This year’s Roseland Institute for Summer Enrichment – RISE! – was a stunning success. Twenty-eight children, ages 6-12 years old, enjoyed the two-week institute. The focus was on character building activities, community building projects and loads of fun. Under the direction of Latisha “Miss T” Miller and program assistants Wanda Jackson and Elijah Sutton, as well as numerous community volunteers, RISE participants worked hard, played hard, ate well and learned a lot. 

 

Among the many activities the children participated in were Building Your Community with Dr. Joseph Fox; Goal Setting and Time Management with Town of Tryon Commissioner Chrelle Booker; an Eastside History Walking Tour with Dr. Warren Carson, along with arts and crafts, dance and music, organized sports, board games, and the like.

 

The children also enjoyed a trip to Shipwreck Cove water park and participated in the Eastside Back-to-School Bash, where the Town of Tryon and Steps to Hope treated them with lunch, book bags and back to school supplies and an afternoon of fun at play stations and bouncy houses of all descriptions.

 

RISE! is the signature summer program at Roseland Community Center. This year, Roseland welcomed as a funding partner the Polk County Community Foundation who provided a generous grant to assist with the program. Member churches of the Eastside Pastors and Ministers Coalition, along with area businesses and individuals, provided lunches and snacks for the participants.

 

Roseland’s Board of Directors is ecstatic with the success of the program and are already in the process of planning and fundraising for next year’s institute. 

 

Submitted by Dr. Warren J. Carson