POPS' Thoughts

I talk to the voices that speak through my headphones

2010-03-12T10:35:00.003-05:00

"I hang with the secrets and the cats that paint pictures
While you sleeping on life and writing the same scriptures"
-Atmosphere, "My Songs"

Sat, 3/13 - AZ & Cormega @ The Middle East, Cambridge
Sat, 3/13 - Zili Musik @ The Beehive
Sun, 3/21 - A Tribute to Philly Soul @ Showcase Live
Mon, 3/22 - Alicia Keys @ BU's Agganis Arena
Tue, 3/23 - Robin Thicke @ House of Blues Boston
Wed, 3/24 - Christian Scott @ Scullers
Fri/Sat, 3/26-27 - Roy Haynes @ Scullers
Sat, 3/27 - Fresh Produce @ The Good Life
Tue, 3/30 - Wiz Khalifa @ The Middle East

Thu, 4/1 - Wale, K'Naan, & John Forte @ House of Blues Boston
Fri, 4/2 - Rick Ross @ Showcase Live
Sat, 4/3 - Bruce Bruce @ Wilbur Theater
Mon, 4/5 - Bone Thugs N Harmony @ The Middle East
Wed, 4/7 - Lupe Fiasco @ House of Blues Boston
Thu, 4/8 - Lizz Wright @ Wilbur Theater
Fri, 4/9 - Charlie Murphy @ Wilbur Theater
Sat, 4/10 - Drake & K-OS @ Northeastern
Sun, 4/11 - Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars @ Harpers Ferry
Wed, 4/14 - Eek-A-Mouse @ Harpers Ferry
Sat, 4/17 - Kid Cudi @ Babson
Thu, 4/22 - Sean Price @ The Middle East, Cambridge
Fri, 4/23 - Mo'Nique @ BU's Agganis Arena
Fri, 4/23-25 - Snoop & Wale @ Brown University
Thu, 4/29 - Drake & K-Os @ Tsongas Arena
Fri, 4/30 - Corinne Bailey Rae - House of Blues Boston
Fri, 4/30 - Bettye LaVette @ Somerville Theater
Fri, 4/30 - Masta Ace & Edo G @ Harpers Ferry

Sat, 5/1 - Sommore @ Wilbur Theater
Wed, 5/5 - EPMD @ Harpers Ferry
Wed, 5/12 - Sage Francis @ The Middle East
Sat, 5/15 - Diana Ross @ Shubert Theater
Tue, 5/18 - Ill Bill & Slaine @ Harpers Ferry
Tue, 5/18 - Steel Pulse @ House of Blues Boston
Sat, 5/22 - Tracy Morgan @ Wilbur Theater

Fri, 6/4 - Conan O'Brien @ Wang Theater
Thu, 6/10 - Earth, Wind & Fire @ Bank of America Pavilion

Fri, 7/9 - BB King @ House of Blues Boston
Fri, 7/23 - Tommy Davidson @ Wilbur Theater

Sun, 8/1 - Aretha Franklin @ South Shore Music Circus
Tue, 8/3 - Black Eyed Peas at TD Garden

Fellows sought, Environmental Leadership Program

2010-03-11T09:41:00.000-05:00

The Environmental Leadership Program has a great Fellowship Program for emerging environmental and social change practitioners eager to connect their specialized work to larger environmental and social concerns.

The Fellowship Program offers intensive leadership and skill training, regional networking opportunities, and time for personal and professional reflection. Consisting of three retreats and additional optional trainings, its curriculum helps emerging leaders hone their leadership styles, improve their strategic communications, and strengthen their outreach to diverse constituencies.

More info: http://www.elpnet.org/about-fellowship

Deadline to apply for the New England regional fellowship class is April 12th, so give it some thought soon or pass it along.

ELP is committed to selecting a class of Fellows that represents diversity of race and ethnicity, gender, sector, sexual orientation, education levels, professional background, values and traditions, and environmental issue expertise.

Job: Job Developer, Community Action Agency of Somerville

2010-03-10T11:02:00.002-05:00

The Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) is a private not-for-profit organization that has served low-income Somerville residents since 1981. CAAS delivers community-based human services while bringing people and organizations together to change the conditions that cause and perpetuate poverty. This Job Developer position is within a new Workforce Development component of our Advocacy Program. In addition, the Advocacy Program provides assistance to the low-income Somerville community by providing legal and non-legal advocacy on housing and benefits issues, case management, housing search, and community organizing, as well as Latino teen peer leadership. The Head Start Program provides education, health, and other services to low-income pre-school children and their families. All positions at CAAS are reliant on sufficient funding.

