(PHOENIX, Ariz., Sept. 8, 2004) – As Phoenix College thrives on its rich multicultural student population, its Family Care and Head Start Center applauds and appreciates its unique diversity as well. With languages ranging from Navajo to Russian, the Family Care and Head Start Center is truly an international base.

According to Phoenix College Family Care and Head Start Center director, Alverta McKenzie, this semester alone, children at the center speak Navajo, Spanish, English, French, Ouolof (Wolof), Portuguese, Vietnamese and Russian.

Over the years, the Family Care and Head Start Center has been a unique home to many children as their parent or parents embraced the learning opportunities at Phoenix College. In an effort to make their day as comfortable and as enjoyable as possible, Family Care and Head Start Center staff incorporate and use teaching models that encompass the vast and diverse cultures found on the Phoenix College campus.

From reading materials to comforting quilts, members of the Family Care and Head Start Center do all that they can to make the children feel right at home. A prominent example and an effective teaching tool used in the center is a set of 12 multicultural dolls. As the dolls represent children from all over the world, many of the children inside the center see themselves within these dolls.

“Our dolls and their personas are used in many ways to teach young children about the kind and fair treatment of others,” said McKenzie. “This strengthens social, emotional and cognitive development. The “Persona Doll Story” technique helps children realize that even though a doll is not a real child, there is a real child who experiences the feeling of being hurt by words or actions of others. Children love dolls and help think of solutions for many issues that come up in the classroom.”

The center has proudly used these dolls for approximately six years and as time progressed, the dolls’ traditional dress had become worn and tattered.

“The American Sewing Guild came to the rescue,” explained McKenzie. Sylvia Johns, Phoenix College retired faculty member, is one of the 600 members of the Phoenix Chapter. She graciously recruited a number of community sewers during a summer “Sew-In,” which resulted in 20 stylish, back-to-school outfits for the dolls. All outfits reflect the cultures of the dolls. They are so beautiful and our dolls are now back-to-school in style.”

The Phoenix College Family Care and Head Start Center, which serves 78 children ages two to five, is especially designed for the children of college students who are also parents. Parents must be enrolled in a minimum of three credit hours at Phoenix College.

The American Sewing Guild, a national nonprofit organization, is active in promoting sewing for the enjoyment, artistic enrichment and teaching of others. Members work toward educating themselves and host nationally known sewists, designers, pattern makers and machine embroidery designers for mini-workshops. The organization is dedicated to community and charitable sewing. The Phoenix Chapter has more than 600 members.

###