Latest news with #KaJézaHawkins
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Miami Valley Child Development marks 60 years with Head Start
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – The 60th anniversary celebration for both the Miami Valley Child Development Centers (MVCDC) and the Head Start program will be this Wednesday. The Head Start program serves nearly 3,000 kids in the Miami Valley who are experiencing poverty. It provides high-quality early learning and child care to children from 6 weeks to age 5. Simultaneously, the program offers critical support to the kids' families to help break the cycle of poverty. Little Miami Watershed Network summer events coming soon The event will be held on June 4 at the Marilyn E. Thomas Center, 2900 Shiloh Springs Rd., Trotwood, at 6:00 p.m. 2 NEWS' weekend anchor and multi-media journalist, KaJéza Hawkins, will emcee the celebration. Hawkins is a proud MVCDC graduate. Dr. Alonzo Patterson, III, a board-certified pediatrician and Dayton Children's Hospital's first Chief Medical Health Equity Officer, will speak at the event. He has practiced medicine for over 30 years and primarily focuses on children who lack access to medical care. Patterson has cared for generations of families here in Dayton, and many of his patients have been MVCDC/Head Start graduates. Dayton Children's new center to address food insecurity, poverty and more with new programs MVCDC is, spectacularly, the largest provider of Early Head Start and Head Start programs in Ohio. It ensures nearly 500,000 nutritious meals and snacks are given to children each year. There are many ways to be eligible for the program: Families earning under 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (Which is $26,650 for a family of three). Families who receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits are automatically eligible to enroll. Children in foster or kinship care, or who are experiencing homelessness. Children with some disabilities. For more information on the program, call Berta Velilla, MVCDC President and CEO, at 937-825-8439. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local conference empowers, inspires young women
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — A local conference recently facilitated several speaking engagements and networking opportunities for women in Dayton. The My Sister's Keeper Dayton Young Women's Conference happened Saturday morning at Engage High School, which located several leaders and public figures who spoke about their experiences with female empowerment, equity and social justice. 2 NEWS' KaJéza Hawkins was one such individual, as she attended the conference and led a panel discussion. The conference also featured state representative Desiree Tims, Montgomery County judge Angelina Jackson and entrepreneur Tae Winston. Conference organizers, such as Dr. Stacy Worley, director of the MBK (My Brother's Keeper) & MSK Dayton programs, say that the purpose behind the event is to empower and inspire the youth. 'That's the focus for our young ladies today,' Worley says. 'Having them empowered with very prestigious young ladies within the community, pouring back into them so they can go out and not be in silos anymore, but being able to speak and advocate for themselves.' The My Brother's Keeper program will host a similar event on Saturday at Engage High School. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
KaJéza Hawkins keynote speaker at Wilberforce's Founder's Day Convocation
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Wilberforce University's Founder's Day Convocation was Thursday and the event saw a familiar face as its keynote speaker. 2 NEWS' reporter and weekend anchor KaJéza Hawkins was among several alumni and student leaders who took the stage to give advice and help the university celebrate a new year. Hawkins served as the keynote speaker for Wilberforce's annual Founder's Day Convocation. The university celebrated year 169, opening its doors back in 1856. Local Black artist keeping Dayton's art scene alive 'What you're learning here at Wilberforce extends far beyond the textbooks, the SSB portal, and the student organizations you are in right now. It's about building meaningful, lasting connections, refining your soft skills, and believing in your potential,' Hawkins said to the crowd of students. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