Description of Job Developer’s Duties:

Under the supervision of the Advocacy Program Director and working closely with CAAS staff and partners, the Job Developer will create relationships with local employers to identify employment and career advancement opportunities, conduct outreach presentations with local
employers, create job fairs to bring employers and potential employees together, identify barriers to employment and methods to eliminate those barriers, and explore and develop expertise in employment fields likely to experience growth in the future.

Qualifications:

Bachelors’ degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Business Administration, vocational rehabilitation counseling, or a related field. Minimum two years experience in providing employment services for individuals seeking jobs. Must have excellent written, oral, and communication skills, and good computer skills. Sensitive to needs and problems of low-income people and able to demonstrate commitment to advancing the interests of low-income people. Able to work with individuals and groups from diverse ethnic, racial and economic backgrounds. Able to work some evenings and weekends as required. Must provide own transportation. Ability to communicate in a second language desirable.

Salary based upon experience. Excellent benefits, 35 hours/week. This position is funded under the American Recovery and Re-Investment Act (ARRA) and is effective through September 30, 2010.

Deadline is March 12, 2010. Submit resume and cover letter to search AT caasomerville.org. CAAS values workplace diversity. CAAS is an AA/EEO employer.

Massachusetts Nonprofit Network Nonprofit Excellence Awards

2010-03-10T10:57:00.002-05:00

Massachusetts Nonprofit Network Nonprofit Excellence Awards

Deadline: March 15, 2010

We are seeking nominations for the MNN Nonprofit Excellence Awards. These awards are an opportunity to honor and recognize both people and organizations who excel in the nonprofit field. Last year's winners were thrilled about the recognition they received across the state.

Award Categories:

Innovation
Management
Social Entrepreneurship
Advocacy
Collaboration
Capacity Building
Governance
Communication
Leadership (Individual)
Young Leadership (Individual)

All nominees and winners will be honored at Nonprofit Awareness Day, held at the State House on June 14. The awards will be judged by a panel of community foundation leaders and academics from across the state. Local legislators will be invited to present the awards to this year's winners. The Nonprofit Excellence Awards are covered by media outlets across the state, providing winners with widespread media exposure and recognition.

Nominate or Apply Today! - https://web.memberclicks.com/mc/quickForm/viewForm.do?orgId=mno&formId=70586

FAQs and more information: http://www.massnonprofitnet.org/awards

Job: Business Development Manager, More Than Words, Waltham

2010-03-10T10:33:00.002-05:00

Are you ready to apply your business savvy and entrepreneurial spirit to a social enterprise?

Do you love developing and sustaining business partnerships that help create positive social change?

Are you excited to teach youth the art of sales, growing a business, & hitting benchmarks?

You may be More Than Words!

More Than Words (MTW) is a nonprofit social enterprise that employs youth, ages 16-21, who are in the foster care system, court involved, homeless, or out of school to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business. By working as a team to manage their own retail and online used book business, cafe, and community space, youth develop the employment skills, leadership, and self-confidence they need to successfully transition to adulthood. In addition to store-based job training, youth are engaged in personal transition planning to support their progress towards employment and higher education. The MTW model is premised on the belief that an actual job ? one which provides hands-on, real-world training and developmentally appropriate feedback combined with high expectations, accountability and opportunities for personal development, is the best way to equip youth with marketable skills critical for success in work, college and life.

MTW seeks a creative, highly motivated, detail-oriented and organized individual to lead our efforts to create systems and strategies to coordinate ongoing book donations and support youth to build their inventory. All of the books our youth sell online and in their store are donated through book drives and partnerships. This position is critical to helping More Than Words achieve planned growth by building a sustainable model for sourcing book donations that can be replicated at our second site location within our next fiscal year.

Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Business Development Manager will:

Identify and execute new sustainable book sourcing partnerships that will provide a reliable, high-quality product pipeline to support our retail expansion.
Develop and manage overall strategy for sourcing used book and media donations to build MTW youth inventory including book drives, systems for pickup and delivery, appreciation and acknowledgement and connecting donors with other ways to support MTW;
Cultivate and maintain ongoing strategic partnerships with partners such as universities, moving companies, faith-based organizations, and publishers;
Develop and execute comprehensive systems for community and business book/media drives;
Support strategy and systems to source additional media items in addition to books;
Manage Salesforce.com database system to track and deepen connections with individual book donors and partners;
Support the Executive Director and Director of Operations with strategic planning to develop sourcing partnerships to sustain two locations; and
Support the adult and youth team with overall operations of the business training programs, including some evening and weekend hours.
Develop a youth-engaged sourcing department in keeping with young people s skill development goals.
Develop training manual, tools, systems and structure with youth to manage a sourcing department to secure ongoing donations and support youth to learn marketable sales, business and communication skills;
Alongside youth, develop strategies and systems for the team to cultivate, manage and track relationships for book sourcing, including Salesforce.com;
Support youth to plan and execute book sourcing shifts including emails and phone calls to coordinate book drives;
Support youth to plan, prioritize and go after key book sourcing partners, i.e. university, corporate, and moving company partners to build sustainable, long-term book sourcing partners;
Review current trends in the book/media industry ? both online and retail - to help youth identify strategies to improve sales by way of book sourcing; and
Support youth to create presentations tracking MTW sourcing trends and benchmarks to present at weekly team meetings
Broaden and strengthen existing donor and partner relationships, and identify new opportunities to deepen investment and engagement with MTW?s mission.
In cooperation with Executive Director, develop and implement strategies and systems to engage book donors and partners with opportunities for deeper engagement including financial donations and in-kind support;
Manage Salesforce.com to support ongoing communication and cultivation of book and financial donors;
Support the MTW team to drive foot traffic to the store by engaging book donors and partners with opportunities to visit and shop
Support the MTW team to engage book donors and partners with opportunities to support youth outcomes including site visits, workshops and transition employment opportunities for youth

