#MightySmallMoments: New city initiative to end achievement gap

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The city of Milwaukee is tackling learning gaps for children where parents and businesses are involved. Their initiative, #MightySmallMoments, aims to end the achievement gap in the city.

The Early Childhood Initiatives office for the city of Milwaukee has partnered up with local businesses to create learning spaces for children from the ages zero to three. On Wednesday, in a partnership with the Milwaukee Health Department, they unveiled the first "pop spot," an interactive learning installation.

"I like to call it a movement where all of us can do more to support early learning and development. Parents can't do it alone and teachers can't do it alone, and why should they be expected to?" said Dea Wright, director of Early Childhood Initiatives for the city of Milwaukee.

According to a 2019 report from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, Wisconsin has the widest achievement gap in the nation.

Wright said Covid-19 added to educational challenges and said her office is working to combat those. The initiative can be seen in several billboards and posters around the city. They give parents easy tips on how they can get involved in the early development of their children.

The "pop spots" will be found in public spaces in Milwaukee's most at-risk ZIP codes. One neighborhood grandmother told CBS 58 that those learning spaces not only give children something to do, but can also make them feel like they have a purpose.

"It's very important because it seems like the kids get left out, and it's all about adult stuff and they get bored easily, and if they have stuff like this, it gives them a chance to feel like they belong," said Maria Beltran.

Wright said they are currently working on a website with helpful resources for Milwaukee parents. She said more "pop spots" will appear around the city in the next couple of weeks.