Having a winning idea and implementing it are very different undertakings. Today we speak with two 2024 Challenge Grantees, Cori Silvey of Changing Tides, Helping Hands in Washington, and Julie Rains of Valley Center Schools in Kansas, about what they’ve learned after a year of working on their winning projects for their organizations and their communities. We also discuss what future applicants can learn as they submit their own proposals. Kerry Caverly, Chief Program Officer at Parents as Teachers National Center, is our special guest host.

Guests

Julie Rains of Valley Center School District &
Cori Silvey of Changing Tides, Helping Hands, Port Madison Indian Reservation

Julie Rains has been serving families with the Valley Center school district in Kansas for 6 years, and previously worked with families with Maize, Kansas Parents as Teachers, and the Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas. Julie’s team used their Challenge Grant award to create and operate the Valley Center Schools’ “Book Buggy”.

Cori Silvey is a Suquamish tribal member and Indigenous Parents as Teachers case-carrying Program Supervisor for the Changing Tides, Helping Hands home visiting program on the Port Madison Indian Reservation. Cori has been working with children and families in her tribal community for over fifteen years, providing direct services and support to help enhance the parenting experiences for those she cares most about. Cori’s team used their award to support their first ever Indigenous Parenting Conference bringing together nearly 100 Indigenous parents and caretakers.