PCAPS Building Community With Community School Ambassadors, Join The Movement

The evening of October 27, 2015 PCAPS Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools held a training for parents, educators and community partners interested in becoming Community School Ambassadors at SEIU 455 N 5th street. Nice turnout and networking with others concerned with the unhealthy state of Philadelphia's public schools. We were introduced to the community school model successfully working in New York and Cincinnati. Restoring resources in our schools and revitalizing neighborhoods is what the community school models brings.

Community Schools are not part of the dismantling of public education, no privatizing here. This model focus is building relationships unique to the demands of the community and families served by the community school. The village we reference is what community schools are about. The key to the success is having parents, students, educators, elected officials and community members totally vested in creating safe productive learning facilities benefiting the entire family.

Stop the Charter Takeover of Cooke, Huey and Wister Elementary, Community Schools Now!

FAQ on community schools as alternative to charter takeovers FAQ.10-20docx

Sign the Open Letter to the SRC: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/community-schools-now-no-more-charter-conversions?source=email&referrer=ron-whitehorne

2 pager on charter takeovers and community school alternative: leaflet10-22rev

What Parents Can Do: WHAT CAN YOU DO

Philadelphia needs community schools…schools with wrap around services, engaging instruction, positive behavior supports, and a real voice for parents, school staff and the community; schools that are fully funded and staffed with a full time nurse, counselors and a certified librarian; schools with art, music, computer technology and advanced placement classes; schools that respect the right of school employees to organize and bargain collectively. During the primary, democratic mayoral nominee Jim Kenney proposed making 25 neighborhood public schools into community schools. Sign the petition now to bring community schools to Philadelphia.

Can you join me and take action? Click here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/create-the-schools-our-families-deserve-25-community-schools-now?source=email&referrer=ron-whitehorne

Learn more at http://wearepcaps.org/community-schools-task-force/

Where are Philadelphia's Educators of Color

http://blackoncampus.com/timeline/

Is there a future for teachers of color in the Education field? One needs to envision the long term perception and impact of any student African American, Latino, White, Asian, and other cultures, growing up not ever having a teacher of color, or any professional of African, Latino, Asian and other descent, during their formation years, i.e a nurse of color, a physician of color or any non-European professional.  So if students are not exposed to a diverse group of professionals, society will continue to produce more brutal and violent police officers and more Dylann Roofs.  As children they were subconsciously raised to perceive non white people as “not equal”, “less than”, “irrelevant” “ nothing”, therefore like black people, they can be killed.

 http://forpubliced.blogspot.com/2015/09/black-educator-teacher-nikky-speaks-at.html

Educators of color are disappearing from the teaching profession and i found out some of the reasons why during Moonstone Arts Center, Friday October 16, 2015 discussion on Black Teachers for Black Students. The discussion is part of Moonstone's Education in Black & White: The Institute for Colored Youth and the On-Going Struggle for Education series of discussions.

 Ms. Rosalind Jones-Johnson, Education Director, PFT Health & Welfare Fund shed some light on the decreasing numbers of educators of colors in the teaching profession. 

"About 25% of the population goes to college period. That would mean that every African American would have to major in education in order for African American students, Hispanic Students and White students to have access to a black teacher, so it does not workout mathematical. So we have to find a way, regardless of the race, ethnicity or economic level of the teacher. They have to develop a sense of making sure our children are safe socially, emotionally and academically and that can be taught. Intervention needs to take place before educators step into the classroom."

"When we look at the teacher population in Philadelphia, African American or black teachers in the public schools differ significantly from black teachers in charter schools. The retention rate for black teachers in charter schools is horrific. They are losing about 35% of their African American teachers as oppose to the public schools who are losing about 10%. Why such a dramatic difference between retention of black teachers in charter schools versus black teachers in public schools. It is because charter schools don't have strong teacher induction programs for novice teachers. They are not preparing them to work with students in that classroom environment. Philadelphia public schools do just that we work with them intensively over the summer before they step foot in the classroom and offer support throughout the school year."

