Project Still I Rise, NPO

Searching For Robin Hood

2011-08-09T21:20:00.000-07:00

I had an interesting conversation with a colleague in regards to the recent TEA school reports that were released two weeks ago. They noticed how the majority of the High Schools in the Southern Sector of Dallas were rated academically unacceptable. They went on to ask me what my thoughts were about the situation and I was like a loaded cannon waiting to explode, because I think we just let this pass us by as business as usual with no questions or concerns. I then went to give my top three reasons for this lack of performance of students. I ranked them in this order 1) School finance 2) Parent accountability 3) Community values and expectations. For this blog I will focus on School Finance. With my colleague not being from Texas I went back and grabbed the old Robin Hood Plan. For those of you who don’t know what impact the Robin Hood Plan made on school districts please read the plan below:

Chapter 41 of the Texas Education Code made provisions for certain school districts to share their local tax revenue with other school districts. For the purposes of the school finance system in Texas, districts are designated as either property wealthy or property poor. The relative wealth of the school district is measured in terms of the taxable value of property that lies within the school district borders divided by the number of students in weighted average daily attendance (WADA). Chapter 41's provisions are sometimes referred to as the "share the wealth" or "Robin Hood" plan because districts that are deemed to be property wealthy are required to share their wealth with property-poor school districts. The funds that are distributed by the property-wealthy districts are "recaptured" by the school finance system to assist with financing of public education in school districts that are property poor.

After explaining the plan my colleague immediately stated that the plan was unfair, because they would be paying for something they didn’t create. So my question to my readers is this, what are you willing to sacrifice to ensure our state is providing the best education for all children.

Peace and Blessings

Kevin Mondy

Developing A Servant-Leader Mindset in Our Children

2011-06-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed that the children who seem the most kind, compassionate and well-mannered have most likely volunteered in some capacity during their childhood? It's no secret that parents are challenged with developing character, etiquette and leadership skills in their kids.

Many have cited that the foundation of this is teaching an "attitude of gratitude" in our kids. Easier said than done, right? Perhaps we can look to Hollywood for an example, where Jaden & Willow Smith (some of the most privileged children on the planet) appear to be well-rounded and centered due to the emphasis Will & Jada have placed on seeing others in LA who are homeless, less fortunate and destitute as a reminder of their blessings.

Or perhaps we can look to the White House. We all know how grounded Sasha and Malia Obama are -- and we also know that it is attributed to their parents' humble and gracious example set before them. Beyond the household, President Obama cited in a 2010 issue of Essence Magazine that the best way to instill these values in our kids is "structuring service opportunities for our kids, even in elementary school...even if the contributions are modest." He goes on to assert that "it gets young people in the mindset that they've got responsibilities." And he also mentions some delayed benefits that occur down the road, beyond the obvious of character-building. "Everybody I know who gets involved with a not-for-profit, who volunteers...ends up meeting people who, at some point in their lives, open doors. And that's especially true for young people."

So, as summer officially kicks off - we are all challenged to make sure our kids maintain brain activity and intellectual stimulation while out on summer break, but also get our kids involved in a volunteer or service opportunity to strengthen their character in the process.

Need ideas? Contact Kevin Mondy, with Project Still I Rise at kmondy@psir.org -- who commits to providing these types of service opportunities year-round for PSIR program recipients. Or, for girls - access http://www.hisagency.org/ to see what other nonprofits are doing in other areas of the country.

- Michelle London-Bell, Dallas Urban Media

Education | Making Sure Kids Stay Stimulated Over Summer

2011-06-16T11:42:00.000-07:00

There’s an epidemic called “Summer Brain Drain”- as cited by the Washington Post. Statistics show the following staggering realities related to inactive brain activity of school-age children during the summer months:

-- Most students (regardless of family income/background) lose 2 to 2 1/2 months of the math computational skills learned during the school year.

-- Students from low-income homes lose two to three months in reading skills learned in the previous school year.

-- Middle-class students make slight gains in reading achievement as measured on standardized tests.

So – how can you, as a parent ensure that your child maintains an active mind and sharp skills during the dog days of summer? Here are some ideas (http://www.summerlearning.org/):

1. Locate a summer program that fits your budget Programs offered by schools, recreation centers, universities, and community-based organizations often have an educational or enrichment focus.