The ideal candidate will have at least 5+ years of sales experience and a proven ability to inspire and compel others to exceed expectations. S/he should have successful experience teaching, training or supervising new learners, and a talent for empowering and engaging youth through project and systems work. The Business Development Manager will be an exceptional communicator with a excellent judgment and sensitivity for MTW's diverse constituencies. A natural affinity for networking and demonstrated confidence and poise is essential for success, as is a strong customer-service orientation and willingness to be accountable. Experience with budgeting, recruiting in-kind donations and managing partner relationships, as well as Salesforce.com database software, is preferred.

Competitive salary and benefits will be offered commensurate with experience.

To apply, please send resume and cover letter to resumes AT mtwyouth.org

More Than Words - Empowering youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business.

Jobs at Project Hope

2010-03-09T19:28:00.002-05:00

Project Hope is a multi-service agency at the forefront of efforts in Boston to move families beyond homelessness and poverty. It provides low-income women with children with access to education, jobs, housing, and emergency services; fosters their personal transformation; and works for broader systems change.

Project Hope currently has the following job openings:
- Career Counselor
- Employer Partnerships Case Manager
- Stabilization Case Manager

More details about these positions and the organization can be found on our website, http://www.prohope.org/. Applications should be sent to jobs At prohope.org.

Kelli Sperfslage, PHR
Human Resource Manager
Project Hope
550 Dudley Street
Roxbury, MA 02119
617-442-1880 x207

www.prohope.org - where families move up and out of poverty

Jesus Walks

2010-03-08T23:42:00.000-05:00

Humility goes a long way.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to connect with educators from all over the country. I sat next to a superintendent and dined with principals. I crash at the home of 3rd grade teacher, who also just so happens to be my uncle.

But anyways, I was initially hesitant, fully preparing myself for some cold shoulders and puzzled stares. Black men are no strangers to being the only black man in the room. But I digress. One of the cats I got to build with was a 35-year-old elementary school principal from Virginia. He reminded me much of many friends I grew up with who, despite us living in and growing up in the South, were not off-putting or standoffish, but the most down-to-earth and pleasant people ever. Suffice to say, I was damn near floored when I heard that he was later honored with the Outstanding Young Educator of the Year award by the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development. He is a pioneer blazing a trail to empower his students and greater community; maintaining 2-way lines of communication and producing video updates to keep parents informed and engaged. But what really set it off was his acceptance speech, in which he quoted Hova's So Ambitious, "I’m not sure that’s how teachers should speak to kids." He really brought the point full circle, illustrating that even though there were barriers for himself, he circumvented them by being resourceful, focused, and diligent. It's a point that goes a long way. Jesus walks with both sinners and then saints; and everyone in between. Don't victimize yourself by not dreaming.

Always got mad when the class was dismissed

2010-03-06T13:36:00.001-05:00

"more sophisticated, highly edu-ma-cated
not at all over-rated, I think I need a prayer"
-The Pharcyde

Every now and then, a new buzzword creeps into the national vernacular; especially when it comes to educational reform. The latest one is 21st Century Skills. Education reform has taken on quite a role in my life in the past six years.

The federal education department released its short list of states who passed the litmus test for the Race To The Top Fund. Massachusetts is on the list, as is my home state of South Carolina. Turning around low-performing schools is certainly going to take a while, as evidenced by how long it's taken already. Pouring more money simply ain't going to cut it.

And being bold and brave ain't going to suffice in a silo either. It's going to take a complex mix of many puzzle pieces. Some that haven't even molded yet. Statewide reform legislation is a start. I'll admit I have a personal stake in several of the Boston labeled underperforming base don either persona relationships with staff or students. Yet, through all the hype, the human element still exists.

