Human Services News

Knight Foundation 2005 Annual Report

Under the leadership of Muhammed Chaudhry, the Knight-funded Stepping Stones project of the Franklin McKinley Education Foundation in San Jose, Calif., takes a unique "hub and spoke" approach to ensure that preschool children get access to a range of services - from dental care to reading lessons, from clinic check-ups to help for their low-income parents.

An important part of the equation is building trust: once families succeed in getting help, they feel confident enough to come back again for the other services their children might need.

Most importantly, Chaudhry ensures each recipient is treated with dignity and encouraged to understand the self-worth necessary for success.