2. Head to the library It's a great, free resource. Check out books that interest your child. Participate in free library summer programs and make time to read every day.

3. Do a community service project Teach your child how to volunteer in your community. Cleaning up a local park or collecting supplies for an animal shelter builds compassion for others as well as community pride.

4. Give math meaning Measure items around the house or yard. Track daily temperature. Add and subtract at the grocery store. Learn fractions while cooking.

5. Prepare for fall Find out what your child will be learning during the next school year by talking with teachers at that grade level. Many schools prepare summer packets of activities highlighting math and reading skills for the next grade level. Preview concepts and materials over the summer.

6. Explore and learn If you are taking a day trip by car, choose a place with an educational theme. Camping is a low cost way to get outside and learn about nature.

7. Take advantage of local amenities* Take free or low-cost educational trips to parks, museums, zoos and nature centers. And for outings that aren’t exactly “free”…Fathers are now getting a leg up on the high cost of parenting, thanks to the Obama Administration. Did you know – according to TheRoot.com…The Obama Administration has a nationwide initiative called Year of Strong Fathers, Strong Families that encourages dads to connect with their kids by cost savings on quality outings, i.e. bowling, trips to the zoo, the aquarium, WNBA games and more. Deep discounts and free sponsorships are offered year-round through a variety of organizations. Happy Father’s Day!

- Michelle London-Bell, Dallas Urban Media

Current issues | Education - Salman Khan's Got Next...

2011-06-09T14:55:00.000-07:00

In the current issue of Bloomberg Businessweek - Sal Khan is interviewed on how he is using technology to revolutionize the game of tutoring in math proficiency. This brilliant philanthropist with dual degrees in computer science and electrical engineering from MIT and an MBA from Harvard has used his intellect and technological tools to craft more than 2,300 tutorial videos on YouTube - all originating from a struggling relative who plead to get help from him in AP math. He developed these tutoring module videos that consisted of complex sketch "doodle" diagrams with voice-over style narration to explain step-by-step how to arrive at solutions to complex math problems, with the first video posted in 2006. Not only was he successful in helping his own kin, but many others in the process. Fastforward several years, and he boasts of over 58 million lessons delivered. With the help of some angel investors - he has evolved this into a nonprofit organization called Khan Academy.

He has many in his corner - including Bill Gates and John Doerr, who believe that since he is not in it for the money and just wants to help kids succeed in math/calculus, accounting, finance, biology, even SAT & GMAT - that they are willing to financially back his revolution. Just go to YouTube and view some of his videos yourself (FOR FREE!)...perhaps you know of someone who needs help in math or science or accounting (or many other subjects) who could use a leg up with the curriculum. His success rate speaks for itself.

There are so many grassroots initiatives that have served to change our world as we know it - that we can really get behind. Project Still I Rise is one of them - answering the call locally through after-school tutoring, S.T.E.M. initiatives, mentoring and character development programs to empower the next generation. Will you commit to supporting PSIR today?

- Michelle London-Bell, Dallas Urban Media

Kevin Mondy of Project Still I Rise featured on Cheryl Smith's DFWiRadio.com Show This Week

2011-06-02T12:45:00.000-07:00

Kevin Mondy, Executive Programs Director of Project Still I Rise joined Beverly Levy, Executive

Director of Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) on Cheryl Smith's DFWiRadio show

yesterday morning. The two shared a common thread - helping those in the community, particularly the midrepresented and at-risk youth in underserved areas throughout Dallas.

Levy spoke of the 2,000 abused and neglected children in foster care who receive services from CASA. CASA provides powerful voices as advocates to speak on their behalf - to provide protective care and security for these young victims. She made a plea for volunteers to support the programs that serve all of Dallas County in this capacity - but also a plea to increase the awareness of the need for such services. She cited the high number of African-American males trapped in the foster system and the low rate of adoption of these young boys. Sad, but true...

Mondy chimed in, reflecting on his previous career in social work as a mediator for Dallas County Child Protective Services. He attested to these harrowing statistics, and how it ultimately led to founding Project Still I Rise, but also how his experiences prompted development of programs to aide these youth with compounded issues as a result of their circumstances. "Trapped in a cycle" was how they described it. Mondy went on to describe in detail the proven methodologies that PSIR has adopted to successfully pull these at-risk youth into a different direction - a direction of empowerment, opportunity, and positive change.

