Video: See Something, Say Something

See Something, Say Something

By: Ryan Duncan

We've been following the Occupy Wall Street protests around the country and the world, and are inspired by the passion and bravery of these Americans who have seen injustice and decided to stand up and do something about it. So often, we are accustomed to just go along with whatever is the status quo, we feel the problems are too big and complex for us to be able to truly fix or change in any way. But as we saw with Rosa Parks, sometimes all it takes is for one person, or a small group of people, to stand up and refuse to accept an injustice they see, to start a movement that can really change the world.

In this week's video post, we have a sub-group of the Occupy Wall Street protesters turning their attention to school reform and education. The group is called, Occupy the DOE and they are protesting against the Panel for Education Policy (or PEP), which enacts policy for the New York City Dept. of Education. The PEP replaced the Board of Education when Mayor Bloomberg took control of the schools in 2002. It is intended to be a democratic forum where people voice concerns, prior to the panel's vote on educational policy. However, due to special interests and lobbyists, most decisions are made prior to any votes occur. This is not a democracy. And these people, teachers, and parents have had enough and are saying something about. We challenge everyone out there, that if you see something, say something!



Food for Thought... and Wellness

Food for Thought... and Wellness

By: Pam Taylor

More than 150 nation’s celebrated World Food Day this week—a good thing.  However, the ongoing dialogue about food, hunger and production is fraught with emotion and opinion and arguably even some good “science.”

See: (http://www.fooddialogues.com/2011/10/14/come-to-the-table-on-world-food-day-and-food-day-our-values-and-our-perspective).

Of course, I totally get it.  We are constantly bombarded with mixed messages about what foods are healthy and/or good for us.  Add to the dialogue, debate over how food is grown or prepared.  Let’s get back to basics and take a look at Natures Pharmacy, I believe the best cure for what ails us—and her foods taste great, too!

A sliced carrot looks like an eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines actually mirror the human eye; and, yes, science has documented how carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and has profound heart and blood vitalizing properties.

A walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums.  Even the wrinkles or folds look like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.  Celery, bok choy, rhubarb resemble bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. And like bones, which are comprised of 23 percent sodium, these foods are 23 percent sodium.

Avocados, eggplant and pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female—and they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this?  It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit.

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow.  Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of sperm as well as to overcome male sterility.

Sweet potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.  Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.  Oranges, grapefruits, and other citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like the body's cells. Research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears, which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes.

Of course, I know there will always be debate over food, including whether we are or are not what we eat.  But I think we can all agree—Mother Nature got it right!

Food Day Series: What’s in a Name? Get Educated About Food

What’s in a Name? Get Educated About Food

By: Nicole Hayes

What’s in a bag? What’s in a box? It’s a surprise, but not a gift. Most bagged, boxed, canned and pre-packaged foods contain “surprises”—called additives.  They are names you can’t pronounce and whose affects can harm our bodies. For example, you’re watching your sugar intake but overlook an ingredient known as maltodextrin,(malto who??) a sugar derivative, a sweetner—and a carb alternative. Maltodextrin is found in most processed foods (and for those who work out), the additive is in many meal replacement and exercise performance products. Yikes! You’re trying to avoid one enemy (sugar) but unknowingly invite another (maltodextrin). To make matters worse, “refined sugar” hides under 30 or more names ending in “malt, “syrup” or “-ose.” Studies have shown that high a intake of sugar contributes to high blood sugar levels in the body, diabetes, heart disease, obesity and other issues. Sodium is another culprit whose levels in canned, frozen and processed foods exceed ten times or more of our body’s daily requirements. Monosodium glutamate (MSG), goes by many other names and is typically used as a flavor enhancer—but also considered an excitotoxin, upsetting and disturbing the nervous system.

Companies who prepare these foods will continue producing such items to satisfy consumer demand. Our busy lives and a desire to eat inexpensively drives the need for such foods. But our bodies are getting weary and worn ahead of their time, battered by a misunderstanding of how to preserve our health. Our bodies were highly designed to perform well and beyond what we’re witnessing today. Fortunately, many people are making the switch by cooking meals from scratch, eating what nature grows and not what science manufactures. Our access to knowledge is a keystroke away if we choose to accept accountability and responsibility for what we consume. Either the food you’re eating is real or it isn’t. Get educated.

