Kimberly Parker Presents: The Resolve to Volunteer

Resolve to Volunteer

Here we are nearing the end of January 2011. Like many of you, I stepped into the New Year determined to make changes, implement plans, and amp up my “game” in one area of life or another. Some call these bulleted items resolutions. For the sake of being aligned, I concur. More than a cute story laced with anecdotes from my children, herein lays a heartfelt plea. My sincere request to all who read is to make one more resolution for 2011: resolve to volunteer!

I know and proudly boast that Prince George’s County parents are the cream of the crop! We are homemakers, entrepreneurs, CEO's, educators, military personnel, activist...and the list goes on! Oh yes, we are simply the best! By no means is my perspective portrayed to slight parents from other parts of the world. It’s merely to highlight the greatness right here in our own backyards.

There is a universal principle called the "vital few and trivial many." In short, it's equivalent to the 80/20 rule where we find that just a little bit of people do a large amount of work. As a parent volunteer at my children’s school, I’ve witnessed parents who sign up to participate at events, yet do not show up. Or, they show up and do not do what they signed up to do. Or even still, they begin doing such marvelous work, find "something wrong" with the assignment, but instead of providing solutions they step down from their position.

Now, I am not soliciting any argumentative replies and by no means am I trying to make anyone feel guilty. I’ve dropped the ball a time or two as well. But what I am hoping to do is inspire you to take self-inventory to see where you stand in this equation. The operative word here is “volunteer”. As one parent told me, "Nobody forced your hand to work with the PTSA!" True. However, the same vital few can not be the only one's serving on the board or heading committees that provide services to thousands of parents, teachers, and students year after year. And let's not forget about our partners and stakeholders!

I know you have 2.5 children -- so do we (four, in my case). I know you work 10, 12, and even 14 hours a day -- so do we. I know you live your share of miles away from the school -- so do we. I know you have a child in elementary school, one in middle school, and one about to graduate from high school -- again I say, so do we! As Michael Jackson so poignantly stated, “You are not alone!”
Madame, Sir, please resolve to volunteer. I know a few of you have been considering the possibility of increasing your service and I truly appreciate that! It all starts with a thought. I ask you to consider this as well: the phenomenal difference you can make as a volunteer!

Kimberly K. Parker is the owner of Writing Momma Publishing (www.writingmomma.com). She is hosting “Isn’t She Lovely!”, an elegant father and daughter event in March 2011 in hopes of promoting the importance of the relationship between little girls and their fathers. Visit www.isntshelovely.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets and for more information. Kimberly is an author and blogger living in Maryland with her husband and three children.

"Your Money, Your Future" with Financial Educator, Carmen Johnson

Welcome to Your Money, Your Future. I am Carmen Johnson, your Financial Educator and the Founder and CEO of the Katie Able Foundation. Today on Your Money, Your Future... Bring back the family.

This week’s financial tip is about the importance of family. Let's go back in our minds to when we were kids. Think back we ate as a family, we gathered around the TV to watch our favorite shows as a family, we even had household meetings as a family. Somehow we've gotten away from all of that. Your challenge this week is to take your family back to that time.

Let’s start with family financial meetings twice a month where you sit down and go over all the bills and create a household budget. Involve your children. Let them place the bills in alphabetical order and then write them in a spreadsheet.

Explain to them what type of bills they are one by one and how to read them and what bills your family may be able to cut back on. Ask them what they can do to make your family financially stronger. Ask your kids what they are will to cut back on in this hard times. Don't be surprised if they already know how to do some of these things.

Keep it fun by assigning roles. Make one of your children the light captain - in charge of making sure that the lights are turned off in unoccupied rooms. Another child can be the coupon captain- in charge of clipping coupons in the paper and searching for them online, finding the best grocery store deals.

Together, the children can monitor the household budget and make sure that we as a family stay on track. Bring back the kids, bring back the parents, bring back together our families.

Until next week this is Your money, Your future, I am Carmen Johnson, your Financial Educator and the Founder and CEO of the Katie Able Foundation.