Ms. Smith gleaned from the discussion that each agency plays a different role that complements one another in the process of assisting those who are underserved throughout Dallas. She ended the show with a final plea for resources - both human capital and financial contributions - in order to continue the plight of service through both CASA and PSIR. With PSIR's recent launch of its "25:1" campaign - giving is easier now than ever. Will you step up today to help the cause?

Current issues | Education - President's Stance on S.T.E.M.

2011-05-19T10:19:00.000-07:00

President Obama launches Change the Equation
In one of my posts in January after we launched this blog, I mentioned the Education Special published in the September 2010 issue of EBONY Magazine. In the feature, President Obama cites the overall crisis with our educational system, somewhat of a prelude to one of his cornerstone issues mentioned in his 2011 State of the Union Address. Also during September, the White House announced via press release his plans to expand the “Educate to Innovate” Campaign and to launch of Change the Equation, a CEO-led effort to make strides in S.T.E.M.

The release states that Change the Equation is also a brand new NPO, a response from the business community to the President’s “call to action” at the National Academy of Sciences in 2009 to focus on S.T.E.M. education in order for the United States to compete in the modern global economy. Change the Equation is expected to replicate successful privately-funded programs in 100 high-need schools and communities, i.e. efforts to allow more students to engage in robotics competitions, improve professional development for math and science teachers, increase the number of students that take and pass rigorous Advanced Placement (AP) math and science courses, increase the number of teachers who enter the profession with a S.T.E.M. undergraduate degree and provide new opportunities to traditionally underrepresented students and underserved communities. Change the Equation will also create a state-by-state “scorecard” to highlight areas for state-level improvement, and help companies increase the impact of their own engagement in S.T.E.M. education.

This effort is supported by the usual suspects in the private sector arena – Xerox CEO Ursula Burns, Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt (duh – TWC launched Connect A Million Minds in 2008!), The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and more! $5 million is the funding allocation to kick-start the effort for the initial year of operation. There will also be public-private partnerships. President Obama and his administration are definitely putting words into action to create an impact with education!

Check out this White House video on S.T.E.M.

Examining the Correlation of Poverty, Philanthropy & Opportunity in America

2011-04-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, contributing columnist Ray Jordan wrote a very thoughtful and insightful article in The Dallas Examiner about poverty, as it pertains to the way we not only look at it in this country, but as a culture. He cited the fact that African-Americans, although by and large have been hit more disproportionately harder by the recession over the last few years - continue to give to charitable causes at the same rate (according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy). He also mentioned the fact that most of African-American charitable giving goes to the Black Church.

What makes his commentary thought-provoking is his analysis and examination of the correlation between the Black Church, funds garnered by the Black Church, and forward movement or progress in their surrounding communities. This has been a historical legacy in the African-American culture for ages, but is worthy of closer examination in the new millennium.

So what have many young professionals opted to do instead? They opt to focus their efforts - and their monies - towards grassroots nonprofit organizations who, theoretically, have a proven track of "doing the most good" in the community through pragmatic programs and initiatives that address the most pressing issues of the community, particularly, the underserved community. It truly makes sense! There is an uprising of a generation of youngsters who are taking the torch from their predecessors at Urban League, NAACP, United Way, Greenpeace, MoveOn (political organization) and a host of other worthy causes to truly see an impact of their fruits.

To read the full story on this by Jordan, click here.

A Case Study for Forward Movement in Education | Harlem Children's Zone

2011-04-21T16:00:00.000-07:00

As you recall, I have mentioned the very moving and informative Waiting For 'Superman' documentary that chronicles the pitfalls of the US educational system. In this must-see - Geoffrey Canada, founder of Harlem Children's Zone, is interviewed and makes several appearances throughout the movie. He even has left viewers with insightful "quotables" about US education: "Either the kids are getting stupider every year, or something is wrong in the education system."

