tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45876717328614929872024-03-13T13:27:35.125-07:00KEITH L. BROWN: MOTIVATOR OF THE MILLENNIUMKeith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-18636413347411807712012-05-07T10:23:00.001-07:002012-05-07T10:25:01.954-07:00Dreams, Hopes, and Realities<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let's stop telling our young people, ourselves, and each other what we can't do and start focusing on what we CAN do. If we can dream something, we can hope it; if we can hope it, and we can work hard, and we can believe in the inherent genius in each of us, then we can turn our dreams and hopes into realities. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It really is as simple and as complicated as that. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have a marvelous, motivated Monday all!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Image available at http://varsitysideline.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/realityoftomorrow.jpg</span>Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-48626301114042413322012-04-23T04:23:00.003-07:002012-04-23T04:23:00.113-07:00Motivation Monday: DO Something<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.owips.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Inspirational-Love-Quotes-80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.owips.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Inspirational-Love-Quotes-80.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today's motivation comes from Benjamin Franklin. So often in life, we speak without accompanying actions. In order to speak things into existence, we need FOLLOW THROUGH. Don't just talk about what you are going to do one day, get out there and do it. </span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In our work with young people, we love to hear about the dreams youth have for their futures. But whether that dream is to be a doctor, lawyer, artist, musician, NBA player, professional speaker, or writer, we always challenge young people with one simple question - What are you doing TODAY to work towards that dream?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's this call for action that we need to instill in our young people, and ourselves. So think about something that YOU speak about doing. And now get out there and DO it. Every great journey begins with a single step. Or in the words of Les Brown, you don't have to be great to get started, but you better get started if you want to be great. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Image available at <a href="http://www.owips.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Inspirational-Love-Quotes-80.jpg">http://www.owips.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Inspirational-Love-Quotes-80.jpg</a></span></div></div></div>Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-6385711836501130442012-04-16T03:20:00.004-07:002012-04-16T15:37:02.706-07:00Motivation Monday: Trust Yourself<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.motivationalmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.motivationalmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Quote.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Make this your mantra for the day and see all the ways in which you start to achieve more and affect more change in your own lives and the lives of others. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you are a student who is currently taking standardized tests in school, trust yourself. Research has consistently shown that our first instincts are usually right. So if answer B is your first choice, go with it. And choose that answer confidently. You know not only what you have learned in school this year, but also what you have learned in all the years before this one. You DO know more than you think you know. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And if you are an adult who works with young people, know that if working with young people is your passion and your purpose, then no matter what the latest educational trends may indicate, you KNOW that all children can and will learn if given the support and resources necessary for their success. And young people NEED adults who believe in themselves and set a positive example of what it means to live a life of purpose with confidence. So trust yourself. And celebrate yourself. And love yourself. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is only when we trust and believe in ourselves that we can teach others the importance of confidence and self-love. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Image available at http://www.motivationalmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Quote.jpg</span>Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-57331137481095209892012-04-14T15:08:00.000-07:002012-04-14T15:08:08.808-07:00We're Back<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even though we are in the middle of a very busy spring tour, we are back to the blogging world and are making the commitment to resume writing and publishing blog posts on a regular basis. If there is a topic you'd like to see covered, please leave us a comment below or email us at instituteforedandsocialjustice[at]gmail[dot]com with "blog post topic" in the subject line. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We believe that our stories, both individually and collectively, matter. We believe writing and speaking are both powerful ways to tell these stories. And we believe that we have to help develop a platform for real and lasting change not only in our own lives, but also in the lives of all the young people we serve. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you find what we write valuable, please consider leaving us a comment, sharing our posts through facebook, twitter, and other social media platforms, and/or signing up to follow our blog's feed. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you for your continued support,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Keith, Marina, and Monique</span></div>Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-47535669645871078402012-02-22T12:06:00.001-08:002012-02-27T12:06:56.868-08:00Live Your Creed<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Live Your Creed by Langston Hughes</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one any day.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">I'd rather one walk with me than just to show the way.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">The eye is a better pupil and more willing than the ear.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Advice may be misleading but examples are always clear.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">And the very best of teachers are the ones who live their creed,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">For to see good put into action is what everybody needs.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">I can soon learn to do</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">it if you let me see it done.<br />
