Highlights in our Education Landscape by Lou Cespedes
Over the last several weeks I’ve been using this editorial space to make a case for radical change in our learning and education structures. I’ve successfully illustrated that within our current educational landscape, we need creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship to drive solutions and applications that can have a lasting impact and improve fortunes quickly. I think it’s important to underscore the issues, but equally important to shine light on persons and programs working diligently and delivering results. I’ll share a few resources here with which I am intimately involved.
“As we think of all the beautiful places and children we are blessed with, one important thing to remember is gratitude” – these are the words that greeted my 2-year old daughter, immediately before dancing to Bob Marley’s “Don’t Worry ‘Bout a Thing”. Pete Sinjin and Kira Smith operate Hootenanny, a storefront music house affiliated with the “Music Together” franchise. I bike my daughter across Prospect Park every weekend to this class because of the quality experience, structure, and discipline taught to toddlers. In one hour, Pete, a white guy from State College, Pennsylvania, goes through the world music gamut, African, Brazilian, Caribbean, Country, Rock, Pop and Folk, with important spiritual lessons for both parents and kids. Materials are given to each parent and toddlers learn the songs at home through books and CD’s. They then sign along in the class. Their cognitive and motor abilities are developed through instrument play, listening, and repeating. For parents, it’s an open door into their child’s development afforded by great teaching from entrepreneurs that have put music & children at the core of their mission and work. We could really use Hootenanny in E. Flatbush. www.hootenannybrooklyn.com
Earlier this summer, applications were approved for seven new Charter schools, effectively reaching the cap for new charters in NYC. Notice came to Ms. Christina Perry that her proposed “all girls” charter school E. Flatbush, Kwenda Collegiate Girls, wasn’t among the seven approved. Ms. Perry explained that the challenges facing girls of color required an environment tailored to their specific academic and individual goals. As we discussed my daughter’s educational needs, Kwenda’s target community and programming, I was hopeful a need would be met in my own community. More importantly, a place for academic excellence exclusively for girls is a refreshingly simple idea and a direct formula to address a deficiency all too common for women in black and brown communities. Empowering all women to lead – parents, teachers, and students – is a powerful corrective for the men in our community. I’m optimistic the charter school cap will be raised, and to be working with Kwenda Collegiate to ensure my daughter will be afforded this choice. https://www.kwendacollegiategirls.org
In 2017, I met Jacob, an 11-year-old boy in Crown Heights. Through my church I was introduced to Children of Promise NYC, an after-school and mentoring program that serves the children of incarcerated parents. I became a mentor to Jacob for 2 years. This incredible program offers kids, psycho-behavioral support, while assigning mentor role-models to middle-school girls and boys. Incredibly, as a mentor I also received support to navigate difficult subjects and taught to manage my relationships with an at-risk teen. There is nothing greater than speaking into the life of a boy and help to make him a man. I was given this opportunity through the excellent faculty of CPNYC under the leadership of its founder Ms. Sharon Content. Children of Promise is wholistic, providing enrichment activities, homework tutoring, and counseling for young children. I am blessed to work with this organization and to help in their amazing work to break the prison pipeline. https://www.cpnyc.org
Similarly, my home church, Emmanuel Baptist Church in Clinton-Hill, led by Rev. Anthony L. Trufant, has created youth support and educational programs geared toward bringing professionals and children together in ministry. Two programs, “Teens that Mean Business” (TTMB) and “Youth Leaders of Emmanuel” (YLE) are summer and regular academic year programs that work across congregation and community to teach youth about entrepreneurship by placing teens in paid summer internship programs. The church uses earmarked tithes and offerings to pay the interns’ salaries. During the academic year, 12-19-year-old kids focus on community service, wellness, spirituality and academic achievement. This exceptional structure focuses on using faith-based community toward addressing the leadership and power vacuum in our communities. This platform teaches children reliance on G-d and the Word, while giving them outlets to apply faith in leadership. https://www.ebcconnects.com
Finally, a good word about NYC Public Schools. A co-worker that lives in Staten-Island described for me the excellent services and support community he’s come to rely on for his son with autism through the NYCDOE District 75. Students requiring special educational support services are often overlooked in the school debate. The specialized faculty required for the variety of challenges in special needs schools, from home to school and back, is an awesome and undertaking. My colleague tells me about the progress his son is making and how central school has been for him and his family. His story helps to put in perspective not only what public schools mean for these students, but also for parents, to live productively and sustainably. It’s not all bad news in public schools and it’s important to celebrate those selfless educators within the Public-School System that are doing excellent work. I sincerely hope that parents of our special needs children in E. Flatbush are receiving the same quality of support. https://www.schools.nyc.gov/special-education/school-settings/district-75
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