As part of their program, the grassroots leaders teamed up with the Lynchburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority to recruit local families for The Basics, an early childhood education program developed by Harvard University professor Dr. Ron Ferguson.
The Basics was launched in partnership with Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital and a local daycare facility. It has five principles: Maximize Love, Manage Stress; Talk, Sing, and Point; Count, Group, and Compare; Explore through Movement and Play; and Read and Discuss Stories.
The program provides new mothers with useful, science-based activities and tips that can help children, ages 5 and under, get ready for kindergarten. Parents can choose to receive messages via text, WhatsApp, or The Basics app.
The initial goal was to sign up 500 local families and, thanks to a $10,000 grant from a local partner, all families participated for free.