I can watch your hand in motion but your tongue too fast may run<br />
And the lectures you deliver may be very fine and true<br />
But I'd rather get my lesson by observing what you do.<br />
For I may misunderstand you and the fine advice you give<br />
But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.</span></span></span>Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-17263961807366993242012-02-15T11:14:00.001-08:002012-02-27T11:16:04.799-08:00What are you doing to make your place beautiful today?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Some people look for a beautiful place. Others make a place beautiful." - Hazrat Inayat Khan</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br style="text-indent: 0px !important;" />I have a friend who spends hours on end researching places to move. She is in her early 40s and has spent all of her life in the same mid-sized Southern town. And all these years, she has been eager to leave.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <br style="text-indent: 0px !important;" />In the meantime, she has refused to take advantage of the events and amenities her town does have to offer. There are cultural festivals, gatherings of her family and classmates, and, more recently, new restaurants and stores to explore.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <br style="text-indent: 0px !important;" />But this friend, instead, chooses to spend her time fantasizing about how a new place will make her happy. She lives to escape on vacation, and dreams that moving to a new place would be like a long-term vacation.<br style="text-indent: 0px !important;" /> <br style="text-indent: 0px !important;" />This friend has started to put in place a plan to move, and it looks like she might finally take the leap and move next year. I'm excited for her in a way, because I know that she has been dreaming of this move for years.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <br style="text-indent: 0px !important;" />But I'm also quite fearful for my friend. Because I question whether a move will make her happy, when she has spent so long resisting happiness where she lives now.<br style="text-indent: 0px !important;" /><br style="text-indent: 0px !important;" />There is nothing wrong with being an optimizer, and looking for places of beauty that suit you and you enjoy -- ether long-term or simply on vacation. But whatever our long-term plans, it's in our best interest to also spend time making a place -- the place we are now -- beautiful.<br style="text-indent: 0px !important;" /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What are you doing to make your place beautiful today, friends?</span>Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-9434557244121562082012-02-08T17:46:00.000-08:002012-02-12T17:49:27.053-08:00Working With Young People is More than a Business...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So much of what we do in the business world is based on statistics and analysis. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And when we work with young people, it's tempting to try to fall into the same sort of analysis. We want programs that have big turnouts. We want to see high levels of effectiveness, positive survey results, etc.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">While it certainly is important to be accountable, and to make decisions that guarantee that we serve young people in the best ways possible, sometimes it's important, too, to look beyond the numbers and take a minute to look at the little anecdotes -- what researchers call qualitative data. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many programs plug along for years, drawing big numbers. And yet, those programs can point to few if any young people and families whose lives have really and truly been transformed.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That's a problem.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So in the work that you do -- whether you are a teacher, a youth leader, the director of a non-profit or just someone who works with groups of young people in an informal manner -- I encourage you to look beyond the numbers and think about the individuals. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Are you seeing the lives of children changed? Are other adults noticing that the young people you serve are making better choices, behaving differently or excelling in some other way?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Are young people, or alumni who have been out of your programs for a few years, coming back and telling you that you made a difference in their lives?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These stories -- this qualitative data -- matter. And arguably, they're just as important as any quantitative data that you might collect on your program.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Remember, working with young people is more than a business. It's a calling. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span>Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-2953310886643512912012-02-03T16:07:00.000-08:002012-02-11T16:10:04.126-08:00Are You Trying to Drive the Bus?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The bus driver double-checked that the bus was parked and climbed off the bus, anxious to get a better look at the pesky blue Honda Civic that was blocking him in. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After studying the situation for a minute, the driver scrambled back on the bus, clearly planning to maneuver his way out of the tight spot so he could get his bus-ful of kindergartners back to school safely after their day exploring a farm.