Please check us out at Katieablefoundation.org and remember,

Do something to justify your Existence, TOGETHER we can create the future!


Ms. Carmen Johnson

Katie Able Foundation
Founder/CEO
www.katieablefoundation.org
301-352-5855 work

Do something to justify your Existence, TOGETHER we can create the future!

Former Director of PGCPS Parent Liaison Program to Head Up Department of Communications for Alexandria City Public Schools

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Superintendent Morton Sherman is pleased to announce the appointment of Kelly L. Alexander to the position of director of community/school partnerships and communications.

"Ms. Alexander has a unique combination of community relations and communications experience that will be essential to successfully engaging the public in the transformation taking place in Alexandria City Public Schools," Dr. Sherman said.

She will assist the superintendent in the development, integration and implementation of the division's public/media relations, business partnerships and community outreach programs as a member of the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Community Outreach team. Ms. Alexander has nearly 20 years of communications experience, with expertise in media relations and public relations. She has led communications efforts for both nonprofit and corporate communications teams.

Ms. Alexander most recently served as the community outreach officer for Prince George's County Public Schools, where she initially began as the public information officer. During her six-year tenure, she developed and implemented strategies for internal and external communications between all stakeholders regarding parental engagement in schools. She created award-winning public awareness and marketing campaigns for this large urban school district, including The Communicator Award of Distinction for Media Placement (2005), The Communicator Award Honorable Mention (2005) for the 2004 PGCPS Annual Report and The MarComm Creative Award (2006) for the YES-Be cool, go to school! Public Awareness Campaign. Ms. Alexander created the district's successful "Everything You Need to Succeed" marketing campaign to highlight educational opportunities and student successes. She supervised more than 100 Parent Liaisons helping to engage thousands of parents each year in educational workshops, school events and classroom observations.

Prior to working in education, Ms. Alexander supported the corporate communications efforts of the National American Red Cross as a media relations manager and associate. She oversaw the national media launch of several life-saving programs and a myriad of national media tours and interviews at the American Red Cross. She also worked in community affairs for Prudential HealthCare of the Mid-Atlantic and in media relations for The George Washington University Medical Center.

Ms. Alexander earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism at The George Washington University.

"Your Money,Your Future" with Financial Educator Carmen Johnson

Cutting Back

As we settle into January and we start reflecting on our past 12 months, some of us may be thinking “I believe I may have spent too much.” This is the time to do an assessment on what are some things you can cut back on: Are you eating out too much? Are you spending too much money on unnecessary things? Just think what can you cut back on. How can you make this adjustment? These are things we should consider as we live through this recession. The reality is, it probably won’t get any better. I know you hear the housing market is going to get better or the dollar will regain its value, but the fact of the matter is you need to be prepared if it does not. So let’s take the time this year to cut back on all unnecessary things. You will be surprised how much you can save.

Carmen Johnson is the Founder and CEO of the Katie Able Foundation.
To find out more about Carmen Johnson visit http://www.katieablefoundation.org/

Parent Talk Discusses Foster Care Students and Education with Dr. Anita Reed

Parent Talk will discuss the challenges facing foster care students and their care givers with Dr. Anita Reed, Mental Health Therapist with Arlington County Public Schools.

Topic: How Can Public Schools Support The Academic Achievement of Foster Care Students
Date: MONDAY, January 24, 2011
Show Time: 8:30pm-9:00pm
Call In: 914.803.4591

Anita H. Reed, Ph.D, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist who specialize in the treatment of adolescents, adults, and families. She has more than 23 years of experience serving at-risk youth and families as a direct service provider and also as a developer and analyst of programs and policy. She worked for Arlington County Department of Human Services for 14 years as a program manager and supervisor of child welfare staff. Her experiences with the Department spanned the continuum of services from prevention to foster care. For the past 9 years, she has worked as a mental health therapist for Arlington County Public Schools. She has also been an adjunct professor at Catholic University’s National School of Social Services (NCSSS) for 5 years, with a specific focus on child welfare policy. Dr. Reed graduated from Vassar College with a B.A in Sociology, received her Masters in Social Work from Columbia University, and completed her doctoral studies in Social Work at the National Catholic School of Social Services at Catholic University.

