Our little church in theMarketplace at Dinah Shore and Date Palm Avenues turned to the community ofCathedral City to realize the church’s dream of partnering with families tooffer an after-school tutoring opportunity for their children. Completing its second year, KidREACH (sponsoredby All Peoples PresbyterianChurch) can look back with confidence that it has become a successfulpartner with the surrounding schools and the Palm Springs Unified SchoolDistrict. Still, academic preparedness and college readiness are not the onlyachievements.
As the White House Administrationcontinues to make changes, budget cuts, and pass restrictive legislation to oureducation system and the Department of Education, those once seemingly highlevel and distanced decisions trickled down to the states to the point of beingdeeply felt by our local schools and families. The Desert Sun reported that inthe 2024 - 2025 academic year, the district reduced department and site budgetsby 10%. Providing accessible tutoring and learning environment accommodationsfor our school-aged children has become part and parcel to our mission andministry with the community; and the program is directed by higher educationprofessional and PSUSD Foundation Board member, Mr. Rafael Cardona.
All Peoples Presbyterian Church,part of the Presbytery of Riverside, has placed a high value on and recognizedthe importance of building authentic and lasting relationships with ourneighbors. Through these relationships, Rafael was able to learn and appreciatethe need for gifted tutors. He devised a plan that included paying tutors justwages for their gifts of time, expertise, and compassion. Hiring communitymembers to serve as tutors means recognizing their needs for a livable income. Rafael and the church worked together to begin identifying resources fromdifferent partners.
I partnered with Rafael to applyfor a grant from the Presbyterian Synod of Southern California and Hawaii – andthe church was awarded $15,000. He then applied for a grant from the Champions VolunteerFoundation and again the church was awarded $15,000. These funds are used to provideresources, materials, and snacks for the students, and pay stipends to thetutors. Our little church now commits 40% of the Pentecost offering collectedeach year to be designated for use by KidREACH.
Our little church and ourcommunity came together to stand firmly on the conviction that access toeducational tools for our children and providing just economic resources tolocal community members are important keys to strengthening the community. Thisconviction turned into relationships and then into financial gifts. We continueto work together with hope that our little church and our community is making adifference in the lives of school-aged children, their families, and communitymembers across the West Coachella Valley. We know this to be true for at least twentychildren, ten tutors, and six volunteers over the last two years.
Serving With Compassion,
Rev. Brian S. Symonds
Pastor, All Peoples PresbyterianChurch
To donate toKidREACH, please CLICKHERE, and designate your gift for KidREACH.
To learn more about KidREACH CLICK HERE (https://www.allpeoplespc.org/kidreach-program).
