KairosPDX

Last month leaders were recognized for displaying their habit of success, gratitude. The leaders who are acknowledged show regular appreciation for the effort and attitudes of others, as well as appreciation for their own opportunities. Hampton University 3rd graders took this habit of gratitude a step further, and have been collecting their love, thanks and respect for one another and the extended Kairos staff community. We are grateful for you, too, Hampton University leaders!

Are you interested in enrolling your child at Kairos for the 2025-2026 school year? Informational sessions for the 2025-2026 school year have started and we have three more over this next week. If you or anyone you know are interested in enrollment for new students for the upcoming school year, RSVP below to attend one of our in-person sessions to apply. https://shorturl.at/G72fg

This Wednesday we are highlighting our Community Action Session, Funtastic Fitness. Ms. Regina has one main goal, making fitness fun and fantastic while establishing healthy and creative fitness habits for our leaders! In these sessions, 1st and 2nd graders focus on the importance of exercise, through movement, within upbeat entertaining activities, challenging both their bodies and minds. Nutrition discussions amongst leaders and our Ms. Regina also promote a shared understanding of what a healthy lifestyle can be.

In Southern University, kindergarteners are working through their stories using materials during Story Workshop. Story Workshop is a literacy structure that supports the joy, challenge and power of communicating ideas with young children that nurtures emergent writers and habits of success. Peek at what the cycle of Story Workshop can look like in kindergarten.

As part of our CAS sessions with community partners on Wednesday, our families leaders can sign up for one-on-one piano, guitar or ukulele lessons with @PDXplayitforward instructors. Their mission is to ensure equal access to Music M.A.G.I.C. They believe — and extensive research shows — that learning a musical instrument fosters Mental Wellness, Agility, Grit, Independence, and Community in children — and that’s MAGIC. Barriers like poverty, racism, and historic marginalization prevent many children from receiving instrumental instruction. Play It Forward provides access to instruments, instruction, and inspiring opportunities to students across the Pacific Northwest. A first grader shares about their experience with @PDXplayitforward piano lessons, "I love to do improve in piano, but I am learning how to read music. It’s super fun. AND if you learn to read the music of these songs, you can play all the songs in the world!"

TODAY, Feb. 20th! Po'Shines Cafe De La Soul will be donating 15% of proceeds to KairosPDX and more! Supporting this local business today helps contribute to our mission. ???

A big thank you to all of our sponsors! ? Your generous support enables us to keep working toward closing the racial achievement and opportunity gaps, creating meaningful and lasting change in our community. We are deeply grateful for your partnership in driving this important work forward and making a real impact. ?????? See you all in 4 days!

?? Meet KairosPDX’s 2025 Leadership Awardee, Tony Hopson! ?????? Tony is a true force for change, tirelessly advocating for the education of children of color. In 1981, Tony Hopson founded?Self Enhancement, Inc.?to provide a positive alternative for African-American teens in Portland, and over the years, it has grown into a year-round program serving 17,000+ youth and families annually with academic, family, and community support. He is a nationally recognized social entrepreneur, his work is reshaping the future for historically underserved youth. From his involvement at the Harvard School of Education to participating in Senatorial hearings, Tony’s impact is far-reaching and transformative. We look forward to celebrating his legacy at our 12th Annual Spread The Love gala on February 7th! ???Get your tickets here: https://shorturl.at/EHl8t #Leadership?#EducationEquity?#YouthAdvocacy?#ChangeMaker

The countdown begins... Spread The Love 2025 is next week! Join us for an evening of celebration on Friday, February 7th! Buy Tickets here: https://shorturl.at/Psgba Let's create more?meaningful moments together!

In our CAS session, Tiny Dance Life, kindergarten leaders have begun learning concepts of music, rhythm, movement, and grooves from our community partner, Ms. Molly. So far, this upbeat, encouraging class has supported our young leaders to feel free to express themselves using their whole bodies! We are already seeing our 5 and 6 year-olds growing their confidence to dance in their own style while taking inspiration from others'. We can't wait to see their choreographed moves as they practice through winter and spring! Every Wednesday at KairosPDX, our student leaders attend weekly Community Action Sessions (CAS) that are led by our partners in the community. These classes focus on expanding access to quality enrichment opportunities for our pre-k through 5th grade students in the areas of Health and Wellness, Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Arts and Culture, and Service Learning.