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.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
A Vendre. For Sale.
"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.
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.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Job Posting: Recruitment & Community Partnerships Manager, Big Sister Association
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
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
- Hello,
My name is Brian Cohen, co-director of Beam Camp (http://www.beamcamp.com), a 5-week summer program for boys and girls aged 7-17 in Strafford, NH.
- Beam Campers cultivate hands-on skills while exploring innovative thinking, design and the creative process.
- They transform ideas into artifacts and personal achievement into community success. Teams of campers work on different aspects of the spectacular Beam Project each morning. In the afternoons, they participate in Domains; unique, in-depth, hands-on explorations in the arts, sciences, athletic or cultural fields.
Beam seeks to collaborate with artists/makers/big thinkers in several possible ways.
- Beam Project 2011 Call for Proposal - The Beam Project is a spectacular large-scale endeavor, ranging from the conceptual to the structural. Here's our Call for Proposals for Summer 2011:
http://www.beamcamp.com/
- Every summer we invite to camp to share their passions with the campers in week-long Domain workshops. Here's our Domain RFP for this summer: http://tinyurl.com/yckgt79
If you're interested in exploring possibilities with us, please email me at brian [at] beamcamp.com.
Thanks.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Careers in Digital Media - Panel Discussion and Networking Event
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;
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
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
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
guest blogging duties
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.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Machine Science digital electronics workshop every Saturday in Roxbury
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
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,
Sunday, January 17, 2010
MLK Day 2010 Events
Museum of Fine Arts
link: http://www.mfa.org/calendar/sub.asp?key=12&subkey=1878
10 am -4:45 pm
The Museum opens its doors for a day of celebration with free general admission for all. Highlights include live performances (gospel concert, flowology live music set), poetry readings, family art-making activities (storyboarding, watercolor painting, kente cloth weaving), film screening, and tours.
Boston University
link: http://www.bu.edu/phpbin/calendar/event.php?id=95233&cid=17&oid=0
begins at 1pm @ George Sherman Union, 775 Commonwealth Avenue
City of Cambridge
link: http://www.cambridgema.gov/deptann.cfm?story_id=2487
11:30am - 1:30pm in Central Square
Perkins School for the Blind
link: http://www.perkins.org/news-events/news/i-have-a-dream.html
11:30am in Watertown
Town of Stoneham
link: http://www.wickedlocal.com/stoneham/fun/entertainment/x370512117/Around-Stoneham
1-3pm at Stoneham Town Hall
Brandeis University
link: http://my.brandeis.edu/btime/item?item_id=523973
6:30-8:30 pm in Waltham
Harvard Square
link: http://www.harvardsquare.com/Home/News/Dr--Martin-Luther-King-Jr--Tribute.aspx
5:30 pm
City of Boston
link: http://www.cityofboston.gov/ons/mlk.asp
9:30-3:30pm at Reggie Lewis Center
Other events
link: http://www.mfa.org/calendar/sub.asp?key=12&subkey=1878
10 am -4:45 pm
The Museum opens its doors for a day of celebration with free general admission for all. Highlights include live performances (gospel concert, flowology live music set), poetry readings, family art-making activities (storyboarding, watercolor painting, kente cloth weaving), film screening, and tours.
Boston University
link: http://www.bu.edu/phpbin/calendar/event.php?id=95233&cid=17&oid=0
begins at 1pm @ George Sherman Union, 775 Commonwealth Avenue
City of Cambridge
link: http://www.cambridgema.gov/deptann.cfm?story_id=2487
11:30am - 1:30pm in Central Square
Perkins School for the Blind
link: http://www.perkins.org/news-events/news/i-have-a-dream.html
11:30am in Watertown
Town of Stoneham
link: http://www.wickedlocal.com/stoneham/fun/entertainment/x370512117/Around-Stoneham
1-3pm at Stoneham Town Hall
Brandeis University
link: http://my.brandeis.edu/btime/item?item_id=523973
6:30-8:30 pm in Waltham
Harvard Square
link: http://www.harvardsquare.com/Home/News/Dr--Martin-Luther-King-Jr--Tribute.aspx
5:30 pm
City of Boston
link: http://www.cityofboston.gov/ons/mlk.asp
9:30-3:30pm at Reggie Lewis Center
Other events
- About.com listing: http://boston.about.com/od/events/a/MLKBoston.htm
- Banner listing: http://www.baystatebanner.com/Events
Sunday Sermon
"To give thanks in solitude is enough. Thanksgiving has wings and goes where it must go. Your prayer knows much more about it than you do."
