TJ & Indigenous People of Canada

My new conversation partner is TJ Skalski in Canada.  I found her by watching her podcast on World Forum Radio http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/radio.php.  She is the principal of the only charter school for indigenous people of Canada.   Her school is called Mother's Earth Children's Charter School http://www.meccs.org/site/.  TJ's grandmother told her a long time ago she was a teacher, even though she entered a different career.  This stuck with her, and she eventually went back to school to become a teacher.  She noticed, however, the indigenous children were hurting.  The children come to school damaged, wounded, scarred, hungry, depressed and feeling unworthy.  That's why she started the charter school, which is based on a culturally-responsive curriculum.  The school curriculum is grounded in the Medicine Wheel, and the mission is to preserve and sustain the way of life where children's gifts are nurtured.  TJ was excited that I contacted her.  She explained that while her superintendent is supportive, many are stuck in "western ways" and do not understand the need to teach a different way.   More than half of the indigenous children are poor and unemployment is about 25% of the reservation and 30% on the reservations.. TJ said they need their culture and language to survive and thrive. I love TJ's passion, and her school mission.  Viewing life in a linear disconnected manner is hurting all of us, but especially indigenous people.

Inspiration In Harlem, New York!

I changed my domestic website to the Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ):  http://www.hcz.org.   HCZ has made an extraordinary difference in the lives of thousands of  poor children in New York.  HCZ has done this by bringing many support services to children and families where they live.  In 1997, HCZ brought services to a 24 block area of drug-ridden Harlem, New York.  Now, they bring services to 8,000 children and 6,000 adults within a 100 block area. HCZ brings services to address all the issues that poor families face, and they are getting results.   For example, 190 four-year olds that entered the Harlem Gems program in 2009 went form 16.5% classified as delayed or very delayed to no students classified as very delayed.  Percentage of "advanced" students went from 21.3% to 41.6%.  Wow!  I love it!  The issue I identified from the HCZ site is the significant investment that is required to turn things around for Harlem families.  The fiscal year 2010 budget for HCZ was $75 million to support the Harlem Zone and surrounding areas.  How do we make the investment needed in children and families if decision-makers are focused on a machete approach to spending for domestic programs.  The answer is the "community" beyond geographic borders.  We all have to feel a sense of community regardless if the school children are actually our children or if we live in the area.  "The test of a morality of a society is what it does for its children" - Dietrich Bonhoeffer. HCZ and its leader, Geoffrey Canada are an inspiration.  I'm ready to step up!