It Takes a Village

Free comes to Elon from Kentucky State University where she has served as the 4-H State program leader, 4-H specialist and director of the Rosenwald 4-H Youth Development Center for the past five years.

This fall Elon’s “It Takes a Village Project” was able to work with 11 of the 12 Title I elementary schools in the Alamance-Burlington School System thanks to a grant from the Oak Foundation.

Elon’s renowned program for struggling young readers has received new Oak Foundation funding to serve more children over the next five years.

The It Take A Village Project took on a virtual form this spring, as Elon students partnered with K-5 students from seven local elementary schools for 10 weeks of tutoring and connections.

This summer, the university’s innovative E Company program leveraged the time and talents of Elon students to meet the needs of local K-12 students as well as to assist with preparations for fall semester.

Elon took its annual Summer in the Village enrichment program online this year by building a broader team to support students.

Longtime Elon supporters Bob and Barbara Byrd are including Elon in their estate plans to support the Department of Music, Elon Academy and the “It Takes a Village” Project.

Amy and Rob Heinrich P’22 of Grayslake, Illinois, create life-changing opportunities for ‘tough and tenacious’ students in the Odyssey Program. Their gift is counted toward the Elon LEADS Campaign.

The "It Takes a Village" Project's fall semester concluded with a food-themed lesson hosted by Elon Dining and Harvest Table Culinary Group.

The project will conclude for the year with a hands-on learning event held in partnership with Harvest Table Culinary Group on Dec. 4 in Alumni Gym.