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But before he could reclaim the driver's seat, one of the mothers along on the trip had climbed into the bus driver's seat, and was studying the situation herself, even rearranging mirrors to get a better view. When the bus driver returned, she began telling him -- still sitting in his seat -- how he should get out of the tight spot.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We watched in intrigue and disbelief as this mother -- who clearly had no professional driving experience and had never driven a school bus before -- continued to strongly express her opinions. Who did this woman think she was? Why was she so determined to do a job that did not belong to her -- and one that she clearly was not qualified to tackle?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think about that mother a lot these days. And I often ask myself, "Am I trying to drive the bus?"<br style="text-indent: 0px !important;" /> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are all guilty, at times, of taking on matters that are best left to others. Each of us has a different skill set. And we do our best, most effective work when we focus on our strengths, leaving other jobs to those who are best suited to them.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This, for example, is why we hire people to handle our finances, instead of handling all of them ourselves. It's why we trust others to handle some of the technological aspects of what we do. It's why we are so appreciative of the people who have assisted us with our graphic design projects and are quick to trust their professional judgement above our own.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don't be guilty of trying to drive the bus - it will leave you frazzled, frustrated and ineffective. Instead, know what you are good at, and follow that path. And whenever possible, leave the bus driving of life to the real experts.</span></div>Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-48413616752615474182012-02-01T08:41:00.000-08:002012-02-11T08:58:01.878-08:00Building Prospects, Not Suspects<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I travel throughout the country working in schools, I have the opportunity to interact firsthand with very diverse groups of students. And yet it seems that no matter where I travel, there are some common threads that tie together the experiences of young people today. One of these threads, unfortunately, is the desire of so many of our young people to emulate the images that they see on television and other popular media outlets. The problems with this emulation manifest themselves in many different ways, one of which is the "fashion trend" of young men sagging their pants. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We can debate all day long whether how young men wear their pants has anything at all to do with what their futures hold. But what we can no longer debate is that if we want to build prospects, not suspects, we need to teach ALL of our young men - regardless of race, culture, socioeconomic status, age - that when they pull up their pants, hold their heads high, look people in the eye, and speak words of respect, they THEMSELVES are able to show America that they are prospects and not suspects. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">See, we OWE it to our future generation to hold each and every one of them accountable for greatness. And we have to start somewhere. I challenge you to start a conversation with your colleagues and friends in schools, faith-based institutions, community organizations, and even your own families about the importance of no longer tolerating our young men wearing their pants so low. Period. I challenge you to start using my motto "Heads up; Pants up; Grades up" with the young people in your life. Drill this motto into them. Let them know that you love them and that you EXPECT greatness from each and every one of them. It's not about judging them; it's about holding them - and ourselves - accountable for their futures. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What are we waiting for? </span>Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-13082203624874598372012-01-20T15:26:00.000-08:002012-02-03T15:55:17.666-08:00"Today You Are You"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you." - Dr. Seuss</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We're talking about authenticity here, about being our best selves, about knowing that who we are is so important to what we do. When we think about authenticity, it's easy to say, "Yes, I am authentic always." It's not that simple, though. If authenticity was simple, automatic, or inevitable, there might not be so many books in your local bookstore devoted to how to live an authentic life.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I want to challenge you to think back over the past day or week. Think about those times when you felt most alive and most true to yourself and your purpose. What were you doing? Who were you with? How did you feel before, during, and after that moment in time? Now think about how you can spend more time with these people engaged in these activities - not only in your "free" time, but also in your daily work. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now think about those times when you felt unsettled, restless, or anxious. What were you doing? Who were you with? How did you feel before, during, and after that moment in time? Now thing about how you can spend LESS time engaged in activities that are not aligned with who you are and what you believe. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's about progress, not perfection. And every time we create space in our lives to be reflective on what makes us happy and alive, we are getting one step closer to living our purpose always. </span>Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-32954109039819570112012-01-17T14:55:00.000-08:002012-01-30T15:16:25.631-08:00A Look at True Strength<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from indomitable will." - Mahatma Gandhi</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This quote by Gandhi, which looks at strength as being a mental - not physical - force, gets to the heart of a concept we've been talking about a lot lately. It's sometimes tempting to look on the outside for things that really lie on the inside. And once we can make the shift to see that strength, beauty, grace, and other such qualities have much more to do with how we think than how look, we can begin to live up to our true potentials.