But how many of us truly know his story? Here it is - as articulated in Black Faces and White Places by colleagues Dr. Randal Pinkett & Dr. Jeffrey Robinson:

"For decades many of the same problems that [people] witnessed growing up in the South Bronx plagued neighboring Harlem, where Geoffrey Canada came to work at the Rheedlen Centers for Children and Families. Canada, who is also from South Bronx, studied education at Harvard. He worked at Rheedlen in the late 1990s, but grew frustrated that its afterschool programs for promoting antiviolence and truancy prevention weren't doing enough to decrease the low graduation rates, criminal activity, and youth unemployment that afflicted the community. So Canada decided to design a program to fill the gaps and transformed Rheedlen into what is known today as the Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ).

The HCZ team put together a program that connects education, health, and youth development issues and that appreciates the complexity of the urban environment. Its comprehensive "cradle to college" philosophy includes programming for parents and babies, preschoolers, and older students. 'We had to create a pipeline that started at birth, that ensured our children came into the world health and happy, and [that] stayed with these children through every development stage of their life until they graduated, and then into college, and then we would stay with this group of children through college," Canada said.

In 1997, the agency began a network of programs for a twenty-four-block-area -- the Harlem Children's Zone Project. In that same year it spread to an almost 100-block area serving 7,400 children and more than 4,100 adults. In 2009, President Obama announced that HCZ would be used as the model for a national program to create programs in twenty 'Promise Neighborhoods' and allocated $10 million toward the planning of the initiative through the US Department of Education, along with an appropriation of $65 million for 'Choice Neighborhoods," a related effort through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development."

It is clear that Canada's progress in education demonstrates that with the right measures - urban "at-risk" youth in underserved communities can become educated, meaningful contributors to society. Why can't this type of program or project be replicated in other areas throughout the US?

Thankfully, Project Still I Rise is making similar strides to "empower youth [in underserved communities throughout Dallas] for tomorrow's opportunities." Make a donation on http://www.psir.org/ in support of PSIR's programs and initiatives today!

Current issues | Education

2011-04-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

In terms of education -- here's what is plaguing us as a nation: our high school dropout rate is staggering; we are no longer the global leader in college grad rates; our children are ranked very low in math, sciences, and reading. This is no longer an inner-city problem -- this is a national epidemic.

Although this is beyond the "inner city" -- it is indeed a reality that kids who live in urban areas suffer from lack of resources and access to even begin a quality educational process. Here are some stats discovered by United Way in 2008. Did you know...

Low-income children often start kindergarten one or two years behind in language and other skills important to school success;
Majority of teachers of young children don't have proficiency in math and science;
85% of a child's core brain structure is formed by the age of three, so the most pivotal development years fall between the ages of 0 - 5 years;
Many at-risk children suffer from poor nutrition, and therefore - it is a hindrance to learning.

So, as you can see - the drop-out epidemic does not start in high school - it often begins with issues that originate in elementary school!

The good news is - there are several programs and initiatives out there that are committed to assisting at-risk children and youth with mentorship, support and resources to achieve success. One of them is Born Learning - a United Way nationwide initiative designed to assist at-risk children with preparation for kindergarten...so they won't be left behind from the jump.

Another is PSIR's Project Manhood Leadership Institute and Project Excel. Please consider making a tax deductible gift today to Project Still I Rise - for measurable results that impact the Dallas community. Visit www.psir.org to make your donation now...

Current issues | Education, Waiting For 'Superman'

2011-04-08T16:00:00.001-07:00

For those who missed this post the first time around...

Have you seen the documentary previewed below – Waiting For “Superman”? The film addresses how grave and dire the situation is with the high school drop-out rate and our placement globally in math and sciences -- and what's to come if our government and leaders in the field of education don’t step up to provide better solutions for our children.

Even members of President Obama’s current team had to chime in, such as Arne Duncan, US Secretary of Education: “Having those kinds of numbers [dropout/failures] is both morally unacceptable and economically unsustainable for the country. When students drop out today, they are basically condemned to poverty and social failure. [Solutions include] very high-quality early childhood programs, make sure that our elementary, middle and high schools have the highest expectations. We’re building not just a culture of college completion, starting in the first grade,” says Duncan. [Source: Ebony Magazine, September 2010].