Maybe a month or two ago, I was at a middle school and one youngin wanted to do his regular thizzle. I called him out, he stepped, and we continued on. I shrugged it off. But I took 2 minutes to use it as case-in-point time to put him on blast. Basically, I asked them to give me their definition of what it means to hustle. We have a quick discussion and I give my perspective. He's hustling himself. Older folks can try all they want to get him to shape up, but until he realizes himself there is no progress to be made. The teachers will get paid regardless of if he learns or not. I think back to Lean On Me, when Joe Clark was on the roof with Thomas Sams and told him to go ahead and jump off the roof and Sams refused.

"Why don't you just jump off the roof, right here and now? That's what you really want, isn't it? Yes, you do. You smoke crack, don't you, boy? Don't you smoke crack? Yeah, I thought so. And you know what that does to you? You don't? It kills your brain cells, son. It kills your brain cells! Now when you're destroying your brain cells, you're doing the same thing as killing yourself. You're just doing it slower! Now, I say if your wanna kill yourself, don't fuK around with it, do it expeditiously! Go on and jump! JUMP! "

Motivational speaking at its finest.

Some of Boston's teachers and administrators have that same talent and passion. Some school are already being turned around with culture as the starting point. Others face upward battles for a host of bureaucratic and political reasons. Yet, it's also going to necessitate the great school community to become more involved and engaged in the lives of its youth; by those with children and even those without.

Thoughts from the Google Teacher Academy for Administrators

2010-03-05T09:30:00.020-05:00

Cloudy, but warm (for me) morning

For starters, this is the 9th session of Google Teacher Academy (referred to as GTA from here on).

There are 51 administrators here from all over the country, evenly split by gender, who are directly responsible for 738,081 students.

The goal is to improve teaching and learning by leveraging innovative tools.

What's the best innovation in education you can think of that does not involve any technology?

the school that starts its day with a Great Expectations ceremony
the district that includes students in the after-school professional development side-by-side with teachers
the school that includes intervention during its school day with flexibility
a design company partnered with an elementary school to get teacher thinking about user-center design and prototyping.
the district that incorporates service learning in English classes to enhance unique voice, authentic audiences, community service, and prevent plagiarism
the school that uses cookies to lure teachers to a 20-minute lunchtime Tech20 weekly sharing session

Search

Alerts - You can setup an alert to search news for anytime your organization is mentioned in the media. You can setup an alert for your own name.
Real-Time Search - live updates
Squared - Helpful for evaluating purchasing decisions and getting snapshots of product overview, brands, & comparisons. Searches can be saved.
Wonder Wheel - Visual way of searching and diving into details
Timeline - chronological view to see when search results appeared
Image Advanced Search - can select "label for reuse" to find images freely available. Can also find Similar Images.
Books - Full-view copies of out-of-copyright books
Scholar - Query on reputable, credible sources and not blogs, popular sites, etc

Google Apps Education Edition

If the attitude is "come save me," then they will always go as slow as the slowest possible
Don't get stuck on an escalator.
GoogleEd Apps allows for access control plus custom domain and video
There are several things that are in gmail accounts but not google accounts (maps, calendar, etc)
Maine # 19 uses domain account for grades K through 8, then transition to a full account. HS buys student's a domain name for 1 year to link to the portfolio they've built over the years.
Free for educators, with only exception for email archiving
One login for many services and open authentication to connect to others services
Automatic backup
Domain follows students to simplify migration

Google Sites

Google's version of a wiki
Can be private or public (add up to 50 collaborators a day)
4 page types - web page, announcements, file cabinet and list.
52 themes to choose from and also templates
Sites seems pretty simple. I'm so used to making my own web pages on the fly in 5 minutes that I don't see it as useful as other features. I think I'm going to try it out though. I've been using wikispaces more often recently and it's pretty much the exact same thing.
Can be used as a learning community
Can embed GoogleGroups as the social component

Docs

Ability to work offline via Gears

Calendar

Can embed calendar entries to Twitter and RSS feed. Notifications, filters, custom settings.

Spreadsheets

MagicFill find similar items using Atlt on MAC or Cntl on PC
LookUp - can use formulas to import data. Can also import HTML and table data
Gadgets are powerful - Motion Charts, Word Clouds, etc

Inspiring Ideas

To Go Google, don't talk about Google. Some folks tune out when they hear you want them to be innovative.

