I ended my last post with… While a balanced budget presents a tremendous challenge, it also affords Governor Corbett an incredible opportunity to identify the core mission of state government and perhaps redefine the state’s roles. One area which offers the greatest challenges and perhaps the largest opportunity for long-term success is Education. Without a tax increase, funding public education at current levels will be very difficult, if not impossible. The ability of the Corbett administration to take a step back to assess Pennsylvania’s core education mission and its roles in helping to educate our children offers Mr. Corbett an opportunity to significantly transform education in the Keystone State.
A recent report detailed the results of a standardized test in reading, science and math, which was administered to 15 year old students in 65 countries around the globe. With American students coming in 23rd and 24th in most subjects, Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education was quoted as saying "We can quibble, or we can face the brutal truth that we're being out-educated". While they’re mapping Pennsylvania’s educational system in the short-term, I’m hoping that Mr. Corbett’s team looks long and hard at the state’s role in early education.
Child development experts over the last 10 to 20 years have come to understand the importance of a child’s learning from birth through age 5. During these years, a child’s brain is being “hard-wired”, developing social and intellectual skills which will impact that child’s success not only in elementary and secondary schools but into college and beyond.
Unlike past generations with stay at home moms taking on the role of baby’s first teacher, federal statistics show that today 56 percent of mothers with children under the age of 1 are in the labor force. The quality of the early education opportunities of Pennsylvania’s youngest children is wildly inconsistent with some following a curriculum with proven enrichment activities, while others change diapers and feed an occasional snack. Why not develop a stronger role in assuring a quality early care state-wide throughout Pennsylvania that is reasonably priced, and is staffed by excellent teachers offering age-appropriate educational programs better preparing our youngest students for moving up to 1st grade.
As I stated earlier, while the 2011 Pennsylvania education budget will offer Tom Corbett a very difficult challenge, true educational reform offers Tom Corbett a very unique opportunity for success.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Tom Corbett's Incredible Opportunity
It’s often difficult for many of us engrossed in our day to day existence to gauge the real impact of state and national politics on our local communities. The most recent political cycle was again full of partisan rhetoric with labels like conservative, liberal and the relatively new “tea-bagger” being hurled at opponents with great disdain. Back in May I wrote voters should be asking our candidates about their views and not just their political party. Last month many here in Pennsylvania and across the country did just that and a number of seats went to candidates with a decidedly conservative economic view point. The big question is “What will these new political and economic realities mean to local communities?”
On the state level Republicans will control Pennsylvania’s state government with majorities in the House and Senate as well as re-occupying the Governor’s Mansion. Tom Corbett will be a much different governor than Ed Rendell. He has to be. At noon on January 18th when he takes the oath as Pennsylvania's 46th governor, he'll be faced with a budget deficit, which by some estimates could be $4 billion, the largest revenue gap in state history. Tom Corbett has pledged to create a 2011-12 operating budget without any tax increases, an admirable promise that will require some very difficult decisions in Harrisburg with consequences cascading down throughout the region, Delaware County and eventually to its local communities.
Do the math. The last Rendell operating budget totaled $26.6 billion with an additional $2.4 billion in federal fiscal stimulus funds for a total of $29 billion. Education and Health / Human Services each accounted for about 40% of the budget. The remaining 20% went to Public Safety, State Operations, Debt Service and Economic Development and keep in mind that Tom Corbett’s budget must also factor in any increases in mandated costs such as Medicaid, pensions, and prisons. There are only two ways to reduce a deficit, you can increase revenue or reduce spending. Until the new Governor’s team can increase tax revenues by creating an atmosphere for establishing new businesses and expanding existing ones by as State Senator Ted Erickson said recently “The state government needs to get out of the way of business”, we must be prepared to reduce spending. The reality is that there will be less funding coming into our communities from Harrisburg. Period. Local and county governments, school districts, any organization relying on state funding should be prepared to do better with less, a critical situation which makes effective local community collaborations all the more critical.
While a balanced budget presents a tremendous challenge, it also affords Governor Corbett an incredible opportunity to identify the core mission of state government and perhaps redefine the state’s roles. Whether challenge or opportunity, tough decisions must be made and I wish Governor-Elect Corbett every success.
On the state level Republicans will control Pennsylvania’s state government with majorities in the House and Senate as well as re-occupying the Governor’s Mansion. Tom Corbett will be a much different governor than Ed Rendell. He has to be. At noon on January 18th when he takes the oath as Pennsylvania's 46th governor, he'll be faced with a budget deficit, which by some estimates could be $4 billion, the largest revenue gap in state history. Tom Corbett has pledged to create a 2011-12 operating budget without any tax increases, an admirable promise that will require some very difficult decisions in Harrisburg with consequences cascading down throughout the region, Delaware County and eventually to its local communities.
Do the math. The last Rendell operating budget totaled $26.6 billion with an additional $2.4 billion in federal fiscal stimulus funds for a total of $29 billion. Education and Health / Human Services each accounted for about 40% of the budget. The remaining 20% went to Public Safety, State Operations, Debt Service and Economic Development and keep in mind that Tom Corbett’s budget must also factor in any increases in mandated costs such as Medicaid, pensions, and prisons. There are only two ways to reduce a deficit, you can increase revenue or reduce spending. Until the new Governor’s team can increase tax revenues by creating an atmosphere for establishing new businesses and expanding existing ones by as State Senator Ted Erickson said recently “The state government needs to get out of the way of business”, we must be prepared to reduce spending. The reality is that there will be less funding coming into our communities from Harrisburg. Period. Local and county governments, school districts, any organization relying on state funding should be prepared to do better with less, a critical situation which makes effective local community collaborations all the more critical.
While a balanced budget presents a tremendous challenge, it also affords Governor Corbett an incredible opportunity to identify the core mission of state government and perhaps redefine the state’s roles. Whether challenge or opportunity, tough decisions must be made and I wish Governor-Elect Corbett every success.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Thanks to our veterans
Today is Veteran's Day, a day set aside to thank those who have served in the military. Please take a moment to thanks the veterans in your life and say a prayer for those who made the ultimate sacrifice and died in combat. I’ll be remembering two friends of mine from Grays Ferry who were killed in Viet Nam; John Daly and Jack Donnelly, two guys who died way too young. I’ll also be remembering my favorite veteran, my dad, and what he and his friends on LCT-540 went through on D-Day as they hit Omaha beach at 0720 hours to deliver combat engineers who were to clear obstacles from the beach before the infantry landed. For their action on D-Day, the 17 member crew of LCT-540 earned a Presidential Unit Citation, the highest decoration given to a military combat unit.
The 540’s citation, signed by James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy reads:
For outstanding performance and distinguished service in combat during the assault on the Coast of Normandy, France, launched June 6, 1944. Rocked by the blasts of German 88-mm. Cannon during the approach, her gun turrets wrecked, fires blazing aboard, her officer-In-Charge killed and eight of her men casualties, the U.S. LCT 540 hit the beach on schedule under the heaviest concentration of enemy fire. In gallant response to the urgency of her task, she operated twenty-four hours a day until June 9, beaching her cargo while still under fire and returning repeatedly to place ashore the equipment, supplies and troops vital to the success and the very life of our assault forces. Crippled but undaunted, the LCT pursued her course unwaveringly despite German-emplaced underwater obstacles and terrific gunfire opposition, supplementing the valor and fortitude of her inexperienced officer and her men by her own steadfastness in the fulfillment of a perilous mission.” Based on conversations and notes from crewman, I’ve chronicled the exploits that day on a blog - http://lct540.blogspot.com/. If you’d like to get a glimpse of what the crewman of US amphibious craft experienced on D-Day, feel free to stop by and visit.
Take a moment to thank the veterans in your life. They helped make the freedoms we enjoy possible.
The 540’s citation, signed by James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy reads:
For outstanding performance and distinguished service in combat during the assault on the Coast of Normandy, France, launched June 6, 1944. Rocked by the blasts of German 88-mm. Cannon during the approach, her gun turrets wrecked, fires blazing aboard, her officer-In-Charge killed and eight of her men casualties, the U.S. LCT 540 hit the beach on schedule under the heaviest concentration of enemy fire. In gallant response to the urgency of her task, she operated twenty-four hours a day until June 9, beaching her cargo while still under fire and returning repeatedly to place ashore the equipment, supplies and troops vital to the success and the very life of our assault forces. Crippled but undaunted, the LCT pursued her course unwaveringly despite German-emplaced underwater obstacles and terrific gunfire opposition, supplementing the valor and fortitude of her inexperienced officer and her men by her own steadfastness in the fulfillment of a perilous mission.” Based on conversations and notes from crewman, I’ve chronicled the exploits that day on a blog - http://lct540.blogspot.com/. If you’d like to get a glimpse of what the crewman of US amphibious craft experienced on D-Day, feel free to stop by and visit.
Take a moment to thank the veterans in your life. They helped make the freedoms we enjoy possible.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Family, education key to Chester’s rebirth
I’d like to comment on an editorial which appeared last Friday in the Delco Times entitled “Family, education key to Chester’s rebirth”.
Having spent a number of years directing the United Way in the City of Chester, I had the opportunity to meet and work with a number of hard-working dedicated people focused on Chester’s future. Two people with whom I had the pleasure of working and who I consider as friends were mentioned in the article.
Wendell Butler is a lifelong Chester resident, the Republican Mayor of Chester and its former police chief. Being a police officer in a poor neighborhood gives you a very unique view of the impact of poverty and the importance of the family structure. Something I learned as a cop in West Philly in the 70’s.
Portia West, another life-long resident was elected last year to Chester’s City Council as a Democrat, only the 2nd time a group of Democrats held citywide office in Chester since 1906.
Wendell Butler and Portia West are committed professionals focused on Chester’s future. Both see the importance of the family structure, and both agree that if change is going to happen, the home is where it must start. They know that education does not start in first grade, but begins at home when the child is born and continues in the local community as the child matures.