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So next time that you are tempted to lament on how your life would be better if only you were stronger, prettier, taller, or thinner, remember these words of Gandhi. Draw strength from who you are and work to develop a tenacity that allows you to stay the course and try again when it might be easier to give up or give in. The more you do this, the easier it is bound to become. And the easier it becomes, the stronger YOU will become and the more fully you'll be able to share your purpose with the world.</span>Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-753806871559559722012-01-11T12:41:00.000-08:002012-01-11T12:41:00.257-08:00"The Ultimate Measure of a Man Is Not Where He Stands In Moments of Comfort..."<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Adversity builds character. Remember that the next time you're faced with a challenge. Instead of lamenting your situation and thinking that you always have the worst luck in life, think about how you might grow and learn during the difficult time you're going through. Whether the challenge you face is personal or professional, draw upon your strengths and resolve and know that life does not hand us more than we can handle. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There's a comfort in knowing that no storm lasts forever that that sunshine always follows the rain. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And once you see yourself through to the other side of your turmoil, remember to be thankful for all that is good and right in your life. Sometimes is takes the bad times to remind us how most of us have it pretty good most of the time. </span>Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-87712891019247724612012-01-09T05:30:00.000-08:002012-01-09T05:30:05.547-08:00"If You Don't Know Where You're Going, Any Road Will Get You There."<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This quote by Lewis Carroll reminds us of an important part of progress - intention. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When we are intentional with our plans and actions, we are more likely to clearly see where we are going and how we are supposed to get there. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Think about one thing in your life you want to achieve this year. Now let's break it down. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Is what you want to achieve measurable? In other words, how will you know when you've achieved it? People who have the most success achieving their goals set forth goals that are both measurable and specific. For example, instead of having a goal of "getting healthy." Say "I will lose 10 lbs this year." Or "I will run my first 10-K in June." </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What action steps will you take to achieve your goal? List three of those action steps now. One of them might be a one-time action - like signing up for Weight Watchers (if your goal is to lose 10 lbs) or joining a running club (if your goal is to run your first 10-K). Some of the action steps, however, need to be steps that you will repeat over and over again until your goal is reached - such as "journal all my food, every day" or "run 3 times a week, every week."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And once you have your goal and action steps mapped out, make your intentions public. Call your mom. Share your goal on facebook. Research shows that people who share their goals with others will feel a heightened sense of responsibility and accountability to get them through those tough days. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now seek out a support system. Find a running partner to share your goal with. Let your family know what you're working towards and how they can help you succeed. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And - perhaps most importantly - be forgiving of yourself. If you have an off-week, that doesn't mean you can't get back on track. Success does not mean never falling; rather, it means having the perseverance to get back up, dust yourself off, and keep on going. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This life is a beautiful, beautiful journey. And for most people, knowing where you're going and why can make the journey even that much more meaningful. </span>Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-474246609640781522012-01-04T07:20:00.000-08:002012-01-04T07:20:00.997-08:00If You Can Imagine It...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; it you can dream it, you can become it." - William Arthur Ward</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Something happens to most of us as we grow up - we stop believing that we are worthy of our dreams and childhood imaginations. Think back to when you were a child. What did you tell people you wanted to be when you grew up? What did you dream about becoming? What did you hope for? What did you do for fun? What made you feel most alive?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now think about your life today. Have you seen any (or all) of your childhood dreams come true? Why or why not? Are you living the life you'd always imagined you'd live?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Research supports the notion that if you want to know what you should be doing career-wise, think back to what you used to enjoy doing most as a child. How many of us are linking our passions and purpose to our careers? How much more time are some of us going to waste before we start living the lives we were destined to live? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The good news is that as long as you're alive, there's still time to achieve and to become what you've imagined and dreamed. Pick up that long-lost hobby and remember what it feels like to get so lost in something you lose track of time. Take time to play with your children - doing so just might remind you why it's so important to take time to laugh and dream. Make that leap, step out on faith, and pursue a career path that aligns itself with the vision you (and you alone) have for your own life. