National Catastrophe: The Achievement Gap

How many studies does it take to prove there is a crisis?

That is the question some educators are asking as a new study argues that the achievement gap between black male students and their white counterparts in American schools is far worse than anyone thought. A report released this week is just the latest in a long line of studies showing that the achievement gap between black and white students has widened in recent years, and that black males are being left behind in America's schools at alarming rates. Frustrated after years of seeing similar data, many say it's time to start applying lessons educators have already learned about how to close the gap.

A recent NY Times article about the achievement gap.

The Council of The Great City Schools also released a report called A Call for Change: The Social and Educational Factors Contributing to the Outcomes of Black Males in Urban Schools, which I would recommend skimming to get a better understanding of what we're up against. Each and every AmeriCorps Promise Fellow in Minnesota is making a difference, and helping to close this gap. Thank you for all you do, SCPs and SPNs!

More than just mean girls; A series on Relational Aggression

The Center for Excellence in Children's Mental Health and Institute of Child Development of the University of Minnesota are partnering this year to sponsor a series on relational aggression in the context of children's mental health. This kind of aggression is often difficult to detect and is more often seen in girls. Girls tend to place a high value on friendships and use their relationships to intimidate and isolate those who are their targets. The aim of this year’s series is to help those who interact with children and adolescents recognize the signs and symptoms of relational aggression and explore effective interventions and prevention measures.

There are three sessions in total, each costing $50.

Click here to learn more about each of the three sessions.

For Aspiring Student Social Entrepreneurs!

Check out Venture Lab; an event bringing together youth interested in creating sustainable social ventures. The day long event (November 20th, from 8am-5pm) gives teams the opportunity to develop their ideas working with business and social entrepreneurs and the chance to submit their proposals for additional support and funding. Venture Lab is the creation of Ashoka's Youth Venture. For more information, visit MN Campus Compact's blog, Campus in Community.


Happy Monday!

Search Institute's Asset Champions

Check out this interesting material from the Search Institute about igniting the spark in all children and youth with whom you work.  Read about ideas from other schools, how to become a Spark Champion and more on the Search Institute's Big Tent Conference, here.

Minnesota Mentoring Conference

The Minnesota Mentoring Conference was held Monday, October 25th and featured a variety of workshops and speakers dealing with youth mentoring strategies and styles.  Speakers were Dr. Andrea Taylor, Director of Training at Temple University's Intergenerational Center, who spoke about youth-adult partnerships and mentoring and Larry Wright, President & CEO of MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership.  The workshop themes ranged from the teenage mind, mentoring 101's, leadership and fundraising and sustainability of mentoring programs.

The Alliance was also an exhibitor at the conference!  See photos below.

Leadership Training Curriculum

MN Campus Compact is now offering a day long leadership curriculum. The resource includes asset mapping material, conflict resolution role play scenarios and much more. The material can be adapted for many age groups and can be used a whole or broken up into shorter trainings. To access the curriculum, go to www.mncampuscompact.org/leadership and click on the Leadership Curriculum button. Questions, comments or suggestions about the material can be sent to Lucy at marincel@augsburg.edu.

Happy Monday!

This link won't connect you to a resource, a research study or a suggestion for a lesson, but it's definitely worth a read. Sometimes we get so caught up in meeting deadlines and "getting work done" that we forget how as youth service workers or educators we touch the lives of others every single day. I would encourage every one of you to read the article and take some time to think about an influential person in your life. And beyond that, think of how you can become that mentor and role model to a young person.

“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.” - Wilma Rudolph