Social Justice for the Classroom: Part 2 of a Two-Part Series

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Colin Powell Center

By Kanene Holder, Center Alumna

“The illiterate of the twenty-first century will not be those who cannot read or write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.” —Alvin Toffler

“I think the first duty of society is justice.” —Alexander Hamilton

In my previous post, I suggested we must capitalize on the momentum of social justice movements aided and propelled by social media. How, I asked, can we educate our youth and emphasize to them the possibilities for “doing good” through the technology they use every day?
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From the Field: Simone Gordon Shares Her Experience as an Intern in the Distict of Columbia Public Schools

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Colin Powell Center

Working in the nation’s capital – one of the country’s most diverse and highly watched school districts – I have had the opportunity to learn and contribute to the work of managing an urban school district. Through the Urban Educators Leadership Initiative Program (UELIP) I have spent the last three months interning in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) Central Office. It is great, as a future educator, to witness how reforms are made at the district level and then communicated and implemented at the school level. Continue reading →

Service-Learning in NYC Schools: Outcomes and Lessons Learned

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Colin Powell Center

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NYC Service Chief Officer Diahann Billings-Burford and NYC Schools Chancellor Walcott honor Service in Schools 2012 award recipients. Photo: NYC Service

By Diahann Billings-Burford, Chief Service Officer of NYC Service.

Last month, NYC Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott and I celebrated the accomplishments of more than 587,000 students who participated in service during the 2011-2012 school year as part of the City’s Service in Schools initiative. Thirty schools were recognized for student participation in projects that included working on a sustainable organic farm serving Crown Heights and leading workshops for elementary school students as part of City Year’s Young Heroes program in Hunts Point.

Our Service in Schools initiative, a partnership of the Department of Education and NYC Service, encourages student participation in service of any kind. But since our launch in 2009 we’ve seen that the greatest impact on academic performance and student engagement is a result of service-learning. Continue reading →

Immigration Reform: A First Step Toward Elevating the Future

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Colin Powell Center

Elated students hug in response to President Obama’s immigration reform announcement. Photo by Delcia Lopez

By Center Director Vince Boudreau.

Every spring, I spend several days lecturing at a retirement community. Part of what drives Powell Center programming is a desire to more effectively connect the college’s activities to the public sphere, and by presenting lectures about international affairs geared to public audiences, I feel I am discharging that mission, if only in very modest terms. I often talk about security policy, or international affairs in Asia. But two years ago, on the heels of the Powell Center’s immigration conference, I chose to speak on immigration and the role of new Americans in this country.

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After 7 Years of Service, Deputy Director Nora Heaphy Moves on to New Challenges

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Colin Powell Center

Deputy Director Nora Heaphy is leaving the Colin Powell Center.

Dear Friends,

I’m writing with exceptionally mixed emotions to say that after seven years at the Colin Powell Center for Leadership and Service, Nora Heaphy is leaving to become the director of the Cahn Fellows Program at Columbia Teacher’s College. Those who worked with her surely will have recognized her as an utterly dedicated and visionary leader at the Center. Under her careful guidance, we built a multi-faceted service-learning program, expanded the range and quality of the scholarship activities for students, developed new ways to support faculty and built an exceptional team dedicated to promoting leadership and service at CCNY. Continue reading →

Linking Studies with Service, a Center Fellow Launches a Career in Global Public Health

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Colin Powell Center

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Former fellow Mohamed Jallow (right) with Ambassador John Price. Photo: Sirin Samman

Looking back at my academic and career trajectory, it would not have been possible without my affiliation with the Colin Powell Center. My internship at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), which led to my full time employment there after graduation, was largely due to the service-learning requirements at the Colin Powell Center. The idea of linking students with a domestic or international organization engaged in work around a student’s area of interest to provide real world experience is innovative and immensely rewarding to those who participate. My time at the CFR allowed me not only to grow my professional network, but to learn and discover new approaches to solving global issues, including global public health, a field in which I currently work. Continue reading →

Helping Students on the Way to College, a Fellow Learns about Herself

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Colin Powell Center

Crouse College on the Syracuse University campus. Photo: Briles Takes Pictures / Creative Commons

I had the opportunity to work with the College Access Center during the year. While there I worked with high school juniors on college access and college applications through group workshops held at least twice a month. Workshop topics varied from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), to the College Board, to finding what major is best for you. Before stepping into the doors of the Center, I was worried about whether or not I would be able to help the students or if I would be able to make them feel comfortable. While at the Center, I learned to be honest about my limits and be both flexible and relatable through conversations with students individually and as a group. Continue reading →

When to Wear Shoes: 6 Ways to Work Well from a Cubicle or Couch

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Colin Powell Center

Bare feet on the desk: okay at home, not so much at the office. Photo: pheaber / Creative Commons

When I began working at the Colin Powell Center two months ago, it was the first time I had had an office job in nearly two years. My return to the world of cubicles and business casual attire, while still working part-time as a writer from home, made me think about what techniques and habits work well in each environment.

These tips aren’t meant only for those who have a hybrid work life like mine; they apply to everyone who works in an office, at home, or both. Here’s what I’ve learned. Continue reading →

Neighborhoods and Nations

The blog of the Colin L. Powell Center for Leadership and Service

Tag Archives: Education