A conversation with Mrs. Irene Clements, President, National Foster Parent Association

Join Educational Gateway on January 10th for a conversation with Mrs. Irene Clements, President, National Foster Parent Association.

Mrs. Clements will outline the challengs facing foster care parents in their efforts to ensure a quality education for foster care children living in their home.

BIO

Irene and her husband, Billy, fostered for 27 years and adopted four children. Irene has 34 years experience working within the child protection system, both as a foster parent and as an advocate for foster families and the children they serve. Irene is also the President of the Texas Foster Family Association and is Vice President for Advocacy for Lutheran Social Service of the South, Inc.

Forest Of The Rain Productions has an exclusive interview with Dr. Charlene Dukes, President of Prince George's Community College

Forest Of The Rain Productions has an exclusive interview with Dr. Charlene Dukes, President of Prince George's Community College can be heard on The Journey Begins Internet Radio for the engaged parent and dedicated educator.


BIO

Dr. Charlene M. Dukes is the eighth and first female president of Prince George’s Community College and has twenty-eight years of progressive leadership experience and administrative responsibility in higher education. With more than 40,000 students, Prince George’s Community College offers more than 200 credit and workforce development programs. She holds membership in a variety of professional organizations, including serving as a founder and lead faculty member for the Community College Student Development Leadership Institute under the auspices of the National Council on Student Development, an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges; the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators through which she served on the National Academy Board; the Council of Law in Higher Education; and the Maryland Network, an affiliate of the Office of Women in Higher Education/American Council on Education. Additionally she serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Council of the American Association of Community Colleges, the Lifelong Learning Commission of the American Council on Education, and the Presidents’ Round Table, an affiliate of the National Council on Black American Affairs.

From 2002 through 2006, she served on the Appointed Board of Education of Prince George’s County and chaired the Student Support, Student Appeals, and Personnel Committees. In May 2007, she accepted an appointment from Governor Martin O’Malley to serve a three-year term on the Maryland State Board of Education and was elected in July 2009 as vice-president of the Board. In October 2007, the African-American Alumni Council of the University of Pittsburgh recognized Dr. Dukes as an Outstanding Alumnus, and in 2008, she received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In 2009, she received the “1St Ladies Award” given by Radio One and My Sister’s Keeper Organization and the “Luminary Award” from the Prince George’s County Black Chamber of Commerce.

She has participated in the Executive Leadership Institute sponsored by the League for Innovation, Women in Leadership sponsored by the Office of Women in Higher Education/American Council on Education, and the National Leadership Academy sponsored the Association of Community College Trustees. She has also served as adjunct faculty at the Community College of Allegheny County in the English Department, at Prince George's Community College in Developmental Studies, and at Morgan State University in the Community College Leadership Doctoral Program.

She is a member of the board of directors of the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce, the Business Round Table, the Harlem Renaissance Foundation, College Summit, and a lifetime member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Dr. Dukes has a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with an English concentration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s and Doctorate in Administrative and Policy Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. She resides in Glenn Dale, Maryland with her son, Maurice Dukes, a student at Howard University.

Martin Luther King Day an Inspirational Moment: By Dr. Stephen Jones

The celebration of Martin Luther King Day is a reminder of what it takes to change the world. One person invested in a deeply inspiring vision of a new way of life prevailed in the midst of adversity. Dr. King envisioned a time when everyone would be judged by the content of their character not the color of their skin. It’s ironic that more than 40 years later America still struggles with issue of race.