Video Series: Teachable PR Tips from Howard University's CapComm Lecture Series

Video Series: Teachable PR Tips from

Howard University's CapComm Lecture Series

McKinney & Associates is proud to be teaming up with Howard University's CapComm series in providing weekly guest lectures for their communications/public relations students. During these classes, which take on a variety of public relations aspects, our team provides the students with valuable #PRTips, which we have recorded and can now share with you. We will be unveiling a different lecture each Friday, so we hope you enjoy the lesson and share the knowledge even further!

The following three videos are from the 1st CapComm class conducted by McKPR President, Gwen McKinney. During her introductory lecture, Gwen provides tips on the most important aspects of client relations, and how to conduct and the value of a SWOT analysis.

Be sure to stay tuned for more posts from our next lecture next Friday!

Diversity: Affirmative Action Myths

Affirmative Action Myths

By: Tamara Braunstein

 

 

As we pointed out yesterday, students at Berkeley have drawn a lot of fire this week for their purposefully racist bake sale, meant to draw attention to a state Senate bill (SB 185) awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature. The bill “would allow California public universities to take race into consideration during the admissions process.” (Berkeley Patch)  

While the Berkeley College Republicans, the group that sponsored the “Increase Diversity Bake Sale,” may view its activity as “no more racist than giving an individual an advantage in college admissions based solely on their race or gender,” opponents of the BCR and its views have been quick to point to common misconceptions surrounding Affirmative Action and similar policies, including:

Effectiveness – “Several studies have documented important gains in racial and gender equality as a direct result of affirmative action”

Relevance – “Despite the progress that has been made, the playing field is far from level…without affirmative action the percentage of Black students at many selective schools would drop to only 2% of the student body”

Reverse Discrimination – “Even if every unemployed Black worker in the United States were to displace a White worker, only 1% of Whites would be affected.”

Those figures may be more than a decade old, but even as recently as last year, this video from MSNBC proved that the conversation surrounding Affirmative Action hasn’t really changed:

[video caption: Is Affirmative Action Still Needed? MSNBC April 2010]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/36630542#36630542

  

So what do you think – Are policies like Affirmative Action and SB 185 still relevant? Are they inherently discriminatory? Are those two views mutually exclusive?

Did Berkeley College Republicans Go Too Far?

Did Berkeley College Republicans Go Too Far?

The adage goes, any press is good press, and the Berkeley College Republicans (BCR) have definitely received their share this week:

Madame Noire

The Huffington Post (had multiple articles)

Reuters

The Daily Californian (had multiple articles)

Right Wing News

News One

The Berkeley Daily Planet

CNN (had multiple articles)

The New York Times

LA Times

The BCR wanted to bring attention and awareness to CA SB185. Did they succeed in bringing attention to the bill or did they jump the shark? Are people discussing the bill? Are people weighing the pros and cons of affirmative action?

They wanted our attention...now what?

Diversity: Educating the Future, a Majority of Minorities

Diversity: Educating the Future, a Majority of Minorities

Latino employment and education seem to be hot topics in the blogosphere nowadays, especially with the ongoing, heated immigration debates. Regardless of what your stance on the latter issue, one thing is certain: the Latino population is booming in the U.S. By 2050 it is expected they will make up 29 percent of the American population.

But Latino representation in higher education is still lagging. “Almost one in four school-aged American children is Latino, but a report released earlier this year by the White House showed those children achieve ‘the lowest education attainment levels’ in the country.”

Even while “college and career readiness among 2011 Hispanic high school graduates … shows slow but steady improvement, particularly in the areas of math and science,” youth of color are still suffering from historic “disinvestment in public education, social services and youth development.”

The good news is that some institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) recognize the dilemma and are increasing recruitment at mostly Hispanic high schools and community colleges.

Of course as Latino enrollment in post-secondary education programs grows, students will most likely face the counter-productive criticism of race-based acceptance, but let’s deal with that when we get there.

Do You Know Your History?

Can you name this U.S. President and why he's important? Most of the nation's 4th graders could not.

Do You Know Your History?

The majority of students today don’t have a solid grasp on U.S. history.

From a CNN article yesterday:

"The Nation's Report Card: U.S. History 2010," the tests results report by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics, showed 20% of fourth graders, 17% of eighth graders and 12% of 12th graders showed "solid academic performance" on the tests.

Though the stats may not shock many, they are cause for some serious concern when thinking about what a role history plays in many current issues – wars, social disparities, budget downturns, etc.

As Congress continues to debate our current economic catastrophes, it couldn’t hurt to take a moment to look at what we’re teaching our kids, and what influences we’re projecting for their growth as knowledgeable social participants, ready to improve our communities.

Need more proof? Check out this video from CBS last month:

Back to School: Are you on Facebook?