Gmail

Archive and Searching
Filtering and Labeling
Tip : only leave what is important in your inbox (or skip it)
Instructional Uses for Gmail: Communication, Learning the Tool - Hyperlinked Text, Cooperative learning, Asynchronous learning, Data Collection, Journaling, Opens the door to other "Web 2.0" tools, Interviewing

Inspiring Ideas

Student behavior linked to an online store
Transparency is the new accountability

Google Forms

Students are the problem and the solution
You can watch live feed as data is entered
You can customize the cell colors for entered data. Makes a multiple-choice test super easy to grade. The time saved from grading should be used to do something else of value.
Students ho are building forms (6th graders) are also learning Algebra
Form spreadsheet can automatically be customized and manipulated (word cloud, map generated from zip codes)
Example: You can use a form to enter student test data and use Motion Graph to track progress
Create spreadsheet first and then create form (depends on user preference)
Great formative assessment tool because you can see trends in student answers by simply using summer of responses

Groups, Talk, Chat, Moderator

Moderator - crowdsourcing, Series & Topics
Can use for town hall-style meetings to poll people
http://tinyurl.com/ybenlpu
Talk/Chat - democratic, teaches students best practices and online etiquette, video chat, etc
Groups - collaborative tool (asynchronous learning), manage permissions
Video - information, entertainment, skill-building (Earl Anthony bowling, tie a bow-tie, shoelaces)

Google Apps Dashboard

Can detect system health
Back-end management settings
Postini - message security and spam detection (message discovery & archiving is separate feature and cost)
Apps for Ed has a template for a Start Page
Questions for Discussion

Apps Year in Review

Lesson Plan Resources - google.com/apps/eduresources
Community site - edu.googleapps.com
Training Tiers - professional deveopment program for moving to Google Apps
Option to write Canned Responses

Chrome Browser & Chromium OS

Browser has 40 million users in less than 1.2 years
HTML5 to push new web applications that can be used offline
Google Chrome OS = Speed, Simplicity, Security
Chromium OS will have extra, external features built-in without the need to download plug-in

Google Voice

Visual voicemail and transcripts
Teachers can give out different number than their personal number
Allows for conference call with up to four lines
Educational Uses: Math Homework Text Hotline, Science Data Gathering

Inspiring Ideas - Google Apps to Close Communication Gap

Using DOCS for faculty meetings
Using FORMS to gather feedback for schoolwide surveys

Even More

Questions - What is it? How does it work? What's special about it? How might it be useful for educators and students? What else do you want to learn about it?
MailMerge in Spreadsheets via Scripts
GoogleEarth- students can map out travel routes in novels or follow along show (Amazing Race) and then create video of journey with screen capture software
FeedBurner - RSS feed with multiple options
Reader - can bring in local news from other countries for authentic sources and varied perspectives (Gaza Strip research from newspapers in both Israel and Palestine)
Analytics - track users and visitors
Buzz - more open than Moderator

Reflection

Ah Ha Moment - Mine was Voice and the potential for it to be used in classrooms and by teachers and schools
There is a need for differentiated instruction for teachers
Don't wait for someone, own it
How is this going to help students learn better?
By June 2010, as a Google Certified Teacher, I need to lead at least 3 professional development activities on ways that Google tools can be effectively used in the classroom or school. For example: Hands-on Workshops, Peer Coaching Programs, Large Group Presentations, Online Learning Events & Modules, Weekly Podcasts, Weekly Blog Posts, Curriculum Development Workshops, Google Apps Lesson Plan (Required)

In conclusion, whew. This was an overwhelming day full of information overload. Yet, it was one of the most informative, enlightening, and productive days of learning in which I have ever participated. I'm going to have to review and mull over some of the material again to refersh my mind on those elements that I think would fit well with some of the things we are doing in Boston (as well as some of things we could be doing better). The possibility for several economies of scale is enormous.

MHA Scholarship, Due April 9

2010-03-03T18:47:00.001-05:00

Massachusetts Hospital Association (MHA) and MHA Insurance Agency are pleased to announce a scholarship to promote and encourage academic preparation for, and excellence in, the practice of healthcare. MHA goals are to provide professional development opportunities, including continuing education, that are responsive to the needs of the health care community and are consistent with the mission of the organization.

Please forward the attached application to anyone who might be interested in applying for this special scholarship in the amount of $2,500 funded by the MHA Insurance Agency.

Eligibility / Applicants must:

Demonstrate either current or past employment in allied health roles, or strong interest/plan in future employment in allied health roles.
Demonstrate interest in clinical practice and health care delivery through documented clinical, community and work experiences.
Commit in writing to practice in Massachusetts upon completion of their program for a minimum of 2 years. A written contract will be given to the winner to sign.
Complete their degree requirements within a reasonable time period, depending on degree.
Provide letter of acceptance from school into an accredited degree program.
Demonstrate a commitment to obtain licensure upon graduation.

Application Download: MHAScholarshipApplication2010.pdf

All materials should be sent no later than April 9, 2010 to:
Amy Connolly
Massachusetts Hospital Association
5 New England Executive Park
Burlington MA 01803

The winner will be announced at MHA’s 44th Annual Human Resources & Labor Forum on May 7, 2010 at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel.