American’s elected President Barak Obama but this country still struggles with what his election represents. Some say we’ve made progress and others remain resistant. Even members of his own democratic party have not consistently supported President Obama. Every move that he makes is placed under a microscope. For example, his attempt to comfort Americans after the attack on Senator Gifford and others who lost their lives was twisted. It was a passionate speech which caused the audience to cheer and feel comforted. The President remained somber throughout the celebration of life. Dr. Martin Luther king would have approved. Sometimes it appears that America is a country that is looking for a way to remain divided. There is a great need to forge past political agendas and focus on decisions that are in the best interest of the country.

It is evident that Dr. Martin Luther King had many challenges during the time that he was alive. There were often competing interests that affect how fast America would change. Dr. King spent time preaching how people need to treat each other because of personal events he witnessed while living in the south. There were separate bath room facilities for people of color and they could not eat at the diner counter. Dr. King felt that these prejudices must change. In his day social action involved boycotting buses. It’s time for American’s to slow down to respond to social injustices that still occur every day.

Martin Luther King was a scholar and an educator. He taught thousands in the community to pursue more education. His leadership led to a whole generation of teachers and scientists who broke color barriers in companies all over the country. Today we can find these individuals in the executive suites of corporations all across America. There are black and Hispanic professionals who’ve started businesses and witnessed changes in society as their companies have grown.

Dr. King would be amazed at the progress that’s occurred during the 21st century. If he were alive today he would be amazed at the internet. The internet changes the speed at which people respond to an event or crisis. There are millions of responses to social issues. The ability to create a blog or tweet information has changed the way that thousands are communicating their opinion. The current technology allows millions to read about Dr. Martin Luther King’s life. The internet is accompanied by its own challenges. Last year, Ms. Shirley Sharrod was removed from the Department of Agriculture when her comment s where posted on the internet. They were deemed discriminatory. After a careful review she was cleared by hear office.

No one can deny that Dr. Martin Luther King was a man with a mission. It was a mission that was powerful that it touched the nation’s heart. When several children were killed during bombing it made it clear that the mission would not be complete without a fight. No mission that is worth fighting for is won easily. Today we must move forward with determination to make things better for everyone.

It’s important to continue to celebrate Martin Luther King Day and to acknowledge his contribution to society. Dr. King was a trailblazer in terms of demonstrating the leadership characteristics that we should all adapt. America’s cities are in desperate need of leaders who can transform they way that we communicate and live.

"Your Money,Your Future" with Financial Educator Carmen Johnson

The After the Holiday Blues

The tree has come down, the lights outside are dim and all of your relatives have gone home. However you hear a constant whining, a whimpering if you will but you can’t identify the source.

You scramble and run all around the house frantically as the soft cry turns into a loud wail. Finally! You stop and realize that the noise is coming from your wallet. That’s right, YOUR wallet. It’s been abused and misused this past holiday season.

You’ve taken it through some un-expected changes; over-spending on holiday items, using your credit card way too much and now your wallet has nothing left to give. What do you do? How can you mend your broken relationship?

Start by giving your wallet a break… Let you wallet fall in love with having money inside of it at least for a little while…

The extra money that you spent, pay it back to yourself. Subtract the amount of what you actually spent from your original budget. Whatever the difference is, that’s the amount that you should save.

Make A Vow to Your Wallet… that this will never happen again. That you won’t leave it empty or forget the loud cry it makes when it’s neglected.

Carmen Johnson is the Founder and CEO of the Katie Able Foundation.
To find out more about Carmen Johnson visit http://www.katieablefoundation.org/

The White House

President and First Lady, Vice President and Dr. Biden, Cabinet Secretaries, Senior Administration Officials to Honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

WASHINGTON, DC – In celebration of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and in honor of Dr. King’s life and legacy, the President and the First Lady, the Vice President and Dr. Biden, Cabinet Secretaries, and senior Administration officials will participate in memorial events and community service projects in the Washington, D.C. area, Atlanta, Georgia and elsewhere.

Led by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the King Center, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is an opportunity for all Americans to come together to help meet the needs of their communities and make an ongoing commitment to service throughout the year. This year’s Day of Service will include thousands of projects in all corners of the country.

