What We Do

Gulf Coast Education Empowerment Institute dba English Bates Group Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit, which provides education and academic services to members of the community.

Our Purpose

1. To raise the educational, economic, emotional, and social levels of community members through education.
2. To foster and promote community-wide interest and concern for problems of residents so that:
   1. Educational and economic opportunities may be expanded.
   2. Sickness, poverty, crime, and environmental degradation may decrease.
   3. Affordable health care may be provided.
   4. Racial tensions, prejudice, and discrimination, economic or otherwise, may be eliminated.

In our mobile, hustle and bustle society, parents regardless of whether they are two-parent household, or single-parent household have a difficult time just sitting at a table and having a meal together. As grand-parents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends, we need to become more accommodating and have a vested interest in fulfilling the needs of our children as they grow and develop into young adults.

Often, parents are intimidated and feel a lack of confidence when engaging systems that house their children. It is very important that parents be involved in the lives of their children during their educational process. To advocate for their children, parents need correct information, skill, and support. Research has shown that when parents are involved in the education of their children, academic achievement increases.

WE were stronger when WE knew our neighbors and their children by name. WE were stronger when children within the community were everyone’s children. WE were stronger when WE were involved in each other’s lives, trusted each other, cared for each other, supported each other, and took care of each other. WE were one big family. WE were everyone’s children.