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deJongh explores introducing "Leadership in Action Program" during meeting with officials of Annie E. Casey Foundation and CFVI

Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. met recently with Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) leaders and Dr. Donna Stark, the Director of Leadership Development at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, to discuss the potential of implementing the Foundation’s Leadership in Action Program. This program helps leaders become mobilized to rapidly accelerate results for children and families.

deJongh is excited about the program and believes it will help to take the territory to the next level in ensuring that all children in the Virgin Islands entering school will be ready to succeed in that environment. 'I could see where this program could be beneficial for us because it would not only involve government officials, but it also involves members of the broader community. It’s more powerful that way."

Dee Baecher-Brown, the President of CFVI, explained that the Leadership in Action Program could be a process for helping to improve early childhood education in the territory. "The program takes about one year to and would include all levels of the community," said Ms. Brown. "This visit will determine if this program is something that would meet the Territory’s needs and if so, how it should work."

"The program aims to decrease disparities based on race, class and culture," said Dr. Stark. "This is unique because it brings people, involved in early childhood care in the territory, together for some solid, focused work time." While in the territory, Dr. Stark met with other government and community leaders. 

The introduction of the Leadership in Action Program to the Territory is a result of a meeting with Doug Nelson, President of the Annie E. Casey Foundation in late March. While on St. Thomas for a brief family vacation, Nelson met with deJongh and the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation, based in Baltimore, was founded in 1948 to foster public policies, human-service reforms, and community ties that more effectively meet the needs of today’s vulnerable children and families. In pursuit of this goal, the Foundation makes grants that help states, cities, and neighborhoods fashion more innovative, cost-effective responses to these needs. The foundation currently underwrites CFVI’s annual KidsCount project.

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