What can you do to help? You can volunteer with Project Still I Rise and other NPOs to be a mentor or tutor for our kids – they need us. One of my favorite songs is UMI Says by Mos Def – he articulates in a very melodic and engaging way that it is our responsibility to “shine your light on the world...tomorrow may never come/for you and me this life is not promised…" Will you become engaged in the movement today to ensure these kids shine their light on the world? - Michelle London-Bell, Dallas Urban Media

Women in S.T.E.M.

2011-04-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

More on Science, Technology, Engineering & Math...

It's no secret that there is not only a huge push for S.T.E.M. to be emphasized in order for the US to be able to compete globally in the future, but it's also widely documented that women and minorities are largely underrepresented in these fields. Although this trend has improved in the past few decades, there is still more advancement to be made. Black Enterprise cites many reasons for this - including gender bias, socio and economic factors, and barriers to entry in many of these fields. Yet in still, there are many women nationwide who are making great strides in S.T.E.M. - which is featured in this month's current issue of BE. Click here to read their bios.

Locally - we included prominent women in the Dallas/Fort Worth area who are in the fields of S.T.E.M. as panelists at the Community S.T.E.M. Empowerment Conference at UNT Dallas Campus in February. These pioneering women include Family Nurse Practitioner Rachelle S. Campbell, MSN, FNP-C and Dr. Camonia Long.

Do you know of women in the greater Dallas area who are making strides in S.T.E.M.? We would like to feature them here and on PSIR's Facebook page. Email me at dallasurbanmedia@gmail.com if you would like to nominate an individual.

More on S.T.E.M. - A Twist on Gaming

2011-03-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

Last week I cited a recent article in Black Enterprise, "STEM Spotlight - Game Time" in February's issue. To continue the dialogue concerning the effect S.T.E.M. will have on not only our current generation but many generations to come, here are some interesting stats, from BE Mag:

- "African-American youth spend about 50% more time with media than whites, but they make up
    [a mere] 2% of people working as developers, engineers, or designers in the gaming industry."
- "Blacks make up single digit percentages in most industries requiring a high level of proficiency in
    S.T.E.M., and the mathematics achievement gap between blacks and whites is 26 points among
    fourth graders and 31 points among eight graders - roughly equivalent to three years of learning."

    [Tabula Digita, Credit: Crains New York Business]

A young entrepreneur has answered the call and launched an exciting video game in 2003 in response to these staggering statistics - called DimensionU. DimensionU is a game-based learning resource for K-12 students where students can access 3D multiplayer educational video games that help them home math and literacy skills, connect with friends and collaborate their learning with peers. The result? A record 20% - 30% improvement in math scores in 50 school districts across the country. A home-based version of the game is now available, as of November 2010.

And yet another trailblazing example...the founder of Uplift Inc. plans to pool foundation funding to create YouthAppLab - a program designed to teach African-American and Latino children in Washington D.C. how to build mobile apps.

The intent - bring the learning and education to the students in way that's relevant and speaks to them. If students are playing hours and hours on video games, why not make it educational for them?

That's the key - education reform and supplemental training that meets the needs and demands of today's modern economy. We want our kids to be prepared to succeed and that begins with knowledge and opportunity. And Project Still I Rise is definitely doing its part in the Dallas community.

Visit http://www.psir.org/ for information on how you can get involved with PSIR's STEM programming or support initiatives. Upcoming events - S.T.E.M. Summer Camp at the University of Texas at Dallas, June 2011!

All The Buzz: S.T.E.M.

2011-03-04T06:09:00.000-08:00

Everywhere you turn these days, people are engaged in a meaningful dialogue about the importance of S.T.E.M. - from the recent articles in Black Enterprise Magazine and the Black EOE Journal, to NPR's Diane Rehm Show which aired yesterday.   On the segment "The New Cool" with guest Neal Bascomb --the host, Diane Rehm, cited President Obama's call to action in January's State of the Union Address: "America must out innovate, out educate and out build."  But what many people do not realize is that this is not a new phenomenon to the President. President Obama has emphasized the importance and criticality of America's investment in S.T.E.M. for years, even dating back to his days as a Senator when he wrote about his visit to Google in the chapter on Opportunity in The Audacity of Hope. During January 2010, President Obama announced in Chicago during a press conference his plans to expand the "Educate to Innovate" campaign by earmarking $250 million in a public-private effort to increase the number and quality of STEM teachers [Source: The Christian Science Monitor].