Back to School: Are you on Facebook?

Parents may want to consider adding cell phones to the back-to-school list, and not just to keep tabs on their kids.

According to a USA Today article today, online and social media access are becoming increasingly prevalent and valued learning tools in the classroom, with some teachers asking students to use their mobile devices to access online polls and information, and adapting Facebook pages to serve as classroom sharing spaces.  

‘"Being literate in 2011 means being digitally literate," says Chris Lehmann, principal of Science Leadership Academy, a public high school in Philadelphia that has been using social media since it opened in 2006.’

Some critics say opening the Web to students is too risky given the presence of explicit content that filters don’t always catch, but proponents of the non-traditional learning style say it’s a mistake to ignore the Internet as an educational tool to teach students responsible online behavior.

A History Not Worth Repeating

A History Not Worth Repeating

On this day, June 14, we recognize as Flag Day, when our country’s flag was first carried by the Continental Army in 1776. To commemorate this, some people proudly wave replicas in varying forms of the American flag perhaps not knowing the full history. But according to an article in today’s Washington Post, adults aren’t the only ones short on U.S. history knowledge.  According to the Nation’s Report Card, only  13 percent of high school seniors who took the National Assessment of Educational Progress exhibited strong academic performance in American history.  In addition, only 22 percent of fourth-graders and 18 percent of eighth-graders scored proficient or higher. Several factors may contribute to low test scores but the greater concern lies with the disconnect within these students’ classrooms, communities and homes. This is a tell-tale indication of gaps in our communities (whether intended or unintended) where each one isn’t teaching one. Understanding why persons in our history made good or bad decisions is imperative for helping us make more informed, critical choices when facing similar situations. And as the saying goes, “if you don’t know your past (history), you are doomed to repeat it. “

Read more from the Washington Post: “Less Than a Quarter of Students Proficient in U.S. History, Educators Concerned”

The Importance of Equal Education

The Importance of Equal Education

With 2012 elections poised conspicuously in front of us, hot topics like the economy, jobs and war are everyday fodder for political pundits.

But two issues that seem to be strategically avoided by the candidates as they boil just below the surface of these debates are immigration and education reform. Indeed, these issues have the potential to clearly delineate campaign positions, for better or for worse. And they are not mutually exclusive. Or at least, they shouldn’t be.

In two recent Washington Post articles, common perspectives of US minority communities and the roles they play in society are challenged. In one article, we learn that the percentage of Hispanic students finishing high school and attending two-year colleges is dramatically increased over the past decade. In another, the number of highly skilled immigrants in our country now outranks the number of low-skilled immigrant workers.

It’s important to realize that the study of Hispanic students finishing high school does not distinguish between immigrant status, and the study of immigrant workers only generally distinguishes by race (Latinos tend to be lower-skilled). However, as Tara Bahrampour points out in the latter, “the report also offers a new perspective on the national immigration discourse, which tends to fixate on low-skilled, and often illegal, workers.”

With various bills pertaining to immigration and education reform undergoing scrutiny across the country, the United States is facing a pivotal moment in how it chooses to invest in its future. 

For more information, check out:

Alabama gov. signs nation's toughest immigrant law (WaPo, 06/09/11)

Obama’s border visit renews focus on immigration policy (Reuters, 05/09/11)

DREAM Act Portal

Rewarding School Reform with Top Honors

Rewarding School Reform with Top Honors

What a graduation to remember!  In a surprise visit, President Obama gave the commencement address at Memphis’ Booker T. Washington High School. As USA Today reports, an academic turnaround at the urban school earned graduating seniors the address by none other than President Obama. The story of the school’s successful “race to the top” inspires goose bumps. 

Check out these news reports and videos: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2011/05/16/exp.tsr.sylvester.race.to.top.cnn?iref=allsearch

http://www.bet.com/news/national/2011/05/16/obama-delivers-commencement-address-at-south-memphis-high-school.html?ftcnt=HP_News

 http://whitehouse.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/16/president-visits-memphis-high-school-graduation/?iref=allsearch

 http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-05-10-obama-high-school-graduation-address-memphis_n.htm

Graduates From Country's First Black High School Celebrate 75th Reunion

Graduates From Country's First Black High School Celebrate 75th Reunion

A milestone was marked this weekend. Living graduates from the country's first Black high school in Southwest Washington, D.C., came together for their 75th year reunion. The Dunbar High School class of 1936, now most in their 90s, celebrated the monumental occasion with their families. Dunbar High School was founded in 1870 and was a source of employment for Black teachers when other schools weren't hiring them. Our hat's off to these living testimonies of how a group can overcome no matter the barriers.

