"Collaboration
is key to helping kids, families and schools be school ready," says
Davidson. Most of the funding for this event was given in the form of a
grant, the Quality Full-day Kindergarten Grant, given by the
Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. The goal of this
meeting was to decide how to make the transition from preschool to
kindergarten easier for both kids and parents. Tony Pierantozzi,
Superintendent of Somerville Public Schools, gave a small speech. "Here
in Somerville, we're lucky because our legislative delegation has
always supported early childhood activities," Pierantozzi said to the
people gathered there. He reminded them to be proud of the city they
live in, and to get the word out about the good things in Somerville
"not only involving school-age children and young adults, but
throughout the city in general. It's a city that's coming; it's a city
that's changing dramatically."

Cory Mashburn, a presenter,
talked about his parent-navigator program. "We speak to the parents of
Somerville that are bilingual and we discuss mental health services
with them." These parents are encouraged to go through training in
order to make themselves better aware if their child is in need of
psychiatric help or drug rehabilitation. In the course of a few hours,
Mashburn, like all the other presenters, travels to several small
tables promoting his plan. "It's our version of speed dating," jokes
Pamela Holmes, one of the facilitators of the meeting.

Dr.
John Lippitt, who worked many years in the Massachusetts Department of
Public Health, spoke of his organization, Thrive in 5 Boston. This is
an organization whose primary objective is to make sure kids are ready,
able and willing to succeed in school and to change the perception in
society, so it is more accommodating to each child's success in school.
"The healthy development of all young children…benefits all of
society by providing a solid foundation for responsible citizens…"
Ensuring a child's success, says Lippitt, is done in open forums just
like this one the Dante Club where parents and educators and academics
can have a healthy discussion and, in time, try to make solutions for
the consistent problems of teaching bilingual children, children with
special needs or children who may have mental health issues. Standing
in the way of solving these problems is a lack of funding. "When we
invaded Iraq, the government didn't worry about money; when it bailed
out the financial industry, the same. So when they say we don't have
money, don't take no for an answer," says Lippitt to heavy applause.

Daniel
Dessin, a parent in Somerville in attendance at this meeting, says "I'm
just coming to learn how I can make it an easier transition for my
kids."