Bashing teachers and blaming administrators for the lack of student progress is in vogue. Headlines scream, legislators rant, but should we really blame our schools and teachers for the state of education? Make It Better decided to take a different tack and find individuals who are doing right by our kids—people who are making schools […]
A calm classroom equals a productive one. Jai and Joy Luster believed in that idea enough to launch a nonprofit foundation in 2007 to develop a curriculum—The Calm Classroom—that leads students through breathing, stretching and concentration exercises during transitions in the school day. “Classroom management is the biggest problem most teachers face,” says Jai, talking […]
When Barb Karon noticed that her children were stressed she didn’t just accept it, she wanted to change it. “With kids today, it’s go, go, go, so you can reach the goal of the perfect college, or whatever … my girlfriends were feeling the same stress,” she says. So Barb, a former social worker and […]
On July 11, Glenview-based nonprofit Hands of Peace welcomed 41 Israeli, Palestinian and American participants to their annual Summer Program. HOP, which started in 2002 as the dream of Glenview resident Gretchen Grad, is an organization dedicated to developing peace-building and leadership skills in Palestinian, Israeli and American teens. HOP brings together Israeli, Palestinian and […]
Doug Edmonds has earned a new nickname in the past few years: “The Bill Nye of Science Song.” Channeling the popularity of the Fox show “Glee,” Doug has spent the last two years creating and singing 15 songs set to pop music that explain scientific concepts in ways kids can easily understand. And, he’s shared […]
Brad and Angelina, Bill and Melinda, Barack and Michelle. All power couples known for their philanthropy. And while Northwestern students Hiro Kawashima and Aria Fiat might not yet be household names, they are changing the world for high-need students in Chicago. They co-founded Supplies for Dreams, a student-run nonprofit that provides CPS students with school […]
Join Mike Tobin to raise money for wounded warriors on Sunday, October 23, noon – 6 p.m. Participants will ride or run alongside wounded veterans, meet recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, and personally thank the men and women who are serving our country. Enjoy an afternoon of food, fun and music at the […]
When United Way of Lake County administered a kindergarten readiness assessment in Waukegan, they discovered that 76% of resident six year-olds had no knowledge of literature – meaning, they’d never seen a book.
Autism Speaks’ free 100 Day Kit offers critical information and an action plan for families in the first days after a child’s diagnosis. While countless websites are geared toward some aspect of the disease, the 100 Day Kit compiles the essentials from the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, Autism Speaks. Many parents feel […]
On Saturday, August 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lake County Haven in Libertyville will open its doors to the community to introduce and educate local families about homelessness in Lake County. Attendees will be able to walk through the shelter and see where the women and children supported by Lake County Haven live […]