"There can be a lack of synchronization between the teacher and the student that has nothing to do with race. A middle income African American teacher may not be able to relate to an African American student who is living in sub poverty, unless you teach them to have the conversations with those students. To be empathic to understand so we have a responsibility regardless of the race, the ethnicity, the sex of the teacher. To make sure that they are dealing with all of the issues not just academics. We have to make sure they are well prepared before stepping into urban classrooms."

"All of the reasons why we don't have black teachers isn't negative. I have a black male sitting next to me that maybe eighty years ago his only option would have been to go into education or preaching. But now so many black college students have many options in terms of careers so it is not all negative. That's why we have to get back to the discussion when we look at the numbers, we have to make sure that all teachers have what we call culturally responsive teaching. That they are able to teach black students, hispanic students regardless. The figures that i looked at for the HBCUs that were producing most of the black teachers. Lincoln University 2010 only had 45 students in their education program, Cheyney had 15. And the numbers are consistently dropping. Cheyney use to produce most of teachers for the city of Philadelphia, they now only have one certification program and that's k-fourth grade so in middle school and high school the number of black teachers will significantly decrease if we don't do something about the HBCU issue. "

Under the Obama administration The Institute for Colored Youth now Cheyney University did not receive any of the Obama stimulus money. Historically Black Colleges and Universities have been neglected by our federal and state government for years. 

Heading Cheyney's Call has informed and will continue to inform, louder and louder each day, every member of the state legislature, every education and law-related appointee of the governor, and the trial judge that Cheyney didn’t cause this problem; the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania did, and the federal government allowed it. How, you ask? Let me count the ways and the whens:

1901- As noted by Junious Stanton of HCC, “In 1901, when Cheyney was a stand-alone teacher training school operated by the Richard Humphreys Corporation, Pennsylvania paid the full tuition of $140 to white students being trained at white teacher training schools but paid only $25 to the Black students at Cheyney.”

1969- The U.S. Department of Education’s predecessor, namely the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, determined in 1969 that Pennsylvania was one of only ten states (including, e.g., the notoriously racist culprits of Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia) still operating an illegal racially segregated system of higher education.

1980- A successful racial discrimination lawsuit was filed in 1980 against Pennsylvania by Cheyney students, faculty, and staff.

1983- It wasn’t until 1983 that Pennsylvania- for the first time ever- finally submitted a formal anti-racial discrimination plan that was deemed acceptable by and to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

1999- Because Pennsylvania’s 1983 plan was all talk and very little action, OCR compelled Pennsylvania to the negotiation table to enter into a formal contract that would guarantee an end to the state’s racial discrimination against Cheyney by providing adequate resources and would guarantee a beginning of its equitable treatment of the university. Although Pennsylvania signed that contract (which, by 2015, should have resulted in $100 million in long-overdue resources to Cheyney), it later breached it and, through Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), continues to do so.

These and many other examples are how Pennsylvania caused the problem. People might respond by asking, “What about the past Cheyney presidents? What about Cheyney’s past administrators? What about Cheyney’s Council of Trustees (COT)? Aren’t they at fault?” And my answer would be “Not really, when you consider the big picture.” Presidents are selected and kept or removed not by COT but by PASSHE.

Also, people must keep in mind that Cheyney has always been under-funded through a crippling “funding formula” used by PASSHE. Unlike the 13 traditionally white state-owned universities, Cheyney has never been treated like an equal partner by PASSHE. Cheyney has always been treated like a stepchild ever since PASSHE was created in 1982. And every time that PASSHE has claimed to and appeared to help Cheyney, it has always been piecemeal. There has never been a comprehensive review of Cheyney across the board in terms of creating attractive academic programs, enhancing marketing, increasing enrollment, tutoring students, improving faulty, training staffers, constructing buildings, and otherwise expanding resources. If PASSHE had done that, Cheyney would have become the crown jewel of HBCUs throughout America.                                                                                                 

http://www.phillytrib.com/commentary/feds-must-not-blame-cheyney-for-pa-s-racial-discrimination/article_b7e0a3ba-5d3a-5f50-aff0-aeaf96dc5863.html

As a parent volunteer i learned that some of our African American teachers cared about our students and wanted the best for them. We also had a Caucasian educator whom the entire school knew and loved because she is a long time resident in the neighborhood that she taught in and was considered part of the community. Yes we need educators of color in our schools, just importantly we need educators who don't judge our students, instead the educator understands the demographics of the community and establish relationships with the families in their classrooms. 