“Martin Luther King, Jr. lived his life for others, dedicating his work to ensuring equal opportunity, freedom, and justice for all,” said President Obama. “I encourage every American to observe this holiday in honor of Dr. King’s selfless legacy by volunteering in their own communities and by dedicating time each day to bettering the lives of those around us.”

For more on the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service, please visit the Corporation for National and Community Service at www.mlkday.gov .

Please see below for a list of Cabinet Secretaries and Administration officials who will be participating in memorial and community service events in the Washington, D.C., area, Atlanta, Georgia and elsewhere. Any inquiries on the below events should be directed to the corresponding agency or office.

• The President and First Lady will participate in a service project in Washington, D.C. Further details are forthcoming.
• The Vice President and Dr. Biden will participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service in Wilmington, DE. Further details are forthcoming.
• On January 13, Secretary Robert Gates attended the Department of Defense’s National Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Observance Program in the Pentagon Auditorium in Arlington, Virginia.
• On January 15, Attorney General Eric Holder will deliver remarks at the Shiloh Baptist Church annual Martin Luther King Jr. prayer breakfast in Washington, D.C. On January 16, he will deliver remarks at the Ebenezer Baptist Church worship service in Atlanta, Georgia.
• On January 13, Secretary Ken Salazar, District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton visited the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial to view progress underway at the worksite. The memorial, which is currently under construction, is expected to be completed in 2011. Secretary Salazar was joined by Harry E. Johnson Sr., President of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation on the walking tour.
• On January 13, Secretary Tom Vilsack will attend a celebration in the Jefferson Auditorium located at the Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. from 10 to 11 a.m. The ceremony will feature Reverend Leroy Gilbert of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, located in Washington D.C., as the keynote speaker.
• On January 18, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will speak at the opening convocation of the Howard School of Divinity. Her remarks will focus on the Affordable Care Act as a victory for civil rights.
• On January 17, Secretary Arne Duncan will keynote at a breakfast with Reverend Al Sharpton and the National Action Network in the morning and will participate in a service project with City Year at Kramer Middle School, 1700 Q Street, SE, DC in the afternoon.
• On January 17, Secretary Ray LaHood and White House Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes will join Department of Transportation employees and other volunteers for Martin Luther King Day of Service events at Ballou Senior High School. As part of President and First Lady’s continued call to engage in community service, Secretary LaHood, Director Barnes and students from Ballou Senior High School and George Washington University will paint murals, cover up graffiti, clean up around the school and assist in other projects that will enhance the learning environment for students.
• On January 18, Secretary Steven Chu will host a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration in the auditorium at the Department of Energy. Dr. Clayborne Carson, a professor at Stanford University who has devoted his life to the study of Dr. King and his teachings, will be the keynote speaker. Students from McKinley Technology High school will be in attendance.
• On January 17, Secretary Eric Shinseki will serve meals at So Others Might Eat (S.O.M.E.) in Washington, D.C.
• On January 17, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson will attend a breakfast with Reverend Al Sharpton, followed by a Kid Power Inc. Citizen Farm Community Service Event at Tubman Elementary School in Washington, D.C.
• On January 18, Ambassador Ron Kirk will deliver remarks at a Martin Luther King Jr. reception at the World Bank.
• On January 17, Office of Management and Budget Director Jack Lew will participate in a City Year New York service event at Intermediate School 292 and join over 1,700 volunteers taking part in City Year New York/AmeriCorps activities in Brooklyn and across New York City.
• On January 9, Surgeon General Regina Benjamin delivered the keynote address at the 29th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration at the Johns-Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.
• On January 17, Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams and Deputy Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet will prepare and serve dinners at Miriam’s Kitchen in Washington, D.C.
• On January 14, at 10am, the Peace Corps will host the Duke Ellington High School Show Choir to honor the memory and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• On January 14, GSA Administrator Martha Johnson will participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building Rededication in Atlanta, Georgia. GSA Rep. John Lewis will keynote the event.
• On January 12, the CIA held a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration where Director Leon Panetta made an address. The event also featured poet and activist Nikki Giovanni and a performance by the US Air Force Band Brass Quintet.
• On January 17, USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah will prepare, serve, and share in a community meal with over 60 guests who are experiencing homelessness and hunger with the Youth Service Opportunities Project at the Church of Epiphany, 1317 G St NW, Washington, DC.
• On January 17, Corporation for National and Community Service CEO Patrick Corvington will speak at the 18th Annual Hands On Atlanta Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Service Summit, an event which will include a service project to package up to 10,000 food boxes for hungry Georgians as well as learning sessions on important community issues.
• On January 14, CEO Corvington headlined a national conference call and roundtable with African American media hosted by White House Media Affairs. The Corporation for National and Community Service will also promote many MLK Day initiatives including Drum Majors for Service, the “MLK Day 25 Challenge: What are You Doing for Others in 2011” initiative, and MLK Day Ambassadors.
• On January 17, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) will perform a home maintenance project for a “Gold Star” family – those who have lost a loved one in Iraq or Afghanistan. Director Gil Kerlikowkse and other ONDCP staff will do a variety of projects, including painting, light plumbing work and light carpentry, at the homes of several Maryland Gold Star families. ONDCP is also conducting a staff diaper drive and will deliver all contributions to a diaper bank to be distributed to needy families.
• On January 17, White House Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes will join hundreds of George Washington University Students to participate in school beautification projects at five D.C. public schools. Barnes will deliver remarks on Dr. King’s legacy and the importance of service as a solution to our nation’s toughest challenges.