           [Credit: Charles Dharapak/Associated Press]

For those of you who are unaware, what exactly is S.T.E.M. and what is the history behind it? The Black EOE Journal reports: "S.T.E.M. (Science Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) represents the core building blocks of technological advancement in our society. It has been publically stated, that, 'maintaining a citizenry well versed in the STEM fields is a key portion of the public education agenda of the US.' The truth is that S.T.E.M.'s importance carries on far past the public education agenda, and, throughout the past three decades, lead to the largest and widespread innovations that our country has ever seen. From Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology instruments, to Data feeders in the sky to stop collisions, S.T.E.M. fields are widely receiving more recognition than ever before." For more information on the history of S.T.E.M., dating back to 1944 and FDR - click here.

So - what relevance does this have to you and your kids? If we don't take a stand in America on the importance of S.T.E.M. with present and future generations, other countries like France, Finland, Hong Kong, China, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, UK, Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Sweden and Denmark will continue to outpace the US in math and science. This will mean that we will not be able to compete globally, and these generations at stake will not be considered for the jobs that require these skills in the next few decades.

Project Still I Rise understands this critical dilemma, and has programs like Project Excel - which teaches robotics to program recipients, and initatives like the First Annual Community S.T.E.M. Empowerment Conference held in late February of this year at UNT Dallas to tackle this issue head on. Be sure to visit PSIR's Facebook page for more pictures from the conference...

[CSEC Town Hall Panelists]

The Race to the Starting Line

2011-02-09T09:38:00.000-08:00

I, like many others, had the opportunity to see what it looks like when you have parents who are serious about their children getting off a to a good start. Just this past weekend, I had the opportunity to take my three year old to his interview for the pre-kindergarten class at Harry Stone Montessori School in South Oak Cliff (Dallas, Texas). When we arrived in the parking lot at 9:15, there was nowhere to park and we had to park in the parking lot of the church across the street. That sent a strong message about how serious this process would be and how serious these parents took this process.

Once inside the school building, we noticed that there were parents standing outside the auditorium and the auditorium was crowded. This also let us know, contrary to popular opinion, there are parents who care about their children being successful in school. We know that the key to a strong education is a strong early childhood education program. We have had our son in school since he was eighteen months old because we knew the sooner he was in a learning environment with other children his age, the better prepared he would be when it came time for grade school.

As was shown in the popular documentary, Waiting for Superman, parents who are serious about their child’s education are willing to stay up late and wake up early to make sure that they take advantage of whatever opportunities exist. This sacrifice makes the difference in those children who not only graduate from high school but graduate ready for college or the world or work.

To see not only how committed the parents were but how serious the faculty and staff took this interview process was very impressive. They are aware that they have the ability to shape the minds of the next generation of business owners, judges, doctors and elected officials. The level of competitiveness also indicates that this is a school that has a reputation for quality education.

While conventional wisdom teaches us you have to be the fastest runner to get to the finish line in a race. When we are talking about our children’s education, it is not so important who is the first one to the finish line, but its about who is the most prepared when they get to the starting line that counts.

Current issues | Education

2011-01-28T09:49:00.000-08:00

We all witnessed the groundbreaking, historic speech on Tuesday evening - President Obama's second State of the Union Address. In case you missed it, the President covered everything from our economy, to education, and finally, national security.

Although many political pundits were arguing and criticizing our President this week across many media outlets - few were apt to dispute the grave and dire situation of our current educational system in the United States. This topic happened to be my favorite subject Mr. President breached during his address. My favorite quote: "Need to win the race to educate our kids. In the next generation - over 50% of jobs will require beyond a high school degree. Math and science - [we are] lagging behind. Will parents and educators come together to improve this situation? We need to teach our kids its not just the Super Bowl winner who needs to be celebrated, but the winner of the science fair!"

Well put, Mr. President. In fact, Project Still I Rise is doing just that with its annual jeopoardy-style case competition called the African-American Male Academic Bowl. This dynamic competition features teams across the metroplex, all male - and it is endorsed by everyone from Senator Royce West to Dallas County Community College District and NSBE. Visit http://www.aamab.org/ for more information. Check out the Radio One PSA below...