 As a white teacher in a district with a majority of black students but very few black teachers, there’s not really many people to turn to for guidance. 

https://gadflyonthewallblog.wordpress.com/2015/09/06/white-people-need-to-stop-snickering-at-black-names/

The dismantling of public education is an attack on our public resources because education is freedom and also seen as a recession proof industry versus the social development hub. Our schools are being controlled by outsiders versus the families and communities in which the school serves. There is more to this crisis and i plan to explore the patterns in American culture that attacks the most vulnerable members in our society and their way of life. 

"The people need to know this, They need to know their story and how they fit into it" 

King Hedley II

August Wilson

Thanks Mr. Larry Ribon for all you do to tell the stories of the African American experience!!

www.moonstoneartscenter.org 

How We Can Assist Our Youths' and Adult Development for Free While Building Self and Community Pride

Philadelphia is a city full of free or low cost family learning activities for every member of the family and community. The many resources that families can access for free makes Philadelphia a great tool in the education starts at home theory. We have great neighborhoods and parks full of free family learning that encourages developmentally appropriate activities for all ages. Exposure is key, next time your in your neighborhood park or walking through the neighborhood, read the landmarks and or monuments as a family and discover the story of how the park or historic site came to be. When you leave the park or historic site, talk about the story of the landmark and if you can embrace the history with the pride of being a Philadelphian.

My grandson is four and likes to visit museums. We took the broad street subway into town and walked from 15th and Market to The Franklin Institute. Along our walk we talked about the construction sites while watching a welder make purple sparks with his welding tools and read some of the monuments located in front of the Franklin Institute. 

We used our access card and entered The Franklin Institute for $2. My grandson loves the hands on exhibits and i love the conversations that we have when he is engaged with learning through play. We explored earth and climate change. His favorite hands on exhibit was simulating the affects of an earthquake, i enjoyed the exhibit as well for he was introduced to the words, minor, moderate and major storm. Planting knowledge by introducing him and his brother to 1776 words before they enter kindergarten. Next to the exhibits in Kid Science there are talking points to help guide the fun learning experience!! 

We learned to make paper and was given instructions to make paper at home. We climbed through the heart and into the lungs twice. Then there was a live presentation on matter and the various forms, my grandson enjoyed raising his hands and answering questions about solid, liquid and gas. He absorbed so much in our few hours there. So much more for us to explore when we return!! There are great adult themes and activities hosted at The Franklin Institute, please visit their website and plan your visit!! https://www.fi.edu/sites/default/files/vguide_map.pdf

After leaving The Franklin Institute we entered the children's library where we were greeted by a counter with more free resources that boost early literacy and library activities for little ones. i grabbed the Sunday on Stage Fall Season 2015 list of programs. Sunday on Stage: The Free Library presents a series of multicultural book-related performances on Sundays during the school year. It's a perfect opportunity for you and your family to see major performers for free.   Also picked up tips activities and more from Pennsylvania's public libraries "Help Your Child Cruise into Kindergarten", you can get copies of the brochure by emailing spannebake@pa.gov. You can get some more tips for setting your families learning course at www.earlylearninggps.com and www.papromiseforchildren.com. Please visit your local library to connect to great resources for the entire family!! 

Sister Cities Park located on the parkway in Logan Square is now open for the fall season. The Imagination Playground™ has equipment, which encourages children to participate in unstructured play, installed in the area of the boat pond in the Children's Discovery Garden for use during cool-weather months. Took both of my grandson there for some free family fun and they didn't want to leave.