The Mayor and the Councilwoman are part of the bi-partisan political leadership in Chester, but they cannot be expected to have all the answers. They can, however, be instrumental in pulling the city’s power structure together to find the needed help for Chester’s children. With the assistance of community leadership organizations like United Way, they can help the residents of Chester focus on how to surround its children with a community of support, empowering students to stay in school. Chester should be about connecting students and their families to critical community resources that are tailored to their needs, and all designed to prepare its students to succeed.
Friday’s editorial ended with a suggestion that Chester’s recovery will be accomplished one family at a time. With folks like Wendell Butler and Portia West in leadership positions,and with the help of parents like Darlene, Deneen, Karen and Portia; wonderful young men and women like Donald, Darrell and Juani, Tyrone, Portia and Zaakiyah who have graduated Chester High and are doing very well in college, I’m convinced Chester’s resurgence is coming much sooner than most people think.
Having spent a number of years directing the United Way in the City of Chester, I had the opportunity to meet and work with a number of hard-working dedicated people focused on Chester’s future. Two people with whom I had the pleasure of working and who I consider as friends were mentioned in the article.
Wendell Butler is a lifelong Chester resident, the Republican Mayor of Chester and its former police chief. Being a police officer in a poor neighborhood gives you a very unique view of the impact of poverty and the importance of the family structure. Something I learned as a cop in West Philly in the 70’s.
Portia West, another life-long resident was elected last year to Chester’s City Council as a Democrat, only the 2nd time a group of Democrats held citywide office in Chester since 1906.
Wendell Butler and Portia West are committed professionals focused on Chester’s future. Both see the importance of the family structure, and both agree that if change is going to happen, the home is where it must start. They know that education does not start in first grade, but begins at home when the child is born and continues in the local community as the child matures.
The Mayor and the Councilwoman are part of the bi-partisan political leadership in Chester, but they cannot be expected to have all the answers. They can, however, be instrumental in pulling the city’s power structure together to find the needed help for Chester’s children. With the assistance of community leadership organizations like United Way, they can help the residents of Chester focus on how to surround its children with a community of support, empowering students to stay in school. Chester should be about connecting students and their families to critical community resources that are tailored to their needs, and all designed to prepare its students to succeed.
Friday’s editorial ended with a suggestion that Chester’s recovery will be accomplished one family at a time. With folks like Wendell Butler and Portia West in leadership positions,and with the help of parents like Darlene, Deneen, Karen and Portia; wonderful young men and women like Donald, Darrell and Juani, Tyrone, Portia and Zaakiyah who have graduated Chester High and are doing very well in college, I’m convinced Chester’s resurgence is coming much sooner than most people think.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Waiting for Superman II
“Waiting for Superman” the new film directed by Davis Guggenheim is certainly generating discussions about educational success, although I think the film would have been more impactful by taking a more realistic look at what is needed for true educational reform. The documentary follows five kids in their efforts to secure a good education outside of traditional public school systems, and while charter schools might be a solution for some, widespread educational reform will require hard work and sustained collaboration of a variety of committed stakeholders.
School systems are only part of the educational process. Successful education is dependent on three systems: School, Family and Community. A child needs at least one of the systems to be working well if he or she is to have any chance to succeed. If a school system does its job well, educators could overcome family strife, and could overcome a poor community, and get their students prepared. Family and community have equally important roles in education, a fact that seems to get left out of many discussions on education reform.
The unfortunate reality is that many students come to school with needs that hinder their ability to do well in school. An idea that has gained traction in some communities is the concept of community schools which bring together, under one roof, the services and activities our children and their families need to reach their potential. School buildings are open all day and evening for tutoring, homework assistance and recreational activities. Medical, dental, English language instruction, employment counseling, citizenship programs and GED programs and child care services could also be available to meet the community’s needs. Having these programs and social services in schools could encourage parents to get more involved in their children’s education, and help to stabilize families so they can better support their children’s learning. It’s one idea of many.
Local educational reform must start with a collaborative effort between school districts, parents, businesses, labor, religious, civic and neighborhood groups and their leaders. Every aspect of the community must be involved for reform efforts to be successful, because educational success doesn’t take place only at school. It starts at home and continues in the community.
If you get a chance, go to see the movie, then add your voice to the discussion. We owe it to our children to provide them with the best education possible.
School systems are only part of the educational process. Successful education is dependent on three systems: School, Family and Community. A child needs at least one of the systems to be working well if he or she is to have any chance to succeed. If a school system does its job well, educators could overcome family strife, and could overcome a poor community, and get their students prepared. Family and community have equally important roles in education, a fact that seems to get left out of many discussions on education reform.
The unfortunate reality is that many students come to school with needs that hinder their ability to do well in school. An idea that has gained traction in some communities is the concept of community schools which bring together, under one roof, the services and activities our children and their families need to reach their potential. School buildings are open all day and evening for tutoring, homework assistance and recreational activities. Medical, dental, English language instruction, employment counseling, citizenship programs and GED programs and child care services could also be available to meet the community’s needs. Having these programs and social services in schools could encourage parents to get more involved in their children’s education, and help to stabilize families so they can better support their children’s learning. It’s one idea of many.
Local educational reform must start with a collaborative effort between school districts, parents, businesses, labor, religious, civic and neighborhood groups and their leaders. Every aspect of the community must be involved for reform efforts to be successful, because educational success doesn’t take place only at school. It starts at home and continues in the community.
If you get a chance, go to see the movie, then add your voice to the discussion. We owe it to our children to provide them with the best education possible.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Waiting For Superman
Have you heard the buzz on Davis Guggenheim’s new movie “Waiting for Superman", which premiered last week? You might remember Guggenheim’s best known work, “An Inconvenient Truth” the documentary on Al Gore's campaign to make the global warming a worldwide issue. “Waiting for Superman" is an exploration of public education in the U.S. and how today’s educational opportunities affect our children.
The film follows five unforgettable kids whose futures depend on charter school lotteries in their search for a better education, and through the film Guggenheim aims to spark a national conversation about public education, and how communities might transform their local school systems. Public education is one of those issues with the potential to bring people together on its own, and the hope is that community leadership organizations like United Way will convene diverse stakeholders to discuss common-ground efforts to provide every child with a quality education.
By engaging diverse stakeholders, including residents, non-profits, businesses and others to develop sustained collaborative efforts to strengthen education, community leadership organizations could be in a better position to link unique local resources together with its educational resources to provide a more effective, nurturing learning environment. As I‘ve written before, it isn’t rocket science, but getting a community’s assets all working together to support education, could be a very empowering tool.
If you get a chance, go to see the movie, then add your voice to the discussion. We owe it to our children to provide them with the best education possible.
The film follows five unforgettable kids whose futures depend on charter school lotteries in their search for a better education, and through the film Guggenheim aims to spark a national conversation about public education, and how communities might transform their local school systems. Public education is one of those issues with the potential to bring people together on its own, and the hope is that community leadership organizations like United Way will convene diverse stakeholders to discuss common-ground efforts to provide every child with a quality education.
By engaging diverse stakeholders, including residents, non-profits, businesses and others to develop sustained collaborative efforts to strengthen education, community leadership organizations could be in a better position to link unique local resources together with its educational resources to provide a more effective, nurturing learning environment. As I‘ve written before, it isn’t rocket science, but getting a community’s assets all working together to support education, could be a very empowering tool.
If you get a chance, go to see the movie, then add your voice to the discussion. We owe it to our children to provide them with the best education possible.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Transparency
As I stated in my last post, we should be demanding that our political and community leaders demonstrate what they have accomplished, not what they can’t be blamed for. Our political leaders will again go through their regular evaluation on Election Day. Since most employees go through a job evaluation annually, it’s only fitting that elected officials do, although a dramatic Yes or No final decision is not for the feint of heart.
Since we support government programs through our tax dollars and non-profit programs through our contributions, shouldn’t we know if the funded program was worth the money spent on it? I wonder how much the public sector might change if we had a similar evaluation for publicly supported programs. Not a general election, but a realistic evaluation to determine if a program is not performing as advertised. I’d like to think that in order to secure funding, funded programs have not only identified goals, but have established some sort measurement tools to gauge their effectiveness in meeting those goals. I’d also like to think that these programs were funded because each created a collaboration of committed partners to re-define how they work together in order to accomplish those goals, and that political connections were not a consideration. No, I don’t believe in the tooth fairy.
Most of us could appreciate a report on funded programs. Nothing too elaborate, but something that shows what the program goals were, who were the partners, what was accomplished, what did it cost and what do we do now. Wouldn’t you like to see how your tax dollars have worked for you? Kudos to the programs that show success; “Sorry Charlie” for those that don’t.
I think an increase in transparency could go a long way to building additional support for effective programs, and reducing the continuation of weak programs. The current economic and social conditions in our local communities require us to maximize use of our tax and charitable dollars, and we should demand more from our elected or non-profit leadership. The strength of our local communities depends on these leaders and the decisions they make!
Since we support government programs through our tax dollars and non-profit programs through our contributions, shouldn’t we know if the funded program was worth the money spent on it? I wonder how much the public sector might change if we had a similar evaluation for publicly supported programs. Not a general election, but a realistic evaluation to determine if a program is not performing as advertised. I’d like to think that in order to secure funding, funded programs have not only identified goals, but have established some sort measurement tools to gauge their effectiveness in meeting those goals. I’d also like to think that these programs were funded because each created a collaboration of committed partners to re-define how they work together in order to accomplish those goals, and that political connections were not a consideration. No, I don’t believe in the tooth fairy.
Most of us could appreciate a report on funded programs. Nothing too elaborate, but something that shows what the program goals were, who were the partners, what was accomplished, what did it cost and what do we do now. Wouldn’t you like to see how your tax dollars have worked for you? Kudos to the programs that show success; “Sorry Charlie” for those that don’t.
