CCAGTC
Central Cities Association for Gifted and Talented Children
The Central Cities Association for Gifted and Talented Children (CCAGTC) believes that giftedness exists in every community, but access to opportunities to discover and develop those gifts does not. Historically underrepresented gifted, talented, and twice-exceptional (2e) children deserve equitable access to identification, challenging educational programs, enrichment, mentoring, and the support necessary to reach their full potential.
Too many capable children remain unidentified or underserved because of race, culture, language, income, disability, geography, or limited access to information and resources. A child's ZIP code, family income, cultural background, or disability should never determine whether their gifts are recognized and nurtured.
In 2020, Patricia and AyiKwei Kimathi established CCAGTC as a nonprofit organization after decades of working with children and families through The Learning Tree Enrichment Center. Their experiences demonstrated a continuing need for an organization specifically committed to helping historically underrepresented families understand giftedness, locate resources, advocate within schools, and connect children with opportunities.
CCAGTC was created to help close that opportunity gap.
Historically, Black, Latino, Native American, low-income, English-learning, and other underserved students have been underrepresented in gifted education and advanced academic programs. Twice-exceptional children face additional barriers because disabilities or learning differences may mask their advanced abilities, while their giftedness may also hide areas in which they need support.
When giftedness goes unidentified, children do not simply miss a label. They may miss years of appropriate challenge, enrichment, mentorship, scholarships, advanced coursework, and opportunities to discover what they can accomplish.
CCAGTC believes parents and caregivers must be informed and empowered partners in their children's education. Families need understandable information about gifted identification, 2e needs, advanced coursework, special education, enrichment, STEM, technology, visual and performing arts, athletics, scholarships, and other pathways for developing talent.
Through workshops, webinars, publications, advocacy, community partnerships, and family resources, CCAGTC works to provide families with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed educational decisions.
However, information alone is not enough. Families need access. A parent may recognize extraordinary artistic, academic, technological, leadership, or athletic potential in a child, but without affordable programs, transportation, knowledgeable educators, mentors, or financial resources, that potential may remain undeveloped.
CCAGTC is committed to four interconnected principles: community building, advocacy, empowerment, and access. We work to build partnerships with schools, families, community organizations, professionals, and programs that can expand opportunities for gifted, talented, and 2e children.
We advocate for equitable identification practices and meaningful participation in gifted education, advanced academics, STEM, technology, visual and performing arts, athletics, and other enrichment opportunities. We also encourage schools to recognize that giftedness can appear differently across cultures, communities, learning profiles, and life experiences.
CCAGTC calls upon families, educators, schools, community organizations, professionals, policymakers, and supporters to help identify and remove the barriers that prevent historically underrepresented children from developing their abilities.
Families should not have to navigate gifted education alone. Communities should not lose generations of talent simply because opportunities were unavailable or inaccessible.
Talent exists in every community, and opportunity should too.