In a world of computers and video games, it is easy to overlook the profound developmental impact unstructured, imaginative play can have on a young child. For children, playtime can be a venue for creating understandings of the world and how people interact. The immediate gratification of an Xbox 360 or an iPad will never nurture a child’s mind the way that a simple day playing outside can. As a place dedicated to the spirit of childhood, Smith exists to provide children with much needed play experiences. http://smithplayground.org/play/

Story Time
Smith hosts Story Time in the Playhouse every Wednesday, year-round, at 10:30 a.m. for children 5 and younger. Each session is led by Smith staff and volunteers and features stories and songs.  Registration is required for groups to attend Story Time.

Crafts in the Playhouse
Smith hosts Crafts in the Playhouse on the third Friday of the month, year-round, from 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM. Each month will feature special crafts for children 5 and younger. Registration is required for groups to take part in crafts.

Family Morning at Smith
Tuesdays, 10am – 1pm, are reserved just for family fun, with no groups visiting. Come and enjoy the Playground when it is less crowded.

Ready, Set, Play!
Ready, Set, Play is an interactive facilitated parent and caregiver play group that aims to educate parents and caregivers on how children learn through play while providing them with the space to engage in open discussions of parenting.  Caregivers and children (aged 15 months-2 years old) sign up for a series of sessions that takes place once a week at Smith.  A facilitator provides insight and feedback while participants play with their children, talk with other parents, and observe how their children are learning through play.

The Ready, Set, Play! program is open to Smith members only.
Become a Member  |  Registration: kate@smithplayground.org

There is a children's disc golf course at Sedgley Woods, admission is free but you need to purchase your own disc!!

Sunday, October 18th,1-4pm, join AUNI for this free, family-friendly event at The Community Farm and Food Resource Center at Bartram's Garden (54th St & Lindbergh Blvd) in Philadelphia. 

We'll be celebrating the abundance of the growing season and the 4 year anniversary of the farm with activities for the whole family, including pumpkin carving; fishing and canoeing; hayrides; face painting; cider pressing; yoga; canning, cooking, and seed saving workshops; printing and tincture making workshops; farm tours; garlic planting; and much more! Sign up for next year's CSA or a plot in the community garden. AUNI's teen interns will be leading workshops, demos, and activities. 

This event is held in conjunction with The National Park Service's Canoe Mobile and River Adventure Day. We hope you will come be a part of the AUNI family, as we seek to build community around food and farming.

The Agatston Urban Nutrition Initiative (AUNI) is a program of the Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania that engages, educates and empowers youth, university students, and community members to promote healthy lifestyles and build a just and sustainable food system. Our youth are part of a national network of young leaders in food systems reform who are helping to grow a movement to build local, socially just food systems that nurture personal and environmental health. Visit www.urbannutrition.org to learn more about our work.

Philadelphia Orchard week last the entire month of October, please sign your family up to plant some trees along with the seeds of knowledge you are planting during the activities!! Register at http://www.phillyorchards.org/volunteer/schedule 

 Saturday, October 10... 10:00 AM

APPLE FESTIVAL: WOODFORD
(Woodford Mansion, NW of 33rd & Daupin Dr, East Fairmount Park)
Celebrate Philadelphia Orchard Week with the East Park Revitalization Alliance (EPRA) at this fun community celebration of the fall harvest! Woodford's 7th annual Apple Fest will feature cider-pressing, heirloom apple tasting, pumpkin painting and crafts, and tours of the orchard, beehives and historic Woodford Mansion. Volunteer in the orchard 10am to noon and join the festival noon to 2pm. RAINDATE: Sunday, 10/11. Site info:http://www.woodfordmansion.org/. GPS address: 2300 N 33rd St.