I think an increase in transparency could go a long way to building additional support for effective programs, and reducing the continuation of weak programs. The current economic and social conditions in our local communities require us to maximize use of our tax and charitable dollars, and we should demand more from our elected or non-profit leadership. The strength of our local communities depends on these leaders and the decisions they make!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Listen before you call him an idiot!
The Saturday of Labor Day weekend in 1970 had two big events in the Philadelphia area. An anti-war rally was held at Valley Forge featuring Jane Fonda, Donald Sutherland, and a young speaker named John Kerry. Most of my focus, however, was on north Philly, because that same day on Temple’s campus the Black Panther Party was hosting their national convention. Tensions were extraordinarily high in Philadelphia late that summer. On August 29th, Fairmount Park Police Sgt. Frank von Colln was murdered by 5 members of the Black Panthers while sitting at his desk at 63rd and Catherine, 2 other cops were shot by the Panthers that same day in West Philly, and these shootings came a few days after 2 other cops were shot. 5 cops shot in one week!
I graduated from the Philadelphia Police Academy on Friday September 4th and was assigned to the 18th District. 6 days before my 20th birthday. You may remember that I wrote back in March that my self-described duties as an “armed social worker” eventually gave me a very unique insight into poverty, crime, education and the importance of a community support structure. 40 years ago today I found myself sitting on a police bus as part of a tactical response effort put together by Police Commissioner Frank Rizzo. With riot helmet and baton in hand, I sat and wondered to myself how I might possibly make a difference when whole communities seemed at odds. Black – White, Young – Old, Anti-war – Pro-war.
As in the Buffalo Springfield song…
“There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong …
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say hooray for our side”
Today’s animosity in social and political discourse is getting in the way of the kind of collaborations our communities need. These tough economical times will not allow bottom-less pockets of money. Times require that we establish wide-spread community engagement to determine what communities can be and what they might accomplish. We need to have our best ideas identified, discussed and evaluated without politics getting in the way. We should be demanding that our elected leaders demonstrate what they have accomplished, not what they can’t be blamed for. A lot has changed in the past 40 years, but unfortunately a lot has stayed the same. If we spent as much time trying to understand the other guy and his or her ideas as we spend figuring out how to label him, we’d be better off. Finding common-ground with your opponent could be a powerful tool, but you have to give a little to gain a little. You have to be ready to give up your held-fast beliefs to gain a better understanding of other ideas and possibly a stronger more-diverse collaborative. Stand up and be heard, but listen to what the other guy is saying before you call him an idiot.
I graduated from the Philadelphia Police Academy on Friday September 4th and was assigned to the 18th District. 6 days before my 20th birthday. You may remember that I wrote back in March that my self-described duties as an “armed social worker” eventually gave me a very unique insight into poverty, crime, education and the importance of a community support structure. 40 years ago today I found myself sitting on a police bus as part of a tactical response effort put together by Police Commissioner Frank Rizzo. With riot helmet and baton in hand, I sat and wondered to myself how I might possibly make a difference when whole communities seemed at odds. Black – White, Young – Old, Anti-war – Pro-war.
As in the Buffalo Springfield song…
“There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong …
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say hooray for our side”
Today’s animosity in social and political discourse is getting in the way of the kind of collaborations our communities need. These tough economical times will not allow bottom-less pockets of money. Times require that we establish wide-spread community engagement to determine what communities can be and what they might accomplish. We need to have our best ideas identified, discussed and evaluated without politics getting in the way. We should be demanding that our elected leaders demonstrate what they have accomplished, not what they can’t be blamed for. A lot has changed in the past 40 years, but unfortunately a lot has stayed the same. If we spent as much time trying to understand the other guy and his or her ideas as we spend figuring out how to label him, we’d be better off. Finding common-ground with your opponent could be a powerful tool, but you have to give a little to gain a little. You have to be ready to give up your held-fast beliefs to gain a better understanding of other ideas and possibly a stronger more-diverse collaborative. Stand up and be heard, but listen to what the other guy is saying before you call him an idiot.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Community Empowerment
There will be a lot of discussion of funding for education over the coming weeks and possibly through to the election. Federal funding isn’t coming in at the amount Governor Rendell had planned, so he now has to adjust for a $282 Million shortfall. Leaders in Harrisburg will be debating which departments get cut, and how much. Education advocates are calling for an increased expenditure for education, while many are just hoping for a flat budget. Given the state of the national and local economies, I think maintaining last year’s education budget would be an accomplishment.
Like many private sector enterprises, local school districts will be expected to do more with less. Underperforming District’s can strengthen their chances of an educational turnaround, by increasing engagement with parents and community leaders. As I wrote back in March, “Education = Family + Community + School”. The Districts’ challenge is getting them to participate in an inclusive process to assess the district’s strengths, challenges and needs, to develop a vision, and a plan to meet those needs. It’s not rocket science to consider getting people together to discuss an issue, but a few general rules for effectively engaging stakeholders should be considered:
• Establish ownership among participants,
• Build on the strengths of local individuals and organizations,
• Promote participation by community-wide stakeholders,
• Get everyone working together and focused on the same issues,
• Develop specific actions with measurable results.
By engaging diverse stakeholders, including residents, non-profits, businesses and others to develop sustained collaborative efforts to strengthen education, the District could be in a better position to link unique community resources together with its educational resources to provide a more effective, nurturing learning environment. As I said, it isn’t rocket science, but getting a community’s assets all working together to support education, or safety, or any community-wide issues could be a very empowering tool.
A tool that is needed now!
Like many private sector enterprises, local school districts will be expected to do more with less. Underperforming District’s can strengthen their chances of an educational turnaround, by increasing engagement with parents and community leaders. As I wrote back in March, “Education = Family + Community + School”. The Districts’ challenge is getting them to participate in an inclusive process to assess the district’s strengths, challenges and needs, to develop a vision, and a plan to meet those needs. It’s not rocket science to consider getting people together to discuss an issue, but a few general rules for effectively engaging stakeholders should be considered:
• Establish ownership among participants,
• Build on the strengths of local individuals and organizations,
• Promote participation by community-wide stakeholders,
• Get everyone working together and focused on the same issues,
• Develop specific actions with measurable results.
By engaging diverse stakeholders, including residents, non-profits, businesses and others to develop sustained collaborative efforts to strengthen education, the District could be in a better position to link unique community resources together with its educational resources to provide a more effective, nurturing learning environment. As I said, it isn’t rocket science, but getting a community’s assets all working together to support education, or safety, or any community-wide issues could be a very empowering tool.
A tool that is needed now!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Education Partnerships Needed
As the summer starts to wind down, I thought I’d end my summer blogging hiatus with a discussion on education, specifically what communities can do to turnaround underperforming school districts. Here in Pennsylvania, there will be a lot of discussion on education funding over the next few weeks, but additional funding in and of itself is not the answer. Local communities must realize that any plans to turnaround underperforming districts can only happen with the community and parents working in partnership with the schools.
Education should be about empowering our children to achieve in life. We all know that education does not start in first grade, but begins at home when the child is born and continues in the local community as the child matures. In order to improve education, parents and community leaders should be part of an inclusive process to assess a district’s strengths, challenges and needs, to develop a vision, and a plan to meet those needs. Local community leadership should be connecting with residents looking for ways to combine their ongoing engagement with the structure of No Child Left Behind in its school district
Each community should be focused on how to surround its children with a community of support, empowering students to stay in school. Each community should be about connecting students and their families to critical community resources that are tailored to their needs, and all designed to prepare those students to succeed. Resources could include “wrap-around” supports for students who cannot learn to their full potential when they are hungry, feel unsafe in school or whose parents cannot support their education at home. Each community should be about identifying how best to link its unique community resources together with its educational resources in order to provide an effective, nurturing learning environment.
It’s not just the money spent on education; it’s about building active and ongoing partnerships between parents, communities and school districts.
Education should be about empowering our children to achieve in life. We all know that education does not start in first grade, but begins at home when the child is born and continues in the local community as the child matures. In order to improve education, parents and community leaders should be part of an inclusive process to assess a district’s strengths, challenges and needs, to develop a vision, and a plan to meet those needs. Local community leadership should be connecting with residents looking for ways to combine their ongoing engagement with the structure of No Child Left Behind in its school district
Each community should be focused on how to surround its children with a community of support, empowering students to stay in school. Each community should be about connecting students and their families to critical community resources that are tailored to their needs, and all designed to prepare those students to succeed. Resources could include “wrap-around” supports for students who cannot learn to their full potential when they are hungry, feel unsafe in school or whose parents cannot support their education at home. Each community should be about identifying how best to link its unique community resources together with its educational resources in order to provide an effective, nurturing learning environment.
It’s not just the money spent on education; it’s about building active and ongoing partnerships between parents, communities and school districts.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Gotta be a better way…
One of the aspects of the Ben Franklin Project at the Times that I like is their effort to identify the interests of its readers. The Times’ folks asked readers about their most important issues in Delaware County, and then started asking readers’ questions. On July 4th Rose Quinn asked “What do you think about the idea of consolidating all police departments in Delaware County into one countywide law enforcement agency?” of passersby in Media and then asking the same question of a few County leaders.
The answers were thoughtful and perhaps somewhat predictable, but I thought the responses demonstrated the basic difficulty in achieving substantive change in our communities. Unless a clear benefit is seen, the average man or women will resist change. The real challenge to community change is finding a leader(s) who can initiate and develop community-wide discussions among all stakeholders? How can the community be best engaged to determine the net benefits of a change?
There are a number of important societal issues on Delco’s horizon, which offer at least a discussion better way of operating some of our institutions. One important issue is the funding for public schools. Is there a better way to pay for our kids’ education than what we’re using now? Gotta be! Should Delaware County have 15 school districts or perhaps just one? 15 sounds like too many, but 1 might be tough. Should all police departments in Delaware County consolidate into one countywide law enforcement agency?