In St. Louis, Group Tries To Help Poor Students

Mrs. Kim Carrington, President of United Health Heroes is our newest blogger

Forest Of The Rain Productions the parent company of Parents and SLPS, DCPS, BCPS PGCPS, and The Journey Begins Internet radio for the engage parent and dedicated educator is proud to announce the addition of its newest guest blogger, Mrs. Kim Carrington, President of United Health Heroes.

Mrs. Carrington will share her personal health experiences along with tips and recipes for healthy eating and alternative ways to prepare some of our favorite foods. Mrs. Carrington’s healthy tips and recipes will appear weekly in our new segment “Healthy Living.” You can find her postings on our following sites:

• http://www.parentalengagementwithpgcps.blogspot.com/


• http://www.parentalengagementandslps.blogspot.com/


• http://www.parentalengagementwithbcps.blogspot.com/


• http://parentsanddcps2.grouply.com/


• http://www.forestoftherain.net/





Mrs. Carrington’s blog postings will appear weekly.

Parent Talk Discusses Universal Pre-K and the Parent Trigger

Parent Talk will explore two hot topics on the minds of parents and educators in America, the first Universal Pre-K and the Parent Trigger. Host Mike Robinson will talk with parent advocate Nakia T. Ngwala about her passion to establish Universal Pre-K in her local school districts and Ms. Gwen Samuel Founder and President of the State of Black CT Alliance and her views on the controversial new Parent Trigger law.

Our first guest is Nakia T. Ngwala a community and youth advocate and organizer will discuss her efforts to have Universal Pre-K/Preschool available to all parents regardless of their income.

Nakia Troi Ngwala's advocacy began more than a decade ago while she held various corporate positions throughout the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area.

In 2004, out of inspiration from the birth of her first son, Mrs. Ngwala became a full-time parent, full-time community advocate and organizer, and youth advocate and has been actively engaged in promoting unity, social justice and equality in her community of Springdale and in Prince George’s County, Maryland ever since.

In September 2008, when Mrs. Ngwala learned that her 4 year-old son was not eligible to participate in the public preschool program in Prince George’s County because of the county’s income requirements, she immediately became a Universal Pre-K/Preschool for All advocate. Since then, as a constituent in Prince George’s County, she has written letters, and has called and continues to call on elected officials to inform and encourage involvement from the county on the importance of early childhood education for all young children in Prince George’s County. In November 2008, she was a contributor in the Universal Pre-K Fact Finding Meeting with the Prince George’s County Public School’s Board of Education to examine national, state, and local data regarding Universal Pre-K and to determine if there was a need to establish a Prince George’s County Universal Pre-K Task Force.

