Lakewood's Promise

Scratch – it is something everyone should check out

ksample — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:46:15 +0000

Scratch 2.0 Now Available

The newest version of Scratch is now available!Go to scratch.mit.edu to explore all of the latest functionality, including web-based project authoring, and the addition of new features — such as cloning, make a block, and cloud variables.

If I were an educator (…oh wait, I am)

Reset. As an educator, I suggest that everyone should check out Scratch – a kid centered, but fun for adults too, programming language from MIT. I believe that if we do not instill computer programming into young minds early, then we may as well throw technology out of the classrooms altogether. Because computers now focus on media, and cell phone apps are merely things you download, most kids today are not learning to think like computer scientists and may be actually taking a step backward from the previous generation.

Scratch is a great first step to understand loops, variables, probability, etc. – the tools of a programmer.

Now Scratch is cloud-based. This is way-cool. Projects can be saved and shared online. Programmers can look at the “code” from other projects, which is a great way to learn and experiment.

All around the world folks are participating in Scratch Days, celebrating the need for all of us to be innovators and designers, and not just end-users.

Try out Scratch for yourself and be an advocate for computer science in our schools.

Streaming Live at the Lakewood International Festival

ksample — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:21:45 +0000

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/lakewood-international-festival-1 - performances

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/lakewood-international-festival-2 - other stuff

News from America’s Promise

ksample — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:11:21 +0000

America’s Promise Alliance Partners Update	May 2013

America’s Promise releases Grad Nation Guidebook update — now online! Though we’re making exciting progress towards the Grad Nation goal of a 90 percent graduation rate by 2020, there is still a lot of work to do to make every student college and career ready. To help push that progress, America’s Promise has released the updated Grad Nation Community Guidebook (Community Guidebook), a research-based toolkit for communities working to raise graduation rates and better support children and youth from birth through college. Created in collaboration with Civic Enterprises and the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University, the online Community Guidebook offers approaches and tools that all communities-regardless of their size, location and the challenges they face-can incorporate at any stage in their work. Read more.

Support federal action for children and join Strong Start for Children In April, a new early learning initiative was announced that will expand high-quality early learning opportunities for children ages birth to five. America’s Promise has joined a broad coalition of organizations to support federal action, called Strong Start for Children – Building America’s Future. ReadyNation is mobilizing business support. Improving early learning helps all outcomes for young people, and we encourage all of our partners (as well as other local and state organizations) to join in. Those that join the campaign will be included in a letter presented to the White House. Join now!

New report released on improving the financial aid system for college students

Now, like at no other time in our history, attainment of post-secondary education is key to the success of our young people, and our nation as a whole. Yet tuition costs continue to rise, and for far too many Americans, the post-secondary financial aid system has failed to realize its promise of narrowing the opportunity gap and has even created some new challenges. In February 2013, as part of its third annual Building a Grad Nation Summit, America’s Promise convened a unique roundtable discussion dedicated to this issue. A report has been developed to capture the key ideas put forth in this illuminating conversation. Read more and download the report here.

Deadline for youth to submit first-hand stories on financial aid is June 3 America’s Promise is working with the Gates Foundation to help make the financial aid system work better for students. How can college be more affordable? How can consumers of financial make better decisions? Most important, how can financial aid help increase college completion rates? Please help us spread the news that we are looking for student submissions. Selected stories will be featured on americaspromise.org and in other materials to show how financial aid affects college choices, college life, and life after graduation. As an extra incentive, we will be awarding a $50 Target gift card to two people, chosen at random, who submit completed stories. The deadline is June 3. Read more.

Young people sought to fill leadership roles with America’s PromiseSpread the word! America’s Promise is seeking all leaders aged 16-22 who are interested in a leadership role in the Grad Nation movement. Interested individuals can apply to be an America’s Promise Trustee or a full voting member of the Board of Directors. Submissions can include a video or essay. If selected, the youth member will attend meetings in Washington, DC and play an active role in the organization. Applications must be received by July 12, 2013.

Click here for more information and to download the application.