Would a single county-wide United Way serving Delco, be better than the three separate United Ways we have today? Certainly.
Not the most pressing issues to many folks, but certainly areas, which could better address their mission, to better serve the folks in Delaware County. Where do we find the leadership? Who will step forward to show us that there gotta be a better way.
The answers were thoughtful and perhaps somewhat predictable, but I thought the responses demonstrated the basic difficulty in achieving substantive change in our communities. Unless a clear benefit is seen, the average man or women will resist change. The real challenge to community change is finding a leader(s) who can initiate and develop community-wide discussions among all stakeholders? How can the community be best engaged to determine the net benefits of a change?
There are a number of important societal issues on Delco’s horizon, which offer at least a discussion better way of operating some of our institutions. One important issue is the funding for public schools. Is there a better way to pay for our kids’ education than what we’re using now? Gotta be! Should Delaware County have 15 school districts or perhaps just one? 15 sounds like too many, but 1 might be tough. Should all police departments in Delaware County consolidate into one countywide law enforcement agency?
Would a single county-wide United Way serving Delco, be better than the three separate United Ways we have today? Certainly.
Not the most pressing issues to many folks, but certainly areas, which could better address their mission, to better serve the folks in Delaware County. Where do we find the leadership? Who will step forward to show us that there gotta be a better way.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Landing on Omaha Beach
D-Day 66th Anniversary. For an interesting read, check out my Blog which recounts my dad's experience at a crewman on LCT-540 which slammed onto Omaha Beach at 0720 hours that morning. The crew's actions earned them a Presidential Unit Citation, the highest honor awarded to a combat unit.
http://lct540.blogspot.com/
http://lct540.blogspot.com/
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Thank a Veteran
Allow me to stray from my normal education and non-profit theme to remind everyone that Monday is Memorial Day, a day set aside to thank those who have served in the military, and please take a moment to say a prayer for those who made the ultimate sacrifice and died in combat. I’ll be remembering two friends of mine from Grays Ferry who were killed in Viet Nam; John Daly and Jackie Donnelly, two guys who died way too young. I’ll also be remembering my dad, and what he and his friends on LCT-540 went through on D-Day as they hit Omaha beach at 0720 hours to deliver combat engineers who were to clear obstacles from the beach before the infantry landed. For their action on D-Day, the 17 member crew of LCT-540 earned a Presidential Unit Citation, the highest decoration given to a military combat unit.
The 540’s citation, signed by James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy reads:
For outstanding performance and distinguished service in combat during the assault on the Coast of Normandy, France, launched June 6, 1944. Rocked by the blasts of German 88-mm. Cannon during the approach, her gun turrets wrecked, fires blazing aboard, her officer-In-Charge killed and eight of her men casualties, the U.S. LCT 540 hit the beach on schedule under the heaviest concentration of enemy fire. In gallant response to the urgency of her task, she operated twenty-four hours a day until June 9, beaching her cargo while still under fire and returning repeatedly to place ashore the equipment, supplies and troops vital to the success and the very life of our assault forces. Crippled but undaunted, the LCT pursued her course unwaveringly despite German-emplaced underwater obstacles and terrific gunfire opposition, supplementing the valor and fortitude of her inexperienced officer and her men by her own steadfastness in the fulfillment of a perilous mission.” Based on conversations and notes from crewman, I’ve chronicled the exploits that day on a blog - http://lct540.blogspot.com/. If you’d like to get a glimpse of what the crewman of US amphibious craft experienced on D-Day, feel free to stop by and visit. You'll find a link on my profile page.
Take a moment to thank the veterans in your life. They helped make it possible.
The 540’s citation, signed by James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy reads:
For outstanding performance and distinguished service in combat during the assault on the Coast of Normandy, France, launched June 6, 1944. Rocked by the blasts of German 88-mm. Cannon during the approach, her gun turrets wrecked, fires blazing aboard, her officer-In-Charge killed and eight of her men casualties, the U.S. LCT 540 hit the beach on schedule under the heaviest concentration of enemy fire. In gallant response to the urgency of her task, she operated twenty-four hours a day until June 9, beaching her cargo while still under fire and returning repeatedly to place ashore the equipment, supplies and troops vital to the success and the very life of our assault forces. Crippled but undaunted, the LCT pursued her course unwaveringly despite German-emplaced underwater obstacles and terrific gunfire opposition, supplementing the valor and fortitude of her inexperienced officer and her men by her own steadfastness in the fulfillment of a perilous mission.” Based on conversations and notes from crewman, I’ve chronicled the exploits that day on a blog - http://lct540.blogspot.com/. If you’d like to get a glimpse of what the crewman of US amphibious craft experienced on D-Day, feel free to stop by and visit. You'll find a link on my profile page.
Take a moment to thank the veterans in your life. They helped make it possible.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
The Price of Apathy
As I wrote in an earlier blog, I’m a product of the 60’s. I grew up with the Civil Rights movement and the Viet Nam war. Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy were killed within weeks of my high school graduation, and I was drafted into the Army during the war. Because my friends and I argued and debated issues like race, the war, society on facts and not rhetoric, I was sure my generation would ultimately fix things. However, the tenor of the political discussion throughout American society over the past few years has me more convinced than ever, that we just screwed it up differently. Unfortunately, I’ve also come to realize that the generation behind us doesn’t seem prepared to fare any better.
There are big decisions being made by our elected representatives in Washington and Harrisburg, decisions that will impact our families and us for years to come; yet few people seem to give a rip. TARP, health care, immigration, the economy and financial reform are dominating the national discussion, while local and state leaders are trying to figure out how to get by financially. Educational funding is being strained as never before, and tough decisions will have to be made. The educational system is critical to our future, but local school districts are being challenged to do more with less. Do you know who your elected leaders are? Do you know where they stand on the issues that are most important to you? Have you checked the facts or are you just repeating spin? Most people eligible to vote answer these questions with a no. Apathy throughout our communities is a major issue. If residents don’t know what’s going on, there is no way they can participate intelligently. If they can’t participate the system is weakened. If we are to grow as a community, we must ask questions, and get involved. At the very least, look into political candidates, get the facts and see who best represents your views. Then vote!
Elected leadership will be making important decisions about you and your family’s future. Shouldn’t you ask them what their views are? We as a society cannot afford to be apathetic. I believe Plato was right when he said, “The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.”
There are big decisions being made by our elected representatives in Washington and Harrisburg, decisions that will impact our families and us for years to come; yet few people seem to give a rip. TARP, health care, immigration, the economy and financial reform are dominating the national discussion, while local and state leaders are trying to figure out how to get by financially. Educational funding is being strained as never before, and tough decisions will have to be made. The educational system is critical to our future, but local school districts are being challenged to do more with less. Do you know who your elected leaders are? Do you know where they stand on the issues that are most important to you? Have you checked the facts or are you just repeating spin? Most people eligible to vote answer these questions with a no. Apathy throughout our communities is a major issue. If residents don’t know what’s going on, there is no way they can participate intelligently. If they can’t participate the system is weakened. If we are to grow as a community, we must ask questions, and get involved. At the very least, look into political candidates, get the facts and see who best represents your views. Then vote!
Elected leadership will be making important decisions about you and your family’s future. Shouldn’t you ask them what their views are? We as a society cannot afford to be apathetic. I believe Plato was right when he said, “The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.”
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Cultural leadership void
Educational reform generally focuses on local school systems because as a “system” it’s easier to impact than either the larger community as a whole or thousands of individual families raising children. But education doesn’t begin when a child enters first grade and doesn’t end after graduation. It’s a long process which begins the day a baby is born, and continues throughout life.
Many parents in our poorer communities, especially those young parents whose education was cut short by the start of their own family, need guidance about what it takes to get ahead. Current cultural leaders refuse to articulate the importance of an education, the role of a strong family and unfortunately, the importance of hard work. Where are the cultural leaders reinforcing that you have to stay in school, that you will always have to be developing additional skills throughout your life, and that you have to spend more time on education than leisure.
Strong community leadership is needed to engage neighbor and friend, to show residents how to take better control of their own destiny by better educating themselves and their children. Cultural leaders are needed to reinforce the importance of speaking proper English if you want to be a success. Young people need to hear from their heroes and idols that searching for your own identity by dressing like a convict is not best way to get that job you’re after. A strong focus on self-determination is sorely needed by those at the bottom of the economic ladder, and unfortunately in today’s politically contentious times, our cultural and political icons don’t seem to willing to provide it. What a shame!
Many parents in our poorer communities, especially those young parents whose education was cut short by the start of their own family, need guidance about what it takes to get ahead. Current cultural leaders refuse to articulate the importance of an education, the role of a strong family and unfortunately, the importance of hard work. Where are the cultural leaders reinforcing that you have to stay in school, that you will always have to be developing additional skills throughout your life, and that you have to spend more time on education than leisure.