-Victor Hugo
Dear lord,
Please pray for my many friends who have experienced great loss this past week and for those who still have unanswered questions and are holding out hope.
Amen.
Hope is a four-letter word.
We hope for the best and let God take the reigns from there. Yet, there is something magical in having some say in the eventual outcome.
I went home for the holidays last month and did my usual field trip to old neighborhoods and stomping grounds. It helps me to maintain my sanity and focus.
"No matter how bad you think you got it, someone got it worst."
-Wyclef
It struck my as pretty interesting that some of the old hoods I visited this time were now enclaves for massive housing projects. Liberty Hill is no more. North Park Village is no more. John C Calhoun Homes are no more. Just large single-family homes amidst downtrodden double-wides and shadowmoss eerily reminiscent of abandoned air force bases.
"Things done changed."
-Biggie
We can hold out hope that what we've always come to expect will still be there time after time, yet forever ain't promised.
Once upon a time, I hit that fork in the road. Up until that point, life was going its normal course and would have reached its eventual conclusion. But bad judgment and circumstance combined to to make mirrors cloudy. Due to the intervention of someone who didn't have to intervene on my behalf, I went home that night.
And to this day, I never said thank you.
Well, until Wednesday, December 30, 2009.
It's strange how a 30-year-old man can get butterflies walking into someone's corner office, but it happens. I felt 13 again. I shook his hand, thank him, and hugged him. I felt good. I certainly was on the verge of spiraling out of control. He probably saved from my life. Its never to late to give thanks.
Thank you, Ed Barfield.
-Victor Hugo
Dear lord,
Please pray for my many friends who have experienced great loss this past week and for those who still have unanswered questions and are holding out hope.
Amen.
Hope is a four-letter word.
We hope for the best and let God take the reigns from there. Yet, there is something magical in having some say in the eventual outcome.
I went home for the holidays last month and did my usual field trip to old neighborhoods and stomping grounds. It helps me to maintain my sanity and focus.
"No matter how bad you think you got it, someone got it worst."
-Wyclef
It struck my as pretty interesting that some of the old hoods I visited this time were now enclaves for massive housing projects. Liberty Hill is no more. North Park Village is no more. John C Calhoun Homes are no more. Just large single-family homes amidst downtrodden double-wides and shadowmoss eerily reminiscent of abandoned air force bases.
"Things done changed."
-Biggie
We can hold out hope that what we've always come to expect will still be there time after time, yet forever ain't promised.
Once upon a time, I hit that fork in the road. Up until that point, life was going its normal course and would have reached its eventual conclusion. But bad judgment and circumstance combined to to make mirrors cloudy. Due to the intervention of someone who didn't have to intervene on my behalf, I went home that night.
And to this day, I never said thank you.
Well, until Wednesday, December 30, 2009.
It's strange how a 30-year-old man can get butterflies walking into someone's corner office, but it happens. I felt 13 again. I shook his hand, thank him, and hugged him. I felt good. I certainly was on the verge of spiraling out of control. He probably saved from my life. Its never to late to give thanks.
Thank you, Ed Barfield.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Friends of the Dudley Branch Library Memorial Scholarship Fund
The 2010 Friends of the Dudley Branch Library Memorial Scholarship Fund is offering a five hundred dollars ($500) scholarship to a deserving high school senior who is a resident of the Roxbury community (zip codes 02119, 02120 and 02121) and slated to graduate June 2009.
The applicant should be attending college or any institution of higher learning in the fall of 2010. A Scholarship Committee of the FODL will read the essays and determine the scholarship winner.
To apply, please complete the Application Form and return it with the
following:
· Letter of acceptance to a two year, four-year college or training institute.