Wake Up Call or Snooze Button Experience?

2011-01-24T19:07:00.000-08:00

Just recently the Chidren’s Defense Fund and the Harlem Children Zone held a press conference to release the findings of a study regarding the state of Black children in America. The results were not surprising. Black children rank the lowest when it comes to graduation rates, especially Black males. It was stated several times by Marian Wright Edelman, the founder of the Children’s Defense Fund and Mr. Geoffrey Canada, founder of the Harlem Children Zone, that Black children are in a crisis. That, for example 85% of Black children are not proficient in reading and Math by the 4^th grade. That some of our children don’t even know if they will live to see their 18^th birthday.

This information was alarming to me and it should be alarming to you. However, if we are shocked about this and don’t do anything about it, we are only having a snooze button experience. We are surprised that things have gotten this bad, and we may mention it to a friend or two, but the next day we have forgotten about it as if it were solved.

It is time that we stop acting like ostriches and begin to confront this problem that is right before our eyes. It’s time that we wake up and get involved in making things better for our children. If you don’t have time to be at the school on a regular basis, volunteer to be a mentor. If you are good in math, offer yourself as a tutor to children who are struggling. I just ask that you stay awake and not hit the snooze button. Our children’s future depends on it.

Current issues | Education, Waiting For 'Superman'

2011-01-20T10:57:00.000-08:00

Grind for Your Goals!

2011-01-18T22:11:00.000-08:00

"When you pray about it, GOD raises an eyebrow and lends an ear, when you Grind for it, GOD smiles and lends a hand. Stay focused, follow your strategy, make adjustments. Grind for Greatness!"
- Speaker & Trainer, James Bird Guess

Current issues | Education

2011-01-13T09:21:00.000-08:00

Our education system in the US is failing us - literally and figuratively. We have a responsibility to provide our youth with the quality education that is the fundamental right of every citizen -- and without it, our kids don't have an opportunity to succeed!

Here's what is plaguing us as a nation - our high school dropout rate is staggering; we are no longer the global leader in college grad rates; our children are ranked very low in math, sciences, and reading. This is no longer an inner-city problem -- this is a national epidemic.

President Obama stated in an exclusive interview with EBONY Magazine in September 2010: "For the country, it's critical. For African-Americans, its the civil rights issue of the 21st century." As we celebrate the revolutionary efforts of civil rights leaders as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this month...here are more stats for you to ponder (also courtesy of EBONY Magazine and other sources):

- Nationwide, three out of every 10 students drop out of high school. For Blacks, that number is half - and growing. Further, it is estimated that every 46 seconds of every school day, a Black male student drops out of high school. That's enough students to fill two classrooms every hour and an entire high school each week;
- As a nation, the United States has dropped from 1st to 18th place in high school graduation rates among developed nations;
- Our students rank 25th in math, 17th in science, and 14th in reading [According to a recent report from the Programme for International Student Assessment]

President Obama urges us to do 5 key things in the EBONY Education Special in September --
1. Expect the best from our children...and nothing less!
2. Turn off the television and video games and prioritize reading (mandatory, not optional!).
3. Don't get numb to violence in our communities.
4. Help kids to understand the power and influence that knowledge brings them.
5. Inspire children to give back to their communities by finding service opportunities.

Isn't it great that Project Still I Rise is doing all of the above and more to ensure that we raise up a generation of young and emerging leaders to build a foundation for our future.

Donate today at http://www.psir.org/.

Current issues | Education

2011-01-06T10:48:00.000-08:00

Low-income children often start kindergarten one or two years behind in language and other skills important to school success;
Majority of teachers of young children don't have proficiency in math and science;
85% of a child's core brain structure is formed by the age of three, so the most pivotal development years fall between the ages of 0 - 5 years;
Many at-risk children suffer from poor nutrition, and therefore - it is a hindrance to learning.

The good news is - we have several programs and initiatives out there that are committed to assisting at-risk children and youth with mentorship, support and resources to achieve success. Please consider making a tax deductible gift today to the Project Still I Rise campaign - for measurable results that impact the Dallas community. Visit www.psir.org to make your donation now...