Strong community leadership is needed to engage neighbor and friend, to show residents how to take better control of their own destiny by better educating themselves and their children. Cultural leaders are needed to reinforce the importance of speaking proper English if you want to be a success. Young people need to hear from their heroes and idols that searching for your own identity by dressing like a convict is not best way to get that job you’re after. A strong focus on self-determination is sorely needed by those at the bottom of the economic ladder, and unfortunately in today’s politically contentious times, our cultural and political icons don’t seem to willing to provide it. What a shame!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
KUDOS to Delco's 2010 Cappies Nominees
The Cappies recognize the accomplishments of theater and journalism efforts of high school students. Kudos to these nominees from Delaware County, their districts and the dedicated teachers who work with them:
Leah DeBenedictis, Springfield, The Laramie Project - Featured Actress
Katherine Ortmeyer, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Featured Actress
Peter Rogers, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Featured Actor
Izzy Fehlandt, Garnet Valley, Grease - Female Dancer
Victoria Janicki, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Female Dancer
Jenna Rogalski, Haverford, Urinetown - Female Dancer
Tristan Horan, Haverford, Urinetown - Male Dancer
Marcel Logan, The Haverford Scool, Damn Yankees - Male Dancer
Megan Smith, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Female Vocalist
Tripp Wickersham, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Male Vocalist
Molly Houlahan, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Comic Actress in a Musical
Bethany Ingraham, Delco Christian, Fiddler on the Roof - Comic Actress in a Musical
Lindsay Ronaldson, Sun Valley, Bye Bye Birdie - Comic Actress in a Musical
Bridget Yingling, Springfield, The Laramie Project - Supporting Actress in a Play
Jesse Brown, Interboro, Rumors - Supporting Actor in a Play
Sean Skahill, Springfield, The Laramie Project - Supporting Actor in a Play
Jo Evans, Delco Christian School, Fiddler on the Roof - Supporting Actress- Musical
Veronica Gottsch, Haverford, Urinetown - Supporting Actress in a Musical
Pat Fedena, Garnet Valley, Grease - Supporting Actor in a Musical
Alex Ramsey, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Supporting Actor in a Musical
Kevin Riddagh, Upper Darby, All Shook Up - Supporting Actor in a Musical
Marissa Gibson, Springfield, The Laramie Project - Lead Actress in a Play
James Cella, Springfield, The Laramie Project - Lead Actor in a Play
Sasha Dubyk, Delco Christianl, Fiddler on the Roof - Lead Actress in a Musical
Devin Lloyd, Haverford, Urinetown - Lead Actress in a Musical
Joe Cilio, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Lead Actor in a Musical
Greg Clark, Ridley, Grease - Lead Actor in a Musical
Isaac Skinner, Delco Christian, Fiddler on the Roof - Lead Actor in a Musical
Mark Watter, Haverford, Urinetown - Lead Actor in a Musical
"Mother Doesn't Matter Anymore," Sun Valley, Bye Bye Birdie - Song
"Those Magic Changes," Ridley, Grease - Song
"The Game," The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Song
"Run, Freedom, Run," Haverford, Urinetown - Song
The Laramie Project, Springfield - Play
Fiddler on the Roof, Delco Christian - Musical
Urinetown, Haverford - Musical
Damn Yankees, The Haverford School - Musical
Stephan Botes, Max Dubyk, Delco Christian, Fiddler on the Roof - Sound
Cole Gamber, Upper Darby, All Shook Up- Sound
Delco Christian, Fiddler on the Roof - Sets
Delco Christian, Fiddler on the Roof - Makeup
Nicole Giaffes, Upper Darby High School, All Shook Up - Props & Effects
Art Stretton, Ridley, Grease- Stage Crew
Drew Warden, Will Rockafellow, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Stage Crew
Upper Darby Orchestra, Upper Darby, All Shook Up- Orchestra
Urinetown Orchestra, Haverford, Urinetown - Orchestra
Grease Pit Orchestra, Garnet Valley, Grease - Orchestra
Ridley High School Pit Orchestra, Ridley, Grease - Orchestra
Morgan Perry, Brittany Burgis, Molly Cannon, Garnet Valley, Grease - Choreography
Mike Pacifico, Musicianship, Garnet Valley, Grease - Creativity
Sean Skahill, Arrangement, Springfield, The Laramie Project - Creativity
Russian Bottle Dancers, Delco Christian, Fiddler on the Roof - Ensemble in a Musical
The Poor, Haverford High School, Urinetown - Ensemble in a Musical
The Washington Senators, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Ensemble in a Musical
James Cella, Springfield - Underclass Male Critic
Tim Wright, Upper Darby - Underclass Male Critic
Allison Jenkins, Interboro - Senior Female Critic
Chelsea Ryan, Upper Darby - Senior Female Critic
Kristen Richers, Springfield - Senior Female Critic
Alicia Tomkowich, Haverford - Senior Female Critic
Isaac Skinner, Delco Christian - Senior Male Critic
Springfield - Critic Team
Upper Darby - Critic Team
Leah DeBenedictis, Springfield, The Laramie Project - Featured Actress
Katherine Ortmeyer, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Featured Actress
Peter Rogers, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Featured Actor
Izzy Fehlandt, Garnet Valley, Grease - Female Dancer
Victoria Janicki, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Female Dancer
Jenna Rogalski, Haverford, Urinetown - Female Dancer
Tristan Horan, Haverford, Urinetown - Male Dancer
Marcel Logan, The Haverford Scool, Damn Yankees - Male Dancer
Megan Smith, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Female Vocalist
Tripp Wickersham, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Male Vocalist
Molly Houlahan, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Comic Actress in a Musical
Bethany Ingraham, Delco Christian, Fiddler on the Roof - Comic Actress in a Musical
Lindsay Ronaldson, Sun Valley, Bye Bye Birdie - Comic Actress in a Musical
Bridget Yingling, Springfield, The Laramie Project - Supporting Actress in a Play
Jesse Brown, Interboro, Rumors - Supporting Actor in a Play
Sean Skahill, Springfield, The Laramie Project - Supporting Actor in a Play
Jo Evans, Delco Christian School, Fiddler on the Roof - Supporting Actress- Musical
Veronica Gottsch, Haverford, Urinetown - Supporting Actress in a Musical
Pat Fedena, Garnet Valley, Grease - Supporting Actor in a Musical
Alex Ramsey, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Supporting Actor in a Musical
Kevin Riddagh, Upper Darby, All Shook Up - Supporting Actor in a Musical
Marissa Gibson, Springfield, The Laramie Project - Lead Actress in a Play
James Cella, Springfield, The Laramie Project - Lead Actor in a Play
Sasha Dubyk, Delco Christianl, Fiddler on the Roof - Lead Actress in a Musical
Devin Lloyd, Haverford, Urinetown - Lead Actress in a Musical
Joe Cilio, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Lead Actor in a Musical
Greg Clark, Ridley, Grease - Lead Actor in a Musical
Isaac Skinner, Delco Christian, Fiddler on the Roof - Lead Actor in a Musical
Mark Watter, Haverford, Urinetown - Lead Actor in a Musical
"Mother Doesn't Matter Anymore," Sun Valley, Bye Bye Birdie - Song
"Those Magic Changes," Ridley, Grease - Song
"The Game," The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Song
"Run, Freedom, Run," Haverford, Urinetown - Song
The Laramie Project, Springfield - Play
Fiddler on the Roof, Delco Christian - Musical
Urinetown, Haverford - Musical
Damn Yankees, The Haverford School - Musical
Stephan Botes, Max Dubyk, Delco Christian, Fiddler on the Roof - Sound
Cole Gamber, Upper Darby, All Shook Up- Sound
Delco Christian, Fiddler on the Roof - Sets
Delco Christian, Fiddler on the Roof - Makeup
Nicole Giaffes, Upper Darby High School, All Shook Up - Props & Effects
Art Stretton, Ridley, Grease- Stage Crew
Drew Warden, Will Rockafellow, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Stage Crew
Upper Darby Orchestra, Upper Darby, All Shook Up- Orchestra
Urinetown Orchestra, Haverford, Urinetown - Orchestra
Grease Pit Orchestra, Garnet Valley, Grease - Orchestra
Ridley High School Pit Orchestra, Ridley, Grease - Orchestra
Morgan Perry, Brittany Burgis, Molly Cannon, Garnet Valley, Grease - Choreography
Mike Pacifico, Musicianship, Garnet Valley, Grease - Creativity
Sean Skahill, Arrangement, Springfield, The Laramie Project - Creativity
Russian Bottle Dancers, Delco Christian, Fiddler on the Roof - Ensemble in a Musical
The Poor, Haverford High School, Urinetown - Ensemble in a Musical
The Washington Senators, The Haverford School, Damn Yankees - Ensemble in a Musical
James Cella, Springfield - Underclass Male Critic
Tim Wright, Upper Darby - Underclass Male Critic
Allison Jenkins, Interboro - Senior Female Critic
Chelsea Ryan, Upper Darby - Senior Female Critic
Kristen Richers, Springfield - Senior Female Critic
Alicia Tomkowich, Haverford - Senior Female Critic
Isaac Skinner, Delco Christian - Senior Male Critic
Springfield - Critic Team
Upper Darby - Critic Team
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Quotes on the Importance of Education
“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” Aristotle
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” Abraham Lincoln
“The man who can make hard things easy is the educator”. Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Give me the children until they are seven and anyone may have them afterward.” St. Francis Xavier
“He who opens a school door, closes a prison.” Victor Hugo
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” Alvin Toffler
“Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.” Thomas Jefferson
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” Abraham Lincoln
“The man who can make hard things easy is the educator”. Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Give me the children until they are seven and anyone may have them afterward.” St. Francis Xavier
“He who opens a school door, closes a prison.” Victor Hugo
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” Alvin Toffler
“Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.” Thomas Jefferson
Monday, May 3, 2010
Question Authority
Tomorrow is the 40th Anniversary of the shootings at Kent State University. On May 4, 1970 the Ohio National Guard opened fire into a crowd of students protesting the Viet Nam War and specifically the US invasion of Cambodia which President Nixon had announced a few days earlier. A total of 67 shots were fired in 13 seconds. Four students: Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, William Schroeder, and Sandra Scheuer were killed. Nine students were wounded.
I, along with all of my friends, was shocked that American servicemen would be ordered to fire into a crowd of students who were peacefully protesting government action. We were horrified to think that the servicemen would obey the orders. Many of us questioned our political leadership’s (both Democrat and Republican) decision to continue and escalate the war, but having the government use deadly force to end peaceful protest was unacceptable. For many of us it was a life changing experience. For me, it meant I couldn’t just go back to class, and pretend the world had not changed. I had to get involved. My public service career began a few days later, when I left my studies at Penn and joined the Philadelphia Police force, where I was assigned as a patrolman to the 18th District at 55th & Pine. I wanted to make a difference… to be a part of the solution. My time on the police force didn’t provide the chance for impact that I was looking for, but that’s another story.
