On a Wednesday afternoon, teenagers in colorful T-shirts were jogging back and forth across a brand-new gym floor and practicing their basketball and volleyball skills. The exercises were part of the first youth programming at the Obama Presidential Center, bringing a long-held vision to life through a partnership with After School Matters, a Make It […]
Every child deserves access to quality education in a safe and supportive learning environment. Yet for many children in rural Ghana, that opportunity remains out of reach because of inadequate school facilities and limited educational resources. After watching a documentary on social media that highlighted the educational challenges facing children in underserved communities, Loretta Adu, […]
The math of the modern American workforce is quietly fracturing at the shoreline. For every five skilled tradespeople who retire nationwide, only two enter the field. This widening generational gap leaves a staggering annual vacancy of 1.7 million skilled labor roles. While public conversation centers on construction or automotive infrastructure, a parallel crisis unfolds at […]
In the warehouse of Cradles to Crayons’ Giving Factory, bins upon bins are packed with bundles of clothing, from onesies to adult shoes. Throughout the year, Cradles to Crayons collects and distributes clothing, hygiene products, diapers, and shoes. They also collect seasonal items, such as winter coats and gloves, as well as educational and school […]
There are few moments more moving than watching children carrying their desks down a mountain trail into a brand-new classroom. Resting them above their heads, they march together; laughing, singing, and shouting with excitement. The older students make extra trips to help the younger ones, but everyone carries something. For the children of La Colonia […]
At a pitch event for entrepreneurs in Tampa, Florida, Melissa Neeley, CEO of the Ryan Nece Foundation, finished describing her organization’s work preparing teenagers for adulthood through volunteerism and mentorship. The questions and answers section of the event had gone well. People were nodding and asking how to get involved, until the last question hit […]
Whenever Soe Meh leaves her apartment in Chicago, she is struck by her freedom and confidence. From birth to marriage and motherhood, Soe Meh lived in a refugee camp along the border of Thailand and Myanmar (formerly Burma). While safer than the violence in Burma that her parents had fled, she says of her time […]
Not too long ago, London Booker was driving through Rochester when something made him stop. In an abandoned lot, a group of kids was running lacrosse drills, fully equipped, calling out plays, and moving with confidence. He hit the brakes, put the car in reverse, and asked what they were doing. Their answer surprised him. […]
Through competing fiscal responsibilities, budget constraints, and rising bias shaped by the sociopolitical climate, the public education sector is under immense pressure, and it almost certainly has a magnified impact on a specific group: students. As students navigate an environment facing multiple crises, it’s no surprise that access to a quality arts education falls low […]
Years ago, when Sharanda Morehead was a teacher at LEARN Romano Butler in the Chicago neighborhood of North Lawndale, she remembers how Margaret Romano would pop into her classroom about once a week. Romano, a pioneering leader and lifelong champion of the LEARN network, would say things like, “How are things going?” or “What do […]