HARVEST FEST & POP PLANT SALE: AWBURY 
(Awbury Arboretum Ag Village, 901 E. Washington Ln, NW Philly) 
Kick off Philadelphia Orchard Week with this fun fall festival event featuring hayrides, ciderpressing, pumpkin painting, crafts for kids, a flea market, live music, food, and more. And don't miss POP's annual plant sale, featuring fruit trees, berry bushes, fruiting vines, etc! 10am to 3pm. More info:http://awbury.org/

Sunday, October 11... 11:00am-3:00pm

POPHARVEST: LONGVIEW FARM ORCHARD
(Longview Farm, 3215 Stump Hall Rd, Collegeville, PA 19426)
Join POP and Greener Partners at their Longview Farm and Market for an apple and asian pear gleaning, cider-pressing, farm tour, and recipe ideas. Bring your own bag to take home some of your harvest and a jar with a lid to take home some cider! POP and Greener Partners will have some ladders and pole pickers on hand, but if you have your own, please bring them as well. This is a free event, but donations are gladly appreciated by the two non-profits, and bring money if you'd like to purchase anything else on the farm or in the market, or if you'd like to purchase POP's Limited Edition Juneberry Jam made by Spruce Hill Preserves from our June POPHarvest events! PLEASE RSVP for more information.

Wednesday, October 14... 03:00 PM

CARE DAY: T4G POPLAR ORCHARD
(Teens 4 Good Farm, 8th & Poplar, North Philly)
Lend a hand at this Orchard Week event and help Teens 4 Good expand their berry garden and maintain their orchard plantings. This volunteer work day will also feature a tour of Teens 4 Good's diverse orchard and the chance to check out the offerings at their weekly farmstand. 3pm - 6pm.

Saturday, October 17... 10:00 AM

PLANTING: LEA ORCHARD
(Lea Elementary, 47th & Spruce St, West Philly)
WE HAVE ENOUGH VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS EVENT ALREADY, THANKS! Celebrate Philadelphia Orchard Week by helping to plant our newest community orchard at Lea Elementary! We'll be mulching and planting fruit trees, berry bushes, and rain gardens to transform the formerly concrete school yard. A collaboration between POP, the Netter Center, and Greening Lea.

ORCHARD DAY: HISTORIC FAIR HILL 

(Historic Fair Hill Burial Ground, 9th and Indiana Streets, Fairhill, North Philly, 19133) 
An Orchard Day Workparty! Help to transplant strawberries and raspberries, and plant blueberries, persimmons, and juneberries, and more in this sacred space! Help Fair Hill's gardeners and neighbors to turn the compost, spread finished compost, and begin to put the gardens and orchard to bed. We will also be drinking hot apple cider, hot cocoa, and popping beautiful heirloom glass gem popcorn that Fair Hill's gardeners grew this year over a fire. In addition, there are lots of trees to climb in this big, a tire swing, and lots of historical significance to be found.

FALL FESTIVAL: GRUMBLETHORPE
(Grumblethorpe, 5267 Germantown Ave, NW Philly)
Celebrate Philadelphia Orchard Week at Historic Grumblethorpe with a scarecrow making workshop and other fun activities for kids! 1pm-3pm. Site info: http://www.philalandmarks.org/grumblethorpe-1

Tiny Tot Explorers

Calling all kids 3–5 years old! Along with your favorite adult, join us in exploring nature through songs, games, hands-on fun, and museum adventures. An appropriate snack is provided.

Tiny Tot Explorers (ages 3–5) meet on selected Wednesday mornings from 11 a.m.–12 p.m.

You may register for a single session or an entire series. Session size is limited to only 10 adult/child pairs, so register today!

Winter 2016 Session (Wednesdays, 11 a.m.–noon):

• October 21: Awesome Autumn
• October 28: Diggin’ Dinosaurs
• November 4: Feather Frenzy
• November 11: Happy Hibernation
• November 18: Rockin’ Reptiles
• December 2: Weather Watchers
• December 9: Ice Age Antics
• December 16: Arctic Animals

http://www.ansp.org/get-involved/programs/family-programs/tiny-tot-explorers/

Fairmount Water Works offer free family fun learning our our water and other STEAM related topics. 

Events for October 2015

PHILADELPHIA INTERFAITH CHILDREN & YOUTH FESTIVAL — "Celebrating All of Us," Saturday, October 10, 2015, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Grace United Methodist Church, 7101 North 20th Street, PHila. 19138

The focus this year is on kids with special needs.  For more information and space at the festival (free for organizations serving kids with special needs), contact Neomosha Nelson at neonelson232@comcast.net. 

