Education

By Carolyn Simpson

Reading is like exercising. Exercising keeps muscles in shape, and reading keeps the brain in shape. If you don’t practice, you lose muscle strength. If children don’t read during the summer months they lose literacy skills.

School's out for summer…but that doesn’t mean the learning should stop.

Keri Powell was nervous.

She wanted to mentor a girl through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock program, but she didn’t have any children of her own and wasn't sure what to expect.

Powell met her ‘little sister,” Kiana, on Jan. 16, 2006. After trying to figure out what they should do for their first outing, the staff suggested she take Kiana to the McDonald’s down the street.

Jordan was 14 years old when he entered the foster care system. There was constant change in Jordan's life. After going through a series of caseworkers and living situations, Jordan was feeling more alone than ever. All that changed when Jordan met Stu.