Each semester, Dr. Julie Hartman’s Family & Community Engagement class at BJU helps host a family night event at Judson School (fall) and YouthBASE (spring), two local agencies serving children ages 3–8 from under-resourced communities. These events are designed to strengthen family engagement, boost family literacy, and give BJU students hands-on experience supporting children and families.
Just before the Thanksgiving break, 31 BJU students helped host the Family Gratitude Night at Judson School, timed during a mealtime to make it easier for families to attend.” In addition, thanks to generous donations from Greenville First Steps & The Dolly Parton Imagination Library, each Judson student—and their siblings—left with a new book.
The night began with BJU students serving a meal of turkey, chicken, green beans, salad, rolls, and (best of all) brownies. The evening also offered opportunities for children and families to connect through shared activities. “I loved talking to one of the families and making many connections in our lives and past experiences,” one student observed. “While their backgrounds were different from mine, I was able to make connections with them throughout the event.”
The event focused on activities that promoted family literacy. “Family engagement really matters,” one student remarked. “Kids get more excited about learning when their parents are involved.” Placemats that students could color and interact with were placed at every seat. The children and their parents worked together to complete a “Gratitude Alphabet,” compiling all the letters at the end to create a banner filled with things they are thankful for. BJU students also read books aloud and provided interactive, literacy-focused activities for families to enjoy together.
As a Christian university, BJU emphasizes the importance of the family as children’s first and best teachers. For BJU students—future teachers, social workers, and other child- and family-facing professionals—the event was more than an activity —it was a powerful learning experience. One student reflected, “My faith helped me see building these relationships as an act of love, service, and witness.” Events like this give our community partners and families the tools and encouragement to support their children’s learning while allowing BJU students to gain real-world experience in family and community engagement.
Dr. Hartman and her students look forward to continuing these meaningful events. If you or someone you know would be interested in sponsoring future family nights like this one, please reach out to Dr. Hartman at [email protected] for more information.