The shootings at Kent State left me with a life-long cynicism about community leadership, either politically elected or appointed to head a non-profit. Just because someone has been chosen, doesn’t mean they are infallible, and being a member of a particular party, doesn’t mean they are always right or wrong. I believe Ben Franklin said it best… "It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority." Forty years ago I realized Ben had it right!
I, along with all of my friends, was shocked that American servicemen would be ordered to fire into a crowd of students who were peacefully protesting government action. We were horrified to think that the servicemen would obey the orders. Many of us questioned our political leadership’s (both Democrat and Republican) decision to continue and escalate the war, but having the government use deadly force to end peaceful protest was unacceptable. For many of us it was a life changing experience. For me, it meant I couldn’t just go back to class, and pretend the world had not changed. I had to get involved. My public service career began a few days later, when I left my studies at Penn and joined the Philadelphia Police force, where I was assigned as a patrolman to the 18th District at 55th & Pine. I wanted to make a difference… to be a part of the solution. My time on the police force didn’t provide the chance for impact that I was looking for, but that’s another story.
The shootings at Kent State left me with a life-long cynicism about community leadership, either politically elected or appointed to head a non-profit. Just because someone has been chosen, doesn’t mean they are infallible, and being a member of a particular party, doesn’t mean they are always right or wrong. I believe Ben Franklin said it best… "It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority." Forty years ago I realized Ben had it right!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Brad Schoener Fund Music Marathon
“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”
Brad Schoener was a music director in the Upper Darby Pennsylvania school district for 25 years before losing a 5 year battle with cancer last year. He was an amazing musician and inspirational music teacher for thousands of students in the Upper Darby School District, who was loved everywhere he went. Brad helped mold the future paths of so many children through his passion for music and his ability to bring out that passion in his students.
The Brad Schoener Fund Music Marathon grew out of an idea Brad had several years ago to hold an event that was a celebration of music of all kinds. Brad was excited about the idea and so is his family and hundreds of students and alumni, colleagues and friends. The event will be a carnival of music inside and outside the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center.
The Second Annual Brad Schoener Music Marathon will take place on June 12, 2010, and will feature a 5k Walk/Run, scheduled to start at 10 am across the street from the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center. This is a two loop run course, (or one loop walk) in beautiful Arlington Cemetery, Brad’s resting place. Along the course, runners and walkers will be treated to live music by some of Brad’s students and friends. After the race folks can enjoy more live music at the Music Marathon being held in the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center from 1:00pm to 9:00pm. Funds raised will benefit the Brad Schoener Fund which was formed to provide support for music education to students of the Upper Darby School District by:
• Funding scholarships for music lessons for exceptional students.
• Support Summer Music Camp
• Providing Instruments for all elementary students who wish to learn.
Zeswitz Music and the Schoener Music Fund will be holding an instrument drive on the day Marathon. Time to donate “Uncle Harry’s old trumpet” that is sitting up in your attic! Or sell the instrument that your college student isn’t using any more! Donate an instrument directly to the Schoener Music Fund (and receive a letter for charitable tax donation) OR sell your instrument on consignment that day — 20% goes to the Music Fund; 80% comes home to you!
Come on out and have a good time…the young musicians of Upper Darby will benefit!
Brad Schoener was a music director in the Upper Darby Pennsylvania school district for 25 years before losing a 5 year battle with cancer last year. He was an amazing musician and inspirational music teacher for thousands of students in the Upper Darby School District, who was loved everywhere he went. Brad helped mold the future paths of so many children through his passion for music and his ability to bring out that passion in his students.
The Brad Schoener Fund Music Marathon grew out of an idea Brad had several years ago to hold an event that was a celebration of music of all kinds. Brad was excited about the idea and so is his family and hundreds of students and alumni, colleagues and friends. The event will be a carnival of music inside and outside the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center.
The Second Annual Brad Schoener Music Marathon will take place on June 12, 2010, and will feature a 5k Walk/Run, scheduled to start at 10 am across the street from the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center. This is a two loop run course, (or one loop walk) in beautiful Arlington Cemetery, Brad’s resting place. Along the course, runners and walkers will be treated to live music by some of Brad’s students and friends. After the race folks can enjoy more live music at the Music Marathon being held in the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center from 1:00pm to 9:00pm. Funds raised will benefit the Brad Schoener Fund which was formed to provide support for music education to students of the Upper Darby School District by:
• Funding scholarships for music lessons for exceptional students.
• Support Summer Music Camp
• Providing Instruments for all elementary students who wish to learn.
Zeswitz Music and the Schoener Music Fund will be holding an instrument drive on the day Marathon. Time to donate “Uncle Harry’s old trumpet” that is sitting up in your attic! Or sell the instrument that your college student isn’t using any more! Donate an instrument directly to the Schoener Music Fund (and receive a letter for charitable tax donation) OR sell your instrument on consignment that day — 20% goes to the Music Fund; 80% comes home to you!
Come on out and have a good time…the young musicians of Upper Darby will benefit!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Al Sharpton is Right
While my main focus for this blog is community organizations and especially how they impact education here in Delaware County, an AP national story caught my eye over the weekend. Reverend Al Sharpton had taken some heat for defending the President during the annual conference organized by his National Action Network. Mr. Obama had received some criticism from television host Tavis Smiley, who said "black folk are catching hell" and has pushed for Obama to do more to help the black community. Sharpton responded that black Americans "need to solve our own problems", and he told the AP that he is working to expand his Harlem-based organization to 100 cities from the current 42, with about 200,000 members. Philly Mayor Michael Nutter added that Reverend Sharpton’s efforts to help black Americans will measure its success by individual goal-setting "every day, every week, every month".
I agree. I whole-heartedly agree, and am glad to see that his efforts will stress that achieving success starts with having individual goals. Each and every one of us should understand what direction we’re heading in. Parents, children, students, the unemployed or underemployed… we all need GOALS, accomplishments we can achieve through our own effort. It is an important concept, but not necessarily a black or white issue. It’s a life issue.
For those at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder, it’s purely an economic one. A goal serves as a plan to get out of poverty, a way to move up the ladder, one rung at a time. To my immigrant grandmother, who was widowed while pregnant with her fourth child, her goal was to get her children educated. She pursued that goal for her entire life, and shared that goal with millions of immigrant families then and now. To the young dependent parent, the goal could be to become self-sufficient. To the underemployed, the goal could be to get additional skills to better compete for the available jobs. We all need goals to achieve, but more importantly we need to understand that achieving goals which we ourselves set is critical to success. My parents taught me that anything I wanted to achieve was possible, though I had to earn it myself. It was up to me.
I’m glad to see that Reverend Sharpton is focusing on the basics. Getting young folks to set goals is a powerful achievement and potentially empowering for life, but it’s very difficult to do on a community scale. It’s a skill better learned at home.
Friday: Second Annual Brad Schoener Music Marathon
I agree. I whole-heartedly agree, and am glad to see that his efforts will stress that achieving success starts with having individual goals. Each and every one of us should understand what direction we’re heading in. Parents, children, students, the unemployed or underemployed… we all need GOALS, accomplishments we can achieve through our own effort. It is an important concept, but not necessarily a black or white issue. It’s a life issue.
For those at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder, it’s purely an economic one. A goal serves as a plan to get out of poverty, a way to move up the ladder, one rung at a time. To my immigrant grandmother, who was widowed while pregnant with her fourth child, her goal was to get her children educated. She pursued that goal for her entire life, and shared that goal with millions of immigrant families then and now. To the young dependent parent, the goal could be to become self-sufficient. To the underemployed, the goal could be to get additional skills to better compete for the available jobs. We all need goals to achieve, but more importantly we need to understand that achieving goals which we ourselves set is critical to success. My parents taught me that anything I wanted to achieve was possible, though I had to earn it myself. It was up to me.
I’m glad to see that Reverend Sharpton is focusing on the basics. Getting young folks to set goals is a powerful achievement and potentially empowering for life, but it’s very difficult to do on a community scale. It’s a skill better learned at home.
Friday: Second Annual Brad Schoener Music Marathon
Sunday, April 18, 2010
158 Year Old Education Collaboration
One of the earliest collaborations between community and family coming together to support education here in southeast Pennsylvania started almost 158 years ago. In December, 1850 Father Edward J. Sourin, Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish founded an organization in Philadelphia to create opportunities to advance the education and cultural development of illiterate Irish and German Catholic young men whose education was cut short to help support their families. It was at an 1851 reception of this organization, the Catholic Philopatrian Literary Institute (Philo), that Bishop Kendrick first began a discussion of the establishment of a parish-based Catholic school system. Philo and its members enthusiastically supported the idea, and the school system was begun the following year under the direction of John Nepomucene Neumann, the 6th Bishop of Philadelphia as well as a Philo member. At the time there were only 5 parishes in Delaware County. This unique endeavor in which the religious community partnered with the parish families to create a school system, quickly became a powerful educational collaboration. The parochial school system has educated hundreds of thousands of young men and women, and continues to this day although challenged by reduced enrollment.
Philo continues as well, and the clubhouse is located at 20th and Walnut in Philly. As the oldest Catholic lay organization in the country, Philo supports education through scholarships to students attending local Catholic colleges as well as supporting successful primary education efforts within the archdiocese. Mother Katherine Drexel School in Chester has received Philo support.
For the past 49 years Philo has annually recognized a Catholic who by achievement and exemplary life has made contributions to Catholic ideals. The Sourin Award has been presented by the Philo to a distinguished list of honorees that includes cardinals, governors, professors, mayors and judges. On Wednesday evening, the Sourin Award is being presented to Timothy Flanagan, founder and Chair of the Catholic Leadership Institute. Congratulations to Tim and his wife Terese for this well-deserved honor.