Our second guest is Ms. Gwen Samuel Founder and President of the State of Black CT Alliance will share her views on the controversial new Parent Trigger law.

Ms. Samuel is a Parent, Founder and President of the State of Black CT Alliance, an organization which advocates for equity and access to high quality socioeconomic and educational opportunities for communities of color and vulnerable populations. Ms. Samuel is also the founder of the Meriden Kids Walk Safe Coalition (MKWS) – a Safe Routes to School Initiative.

A graduate of Springfield College, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services, Ms. Samuel works tirelessly to promote effective and sustainable practices that foster the academic and social development of our children while seeking to strengthen our families and communities. She firmly strives to ensure that “each and every child has access to the right of a high quality education and equitable access to opportunity, and that we must work effectively until neither race nor socio-economic status is a predictor of student success.”

In recognition of her work, in March of 2010, in a national Parenting Magazine contest, Ms. Samuel was one of 51 moms across the country that were selected to represent their state at the inaugural Mom Congress on Education and Learning Conference at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

In September of 2010, Ms. Samuel was selected to sit on an educational panel at the NBC Universal Education Nation Summit in New York.

She firmly believes that when parents, children and community know more and better they do more and they do better.

Show Date: January 9, 2011
Show Time: 8:00pm-9:00pm
Call In Number: 1 (914) 803-4591
Website: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/educationaljournal

The Parent Trigger

Parent Talk Explores the Controversial Parent Trigger Law with Gwen Samuel, Founder and President of the State of Black CT Alliance.

Parent Talk discusses the controversial Parent Trigger law which was recently exercised by parents in Compton, California with the Founder and President of the State of Black CT Alliance, Ms. Gwen Samuel.


BIO

Ms. Samuel is a Parent, Founder and President of the State of Black CT Alliance, an organization which advocates for equity and access to high quality socioeconomic and educational opportunities for communities of color and vulnerable populations. Ms. Samuel is also the founder of the Meriden Kids Walk Safe Coalition (MKWS) – a Safe Routes to School Initiative.

A graduate of Springfield College, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services, Ms. Samuel works tirelessly to promote effective and sustainable practices that foster the academic and social development of our children while seeking to strengthen our families and communities. She firmly strives to ensure that “each and every child has access to the right of a high quality education and equitable access to opportunity, and that we must work effectively until neither race nor socio-economic status is a predictor of student success.”

In recognition of her work, in March of 2010, in a national Parenting Magazine contest, Ms. Samuel was one of 51 moms across the country that were selected to represent their state at the inaugural Mom Congress on Education and Learning Conference at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

In September of 2010, Ms. Samuel was selected to sit on an educational panel at the NBC Universal Education Nation Summit in New York.

She firmly believes that when parents, children and community know more and better they do more and they do better.

Show Date: January 9, 2011
Show Time: 8:30pm-9:00pm
Call In Number: 1 (914) 803-4591
Website: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/educationaljournal

Rhee taking agenda for D.C.-style education reform to national stage

By:
Lisa Gartner

Michelle Rhee plans to release her legislative agenda for education reform early this week, but whether legislators will embrace the platform remains to be seen, analysts say. "Whatever she releases will get attention," said Neal McCluskey, associate director of the Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom. "It's a lot harder to say whether it will have any on-the-ground traction as far as legislation passed."

Rhee, the former city schools chancellor whose reforms polarized the District, told

The Washington Examiner of her plans to create a national education platform through the nonprofit advocacy group she started earlier this month, StudentsFirst.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/education/2011/01/rhees-ed-reform-platform-be-released-early-next-week#ixzz19u7KBCNV

Vince Gray, Adrian Fenty, Michelle Rhee and Kaya Henderson on DC Public Schools

Kim Carrington Presents: A Very Healthy Snack

Mrs. Kim Carrington and the United Health Heroes Presents :

A Very Great Healthy Snack

10 apples (different varieties such as Stayman, Fugii, Gala, Granny Smith and Honey Crisp and whatever else you like)1 pineapple (peeled and cut)1/2 red onion1 or 2 limes garlic powder kosher salt1 jalepeno pepper cilantro mint.