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whether you strive to make large or small changes in your life, remember that every journey begins with a single step. </span>Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-24221545229385870752011-12-31T05:57:00.000-08:002012-01-01T10:26:28.358-08:00New Year, New You?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's a time of new starts, new years resolutions, new hopes. But amidst all this newness, we also believe that we need to reemember those people, ideas, and things that are stable and constant in our lives. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In a society that seems to be focused more and more on always striving for the newest, larger, better thing, we encourage you to take a moment and focus on the traditional and simple things that enrich your life daily. Maybe it's your spouse who has stood by your side always the past year, or decade, or five decades. Maybe it's your home - and the security that comes from knowing that you'll have a roof over your head and a hot meal every night. Maybe it's your education and that college degree that nobody can take away from you ever. Maybe it's your unwavering faith and devotion to a higher power. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whatever these constants in your life are, be thankful for them. Few things in this life have true permenancy. So we don't want to take these constants in our life for granted. As always, we strive to be thankful for the blessings we have and remember that at the same time as we are making those new year's resolutions and striving to better ourselves, we also need to take the time to reflect on all we have to be thankful for in our lives - just the way it is.</span>Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-42444538440978015972011-11-30T17:30:00.000-08:002011-12-05T17:32:09.679-08:00The Ignorance of Stress<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important. Just lie down.” – Writer Natalie Goldberg</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This quote holds meaning all year round, but we find it to be particularly true during the holiday season.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While there certainly are some things in life that are truly stressful, the reality is that most of the circumstances that leave us feeling stressed and frazzled are far from life-changing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During the holidays, we often find ourselves feeling stressed and overwhelmed more than usual <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many of these stresses come from the notion that we “should” be doing certain things. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We feel that we “should” keep certain social engagements that we really have no interest in keeping. We worry that we will not have time to engage in traditions that we feel we “should” take part in, even if they no longer are enjoyable or meaningful to us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This season, we hope that you will find a way to lower your stress level – to remove yourself from this ignorant state where everything that happens tends to feel like an emergency, even when it most certainly is not.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The thing that matters most, arguably, is your health and happiness. And being in a constant state of false emergency does nothing to maintain either of these.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Breathe deeply.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lie down, if necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And above all, enjoy the coming days – whatever that looks like for you.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div><!--EndFragment-->Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-26064966797635414562011-11-28T17:22:00.000-08:002011-12-05T17:23:09.175-08:00Politics is Personal: Why Social Networking May Not be the Best Place for Political Debate<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes, the political and social debates we see among our friends, families and even professional colleagues is enough to pitch us into a low-grade depression.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It seems that people in the U.S. and beyond are increasingly polarized, and that people are quick to resort to name calling instead of the sort of honest, thoughtful political discourse that can lead to change.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have found this to be particularly true on social networking sites, where in just a few keystrokes, people seem quick to question your intelligence, your intentions and even your basic moral fiber.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During the Thanksgiving break, we had the opportunity to get together with some of the people who are our harshest critics online.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Going into some of these meetings, we were nervous and felt a bit defensive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But fascinatingly, that edginess quickly fell away over a cup of coffee, a bit of sunshine and a face-to-face interaction. We found that we were able to talk easily about our vision of educational and social justice, and the ways that we strive to build up the young people in our lives and in the lives of others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even in cases where our ideologies are quite different, we found that in sitting down face-to-face and sharing our own stories – how we came to believe the way we do, how our values have been shaped and why we do what we do – we quickly were able to find common ground. And the perspectives of some of our critics made more sense to us in those moments, too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The truth is that most of us want the same things for our society. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We want young people to be responsible and have bright futures, where they are free to pursue their dreams. We want good schools, where students are equipped for the challenges of a changing society. And we want to see parents, grandparents and others who are effective in their work to support the young people in their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So maybe, while social networking is certainly a powerful tool, we need to be careful that we don’t overuse it. When we lose that personal touch and forget about the humanity of our critics, it is far too easy to polarize and demonize.