Boston Summer Program Resource Fair

2010-03-02T11:36:00.004-05:00

This announcement is for students, parents, uncles, aunts, cousins, youth program coordinators, and professionals interested in volunteering.

On Saturday, March 13, 2010 from 11:00am-3:00pm, the Boston Public Schools, Boston Public Health Commission, Boston Centers for Youth and Families, and Boston R.O.C.K.S! will be hosting a City Wide Summer Resource Fair!

The fair will be held at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School in the upper and lower cafeterias.

This event will be an extraordinary opportunity for organizations to showcase what they can offer Boston youth in grades K through 12 and families during the summer months. This means anything: summer programming, youth jobs and internships, resources for families, community resources, etc.

Tables are only $10 and, if interested, vendor/organization registration forms can be sent to Claudeline Jean-Baptiste at cjeanbaptiste2 AT boston.k12.ma.us.

Additionally, we are looking for volunteers to set up, register and greet families, interpret and walk through the fair with our ELL families as well as clean up and running errands. If you are available to volunteer either 1 hour to 3 hours or more, please fill out the volunteer form and send it to me (Eric Esteves) at eesteves AT techboston.org.

Thanks for your time and attention (and help).

-POPS

monday morning briefing

2010-03-01T08:56:00.001-05:00

a few years ago, i used to send out an email to some friends of mine with news and info about various events, articles, and tidbits going on around town.

it's time to get back to doing that.

of course, the Boston Herald has an recurring entry with that same name now, but hey, i think they jacked my steez, not the other way around.

Runaway health costs are rocking municipal budgets, Boston Globe

Ten Big Ideas Of School Leadership, Edutopia

New leaders needed to carry Dr. King’s dream, Boston Herald

14 CEOs unite to make business heard, Boston Globe

Vaulting into politics again, Boston Globe

Too Dumb to Thrive, Time

Spelman Blueprint Conference for Middle & High School Girls

2010-02-24T15:38:00.000-05:00

Spelman Blueprint Conference for Middle & High School Girls
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA

The Boston Area Chapter of the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College will host the 4th Annual Middle and High School Girls Conference to provide Boston girls with a forum for open, honest dialogue between themselves and positive female role models.

As an outstanding historically Black college for women, Spelman empowers women to create positive social change with the support of a strong network and sisterhood. Through the Conference’s inception in March 2007, this Chapter and Conference has been able to provide that same network and sisterhood for girls in the Boston community.

Applications due February 28th

For more information, questions or to become a sponsor email bostonnaasc AT gmail.com

Black Educators' Alliance of Massachusetts (BEAM) Scholarship for HS Seniors

2010-02-17T12:52:00.001-05:00

Black Educators' Alliance of Massachusetts (BEAM) is pleased to announce its scholarship application process for the 2009-2010 school year.

Applicants must be a resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and be a 2010 graduate of a public or private high school, be a citizen of the United States, Provide proof of acceptance/enrollment in an accredited two or four year degree-granting institution in September 2010 prior to receiving the scholarship and make himself/herself available for an interview upon responsible notification by the Scholarship Committee.

Please see the application (PDF) for details.

Deadline: Sunday, February 28, 2010

City Year looking for panelists for March 5th Networking event for corps members

2010-02-16T16:47:00.000-05:00

The City Year Boston Alumni Board is planning an 18-minute networking event for current City Year corps members on Friday, March 5th, between 3:15 pm and 5:15pm at City Year Headquarters on 287 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA.

We have panelists representing different professions, sectors and industries. Some of the panelists are City Year alumni or past staff, while some of them are not. We have tables reserved for non-profit organizations, foundation, education, government, community organizing, youth development, etc.

If you are interested in being a panelist, please contact James Chen via email at James_Chen AT dfci.harvard.edu.

As the March 5 networking event date is fast approaching, we at City Year Alumni Board still need panelists from the following professions:

Foundations/Philanthropy
Education - Elementary/Middle School
Government
Politics/Campaigning
Youth Development

I know that this event is taking place on a Friday afternoon during your normal working hours, and you may have plans to be with your families and friends, but I really hope if you are interested and can make it, please let me know. For those who have already contacted me and volunteered to participate in the event, you have my utmost gratitude! Even if you know someone who would be interested, please let me know!

We will have a reception at a nearby venue in the BackBay/South End area after the event and you have the chance to mingle with a lot of new friends from many different professions who work in Boston!

-James Chen

Attend your Ward Caucus to be a delegate for MA Democratic Convention

2010-02-10T11:30:00.003-05:00

For those who are interested in getting a up-close view of politics in Massachusetts, the state's Democratic party is having its caucuses this month.

