Featured Image: FUSD officials and volunteers who helped put on the “Hope and Healing” event at Hoover HS on Monday, Apr. 17. (FUSD Instagram)
By James Pewthers
Fresno Unified School District, Parent University, and FUSD Board President Veva Islas kicked off a series of themed family engagement events, starting with a “Community Wellness Festival” at McLane High School on Mar. 27.
The event “was better than expected” and “went really well” according to Maiyer Vang, the executive director of Parent University. It was attended by 976 people and 45 different community and district organizations, with a focus on providing resources for nutrition, physical activity, and overall health.
Some of those community organizations included the Fresno Asian Business Institute and Resource Center which provided boxes of fresh vegetables to attendees, and the Fresno Center which provided information on local health and wellness programs.
The event also included free lessons in country line dancing to promote physical activity.
The series has continued in all Fresno Unified regions throughout the rest of its school year. Although most of the events have come and gone, there are upcoming events such as an event promoting literacy at Sunnyside HS, and an event for the Bullard area that has yet to be planned.
One of the overall goals behind these events is to connect with parents and guardians of students and get them involved with their student’s education, in order to promote their academic achievement.
Research shows that, although it’s not always successful, parental involvement generally has a positive impact on student achievement.
Sunnyside’s event will take place on Friday, May 19 from 6-8 p.m.
Flourishing Fresno 