Many people can find themselves going to school or even working in a place where they may not have a firm grasp on the local language. That's why there are places that offer them the chance to grow those skills. The Language Company helps by providing instruction in language along with cultural opportunities to those looking for educational, professional and personal enrichment.

Sometimes there needs to be a better balance between academic learning and social emotional learning. The Responsive Classroom bridges this gap through a set of research and evidence based practices meant to create a safe, joyful and engaging classroom and school community for the students and the teachers. We explore how a school corporation is putting this idea into practice at the elementary level.

The rates of childhood bullying have risen over the last couple of years. To address this issue the St Joseph County Medical Society all middle school students out to take part in multiple workshops to help prevent and address issues like stress control, cyber bullying, healthy eating and opioids/drug abuse, along with lunch in hopes of helping the students understand ways to combat the effects of bullying can have on their health.

Giving toddlers access to quality early learning can be very important for the development of a child. Yet so many children go without a quality learning daycare program through the state of Indiana. This can be for a variety of reason including family fit, conflicting work schedules, and even finances. Ready To Grow St. Joe presented a summit to teach and help community leaders address this growing issue.

In looking for different and unique pre-k programs, we discovered one who uses movement and dance to reinforce academic learning. At Academy Arts Preschool, children ages three to five get to learn the basics of education through movement and hands on activities. These students are taking their first steps towards their educational futures.

When kids hear the word science, they often imagine a world of lab coats and numbers on a board. But science can also be fun. Groups like the Chem Demo Team at the University of Notre Dame show off just how fun science experiments can be for young students. Like the name suggests, the team demonstrates hands-on activities for school children to help them develop an interest in science.

The world we live in is becoming more and more diverse, people working together from all walks of life. Understanding another cultures background and experiences can present a barrier in the work and school. To address this issue Dr. Mary Bacon held a discussion called No Malice Required, Achieving Equity for All. This presentation helped to address cultural differences and experiences as well as how our differences can bring us together.  

Getting outside and up close to nature is an important part of being a kid. At Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, children are able to get hands on learning through their Pond Study class. The kids aren't just learning about wetlands in a classroom, they're right in the thick of it and finding the various critters who live there.

For students studying art in college, the summer months can often be a time where the creative flow gets put on hold. But some have the chance to keep working on their craft through a summer residency program at the South Bend Museum of Art. Here, they get to use the museum's creative spaces and receive feedback on their works in progress they may not receive while in school.

In the city of South Bend lies a place that works to promote inclusivity and empowerment for LGBTQ members in our community. This organization achieves its goals by educating and offering resources to affirming and accepting workplaces and schools. They also provide diversity training, a research-validated substance abuse prevention program, social groups, and more.

It's often said that behind every great man is a great woman. Terri Russ noticed that when people told the story of South Bend's history it was often stories of the men who made it happen, but what she would later learn is that the women of South Bend made an incredible impact for this community as well and their stories deserved to be heard and shared. This resulted in the founding of the Michiana Women Leaders organization, where they work to chronicle, celebrate and recognize the many women who made a difference in our community.