The caucuses will be held to elect delegates and alternates to the 2010 Massachusetts Democratic Convention. Delegates will be divided equally between men and women.

Please see this Excel listing for dates, times, and locations of your Ward's caucus.

For my Boston folks, almost half of them are this Saturday, February 13th; with most in the following week.

The convention will be held on Friday, June 4 and Saturday, June 5, at the DCU Center in Worcester. At that time Democrats from across the state will gather to endorse statewide candidates and adopt a party platform.

The caucus is open to all registered Democrats in their respective ward. All ballots will be written and secret. Those not elected as delegates and/or alternates, who meet the qualifications, may apply to be add-on delegates in the following categories: youth, minority, and disabled.

Challenges to the delegate selection process can be filed with the Massachusetts Democratic Party, 56 Roland St., Suite 203, Boston, MA 02129 no later than 10 days after the caucus date.

Holla.

Filmmaker Lee Daniels (Precious) lecture at Emerson tonight

2010-02-02T09:48:00.002-05:00

EBONI presents acclaimed filmmaker Lee Daniels as part of African American Heritage Month

Acclaimed filmmaker Lee Daniels, director of Precious, Monster's Ball, and The Woodsman, will visit Emerson as part of African American Heritage Month. His film Precious will screen in the Bright Family Screening Room at Emerson's Paramount Center on Monday, February 1, at 8:00 pm.

The following day Daniels will be on campus to give a lecture, presented by Emerson student group EBONI, at 6:00 pm in the screening room.

Precious, based on the book Push by Sapphire, is the story of an overweight, illiterate girl raised in Harlem. She is sexually abused by her father and about to give birth to her second child. Precious stars newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, and features a supporting cast that includes Mo'Nique, Mariah Carey, and Lenny Kravitz. Mo'Nique won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama for her role as the abusive mother.

The Hollywood Reporter called Precious "a disturbing masterwork of human survival," and Variety dubbed it "courageous and uncompromising, a shaken cocktail of debasement and elation, despair and hope."

Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey were executive producers of the film. "I've never seen anything like it. It's so raw and powerful, it split me open," Winfrey said of the film.

Precious won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival—only the third film in festival history to do so. The film is expected to be nominated for multiple Oscars® in 2010.

The screening and lecture are open to anyone in the Emerson community with a current Emerson ID.The screening will be held Monday, February 1, at 8:00 pm in the Bright Family Screening Room at the Paramount Center, 555 Washington Street. The lecture will be held Tuesday, February 2, at 6:00 pm, also in the screening room. Contact Tikesha Morgan, director of Multicultural Affairs, Tikesha_Morgan AT emerson.edu, with questions or for further information. Press inquiries can be directed to Allison _Teixeira AT emerson.edu in the Office of Public Affairs.

BPS Arts Expansion

2010-01-29T15:18:00.002-05:00

Please join Superintendent Carol R. Johnson for a reception and performance by Stan Strickland to celebrate and kick off the BPS Arts Expansion Initiative Planning Process on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 from 3:30 - 7:30pm at Symphony Hall in the Cohen Wing.

This celebration and kick-off event will be preceded by stakeholder input sessions from 3:30-5:30pm that will provide an opportunity for the broad community critical to the successful expansion of and system building for arts education in Boston Public Schools to offer their input early in the Arts Expansion Initiative Planning Process.

RSVP with your expected attendance at the stakeholder input sessions (3:30-5:30pm), the reception and performance (5:30-7:30pm), by email to Jennifer Stange at EdVestors, stange AT edvestors.org by Thursday, February 4th.

Please see http://boston.k12.ma.us/bulletins/ArtsExpansion.doc for more information.

A Vendre. For Sale.

2010-01-25T13:52:00.006-05:00

"If power is for sale, sell your mother to buy it. You can always buy her back again."

Has anyone else had a pretty bumpy 2010 so far?

I have so many friends who have been impacted by the earthquake that I lost count. A chance conversation last weekend allowed me to meet some new folks and dig beneath the surface.

Dig deeper.

I'm in this leadership development cohort that is currently wrestling with the notion of how honesty forces discomfort. We've been trained to notice every little thing that makes us different that we sometimes fail to recognize, acknowledge, and appreciate the commonalities.

It's been an eye-opening experience.

One particularly striking conversation touched upon the notion of what comes next in Haiti.

One one hand, you have folks worried about the intentions of the international community. Other the other hand, someone remarked that as they were watching the Hope for Haiti teleton, she noticed an image of a rock behind Jon Stewart that had the word "Vendre" inscribed on it along with a dollar ($) sign.

Dig deeper.

The back-and-forth conversation that ensued flowed into a great discussion about the need for the Haitian diaspora to be at the table making decisions about the future of the country as opposed to settling for what is determined.

