Founded as a community-based organization, the WREM Literacy Group, Inc. (WREM) is a 501(c) (3), established in June of 2008 to address adverse issues in education and the need for decent, affordable, housing in the community. The organization was founded by
Nikisha Jackson, a seasoned and credentialed educator in early childhood literacy. Teaming with her mother,
Deborah M. Dennis, the two have turned WREM into a unique community organization; one with dual focus: 1) improving the opportunities for decent and affordable housing in the community; and 2) addressing the issues that cause children to lag behind academically, socially, and financially. Through a vivid focus, the mission of the organization entails creating an environment, housing and academic, in which our children will be provided the equipment to excel in the classroom commencing age three.
From its inception, the focus of the organization has been centered around inspiring success in early childhood academics. In 2009, the organization included quality housing in its vision to join in proving the research that children who are reared in decent housing perform better in school. The future of our children depends on how well we prepare their ability to meet the challenges of tomorrow. WREM provides services to the community with the FUTURE of the child in mind. The organization is focused on addressing those issues in the community that have been proven to negatively affect a child’s development, causing them to lag behind in education. Providing decent housing in the community and implementing educational reform from the early childhood level through its specialized reading program both comprise the plan to achieve its purpose.
WREM provides many services in the community based on its
core values. Its core services include the provision of quality housing --- housing rehabilitation, rental subsidy, downpayment assistance, and new home construction. In addition, our services include developing
curriculum that addresses those issues in academics that preclude children from mastering mandates and excelling in writing, reading, English, and math. Planned for the future is
the Your Discovery Place. The Your Discovery Place is an audacious goal and vision of the organization. It is a 13000 sf facility specifically designed for citizens of Waller County that will house programs in health, homebuyer preparation and counseling, early childhood literacy, self-sufficiency training for adults and high-school drop-outs, job skills training including computer technology and specialized services to veterans and the re-entry populations as well as educational services to re-train seniors looking for work.
The Board of Directors is comprised of fifteen members, some of whom come from the Waller County community and others who are advocates of the mission and direction of the organization. It is a diverse group coming together in a non-partisan, multi-ethnic and multi-racial union to assist the organization in achieving its goals and staying true to its core values. The Executive Director and the Board of Directors set policies, monitor the achievement of goals, and provide long range planning and operations oversight.
In 2011, WREM applied for status as a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO). In January of 2012, the CHDO status will be designated. As a CHDO, WREM will have the capacity to improve economic development in the city of Prairie View and provide
quality housing throughout Waller County. WREM is headquartered in Prairie View, TX at 100 Clark Street. From its headquarters, it will serve as a hub for community revitalization. Close to the Prairie View A & M University, the organization will take advantage of this proximity and build the
Your Discovery Place Center on its campus. Linking with other community-based and faith-based organizations, businesses, and the university, this center will offer services to low and moderate income communities -- much needed services designed to ameliorate the conditions that keep them enslaved to poverty. The mission of the Your Discovery Place is to aid the client in becoming self-reliant and productive citizens, through the many programs that will be offered to develop skills, job training, howeownership, and quality living. The center will exist to provide an avenue for anyone in the community in need of a future and economic advancement to acquire the education and training to become self-reliant -- once given a helping hand.
The practices of the WREM Literacy Group, Inc. will not violate any of the laws, rules, and regulations regarding discrimination in housing. It is an equal opportunity organization and has established policies to assure discrimination in regards to gender, race, and sexual orientation will never occur in the workplace.