Week Seven | Dual Feature: Jalaya Provitt & Renda White

Supporting Local Students During COVID-19

Two women inspire, educate and support youth 

Jalaya Provitt and Renda White have continued to lead their students and staff at Inspiring Minds in Warren as the high school and K8 program coordinators, respectively. When the stay-at-home orders were implemented at the beginning of COVID-19 and schools and other youth service providers closed their physical doors, these two women stepped up.

Jalaya and Renda helped figure out ways to continue supporting and encouraging our students and their families – despite the challenges in doing so. Primarily identified was the need to provide structure for students with education and enrichment programming and to make sure families had food and essential supplies. Jalaya and Renda got to work with their staff to determine students’ immediate needs, asking questions such as did students have access to the internet and computers to be able to learn remotely? The program coordinators also worked with Warren City Schools to get access to assignments for each grade level.

^Jalaya Provitt and her IM students

In addition to “typical” concerns that students face, there was added anxiety over the uncertainties the pandemic brought on as everyone’s lives got turned upside down. These women made sure their students continued to have online education, social emotional support, and enrichment activities, such as tutoring, physical fitness activities, and fun programs like scavenger hunts using Zoom and Microsoft 365, among other platforms. Additionally, Jalaya and Renda shopped for and safely delivered food and supplies for families that needed a little extra help during this difficult time.

^Renda White and her IM students

Despite a tumultuous final part of the year and 78% of students reporting they were worried about their education, Inspiring Minds students ended on a successful note. Now Jalaya and Renda are leading their teams to develop and provide summer and after school programming that follows health and safety guidelines while continuing to offer support for their students who need models of strength, resiliency, and leadership now more than ever.

Jalaya and Renda are true Women Warriors on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, building and maintaining an integral support system for local youth during the uncertainty of today’s world, especially in the realm of education. It is women like them who will help our community make it through this #Together.