Wednesday: Al Sharpton is right.
Philo continues as well, and the clubhouse is located at 20th and Walnut in Philly. As the oldest Catholic lay organization in the country, Philo supports education through scholarships to students attending local Catholic colleges as well as supporting successful primary education efforts within the archdiocese. Mother Katherine Drexel School in Chester has received Philo support.
For the past 49 years Philo has annually recognized a Catholic who by achievement and exemplary life has made contributions to Catholic ideals. The Sourin Award has been presented by the Philo to a distinguished list of honorees that includes cardinals, governors, professors, mayors and judges. On Wednesday evening, the Sourin Award is being presented to Timothy Flanagan, founder and Chair of the Catholic Leadership Institute. Congratulations to Tim and his wife Terese for this well-deserved honor.
Wednesday: Al Sharpton is right.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Collaboration Needed on Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years with the prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to almost 20 percent in 2008. Public health data show nearly 30 percent of children and teens are overweight or obese, but how does a community combat this issue?
This is the type of issue where success demands collaboration across many stakeholder groups. What is needed for the development of a “Healthy Living” infrastructure in Delaware County is a collaborative effort of health care and education professionals, local government, corporate and community leaders who possess the power to create positive change through strategic alignment of current educational, nutritional, recreational and social service resources. Convening relevant stakeholders to address the issue, would facilitate partners bringing their expertise, skills and insights to develop a unified corporate, community and government approach to a healthier lifestyle here in Delaware County. With a critical mass of diverse county-wide leadership participation, this consortium could create a strategic framework, dealing with both aspects of the obesity formula: Nutrition (calories consumed) and Physical Activity (calories consumed). Delaware County would be a better and healthier community.
Wednesday - Collaboration on Education
This is the type of issue where success demands collaboration across many stakeholder groups. What is needed for the development of a “Healthy Living” infrastructure in Delaware County is a collaborative effort of health care and education professionals, local government, corporate and community leaders who possess the power to create positive change through strategic alignment of current educational, nutritional, recreational and social service resources. Convening relevant stakeholders to address the issue, would facilitate partners bringing their expertise, skills and insights to develop a unified corporate, community and government approach to a healthier lifestyle here in Delaware County. With a critical mass of diverse county-wide leadership participation, this consortium could create a strategic framework, dealing with both aspects of the obesity formula: Nutrition (calories consumed) and Physical Activity (calories consumed). Delaware County would be a better and healthier community.
Wednesday - Collaboration on Education
Friday, April 9, 2010
KUDOS
My two posts this week have dealt with Community and family as important components of educating our children, and of course the local school system is of upmost importance in preparing our children for the 21st century workplace. I want to offer kudos to two efforts on opposite sides of the county.
Recently, WorkplaceDynamics, a consulting group in Exton was enlisted to survey employees of 1,505 companies of at least 50 employees in the Tri-State Delaware Valley to rate their companies and their bosses. The objective of the survey was to identify the area’s top 100 workplaces, and it was an extensive effort to uncover the best employers in the Philadelphia region from the point of view of employee themselves. I offer warm congratulations to the Upper Darby School District for not only making the list, but also for being the only school district to be named. Successfully educating such a diverse student population, and having the faculty feel so positive about their workplace is a testament to the work of Lou DeVlieger and his administration.
One of the topics I’ll be writing about from time to time are opportunities for collaboration between the three systems in the education of Delaware County’s children, and I’d want to offer kudos for an community - school collaboration which just celebrated its 40 year anniversary. In 1969 Dr. Alonzo Cavin founded Project Prepare as a partnership between Widener University and the Chester Upland School District to help students successfully transition to college. Hundreds of students from Chester and neighboring boroughs were helped and were able to complete college through this program. Kudos to Dr Cavin, founding Director, and its current Director, Tim Cairy, two men who have done much to foster the very best educationally for some economically disadvantaged students, and with virtually very little fanfare. Thank you!
Monday – Collaborations
Recently, WorkplaceDynamics, a consulting group in Exton was enlisted to survey employees of 1,505 companies of at least 50 employees in the Tri-State Delaware Valley to rate their companies and their bosses. The objective of the survey was to identify the area’s top 100 workplaces, and it was an extensive effort to uncover the best employers in the Philadelphia region from the point of view of employee themselves. I offer warm congratulations to the Upper Darby School District for not only making the list, but also for being the only school district to be named. Successfully educating such a diverse student population, and having the faculty feel so positive about their workplace is a testament to the work of Lou DeVlieger and his administration.
One of the topics I’ll be writing about from time to time are opportunities for collaboration between the three systems in the education of Delaware County’s children, and I’d want to offer kudos for an community - school collaboration which just celebrated its 40 year anniversary. In 1969 Dr. Alonzo Cavin founded Project Prepare as a partnership between Widener University and the Chester Upland School District to help students successfully transition to college. Hundreds of students from Chester and neighboring boroughs were helped and were able to complete college through this program. Kudos to Dr Cavin, founding Director, and its current Director, Tim Cairy, two men who have done much to foster the very best educationally for some economically disadvantaged students, and with virtually very little fanfare. Thank you!
Monday – Collaborations
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Educational success starts with the family
Successfully educating our youth depends upon our own family, our community, and our school system efforts aligned and working well together. As young adults become parents, they begin the process of educating the child. With any luck the child has a great mom & dad and is living in a wonderfully nurturing and caring community with a school system that prepares each student to maximize their potential in the 21st Century workplace. How is that for a community vision statement! That’s what every child deserves, but all too often doesn’t get. Many children are beings raised by single parents, or aunts or other relatives, even grandparents. The last census identified 3,600 grandparents raising their kids’ kids in Delaware County in 2000. Thoughts on what the current census might identify?
From the day a child is brought home from the hospital, the family and the members of the extended family should be focused on preparing that child for life. Speaking to the child, helping the child learn the alphabet, and reading to the baby are very important steps in the developmental process. As a relatively new Pop-Pop, I have a small role in preparing Faith, Ben, Jackson and Trinity for success. Every babysitting opportunity involves snuggling up to Pop Pop while he reads Cat in the Hat, Are You My Mother or Green Eggs and Ham to the little guys or Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing with Faith. Through love and nurturing, the family must take the lead in guiding that child to not only learn the alphabet, but to communicate, to be part of the family and eventually how to be part of a community. The child has to see that the family values education, and that education can bring success.
As a child develops, the community supports --like quality child care, head start, recreational activities, and others are needed to keep the development going. The school system can then begin to build upon the foundation which the family has developed.
My grandmother helped to instill my belief that educational success starts with the family. She had been widowed in 1922, pregnant with her fourth child. She had no education, but she was determined that her children would, because Mom-Mom knew that the only way her children would escape poverty was education. She scrubbed floors in what was then the new Fidelity Building at Broad and Walnut at night so she could be home while the kids attended school. Not only did her children each receive an education, her 11 grandchildren all have college degrees, most with Masters and include degrees from 4 ivy-league schools.
Friday: Kudos
From the day a child is brought home from the hospital, the family and the members of the extended family should be focused on preparing that child for life. Speaking to the child, helping the child learn the alphabet, and reading to the baby are very important steps in the developmental process. As a relatively new Pop-Pop, I have a small role in preparing Faith, Ben, Jackson and Trinity for success. Every babysitting opportunity involves snuggling up to Pop Pop while he reads Cat in the Hat, Are You My Mother or Green Eggs and Ham to the little guys or Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing with Faith. Through love and nurturing, the family must take the lead in guiding that child to not only learn the alphabet, but to communicate, to be part of the family and eventually how to be part of a community. The child has to see that the family values education, and that education can bring success.
As a child develops, the community supports --like quality child care, head start, recreational activities, and others are needed to keep the development going. The school system can then begin to build upon the foundation which the family has developed.
My grandmother helped to instill my belief that educational success starts with the family. She had been widowed in 1922, pregnant with her fourth child. She had no education, but she was determined that her children would, because Mom-Mom knew that the only way her children would escape poverty was education. She scrubbed floors in what was then the new Fidelity Building at Broad and Walnut at night so she could be home while the kids attended school. Not only did her children each receive an education, her 11 grandchildren all have college degrees, most with Masters and include degrees from 4 ivy-league schools.
Friday: Kudos
Monday, April 5, 2010
Non Profit Leadership
Community is a very important component of the Education = Family + Community + Schools equation, and can be far more diverse because it includes government (local, state and federal) and non-profit organizations / service providers. These institutions are products of the community and are there to contribute to the fabric of life enjoyed by the residents.
Whether you agree with the current seat holder or not, political leadership positions are regularly put up for public scrutiny and eventually an election. Heck of a way to make a living.
Have you seen any of the latest political poll numbers? Gallop’s monthly ask of America “Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job” showed that 80% of us disapprove of what our elected leaders in Washington are doing. Approval will fluctuate for all candidates as they go about government as they see it. Politicians know that eventually they will have to stand before the community and justify their vision of leadership, and this public vindication by election is probably the most important component to responsive leadership within government. People expect the right to vote for their vision of leadership, the right to offer their opinion on the direction of the town, county, state or federal government.
Unfortunately, there is no comparable way for residents to offer opinion on staffing or the management direction of local non-profit organizations. That’s generally the responsibility of each non-profit’s board of directors, often with little regard for the plans of other similar non-profits. If you support an organization financially or through your volunteer time, you should take the time to find out how they’re doing. Check their financials at www.guidestar.com . It is important to make sure the board is doing its job. Do they meet regularly? Find out if the organization is doing what you thought they were doing. Could they be doing more? Doing better? Are there other non-profits who are potential partners in developing alternatives to meeting your mission? The current economy will present challenges to fund raising for many non-profits and it will be important for each organization to maximize its available resources through creative partnerships. Non-profits are only as strong as their volunteer leadership. Get involved!
