students. We also coordinated an expressive arts project with Montgomery College, creating murals for the Gaithersburg Middle School community with student input. The murals focused on the environment and allowed middle school students to learn from college art majors. Food Grown Home STEM educational programming activities at Olde Towne and Robertson Youth Centers served youth attending Gaithersburg city schools including Gaithersburg Middle School and Forest Oak Middle School. These initiatives have been funded by Gaithersburg City.
Wilson Healthcare Center of Asbury Methodist Village:
Family Learning Solutions, Inc. partnered with the Wilson Healthcare Center at Asbury Methodist Village to incorporate hydroponic food-growing into the activities programming for seniors living with dementia. Through this program, residents were given the opportunity to participate in a stimulating activity that also saw tangible results. Residents with WHC Center staff assisted with the maintenance of hydroponic food-growing technology and the harvest of fresh produce such as leafy greens and herbs. This enriching experience providedresidents with a greater sense of purpose, increases access to gardening activities, and has encouraged feelings of excitement and fulfillment.
Current partnerships Include the Following:
University of Maryland / Montgomery College
Family Learning Solutions, Inc. is available as an internship placement for college students. By serving as mentors and tutors for the Kind Scholars programs, our interns provide essential academic support and improve readiness of youth as they receive career exposure in educational settings. Collaboration with AmeriCorps members also is available to support their career development and utilize volunteers to enhance our programming services.
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
Our main focus is implementing Kind Scholars expressive arts and Food Grown Home healthy gardening and healthy eating curriculum to students attending MCPS. Efficiently, MCPS and FLS work in collaboration. MCPS provides space and invaluable in-kind support via MCPS staff and FLS provides contractors, volunteers and supplies. Students have begun learning about entrepreneurship as a result of creating their own art. Students have also learned life-time skils and gained knowledge that is transferrable into various careers. During and after-school expressive arts and food-growing stem enrichment activities is being offered to students attending elementary, middle and high schools. No fees are charged to students and therefore student access is guaranteed regardless of family income. FLS utilizes MCPS space and we provide staffing and supplies free of charge to MCPS. MCPS and FLS staff collaborate to support students, aiming to provide a reward system for positive behavior. Some schools have challenges during lunch time and the Kind Scholars Expressive Arts project is a welcomed opportunity by staff and students!
