Ind. House of Representatives gives back to the community

House Speaker Brian C. Bosma (R-Indianapolis), along with fellow House legislators and staff, joined students at the Shepherd Community Center in Indianapolis to read to students as part of a bipartisan House service day.

House members brought their favorite children’s books to read to underprivileged kindergartners and first and second grade students at Shepherd Community. The Shepherd Community Center is dedicated to supporting impoverished children in the fight against poverty.

“Early childhood education is a major part of our agenda. In the House we realize that a strong educational start will lay a strong foundation for the rest of a child’s life. Reading to a child at a young age is vital to their development. It’s great that we are able to come together as a legislature, put partisan politics aside and give back to our community in an impactful way,” said Speaker Bosma.

Children living in poverty are more likely to be further behind their peers when they begin their K-12 education. These children are less likely to be enrolled in pre-K programs or have meaningful educational experiences prior to entering kindergarten. A child in an impoverished family is read to an average of 25 hours before they start kindergarten, compared to an average of 1,000 hours for children of middle-class families.

“It is truly humbling to see all the work that Shepherd Community Center is doing to break the cycle of poverty. I look forward to all of the good that comes from such an incredible organization,” said Speaker Bosma.

More information about Shepherd Community Center can be found on their website at www.shepherdcommunity.org.