Hema Khatri, a junior majoring in early childhood education and a teacher in a Great Start Readiness Program, transformed her coursework into community impact by leading a dental health outreach and family-nature project.

Dental Health Initiative 

Inspired by RCU classes such as Family Education and Advocacy, Khatri transformed her coursework into community impact by leading a dental health outreach for preschoolers at Heartfelt Impressions Learning Center – Lake Orion. She partnered with local pediatric specialists to provide free dental screenings and health education to more than 120 children and families.

“RCU’s Christ-centered program reminds me that faith and education work together,” Khatri said. “It’s about building bridges between teachers, families and the community to help every child thrive.”

Family Nature Project

Khatri also led a nature-based family partnership activity in her Great Start Readiness Program preschool classroom. During October, she invited families to participate in a “Nature Scavenger Walk,” encouraging caregivers and children to explore outdoors together, collect natural items such as leaves, stones, pinecones, and sticks, and bring them back to school to share.

Children proudly described where they went, what they discovered, and why those items were meaningful, strengthening language, confidence and family connection. The collected nature treasures were used for classroom exploration, sensory play and storytelling experiences, Khatri said.

This initiative reflects Khatri’s commitment to building strong school-family partnerships and promoting hands-on, nature-based learning aligned with developmentally appropriate practice. Families shared positive feedback, and children expressed excitement and pride in exploring nature with loved ones, reinforcing the value of community partnership in early childhood education.

Khatri’s impact on her community reflect RCU’s mission to educate, equip and inspire future educators who lead with service, compassion and purpose.