Highlighted Clip for Monday, May 16, 2011:

Fifty years ago this month, a group of 13 men and women, seven black and six white, left Washington, D.C., on two buses bound for New Orleans."Young, Brave and Freedom Bound"

Feds: All Students Deserve to Learn Regardless of U.S. Status

Feds: All Students Deserve to Learn Regardless of U.S. Status

In reaction to reports that American public schools may begin to enroll students based on their citizenship status, the federal government issued a statement that all students are entitled to an education regardless of citizenship. As tension over illegal immigration in the US continues to mount, this letter was an important reminder to all of us that our economy can only benefit if everyone has access to a good public education, whether they are here legally or not. Immigration policy has no place in our education system.

Highlighted Clip for Monday, May 9, 2011:

"Feds: All kids, legal or not, entitled to school"

The U.S. Department of Education sent a letter to districts around the country Friday, reminding them that all students — legal or not — are entitled to a public education.

The letter comes amid reports that schools may be checking the immigration status of students trying to enroll, and reminds districts they are federally prohibited from barring elementary or secondary students on the basis of citizenship status.

Report: Many US Teens Never Heard of Osama bin Laden

Report: Many US Teens Never Heard of Osama bin Laden

A recent study which monitored search trends on Yahoo.com revealed that 25percent of American youth didn’t know who Osama bin Laden was prior to his death. America’s formerly most wanted man led Internet searches this week with President Obama, Pakistan and George W. Bush close behind. In the teens’ defense, those searches could have been motivated by the desire to learn more about the man behind the horrific 9/11 attacks; nonetheless, one can’t help but wonder if this is yet another reason to spend more time and resources educating our youth.

Highlighted Clip for Tuesday, May 3, 2011: 

"Teens Don’t Know Who Osama Bin Laden Is, According to Yahoo! Search Trends"
Searches on Sunday for Osama bin Laden spiked nearly 100,00% on Yahoo!, also making him the most-searched person of the day. Nearly 1 in 5 searches for “osama bin laden” are by teenagers, many of who grew up during the war on terrorism. 25% of searches overall for Osama came from those under 24.

Moving Beyond The Hype & Taking A Closer Look at DC Public School Reform

DC Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee, right, smiles during an announcement that she is resigning, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010, during a news conference in Washington. (AP)

Moving Beyond The Hype & Taking A Closer Look at DC Public School Reform

For a sycophantic examination on Rhee-style school reform, read The Bee Eater by Richard Whitmire.  In his homage to Michelle Rhee, the former controversial chancellor of D.C.’s public schools, Whitmire makes no bones about his appreciation for Rhee’s single-minded focus on teacher quality and arrogant carriage of authority. For Whitmire, the end justifies the means.  But exactly what improvements did the Rhee years produce? Questions have surfaced about the integrity of so-called gains in standardized test scores – the very data Rhee hung her hat on.

Whitmire’s glowing analysis of Rhee’s accomplishments falls short of ironclad.

Highlighted Clip for Wednesday, March 30, 2011:

"D.C. School Reform Under Suspicion After Allegations of Inflated Test Scores"

Washington, D.C.'s school district, which has garnered national attention in recent years for its education reform efforts, is under fire after two schools were accused of tampering with tests to give its students better grades.

Greater Value on Teaching Equals Better Schools, Brighter Future for America

Greater Value on Teaching Equals Better Schools, Brighter Future for America

The uneven appreciation for teachers in America is astonishing. For many years, we have heard countless calls for education reform at many levels, but those calls have either fallen on deaf ears or have been met with feeble attempts to improve. Now, another report has been released, urging the US to raise its status of the teaching profession so that more qualified candidates from the top tiers of their graduating classes will want to become a teacher.  It may seem like a no-brainer in top-scoring countries like Korea, Singapore and Finland who view their teachers as “nation builders”, but in America, teaching has gotten a “bad rap” for being an easy job with field trips and summers off. Hence, teachers are underpaid and receive little support from their leadership. Some of our leaders seem to have ignored the damage it is doing to our children, but if we want to be able to compete with other nations across the globe, we must place a higher value on this issue, which is so critical to America’s security. 

Highlighted Clip for Wednesday, March 16, 2011:

"U.S. Is Urged to Raise Teachers’ Status"

To improve its public schools, the United States should raise the status of the teaching profession by recruiting more qualified candidates, training them better and paying them more, according to a new report on comparative educational systems.