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div><!--EndFragment-->Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-83329103525128507652011-11-08T17:26:00.000-08:002011-12-05T17:27:10.634-08:00The Irritations of Others are Really About Us<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Quick.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is the one trait that drives you most crazy when you see it in other people?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is it laziness? A lack of organization? Being so uptight that it is difficult to have fun? Being wishy-washy about important matters? Talking too much? People who over-analyze situations or come across as know-it-alls?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, whatever trait you just identified, consider this: Many mental health experts would argue that the trait you most despise in others is the very same one that makes you feel most insecure about yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s right. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you dislike uptight people, it may be because you worry that you have the same problem. If you are irritated by a lack of organization in others, it may be because you are terrified of living in chaos yourself. When you are critical of people who come across as know-it-alls, this may be because you have a sense of insecurity about this behavior yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once you recognize this matter, you can work to begin addressing it in yourself. The problem, after all, is not with the people in your lives who make you crazy. The problem, ultimately, is with you and how you perceive their “problems” in relation to you. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you can view your irritations as insights into your own mind, they can benefit and enlighten you in surprisingly helpful ways.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What do your irritations say about you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment-->Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-35112564870078097662011-11-05T17:23:00.000-07:002011-12-05T17:25:30.049-08:00Picking Alan Up Off the Floor<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Editor’s note: </span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The story below is from a friend of the Institute for Educational and Social Justice. Some minor details have been changed to maintain both the teacher and student’s anonymity.</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I entered my afternoon language arts class, eager to get my students to work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like every day in our elementary class, we had a lot to cover – the usual language arts grammar warm-up, followed by an introduction to plays. There also was a new writing assignment and a Jeopardy-style game to review concepts for an upcoming standardized test.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’d been in meetings earlier in the week, where I was reminded of how much ground my students have to cover and how rigorous this year’s standardized tests will be. I was determined to push my students toward academic excellence – and to push hard. The idea left me excited about the possibility for student growth, and more than a little scared of what it might look like for all of us if my students fell short.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Things felt off kilter from the moment my band of students entered the room.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One student was pacing in the back of the room. Two others were insistent they needed to go to the nurse for phantom illnesses. (I managed to distract them from their imagined need – a concept they really should teach in Schools of Education nationwide.) Another was hanging upside down in his seat, opossum-like, his jacket over his head, awaiting his next assignment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A lot was going on here, but I can’t claim that it was particularly unusual, either. This group of students is adorable, and funny – and also squirrely and active enough to make the Patron Saint of Calm more than a little edgy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We moved into language warm-up. One of my students, a fellow I will call Alan, refused to do his work. This was unusual for Alan, a bright kid who constantly begs to be allowed to help me with “anything, anything at all” as soon as he is finished with an assignment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I leaned over Alan, and touched him on the shoulder, “What’s wrong? What’s going on?” This suddenly sent Alan into a spiral of despair. I tried to talk to him more, but his reaction was to crawl under his desk, curl up in a ball and sob. He clearly wasn’t ready to talk. So I kept teaching.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Near the end of class, as my other students wrapped up a writing project, I went back to Alan and crawled under the desk to sit next to him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He started sobbing and ranting – that he didn’t want to go home, that he hated his life, and that he thought everyone hated him. I reminded him of the people he had who loved him – and reminded him that I was a big fan of his, myself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This made him cry even harder – possibly from relief, possibly from confusion. Whatever the cause, his crying was debilitating.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soon, it was time for Alan’s class to return to their homeroom, and for my homeroom to return. Alan edged out from under his desk, but continued to sob. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time was becoming my enemy. I had to get Alan on the bus line, and I really didn’t want to have an administrator do it, causing the boy even more stress.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Desperate, I got down on the floor next to him and pointed out the time. “You have three choices. You can get up on your own and walk to the bus line. Or, I can call an administrator and they can come and get you. The other choice is for me to pick you up.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I need you to pick me up,” Alan said, sobbing and in that moment looking as vulnerable as I have ever seen a child look.