CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dr. Devonya Govan-Hunt’s work is personal.
“When children were considered to be misbehaving or in trouble, the kid that had to sit at the desk by the teacher’s desk with his or her head down on the desk all looked the same," Govan-Hunt said. "The majority of them looked like my brother."
Govan-Hunt is the Executive Director of the Black Child Development Institute Carolinas.
The education leader wears different hats within the education advocacy space in Mecklenburg County.
“This organization is an opportunity to not only lead the fight against false narratives but to also demonstrate what providing culturally affirming and uplifting environments for our children and supportive systems for our families look like,” Govan-Hunt explained.
While BCDI Carolinas advocates for policies at the local, state and federal level, Govan-Hunt said her staff works to make a difference in the classroom for Black and brown students to help them get ahead.
The organization does this through book giveaways and family empowerment programs.
“We distributed over 12,000 pieces of literature to help build home libraries and school classroom libraries,” Govan-Hunt said.
They also have a literacy program.
“You can change the life of one child," BCDI Family Literacy Engagement Specialist Karita Pimentel said. "You see their growth and you’re like I’ve seen where this child started. Now I see where they are ending."
Right now, the program is in 15 Title I schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system.
Albert Horne Sr. is a Charlotte native and Assistant Literacy Coordinator for BCDI. He uses life lessons to get across the program’s importance to students.
“I was actually the best reader in my household," Horne said. "I’m talking adults and kids. I helped my sisters and brothers with their homework. I try to relay how literacy and reading books and doing things a certain way when it comes to that is very important."
New data from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction shows elementary school students are showing a big improvement in their reading skills.
However, the study also highlights achievement gaps among children of color.
Govan-Hunt said while the organization’s mission in 2024 isn’t shifting, they’re in the process of transitioning.
“We have made the transition from BCDI-Charlotte to BCDI-Carolinas because we recognize there is a need for an even larger groundswell of support around this mission. So, that means our focus on literacy and making sure we not only empower our parents but partner with the people that are teaching our children,” Govan-Hunt explained.
Govan-Hunt said they are also working to purge the preschool-to-prison pipeline and want to establish action groups across North and South Carolina.
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