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Thirty Plus Club Sponsors Toledo Head Start Reunion Gala
By Tricia Hall
Sojourner’s Truth Reporter
This past Friday, August 28, the Toledo Head Start Reunion
Gala attracted over 200 attendees - former Head Start
employees, students and invited guests.
The gala opened with a brief meet and greet, attendees were
able to revisit the past through sharing of Toledo Head
Start archives, pictures and stories.
Ethel Adams, a 50-year employee of Toledo Head Start, and
Thirty Plus Club president/founder, delivered the gala
welcome. “First, I want to thank all the members of the
Thirty Plus Club, please stand, aren’t they lovely in their
purple? I also want to thank all the former teachers, staff
and students, for spending this evening with us.”
Tedra Smith, Toledo Public Schools music director and former
Toledo Head Start student, led the Thirty Plus theme song.
Then Rev. Anthony Richardson, pastor of Spring Street
Baptist Church, delivered remarks and invocation. “Without
local heroes known as Head Start teachers, our future would
be more difficult. Without their positive influences, our
children may head towards the jailhouse, courthouse, or
funeral house.” |
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The gala continued with musical selections, video tributes,
special remarks, and greetings from local dignitaries.
Head Start history dates back to 1965, when Project Head
Start, an eight-week summer program was launched by the
Office of Economic Opportunity. The purpose of the program
was to break the cycle of poverty by providing pre-school
children of low-income families with a comprehensive program
to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional and
psychological needs.
In 1969, Head Start was transferred from the Office of
Economic Opportunity to the Office of Child Development in
the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and
has now before a program within the Administration of
Children, Youth, and Families at the Department of Health
and Human Services.
On December 12, 2007, President Bush signed Public Law
110-134, also known as the improving Head Start for School
Readiness Act of 2007.
The Thirty Plus Club is comprised of Toledo Head Start
employees with a minimum of 30 or more years of employment,
and currently has 38 members.
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