#DegreesNYC’s Post

#kidsareourfuture #Kenyawhatshallwedotohelpourkids? We have to invest in this enormous industry. No systems in place for the arts, or sports or the academic competitions that every kid needs. The Dynamics between the generations have a a great deal to do with this. #gospeloftalenttosaveoureconomy #kenyamustmakeartformal #formaltalentforbetterfuture #iamakenyanthatmustseeartfreestoallthechildren!

I walked past a new building site near where I live this week. A large sign proclaims it is part of a £20m government levelling up package for the area. The work will see the expansion of a museum at a popular park. While the investment is welcome, it will hardly be life changing. Is this what levelling up means, a few trinkets for Tory MPs to boast about in their threatened constituencies? In fact, the Government could spend twice, three times, perhaps ten times that amount on so-called levelling up projects and it would not even begin to scratch the surface of what really needs doing to level out the faults and injustices that surround us. The application of the levelling up slogan to capital projects has succeeded in shifting the focus of attention away from the areas that really need investment to bring about a fairer society. Political genius really. And everyone seems to have fallen for it. Even the Opposition and especially the media. The truth is, if levelling up is ever to mean anything, it must address the stark inequalities in education, health and living standards. We need to gravitate away from vacuous dreams and start tackling real-world nightmares. If not, it will survive only in the museum of history, like the sparkling new one being built near where I live.

In our recent webinar, we delved into the crucial role of school partnerships. For insightful research on developing these partnerships, check out this resource by Child Trends: https://lnkd.in/eGNWp2dH #childtrends #communityengagement

Want to learn about a different part of the world and never leave your home? The UMass Civic Initiative is looking for individuals or families to participate in the Summer 2024 Homestay Program. A homestay brings together one or two international undergraduate students with local individuals or families in the Pioneer Valley. The experiences are overnight and last from lunchtime on the first day through lunchtime the next day. The Civic Initiative has been running exchange programs in the valley since 2003. We have over 1,500 alumni from all over the world and homestays have been a crucial part of the exchange experience! The students have consistently told us that the homestay is the most rewarding part of their stay here. Our hosts say that the casual conversations that take place open up whole new insights into the society, culture, and politics of both the U.S. and other countries. Plus, hosts’ young children are given an early glimpse of world diversity. An eligible family will live no more than an hour’s drive from Amherst. Besides meals, hosts can arrange local activities like a movie, walk, or sporting event. Civic Initiative staff will handle the drop-off and pick-up transportation. We will also provide you with any students’ social or dietary information in advance. A typical guest number is two students. We are looking for homestay hosts for the following weekends for a one-night stay: June 21-22 June 28-29 July 5-6 July 12-13 Note: We strictly follow CDC guidelines regarding testing and quarantine guidelines. If you are interested in becoming a host or have questions, please get in touch with Theresa Wodecki, Civic Initiative Financial and Administrative Assistant at twodecki@donahue.umass.edu or 413-575-1709. Learn more about the Civic Initiative: https://lnkd.in/eht2VX7T

"School boards across America are under attack." The recent disruptions at school board meetings are more than just conflicts over educational policies; they're indicative of a larger struggle over the future of public education. Dig into the deeper story behind these clashes, their impact on our educational landscape and how we can better engage with them.👇 #schoolboards #usc #education

🗓️ Save the date! SCU's Annual Day of Giving is Wednesday, April 10th 🥳 Join us in supporting the faculty, students, programs, and initiatives that make up ECP – a community of people passionate about transforming schools, communities, and greater society through their work. More info on this special day coming 🔜 #SCUECP #SantaClaraUniversity #AllInForECP #AllInforSCU #TeacherEducation #CounselingPsychology

✨ Three colleges have found a way to move forward to some degree. This is just a start. I encourage all institutions to see the critical value Student Affairs offices bring to these conversations and negotiation processes. We are bridges and liaisons between students, faculty, and the administration in situations like this. We work towards peace building and conflict resolution, not war. We create spaces for different voices, perspectives and viewpoints to be heard. We help facilitate those difficult conversations that most want to dismiss and wish would go away. Because higher education is the place for those tough conversations to occur. If not there then where. So to my Student Affairs colleagues across the country, I see you, I'm praying for you, and I salute the work you do behind the scenes that is often overlooked to mediate tensions that may arise between student leaders/orgs/government and university administration. | Rev. Dr. Yvette Wilson-Barnes, former Associate Dean for Students Affairs at Union Theological Seminary & CUNY School of Law✨ Article excerpt: "On Monday, Northwestern University reached an agreement with student protesters to end their encampment. Brown University and Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., followed shortly after, reaching agreements on Tuesday. Both sides have been able to claim victory, even if they haven’t entirely escaped blowback. Student organizers have promoted the agreements as a key first step toward their broader demands, and administrators hailed them as a way to de-escalate tensions and ensure the safety of all students. At Northwestern, the university will permit “peaceful protest” on Deering Meadow, two acres of green space on campus, until the end of their fourth quarter, on June 1. After maintaining 80 tents for over 100 hours, student leaders agreed to take down all but one tent used for aid purposes and otherwise follow university protest policies. In return, the university will form an advisory committee made up of student, faculty, and staff members to “provide a conduit to engagement” with its investment committee; answer questions “to the best of its knowledge and to the extent legally possible” about its investments held currently or in the last quarter; build a community space for Middle Eastern, North American, and Muslim students; and fund two full-time Palestinian faculty members for two years and the full cost of attendance for five Palestinian undergraduate students, with a pledge to raise funds for the long-term sustainability of the program. The university also agreed to “engage students in a process dedicated to ensuring additional support for Jewish and Muslim students” through its student-affairs office.

