Welcome to Dakota Bear Interactive Story Telling!
Bienvenu
እንኳን ደህና መጣህ
inikwani dehina met’ahi
Bienvenida
Irasshaimase
欢迎 Huānyíng
Willkommen
mrhbaan
Our Mission
Dakota Bears Faith Journey is an early literacy program designed to strengthen the literacy gap for young children before and during PreK by using our Faith-Based and Literacy book series. Our mission is to give young children the tools to develop a rich vocabulary by teaching them reading skills, comprehension, and how to express themselves. The young children that Dakota Bears Faith Journey encounter will have the tools and resources needed for school readiness. They will also have the components that will ultimately lead to successful readers and the love of learning.
Hi, my name is Dakota Bear !
About Dakota Bear's Faith Journey
Dakota Bear’s unique interactive story telling experience will open your child’s imagination, spark playful learning, and allow them to explore their world through play and hands on experiences through story telling. We visit children in their schools, in their homes, or in their communities; where they are eager to experience the Dakota Bear’s unique and adventurous interactive shows.
The Dakota Bear Faith Journey book series is children’s invitation to imagination! They are designed to actively involve children in their learning process. We provide our books and other services free to facilities and educational setting that serve at-risk children.
Meet our Team
Doris Hairston, Chairperson
Doris grew up in the church and have served in the church the majority of her life. There is where she learned the benefits of serving and giving of herself and monetarily. Doris has taught for over 17 years, within her teaching experience she worked with children from various social and economic backgrounds. She also noticed the same reading struggles children of color has. Reading statistics reports has been disproportionately dispositioned with children in lower economically disadvantaged communities across the country for many years and it continues to spiral faster since COVID. To fill that gap, Doris decided to serve her community with her vision. She started taking Dakota Faith Journey Corporation on the road to various children's friendly entities. She started serving children with low social-economic status, children who doesn’t have a book bag or box type library of favorite books in their home by providing free literacy books for children who has the love of learning! Doris has received an Associate’s, in Early Childhood Education, (Salem Community College) Bachelor of Arts/Special Education and a master’s degree in early childhood education from Grand Canyon University and continues her educational studies at George Mason University.
Devon Hairston, Vice Chairperson
Devon has been an integral part of Dakota Bears Faith Journey since he was a child. He understands and values the importance of early language and literacy skills as he attributes his accomplishments to both of them. He’s the inspiration of many of the books in our Dakota Bears book series. He also assists with and oversee the children show productions. Devon graduated from Morgan State University and has plans to marry his fiancé soon.
El Shaddai Burks, Secretary
ElShaddai has been an integral part of Dakota Bears Faith Journey since she was a child. She understands and values the importance of having early language and literacy skills as she attributes her accomplishments to both of them. She’s the inspiration of many of the books in our Dakota Bears book series. In addition to her secretarial duties, she also assists with and oversee the children show productions. ElShaddai attended Cumberland Community College and is now married and has two beautiful children. Her children have had the privilege of having the Dakota Bears experience!
Brook McBride, Treasurer
Brook has been a part of Dakota Bears Faith Journey since she was a child. She has also inspired many of the books in the Dakota Bears book series. In addition to her treasurer’s duties, she assists with and oversees the children show productions. Brook understands and values the importance of having early language and literacy skills as she attributes her accomplishment to her early childhood reading. Ms. McBride attended Newman College and is now married and the mother of 3 children. She used the same literacy tools and strategies that were given to her as a child. By doing so, she is instilling in her children the love of learning and equipping them with the basic tools they will need to achieve their highest potential.
*Dakota Bears Faith Journey began as a Nonprofit Community Helpers Foundation 2019. Community Helpers launched 2020 as the COVID Pandemic set in, it limited our mission. Dakota Bears Faith Journey and Community Helpers will function as one as we continue to work with Biz Central USA to manage state compliance standards. Employer Identification Number: 84-3343827
Cotton Candy Jupiter
I See Th Cake
I See The Pizza
Dakota's Faith Journey
When I Dream of Heaven
Don't wait or hesitate to get in touch with us today to share an amazing, exciting experience of interactive story telling!
Show Information
Shows are 45 minutes to 1 hour starting at$170. Dakota Bear's shows focus on children engagement and learning. Please send an email stating the date and time you would like Dakota Bear to perform an interactive storytelling show. dfaithjourney@gmail.com
Donations are accepted on our secure site for the cost to provide free books and shows to children in less desirable communities and for the cost of travel. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see our surprise and requested stops! Invite us over we would love to hear about your reading journey.
Teddy Bear gift sets are given with All donations of $45 or more.