May is Foster Care Awareness MonthEach May, National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity to shine a light on the experiences of the more than 400,000 children and youth in the foster care system. The campaign raises awareness about the urgent needs of these young people and encourages citizens from every walk of life to get involved – as foster or adoptive parents, volunteers, mentors, employers or in other ways. With the help of dedicated people, many formerly abused or neglected children and teens will either reunite safely with their parents, be cared for by relatives or be adopted by loving families. Click here to read more.

Grad Nation Communities Network Spotlight: Chula Vista’s Graduation Works
Chula Vista, Calif. is a part of a network of Grad Nation Communities that is increasing graduation rates by ensuring that younger students are reading on grade level, and that all students have mentors and caring adults to support them. Graduation Works focuses on multiple strategies including the Graduation Coach Campaign and Chula Vista Reads, which is associated with the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. The Grad Nation Communities network is an integral part of the Grad Nation campaign, a large and growing movement of dedicated individuals, organizations and communities working together to end America’s dropout crisis. Grad Nation goals include achieving a 90 percent graduation rate nationwide by 2020, with no high school graduating less than 80 percent of its students. Click here to read more.

Speak Up for Kids campaign addresses barriers to mental health careNow in its third year, Speak Up for Kids, organized by America’s Promise partner the Child Mind Institute, is a month-long online campaign in May, when more than 75 partner organizations come together to promote children’s mental health and eliminate barriers to care. The heart of the campaign is a series of 16 online events that tackle the big issues facing families today. The campaign has also gathered together useful resources from mental health experts, as well as the Child Mind Institute’s Symptom Checker, Mental Health Guide, and Parents Guide to Getting Good Care. Visit speakup.childmind.org to see a schedule of upcoming events, join the campaign, download resources and more.

Upcoming Webinars
(5/21) Webinar: Career and Technical Education in Common Core Implementation

(6/5) Webinar: Addressing Summer Learning Loss

(6/7) Webinar: How Local Communities Can Encourage Student Attendance

Funding Opportunities
The grants and funding opportunities available at the following link are currently accepting applicants. These grants are not offered through America’s Promise Alliance, but they each relate to our Five Promises. If you have questions about these opportunities, please follow the links provided in each item.View this month’s funding opportunities

Don’t miss these great links from the America’s Promise Bulletin

Sprinklers in the Rain

ksample — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:18:35 +0000

I always chuckle when I see sprinklers in the rain. Maybe I am amused by sight of water going up meeting water going down. Maybe I’m considering the time spent programming a sprinkler doesn’t factor in the “nature” variable. Maybe it is a chuckle of dismay at wasted water. Anyways, sprinklers in the rain amuse me.

Young people need sprinklers too.

Sure, we have things that happen naturally, like falling rain, in our society which help our kids grow. We have family structures; we have schools; we have faith communities; we have a government that provides stability. These things, like rain, fall predictably to “water” our youth and grow a garden of society where each stands on fertile ground to serve a purpose and be admired. Ideally the rain should fall evenly and all would thrive.

But we know that the rain sometimes misses. It misses gardens and it misses young people.

We know that after a thorough drenching, there always seems to be a section of the garden drier than the rest, a section that isn’t thriving. We also know that there are youth who fall behind – are not thriving – even those standing in the same rain as their more successful peers.

Caring Adults are kind of like sprinklers in the rain. A mentor is one who makes sure that a young person is totally saturated with what they need to be successful. There is no way you can over-water a child; you cannot provide too much education; you cannot provide too much good nutrition; you cannot provide too many safe places; and you cannot provide too many opportunities. What adults do as sprinklers to augment the rain may seem superfluous, yet the efforts will make the garden amazing.

News from America’s Promise

ksample — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:08:47 +0000

“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”
– Joshua J. Marine

John Gomperts & Harris Wofford op-ed notes importance of Five Promises

In a recent op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer, America’s Promise Alliance Pres. and CEO John Gomperts and former Pennsylvania Senator Harris Wofford discussed the continuing importance of the Five Promises in the lives of young people. Their opinion piece stressed that the American education challenge falls on more than just schools because children thrive only when a broad range of their needs are met. They encouraged everyone to embrace their role to realize the promise of America for all young people. more

New report released on improving the financial aid system

Even as the importance of obtaining post-secondary education increases, current and prospective students–especially those from lower income families–face formidable financial obstacles. As part of the 2013 Building A Grad Nation Summit, America’s Promise conducted a “fishbowl” roundtable discussion, Re-Imagining the Financial Aid System, supported through a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as part of its Reimagining Aid Design and Delivery (RADD) initiative. To summarize the key themes that emerged during the session, America’s Promise released a report. more