· Proof of Residency
· Two (2) letters of reference--one (1) community
reference and one (1) academic reference
· One student biography
· Write an essay between 300 and 400 words on the "The History of the Roxbury Community"
Deadline: Your essay and other supporting documents (completed application, reference letters, biography, letter of acceptance) should be mailed to the FODL Memorial Scholarship Fund at the below address or delivered to the Dudley Branch Library. Your package will not be reviewed unless all of the above information is completed and included. It must be received by May 15, 2010. The recipient will be notified by August 1, 2010.
For any questions or additional information, please contact: Diane Davis at 617-427-3498 (ddavis2 AT boston.k12.ma.us), Jamiese Martin at 617-822-7134 or e-mail: friendsofdudley AT gmail.com
Friends of the Dudley Branch Library
Memorial Scholarship Fund
65 Warren Street
Roxbury, MA 02119
617-442-6550
The applicant should be attending college or any institution of higher learning in the fall of 2010. A Scholarship Committee of the FODL will read the essays and determine the scholarship winner.
To apply, please complete the Application Form and return it with the
following:
· Letter of acceptance to a two year, four-year college or training institute.
· Proof of Residency
· Two (2) letters of reference--one (1) community
reference and one (1) academic reference
· One student biography
· Write an essay between 300 and 400 words on the "The History of the Roxbury Community"
Deadline: Your essay and other supporting documents (completed application, reference letters, biography, letter of acceptance) should be mailed to the FODL Memorial Scholarship Fund at the below address or delivered to the Dudley Branch Library. Your package will not be reviewed unless all of the above information is completed and included. It must be received by May 15, 2010. The recipient will be notified by August 1, 2010.
For any questions or additional information, please contact: Diane Davis at 617-427-3498 (ddavis2 AT boston.k12.ma.us), Jamiese Martin at 617-822-7134 or e-mail: friendsofdudley AT gmail.com
Friends of the Dudley Branch Library
Memorial Scholarship Fund
65 Warren Street
Roxbury, MA 02119
617-442-6550
Sunday, January 10, 2010
globe-trotting
I read the Boston Globe online pretty regularly for the past 10 years. Today, I was actually hand-surfing through the printed Sunday edition and came across several jawns that stood out to me. Enjoy.
- The college admissions scam - I got an interesting question the other day from this guy about why I had referred a couple of high schoolers to 2-year schools as opposed to 4-year schools. This alludes to that conversation. It's big business, buddy.
- A line in the sand - Made me think of Edisto and how exclusive (and much whiter) some parts of it always seemed to be compared to the rest of the island
- Of stitches and time - Made me think about how we all have a story, yet you will never know it if you stay at arm's length
- Round One goes to Baker and his big bucks - Made me think back to the high I had in 2006 during Deval Patrick's initial run and how dramatically that feeling has decreased since then. There's a forum in Roxbury on Tuesday if anyone wants to address some questions to him directly.
- Arenas has always been blanketed by insecurity - Just plain interesting
- Using different tools to help small businesses survive - Great straight talk and information from Robert A. Baker, president of the Smaller Business Association of New England
- Teaching has appeal for workers ready for change - Although I am not in the classroom, I'd love for some of you to consider making the switch. Especially my engineering and accounting peoples.
- Rioting in Italy underscores rising tension over immigration - self-explanatory
- What is Ajami? - Reclaiming our past
Friday, January 08, 2010
Red Sox Scholars (for BPS 5th Graders)
Applications for the Red Sox Scholars are open to all qualified 5th grade students in the Boston Public School system only. All applications must be postmarked by Monday, February 8th, 2010.
Twenty-five (25) Red Sox Scholars receive a $10,000 scholarship each year towards an accredited college or university. Please urge those 5th grade students who you believe are academically talented and economically challenged to apply.
The Red Sox Foundation and Boston Public Schools are proud to partner on this endeavor!
Contact: Ann Zeigler, 617-226-6264, azeigler AT redsox.com
The Red Sox Foundation and Boston Public Schools are proud to partner on this endeavor!
Contact: Ann Zeigler, 617-226-6264, azeigler AT redsox.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)