Wednesday: Educational success starts with the family
Whether you agree with the current seat holder or not, political leadership positions are regularly put up for public scrutiny and eventually an election. Heck of a way to make a living.
Have you seen any of the latest political poll numbers? Gallop’s monthly ask of America “Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job” showed that 80% of us disapprove of what our elected leaders in Washington are doing. Approval will fluctuate for all candidates as they go about government as they see it. Politicians know that eventually they will have to stand before the community and justify their vision of leadership, and this public vindication by election is probably the most important component to responsive leadership within government. People expect the right to vote for their vision of leadership, the right to offer their opinion on the direction of the town, county, state or federal government.
Unfortunately, there is no comparable way for residents to offer opinion on staffing or the management direction of local non-profit organizations. That’s generally the responsibility of each non-profit’s board of directors, often with little regard for the plans of other similar non-profits. If you support an organization financially or through your volunteer time, you should take the time to find out how they’re doing. Check their financials at www.guidestar.com . It is important to make sure the board is doing its job. Do they meet regularly? Find out if the organization is doing what you thought they were doing. Could they be doing more? Doing better? Are there other non-profits who are potential partners in developing alternatives to meeting your mission? The current economy will present challenges to fund raising for many non-profits and it will be important for each organization to maximize its available resources through creative partnerships. Non-profits are only as strong as their volunteer leadership. Get involved!
Wednesday: Educational success starts with the family
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Education = Family + Community + School
My experience with United Way allowed me the opportunity to see “community” as a complex system of interrelated efforts of government, business, non-profits, education, health and other organizations. People and organizations often approach a social or health issue from a limited perspective without considering all factors which would impact their issue.
Successful education, broadly defined as the preparation of our children to compete in the world, is dependent on three systems: Family, Community, and School. A child needs at least one of the systems to be working well if he or she is to have any chance to succeed. With one of the systems functioning, the other two could be overcome. If a school system does its job well, educators could overcome family strife, and could overcome a poor community, and get their students prepared. But schools are only part of the educational process. Family and community have equally important roles in education, and a student coming from a great family support structure, can live in a poor community and go to a poor school, and still have a chance to compete. Ideally our children have strengths in all three systems, but the reality is all three are being strained with some near the breaking point. Schools are feeling financial constraints, as are families, especially single-parent households. Many communities haven’t quite figured out what their role in education is. Success in education requires getting all relevant stakeholders working from the same game plan, and aligning their efforts within a common framework.
I’ll be writing about opportunities for collaboration of the three systems in the education of Delaware County’s children, but I’d like to hear from you. Send me an email (through my profile to the rigtht) to tell me about your school district. What do you see as strengths or weaknesses? How do you think family, community and the schools in your district could work together better?
Successful education, broadly defined as the preparation of our children to compete in the world, is dependent on three systems: Family, Community, and School. A child needs at least one of the systems to be working well if he or she is to have any chance to succeed. With one of the systems functioning, the other two could be overcome. If a school system does its job well, educators could overcome family strife, and could overcome a poor community, and get their students prepared. But schools are only part of the educational process. Family and community have equally important roles in education, and a student coming from a great family support structure, can live in a poor community and go to a poor school, and still have a chance to compete. Ideally our children have strengths in all three systems, but the reality is all three are being strained with some near the breaking point. Schools are feeling financial constraints, as are families, especially single-parent households. Many communities haven’t quite figured out what their role in education is. Success in education requires getting all relevant stakeholders working from the same game plan, and aligning their efforts within a common framework.
I’ll be writing about opportunities for collaboration of the three systems in the education of Delaware County’s children, but I’d like to hear from you. Send me an email (through my profile to the rigtht) to tell me about your school district. What do you see as strengths or weaknesses? How do you think family, community and the schools in your district could work together better?
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Why Delco United
Although I didn’t know it at the time, the shootings at Kent State were the tipping point which launched my public service career.
I was born and raised in Grays Ferry section of Philadelphia in the home in which my grandmother was raised. I was a product of the Catholic school system in Philadelphia, attending Saint Gabriel’s elementary school and later Bishop Neumann High School. Grays Ferry during the late sixties was a tinderbox of racial hostility with almost daily skirmishes between young blacks and whites. As I approached graduation in 1968, the world seemed to heading to “hell in a hand basket”. Two months before graduation Martin Luther King was assassinated and 4 days before graduation Robert Kennedy was shot. That summer ended with the infamous riots during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. I entered the University of Pennsylvania in September, wondering what my generation was going to be able to do to get the country on the right track. While my studies were challenging, my extracurricular activity as a manager for the men’s basketball team was a blast. During my freshman year, Frosh Coach Digger Phelps led the team to an undefeated season. I was fortunate to experience the coaching styles and team building efforts of Digger and varsity coach Dick Harter, both of whom went on to have very successful coaching careers, and to be a part of Penn’s greatest team.
My public service career began in May, 1970, when a few days after the shootings at Kent State, I decided to leave my studies at Penn and get involved. I wanted to be a part of the solution and make a difference.
On May 7th I joined the Philadelphia Police Force. It was a tumultuous time for Philadelphia and its Police Commissioner, Frank Rizzo. I graduated the Police Academy as a 19 year old patrolman at the start of the Labor Day weekend and was assigned to the 18th District in West Philadelphia where during the previous week 5 officers in the district were shot, and one, Frank von Coln was assassinated. My self-described duties as an “armed social worker” gave me a very unique insight into poverty, crime, education and the importance of a community support structure. While serving as a patrolman, I was exposed to another unique facet of life as a male in the 70's, I was drafted into the army. Following Airborne training, I was assigned to service at the Army Infantry School at Fort Benning Georgia. Upon completion of my military service, I returned to Penn to complete my education at the Wharton School.
I began my non-profit career in the early 80’s when my boss, State Treasurer R Budd Dwyer, “loaned” me to United Way to conduct the charitable campaign among state employees. For over 25 years I worked for three United Ways in Southeastern Pennsylvania, and have come to appreciate the importance of coordinating the work of non-profits within a community. Arriving in Chester in 1996, my tenure as Executive Director of the United Way had been noted for active engagement of community leadership in the development of human care strategies. I recognized that alignment of a non-profit organization’s staff and volunteer networks is a key component of its role as a community provider. I am currently consulting with non-profit organizations and working to support education in Upper Darby.
In 2008, I was honored to be named a “Literacy Champion” by the Center for Literacy in Philadelphia in recognition of my efforts in southeastern Pennsylvania.
As I stated earlier, I entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1968 wondering what my generation was going to be able to do to get America back on the right track. Looking around today, I can safely say we did not not get the country on track, we just screwed it up differently. My purpose for creating this blog is to periodically point out ways in which I feel the public service and non-profit communities serving Delaware County might collaborate to better serve the County’s ethnicly, economically and educationally diverse population. … To make “Delco United”
I welcome comments...
I was born and raised in Grays Ferry section of Philadelphia in the home in which my grandmother was raised. I was a product of the Catholic school system in Philadelphia, attending Saint Gabriel’s elementary school and later Bishop Neumann High School. Grays Ferry during the late sixties was a tinderbox of racial hostility with almost daily skirmishes between young blacks and whites. As I approached graduation in 1968, the world seemed to heading to “hell in a hand basket”. Two months before graduation Martin Luther King was assassinated and 4 days before graduation Robert Kennedy was shot. That summer ended with the infamous riots during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. I entered the University of Pennsylvania in September, wondering what my generation was going to be able to do to get the country on the right track. While my studies were challenging, my extracurricular activity as a manager for the men’s basketball team was a blast. During my freshman year, Frosh Coach Digger Phelps led the team to an undefeated season. I was fortunate to experience the coaching styles and team building efforts of Digger and varsity coach Dick Harter, both of whom went on to have very successful coaching careers, and to be a part of Penn’s greatest team.
My public service career began in May, 1970, when a few days after the shootings at Kent State, I decided to leave my studies at Penn and get involved. I wanted to be a part of the solution and make a difference.
On May 7th I joined the Philadelphia Police Force. It was a tumultuous time for Philadelphia and its Police Commissioner, Frank Rizzo. I graduated the Police Academy as a 19 year old patrolman at the start of the Labor Day weekend and was assigned to the 18th District in West Philadelphia where during the previous week 5 officers in the district were shot, and one, Frank von Coln was assassinated. My self-described duties as an “armed social worker” gave me a very unique insight into poverty, crime, education and the importance of a community support structure. While serving as a patrolman, I was exposed to another unique facet of life as a male in the 70's, I was drafted into the army. Following Airborne training, I was assigned to service at the Army Infantry School at Fort Benning Georgia. Upon completion of my military service, I returned to Penn to complete my education at the Wharton School.
I began my non-profit career in the early 80’s when my boss, State Treasurer R Budd Dwyer, “loaned” me to United Way to conduct the charitable campaign among state employees. For over 25 years I worked for three United Ways in Southeastern Pennsylvania, and have come to appreciate the importance of coordinating the work of non-profits within a community. Arriving in Chester in 1996, my tenure as Executive Director of the United Way had been noted for active engagement of community leadership in the development of human care strategies. I recognized that alignment of a non-profit organization’s staff and volunteer networks is a key component of its role as a community provider. I am currently consulting with non-profit organizations and working to support education in Upper Darby.
In 2008, I was honored to be named a “Literacy Champion” by the Center for Literacy in Philadelphia in recognition of my efforts in southeastern Pennsylvania.
As I stated earlier, I entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1968 wondering what my generation was going to be able to do to get America back on the right track. Looking around today, I can safely say we did not not get the country on track, we just screwed it up differently. My purpose for creating this blog is to periodically point out ways in which I feel the public service and non-profit communities serving Delaware County might collaborate to better serve the County’s ethnicly, economically and educationally diverse population. … To make “Delco United”
I welcome comments...
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