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“OK, Alan. But you need to know that you are heavy. And I’m not really that strong. So I can lift you up. But after that I’m going to need you to walk, OK?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I pointed out then, that my homeroom class was in the room. “You are OK with these kids, including the boys, seeing me pick you up?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yes. I need you to be the one to pick me up.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so I did. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I lifted that sobbing, shaking heap of a boy – wrestling with a storm of emotions I do not fully understand – up off the floor and moved him to the door.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He wiped his tear-stained face and made it to the bus line just in time – all without a single disparaging word from anyone in my homeroom class, which has more than a few kids who are concerned already about things like coolness and the notion that upper elementary boys probably shouldn’t cry or be lifted off the floor by their teachers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m honestly not sure how well I covered my course material that day. But maybe that wasn’t the point. I think that on this particular day, the most important thing I did was lift Alan up off the floor and get him where he needed to be – all without yelling or threatening or belittling his emotions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And those are the sorts of things that the standardized tests my students will take in the spring cannot possibly measure.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment-->Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-82491275852532328242011-11-01T07:38:00.001-07:002011-11-01T07:38:14.867-07:00Do Something Today that Your Future Self Will Thank You For<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlR3_CloNak79XFkkLeSRxxCawXEgETFRzEEfvIrdfNJ-vtc0mxQDULaHWxNKc7ft97igSGjTuSOxr7FEr9JPZWJmOSk9lGIWg-_iTWRJJwvRbAJz5OhEM-8xsClJ2hHl9TGsKo4gntFbV/s1600/IMG_0250.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669656622874452354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlR3_CloNak79XFkkLeSRxxCawXEgETFRzEEfvIrdfNJ-vtc0mxQDULaHWxNKc7ft97igSGjTuSOxr7FEr9JPZWJmOSk9lGIWg-_iTWRJJwvRbAJz5OhEM-8xsClJ2hHl9TGsKo4gntFbV/s400/IMG_0250.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 386px;" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Volunteer.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Start an exercise program.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Commit to eating more whole, plant-based foods.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Forgive someone for a past mistake.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Forgive yourself.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Take that leap of faith and start your own business.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Help revive an existing one.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Believe in yourself.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Believe in others.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Reach out a hand.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Smile more.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Become important in the life of a child.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Speak up for yourself.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Speak up for someone else who can't.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Listen more.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Love more.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Dream more.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Live more.</div>Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-75914225114159279012011-10-29T10:55:00.000-07:002011-10-29T10:55:56.630-07:00Our New Fundraiser: Far More Meaningful Than Another Tub of Cookie Dough<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">School and non-profit fundraisers can be a real hassle.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">They almost always end up taking precious time away from learning and other essential programming. And often, the items that children and families are asked to sell – from gel pens to cookie dough to popcorn-filled tins – serve no purpose, other than to thicken our waistlines or to clutter up our junk drawers.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">That’s why we are pleased to announce the latest collaborative effort between the Institute for Educational and Social Justice and Keith L. Brown’s 20/20 Enterprises.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Instead of selling items that have little or no value, we are offering schools, non-profit organizations and others an opportunity to raise much-needed money by selling our book, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Motivation, Education & Transformation: The Change Agent’s Guide to Reaching Our Youth and Lifting Them Higher</span></span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">By selling our transformational and empowering book, you are offering parents, grandparents and other leaders of today’s youth information on how to effectively reach their young people. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The book is written in a clear, easy-to-understand format, showing change agents how to motivate and educate today’s young people. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ultimately, the book has the potential to help empower youth from all backgrounds to become transformational leaders, doing their part to bring about positive changes in their classrooms, schools, neighborhoods, communities and beyond.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you sign on to our fundraiser, you also can book us to visit your school, talk about ideas in the book and encourage and uplift your young people, their families, and your staff.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Far more relevant and transformational than another tub of cookie dough or tin of popcorn, isn’t it?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you would like to learn more about how we can help you to meet your fundraising needs, contact us today! The easiest way to reach us is by emailing </span></span><a href="mailto:instituteforedansocialjustice@gmail.com"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">instituteforedansocialjustice@gmail.