Introducing SJI's community-based liberal arts program. It's an honor to collaborate with YouthBuild, to be part of a proven successful program and to be working along side some of the most dedicated people. At the same time, SJI has the honor to work with some of the most courageous youth. Absolutely inspiring! Sound Justice Initiative and YouthBuild Long Island serve as a catalyst for social change and empowerment. We’re collectively dedicated to transforming the trajectories of young adults, guiding them towards a future filled with promise and opportunity. Our partnership leverages a strengths-based approach, offering college preparatory liberal arts courses designed to engage young adults in adverse conditions who are navigating the complexities of economic marginalization and systemic obstacles. Our mission transcends traditional educational objectives, focusing on the cultivation of self-confidence, respect for inherent dignity and the development of a robust sense of civic responsibility within our participants. This alliance exemplifies a holistic, community-based strategy for mitigating the root causes of social inequities through the transformative power of education. Our collaboration not only impacts the individual lives of those we serve but also contribute to the revitalization of communities, creating environments where equity, opportunity and justice are accessible to all. United Way of Long Island #SoundJusticeInitiative #YouthBuildLongIsland #EducationForTransformation #CommunityEmpowerment #TransformingLives

Are you in search of firsthand insights to help you choose the right school for your kids? Akademos is the new way of "Smart School Selection" Connecting with Other Parents, joining the insightful parent community. Saying goodbye to uncertainty and welcome a hassle-free school selection process with the help of knowledgeable parents' real insights. With their valuable input, parents can make informed decisions about their child’s prospective schools and confidently eliminate guesswork, minimizing stress along the way. How Can We Help? Our Parent Ambassadors are here to offer guidance and support. Meet like-minded parents to gain school-specific insights and to help you make the right decision. Find experienced, engaged Parent Ambassadors to advise on your child's education and help them achieve their full potential. If you want to stay up-to-date with us, follow our Page. #akademos #smartschoolselection #parentcommunity #ukschools #ukeducation #londonschools #grammarschool #independentschool #independentschools #pupils

An engaging, thought-provoking and enjoyable day at the Spotlight on Physical Literacy event, marking the launch of the Physical Literacy Consensus Statement for England 🚀 Plenty of takeaways from the fantastic keynote speakers and activities throughout the day, many of which I am looking forward to sharing with colleagues and contacts across the sector (and beyond) 🥡 A couple of ideas and words stood out: 💭 Physical literacy can be seen as a philosophy. It should underpin our understanding of movement and physical activity and how it is delivered - it’s not a ‘one and done’ workshop, campaign, CPD unit or project 😃 Enjoyment is a catalyst for positive experiences of physical activity, and these experiences shape our engagement in physical activity across the lifecourse - ‘When you teach someone to jump, let them jump for joy’ 🗣️ Participant voice is crucial, as are co-production and delivery. There are many things in a person’s life which make them ‘tick’, which make them feel comfortable, that they find enjoyment in - how can these things (whether it is gaming, or arts, or reading) be harnessed to draw in those who are less active, so that they too can understand the impact and value of physical activity on their lives? Looking forward to seeing how the physical literacy movement is embraced across the sector (already evident from the number of like-minded individuals in attendance today), and what positive examples of practice come about from it over the coming years, because it’s certainly not an overnight culture shift ➡️ Key question for applying this to my own work: how can we at Mencap work alongside people with a learning disability - in the community and through our network - to enjoy and find value in physical activity in a more meaningful way than simply getting active? ❤️ Congratulations to the CYP team and all others involved at Sport England for their work on today’s event (and everything else building up to it), and also to Lawrence Foweather and his squad of researchers at Liverpool John Moores University for the lengthy and complex undertaking required to develop this statement 👏 Been a pleasure to be a small part of the process so far, and excited to be an advocate of the movement going forward (literally got the t-shirt to show it) 👕