Calendar Month Navigation

MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
28	29	30 Mommies & Minnows, Fathers & Fry (“Geometric Places”)	1	2	3	4 Sunday Cinema: “A Bug’s Life” Sunday Cinema: “A Bug’s Life”
5	6	7	8	9	10 Household Hazardous Waste Event Science Saturday: “Autumnal Color Box: Fall Leaves”	11 Sunday Cinema: “A Bug’s Life” Sunday Cinema: “A Bug’s Life”
12	13	14	15	16	17 Science Saturday: “Autumnal Color Box: Fall Leaves”	18 Sunday Cinema: “A Bug’s Life” Sunday Cinema: “A Bug’s Life”
19	20	21	22	23	24 Science Saturday: “Autumnal Color Box: Fall Leaves”	25 Sunday Cinema: “A Bug’s Life” Sunday Cinema: “A Bug’s Life”
26	27	28	29	30	31 Science Saturday: “Autumnal Color Box: Fall Leaves”	1 Sunday Cinema: “Free Birds” Sunday Cinema: “Free Birds”

Calendar Month Navigation

 Learn about all the museum partners offering $2 admission at http://www.art-reach.org/programs/access-admission/.

We have to be part of our youths development on every level. “As a school leader we constantly had to remind parents that high school was not the time to be hands off with their scholars.” said Khalilah Harris, deputy Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans. “It was critical for us to use tools like advisory and restorative circles to ensure every student felt safe and had at least one, if not more, adult who knew them well enough to notice and intervene when something was wrong and to celebrate when something was really right.”

Peacemakers Teen Violence Prevention October 17, 2015 1501 Cherry St. Friends Center

Teens need our support, check out teen workshops, events and resources at our libraries!!

Welcome to STAMP (Students at Museums in Philly)! Allow us to introduce ourselves.  STAMP is a program of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, in partnership with17 museums and attractions and a group of generous sponsors and community organizations.

OUR MISSION: We want to increase teens’ access to all of the incredible arts and culture Philadelphia has to offer, as a means to discovering their own identities and including culture in their menu of leisure-time options (as we like to say: “a movie, a mall, a museum!”). We want to change teens’ perception of museums as places they’re not welcome, or somewhere you only go if you’re told you have to, like on a field trip.

How does that work? Well, there are three main elements of STAMP…

The STAMP PassThe STAMP pass is open to any Philadelphia high school student, and is valid for one year of FREE admission to a selection of the city’s top museums and attractions. Pass holders also get access to special events throughout the year. Find out more about the museums on the pass in the Use the Pass section, then click Get the Pass to get your STAMP pass today!

The STAMP Teen CouncilEvery step of the way with STAMP, we have our Teen Council to guide us.  Members keep up with the latest news at STAMP museums on our website, Twitter, Instagram, andYouTube pages, and also regularly give us their input on how to make arts and culture more appealing to teens, spreading the word about STAMP, and more. Learn more about our Teen Council here—and if you’re interested in joining, be on the lookout for when applications for the 2014-2015 school year open in May 2014!

The STAMP WebsiteIt’s this! The very website you’re on RIGHT NOW! In addition to all the info you need on getting a STAMP pass and visiting STAMP museums, we regularly post updates on special events, classes and programs for teens, work, volunteer and internship opportunities, teen lounges and other safe spaces for teens to hang out, blog posts from our Teen Council and more! http://phillystamppass.org/about/mission/

“Students cannot learn or develop or demonstrate how brilliant they are if they are not in school on time every day,” said David Johns, executive Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans. “It is essential that all caring and concerned adults help ensure our students show up, feel safe and are engaged in the spaces they need to move through daily.”

African American youth are more likely to miss school as they face more barriers to attendance, such as logistical challenges (think unreliable transportation), school suspension/expulsion or residential instability (consider homelessness or frequent moves). Fortunately, there is an old proverb that guides us to the solution: it takes a village to ensure that all children, especially African American children are present in order to learn and develop on a consistent basis. http://blog.ed.gov/2015/10/an-empty-desk-is-an-opportunity-missed/

"Education starts at home, Exposure is Key"