transforming lives ~ one child at a time
transforming lives ~ one child at a time
Diana Christiana and her husband Jack felt called by God when they moved from Richmond to their beach house on Tiki Island. What they didn’t know at the time, was that His plan would include mentoring 21 children and a group of young professionals.
“I met Brandon (Director of Student Ministries & Media) on his first day with GUM. We were donating a washer and dryer and there was much time to laugh and get to know each other as we struggled to get the appliances down the stairs. Brandon invited me to volunteer and kept in touch every so often; Jack & I became quite close with Brandon and his wife TJ. I didn’t know anyone on island and finally agreed to volunteer. That was my entryway to GUM. I’ve been volunteering with children and enjoying the staff ever since.”
As a Medical Speech Language Pathologist, Diana is required to take continuing education courses to keep her license. Her expertise focused on adults, yet when she came to GUM Diana’s focus shifted. “The kids immediately grabbed my heart,” she remembers. “They meant so much to me and my professional focus naturally shifted because I wanted to help them catch up.”
Diana recognized that many neighborhood children were language delayed, so she began studying Early Childhood Language Development. “There is a correlation between language and reading readiness,” she explains. “Many of our children are struggling with reading in school.”
Research shows that, by the age of 3, children living in poverty hear 30 million fewer words than their more affluent peers. By the time they enter kindergarten, children from poverty are two years behind in language development. “Statistically, if a child can’t read by 4th grade, they won’t graduate from high school,” says Diana. “If you can’t read in school, you’ll be left out in life. Our kids deserve better. They have too much to contribute to be left out.”
It is this deep regard for our neighborhood children that led Diana to approach their parents. “We really listened to parents, that’s how we discovered the gaps. Parents say their kids are failing reading and need homework help. Grandparents talk about the need for setting healthy boundaries, and staff observed our kids struggling with their emotions.”
These conversations and her own professional experience led Diana to develop GUM’s newest program “Parent Connect.” In partnership with DePelchin Children’s Center and the Occupational Therapy department at UTMB, Diana and Candis Jones (Community Director) designed a three month experiential course for children and their parents.
Diana hosts Parent Connect twice monthly at GUM’s Community Center. Subject matter experts and parents gather together to practice simple yet effective communication techniques. “We’re creating a toolbox of tools you can use to develop your child’s language skills,” Diana explains to parents as they create “emotion meters” from brightly colored yarn and popsicle sticks. “The tools are simple and easy to Incorporate into your daily life. Think about using them when you’re cooking dinner or during bath time. You’ll be amazed at the difference 15 or 20 minutes can make for your child!”
While parents are learning to use their emotion meters, their children are in another part of the building working on the same skill with UTMB’s Occupational Therapy students. About 30 minutes before the workshop ends, children and parents reunite to practice the technique together. The room fills with laughter and the happy chaos of families learning and growing together.
“GUM focuses on trusting GOD,” shares Diana when asked why she chooses to volunteer so much time with GUM. “Everyone here has a mutually respectful relationship with God and with each other. There is a different philosophy with GUM ~ it’s respect and working together. Nothing is given away and everyone contributes.”
“If your heart is open, if you want to learn through your giving, and if you’re willing to listen and work together this is the place to be.”