Collaborating For Change

by Drew Tatum

As the "Closing The Gap," initiative carts onward, Brandon Publishing continues to hover within a paradisal position with partnerships. The companies goal to provide youth across the state of Michigan with books (900 books for 900 students) continues to grow expeditiously. "We set out to do good work within Michigan communities; community members recognize it, then ultimately place us in conversation or collaboration with others who are doing the same," states Publisher Kellen Brandon.

Sharing the same goals and desired outcomes makes partnership much easier for collaborators. In January of 2016, Michigan State University & Hurley Children's Hospital (Flint, Michigan) collaborated to construct and pioneer the Pediatric Public Health Initiative. The overall mission of PPHI is to improve the outcomes of Flint children. This mission is being carried out through community and clinical programs, childhood health policy and advocacy, and robust evaluation.

The initiative also focuses on the importance of early literacy work--tending specifically to the critical window of rapid brain development during the first five years of a child’s life. Children who hear fewer words or do not have access to the written word between birth and five years of age will begin school developmentally behind those of their peers and may risk never catching up. Although there are recent challenges to the study, the work to provide youth who lack access to diverse reading materials continues.