Back to School rally more than backpacks
Parents say annual event has increasingly become a resource for them
As some parents made a dash to line up for free school supplies, Lacresia Williams stood attentively at a booth run by the Baltimore City Fire Department, studying a dummy.
Pressing her hands on its chest, she pumped over and over until she got the proper rhythm for the 100 compressions that could one day save her three schoolage children’s lives.
“We’re not here to get free stuff,” she said, as she walked away with tips for properly doing CPR. “I need this for them. I’m getting me ready.”
Williams was one of thousands of parents who poured into the Baltimore Convention Center on Saturday afternoon for the mayor’s annual Back to School rally, a one-stop shop for families to start the school year with updated school supplies, immunizations and a wealth of information and activities.
This year, the rally was held in partnership with the National Urban League — Saturday was the final day of the organization’s national conference in Baltimore — and the Kevin Liles For A Better Baltimore Foundation.
It was the last hosted by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who did not run for re-election this year and under whose tenure the annual event has flourished.
“It’s always important for me to make sure our young people are ready to head back to school,” the mayor said. “I remember how excited I was. I know how excited my daughter is for the first day of school. And to be able to work with great partners to make sure all of Baltimore families are ready, it’s very meaningful.”
Over the years, the event has moved to bigger venues, and the 6,500 stuffed backpacks on hand Saturday were the most yet.
“It was hard to imagine when I started out it would get this big.”
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
“It was hard to imagine when I started out it would get this big,” Rawlings-Blake said.
More than 40 exhibitors were in attendance at the event, which included booths and workshops parents could attend to get tips on everything from nutrition to networking.
Before Elaine Ellerbee ventured to secure her granddaughter a backpack featuring the character Elsa from the movie “Frozen,” she circled around the Expo Hall looking for ways she could help better support the first-grader.
“It’s a lot of information here,” Ellerbee said, looking around. “A lot of information about how I can be better educated myself to help her.”
Among her first lessons: how to pronounce the last name of the new city schools superintendent.
Sonja Santelises (Sant-a-LEE-sez) became the new schools CEO on July 1. She was on hand to welcome families and remind them of the Aug. 29 start date.
She said events like the back-to-school rally are critical to fill in readiness gaps for families and ensure that students are in school on the first day, and every day.
“We know that young people are less likely to come if they don’t have it all ready,” Santelises said.
Ellerbee was pleased the new schools chief was there.
“It’s wonderful,” she said after meeting Santelises. “See — we all need to be educated. She’s out here learning too.”