First, wash and dry apples and herbs. Rough cut the apples with the skins into bite-sized pieces. Cut half of the pineapple into pieces half the size of the apples. Dice up the onions. Mince the pepper. So, the apples are the largest ingredient in size, then the pineapples, then onions, then pepper. This matters because the onions and peppers should not overwhelm the apples and pineapples, just season the salsa. Don't omit them though. The pineapples could actually be cut the same size, larger or smaller than the apples.

Second, mix all the fruit, onions and pepper and squeeze the lime juice over the mixture to keep the apples looking fresh. You don't want them to turn brown. The pineapples also help keep the apples looking fresh.

Last, lightly sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of garlic powder (not garlic salt) over the fruit mixture, a light sprinkle of the kosher salt, and add about a handful of each roughly chopped fresh cilantro and mint. Adjust seasoning to your personal taste and serve with hot or cold corn tortilla chips. People who like strong flavors can use fresh or minced garlic and add a little more as well as the red onion to the recipe.

Pointless Finger-Pointing at Parents

"As the national debate on public school reform continues to loom large, with its inherent finger-pointing, a new enemy has recently emerged – parents. An Associated Press-Stanford University poll says 68 percent of adults believe parents deserve heavy blame for what's wrong with the U.S. education system – more than teachers, administrators, the government or even the teachers' unions."

By Anne Foster

This new version of the blame game reminds me of people who get up in an airplane at 30,000 feet and then decide the pilot may be incompetent. It's useless and too late. Rather than blaming parents for what's wrong with education, we should instead be helping them and training them to hold their schools accountable for their children's education – and to be partners in the process.

Finding one group to blame reminds us that many people are looking for silver bullets – the one culprit to blame for bad schools and the one solution for successful schools. Truth is there are no silver bullets – for either blame or credit. Successful schools exist because of a combination of factors that work together – quality teaching, professional development, adequate financial resources, safe facilities, community support and parent engagement. Failing schools exist because of a lack of these things.

Certainly, parents have a part in successful schools. There are certain things that are just plain good parenting – making sure kids get enough sleep, proper nutrition, monitoring homework and reading daily with kids. When parents do these things, children go to school ready to learn. When they don't do these things, the challenge is much greater for the school, the children and the educators. We can all agree that there are parents who wouldn't win parenting awards, and our society needs to encourage positive parenting skills. Many schools already are doing this, but they can't do it alone. They need help from others in the community.

But to blame parents as a group for any failure in education is simplistic and untenable. In fact, writing off parents as a whole represents a woefully misinformed viewpoint. Some parents are considered suspect because they are poor or do not speak English. I have met a great variety of parents, and although they would express it in many different ways, they all have hopes and dreams for their children and want them to succeed in school and in life. Parents live along a spectrum, and the more educated parents are better able to assume their rightful role in their children's schools and education. But other parents are capable of being brought along and connected with schools as well. Many schools are reaching out to them with some notable success and bringing them into a partnership with the school that focuses on the academic success of their child and the entire school. These parents are proving able to be involved with school reform, school improvement and advocacy.

The poll also found that a majority of parents believe schools have improved since they were in school and that their children are getting a better education than they did. Schools that are succeeding are doing so in part because parents are a positive force. We need to build on that and take that message to all parents. Schools need to keep reaching out to parents, particularly those who need guidance on how to help their children in school.

But blame parents? No – they deserve better than that, and so do their kids. Parent engagement is an important part of quality schools, but it is only part of the whole. We must make sure all of the pieces are in place.

Anne Foster is a former school board member in Richardson ISD and is National Executive Director of Parents for Public Schools. Anne Foster can also be heard on Education4and2Podbean.com, an educational podcast resource center for the engaged parent and dedicated educator