The network's President Wendy D. Puriefoy said the local funds have sought to use their money and political clot to shape the schoool reform process and improve the education of childrean in city schools. Carolyn Akers, executive director of the Mobile foundation, said in its early stages ,she sought out those progressing along quickly. What these foundations have in common is an outreach to parents and communitiies. In 1998. the MAEF Partners program was recognized by the McKee Foundation as an exemplary prgram administered outside a local school sytem. The Mobile School system contracts with MAEF to hire, train and supervise parents to work with school administrators.
Parents also develop methods of increasin parental involvement in schools.
Hamiliton Co. Professional development was historically a primary emphasis. This is about whole-school change through professional development. By funding fewer schools, yet providing larger grants for longer periods of time, the foundation hopes to help schools undertake fundamental and far-reaching change. This three-year community organizing effort aims to help interested communities and schools identify and address issues that affect their children.