Ring a bell? Just like the need for Generation X and Y to step up the mantle of leadership, it's a familiar refrain of the urgency of action and engagement.

Much too often, my peer generation feels rather powerless in the face of catastrophic change. Yet, this is an opportunity to rebuild a country. And by no means should anyone doubt that there are other parties who have an interest in Haiti that serves their own interests; subtle or not.

What was the purpose of that rock? Was it symbolic of the country being for sale to the highest biddder? Let us not forget how Haiti was exploited, extorted, and hijacked by bilateral trade agreements after it fought for and won its independence.

The analogy that immediately came to mind was of gentrified neighborhoods. My Boston people will recall how the Orange Line used to run down Washington in the South End and it was pretty run down. Look at it now, though. The area is home to a slew of restaurants, bars, cafes, boutiques. Formerly abandoned and foreclosed homes are now assessed many times beyond their value. Even now, think of how the foreclosure crisis has affected neighborhoods like the Bowdoin-Geneva area and it is no surprise when you dig a little deeper and notice the machinations under the surface of developers primed to make moves.

Imperialism ain't just international.

Job Posting: Recruitment & Community Partnerships Manager, Big Sister Association

2010-01-23T16:38:00.000-05:00

Job Posting: Recruitment & Community Partnerships Manager, Big Sister Association

Big Sister Association is seeking a dynamic individual to lead the Recruitment & Community Partnerships (R&CP) department.

The Manager of R&CP will recruit a diverse pool of volunteers to meet growth goals. Responsibilities include development of corporate and community partnerships and planning/implementation of marketing and communications strategies to enhance volunteer recruitment. Experience in marketing and community relations preferred.

Big Sister is committed to hiring staff who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Candidates of color, bilingual and bicultural candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. If you are interested in working at a well-established, fast-paced and supportive organization committed to serving girls, please apply.

Please send cover letter and resume to:

Big Sister Association, Attn: Human Resources, 161 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
Fax: (617) 236-8075
Email: hr [AT] bigsister.org

Beam Camp Call for Proposals

2010-01-23T11:35:00.000-05:00

Beam Camp

http://www.beamcamp.com

Beam Campers cultivate hands-on skills while exploring innovative thinking, design and the creative process.

http://www.beamcamp.com/project-proposal/

http://tinyurl.com/yckgt79

beamcamp.com

Careers in Digital Media - Panel Discussion and Networking Event

2010-01-22T10:40:00.003-05:00

Careers in Digital Media - Panel Discussion and Networking Event

Please join Career Moves at JVS and Combined Jewish Philanthropies for a free community networking event to learn about career paths in the field of digital media.

In addition to a panel presentation, this event will feature networking ambassadors (professionals working in various digital media settings) who will participate in the networking which will take place after the panelists speak. The ambassadors, along with the panelists, will offer information, support, and, where appropriate, networking contacts to attendees. The participation of our networking ambassadors makes this event different from all other networking events you’ve attended.

When: Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
Time: 6:00PM-8:30 PM;

6:00 p.m. - Registration, light refreshments and informal networking
6:30 p.m. - Panel discussion
7:30 p.m. - Networking

Where: Microsoft New England Research & Development Center, One Memorial Drive, Suite 100, Cambridge
Fee: No Cost (aka FREE)

You must pre-register: https://careermoves.wufoo.com/forms/careers-in-digital-media/

Event Flyer: http://www.jvs-boston.org/images/stories/Digital%20media%20flyer%203.pdf

guest blogging duties

2010-01-20T23:36:00.002-05:00

Last week, I had the privilege of being the featured guest blogger for the school district's technology blog, Boston Public. Check out this short piece I penned about Joe Herrington, a really cool cat and great teacher at the O'Bryant in Roxbury, who pushes his students to think critically, analyze problems, and consider STEM careers daily.

I might have to get back to writing more.

Machine Science digital electronics workshop every Saturday in Roxbury

2010-01-19T11:40:00.001-05:00

Machine Science Digital Electronics:

Every Saturday, Boston students will have the opportunity to build and program their own electronic devices through Machine Science's Digital Electronics training. Learn to make sounds from a speaker, control light-emitting diodes (LEDs), display text on an LCD screen, keep track of time and date electronically, gather input from an infrared remote control, and use digital and analog sensors. Build your own GPS, MP3, and robotics devices using the C programming language and learn a variety of programming concepts, including loops, conditional statements, and variables.

When: Saturdays starting January 16th from 11 AM - 2 PM through May 2010

Where: John D. O'Bryant School of Math & Science School, 55 Malcolm X Boulevard, Building #3, Roxbury, MA 02120

Contact: Mike Sullivan, MSullivan4 AT boston.k12.ma.us or Eric Esteves, eesteves AT techboston.org