Center for Promise briefs focus on community initiatives & youth systems

America’s Promise’s research center, the Center for Promise, has released two briefs: Impact Models: Comprehensive Community Initiatives introduces the components of an Impact Model by describing a sample of key structural and procedural components. Developing Youth Systems: Creating Transformational Change for our Nation’s Young Peopleexamines the idea that the power to bring about change in young people’s lives is putting them at the center of planning, integrating programs, services and supports into a system. more

Webinar details mixing career and technical education with Common Core

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) can be a beautiful fit with career and technical education: they’re designed to provide the knowledge and skills that young people need for success in college and career. America’s Promise and the Association for Career and Technical Education are hosting a free webinar on May 21 from 1-2:15pm ET to detail how states can build the bridge between the two and enhance the CCSS. The webinar will focus on efforts underway in Oregon. more

Young people sought to fill leadership roles with America’s Promise

America’s Promise is seeking all young people ages 16-22 who are interested in a leadership role in the Grad Nation movement. Interested individuals can apply to be a full voting member of the Board of Directors or Alliance Trustees. Submissions can include a video or an essay. If selected, the youth member will attend meetings in Washington, DC and play an active role in the organization. Applications must be received by July 12, 2013. more

Deadline for youth to submit first-hand stories on financial aid is June 3

America’s Promise is working with the Gates Foundation to help make the financial aid system work better for students. How can college be more affordable? How can consumers of financial aid make better decisions? Most important, how can financial aid help increase college completion rates? Selected stories, of no more than 400 words, will be featured onAmericasPromise.org and in other materials to show how financial aid affects college choices, college life and life after graduation. As an extra incentive, a $50 Target gift card will be awarded to two people who submit completed stories. The deadline is June 3. more

Eight outstanding leaders inducted into BCGA’s Alumni Hall of Fame

According to a Harris Interactive survey, 57 percent of Boys & Girls Club alumni said “the Club saved my life.” A closer examination of the 2013 inductees into Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s prestigious Alumni Hall of Fame proves that the Club does indeed create Great Futures. This year’s slate of eight honored during BGCA’s 107th Annual National Conference reads like a veritable Who’s Who in America with a R&B star, sports icon, Paralympian, military heroes, and award-winning hotelier. more

Communities for Change conference to take place in October 2013

Registration is open for Communities for Change 2013, nFocus Solutions’ annual leadership symposium. Leaders from nationally recognized public sector organizations attend the event to explore ways to get to the bottom of the complex social problems affecting their citizens today. Attendees will include decision-makers from city governments, nonprofits, schools, educational institutions and community improvement initiatives. Programming will include engaging presentations, networking opportunities and workshops. The conference will take place in Omaha, NE, from October 23-25. more

JJIE launches new juvenile justice hub, explores mental health

The Juvenile Justice Information Exchange has launched a series of articles exploring critical questions in juvenile justice, beginning with an in-depth look at the treatment of mentally ill youth in Cook County, the cradle of juvenile justice, and throughout Illinois. Users can follow pathways from the stories to a new comprehensive Juvenile Justice Resource Hub developed in partnership with the National Juvenile Justice Network and the MacArthur Foundation. more

Funding Opportunities

The following grants and funding opportunities are currently accepting applicants. These grants are not offered through America’s Promise Alliance, but they each relate to our Five Promises. If you have questions about these opportunities, please follow the links provided in each item.

With a larger focus on social networking across all sectors, Twitter and Facebook haveemerged as excellent ways to stay informed about issues and news affecting young people and practitioners. We invite you to follow our Twitter feed (@AmericasPromise) and Facebook page to stay up to date on the work of America’s Promise and related news.

News Highlights

(5-8) Program working to keep Native American kids in school - KTVQ.com

(5-6) Reframe Common Core As a Global-Competitiveness Issue - Education Week

(5-6) Colleges Cut Prices by Providing More Financial Aid - Wall Street Journal
(5-5) Obama vows early childhood education push - The Hill

(5-5) Breaking the vicious cycle of foster care - Los Angeles Times