Education & Youth Leadership

As 2007 Echoing Green Fellow John Alford kicks off his second year as principal of Langston Hughes Academy Charter School in New Orleans, he is already getting his props in the national news.  Very recently, the New York Times ran a photo of him in an article highlighting the turnaround effort in New Orleans public schools. The article highlights one of the tough problems of lifting New Orleans education out of its funk: where do students from failing schools go once the city shuts down their school?

Photo by Larry Abramson

Above Guan Ai’s scuffed and chalk-covered wooden desks rest dog-eared books, worn as much with age as with use. Despite limited resources, however, the environment is the focus of conversations on conservation efforts, as teachers stress the importance of saving water.  This is just one of many ways the school differs from regular public schools in China.

It’s a thrill when we see fellows from different years working together to enhance each other’s programs.  Recently, 2003 Fellow Gary Kosman wrote in to tell us that his organization America Learns is partnering with City Year Chicago (Founded by 1991 Fellows Michael Brown and Alan Khazei) to track the progress of and provide online mentoring to corps members.  In their June Newsletter, America Learns features a new learning strategy authored by Lis David, of City Year Chicago.  You can check out the full strategy here

“Before we talk about all that you have done, and Teach For America, and what its importance is, look at education, Kindergarten through twelve, and tell me, why isn’t it better?” Charlie Rose posed this and many similarly challenging questions to 1991 Echoing Green Fellow and Teach For America (TFA) founder Wendy Kopp in an interview that aired Wednesday night on his show.

In partnership with Green Chimneys, a housing program for homeless LGBT youth, the Reciprocity Foundation hosted a “Design Your Future” career workshop series that began in May and has helped twenty young New Yorkers sharpen their networking and soft skills.  2007 Echoing Green Fellows Taz Tagore and Adam Bucko began the Reciprocity Foundation to help youth at risk of homelessness develop into creative professionals.

Last week 2007 Echoing Green Fellow John Alford was quoted by the Washington Post in an article on the rise of charter schools in post-Katrina New Orleans. Since the hurricane ended, charter school enrollment in New Orleans has grown from 2 percent of 67,000 public school students to 53 percent of 33,000 students according to the Post. John is just one of many like-minded individuals who has recognized the city’s tragedy as an opportunity for social change.

Maya Ajmera

Congratulations to Maya Ajmera on being a recipient of the Women of Distinction Award at this year’s National Conference for College Women Student Leaders!

New York Times Op-Ed Columnist Thomas L. Friedman recently wrote a column about the lottery to select the incoming class of Baltimore, Maryland’s new SEED School. The school, which will open in August 2008, is a symbol of hope for generational change to many parents residing in the state’s underserved and lower income communities. Admission to the SEED school nearly guarantees that their children will receive a quality education and a chance at college admission regardless of the environments from which they’ve come.