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> with “Fundraiser” in the subject line.</span></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-65139263092003602942011-10-24T10:48:00.000-07:002011-10-29T10:49:35.455-07:00Learning the Back Story<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The 11-year-old has been in trouble more than once for stealing his classmates’ snacks from inside their desks. He is known for taking things – some big, like his teacher’s cell phone. And some small – like a set of pink, glittery My Little Pony erasers or a crisp, new Harry Potter book.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The blue-eyed boy with the piercing gaze has been caught misbehaving in other ways, too. He favors younger children on the playground, and has been disciplined for bringing up inappropriate topics, like what his genitals look like. Or what men and women like to do in bed.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Many have thrown their hands up in frustration, all but refusing to deal with the young man – his dishonesty, his stealing and his blatant inappropriateness.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The ones who have the most patience with him, though, are those who know the back story. They understand that he steals because he has been bounced from foster home to foster home, and that food has often been scarce for him. When asked why he stole the book and the erasers, he hung his head and said, “I just wanted them to be mine. I don’t have things that are just mine. And I know no one will buy them for me.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Of course, these explanations don’t make the boy’s behavior acceptable. He does need to learn boundaries – and to understand why lying, stealing and sexual talk are not OK. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Yet, understanding his story – and the motivation behind his misbehavior – makes him seem less like a devil and more like a young man in crisis – someone who needs understanding, a listening ear, and a bit of extra adult attention and encouragement whenever possible.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The back story does, indeed, matter. This is something we can never, ever forget in the work we do with young people – no matter how pressed for time we feel and how outraged and violated we may feel by misbehavior.</span></span></div>Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-38874879502480114492011-10-19T04:32:00.000-07:002011-10-19T04:32:00.289-07:00Growing a Business Takes Time<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Some people think that as soon as you plant a tree, it must bear fruit. We must allow it to grow a bit.” – Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, Politician</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In our travels, we often meet people who are taking steps to follow their passions by starting their own business. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Some are striving to do consulting work. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Others want to launch non-profits that can serve at-risk young people, abused women and children, or others in need. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And others have a technological invention or other product to market and sell.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But whoever these entrepreneurial people are, it seems that at one point or another they always come to the same place: The place of impatience.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">They want success, and they want it now.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This feeling is understandable. After all, many of the people we meet are taking significant financial risks. Others are investing a great deal of time, when they have little time to spare. And they want to see results for their sacrifices.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And while we appreciate their eagerness, we also try to remind them that a new venture often takes time. It takes time and thought to figure out who you are and what you have to offer the world. And it takes even longer to build the right connections, to put together a solid business plan and to begin moving forward.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It is not surprising, of course, that we are so impatient. Today, we can often achieve instant gratification. If we want to watch a movie, read a book or hear a song, we can simply download it in a matter of seconds. Many of us live in places where, if we have a particular food craving, we can have that food prepared and in front of us within minutes. We don’t like to wait. It’s almost a foreign concept.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But as the quote above indicates, there’s a lot we can learn from farmers: They know that picking fruit before it’s ready can be a foolish endeavor. Fruit needs time to mature and grow. And so do our own business and social endeavors.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Be patient. If you are doing what you need to do to grow your effort and constantly reevaluating, your business is likely to be maturing. Celebrate the small successes, and know that the big ones will come.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div><!--EndFragment-->Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-6075646579063655622011-10-17T03:37:00.000-07:002011-10-17T03:37:00.560-07:00"This is your world. Shape it or someone else will."<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrWCXX4UDQnSjySFAzdmCyEICgbARK3fIO3VMT0L9WNzf3yuQZD2tdLZ4aOtpU8xPQlxGA6tgHPua5ah8y-Z5d6HjwxbQRcnsli4efSMyyIEoHa4Vo_bbEiQyDe_qpu4rS3jo52rIvixb/s1600/c700d24e4f2de8d7e30a1c26cec8e0fa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrWCXX4UDQnSjySFAzdmCyEICgbARK3fIO3VMT0L9WNzf3yuQZD2tdLZ4aOtpU8xPQlxGA6tgHPua5ah8y-Z5d6HjwxbQRcnsli4efSMyyIEoHa4Vo_bbEiQyDe_qpu4rS3jo52rIvixb/s320/c700d24e4f2de8d7e30a1c26cec8e0fa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I like this quote because it speaks to a simple, yet powerful concept - at some point, we must realize that we have to take control of our circumstances instead of being victims of them. If we fail to be proactive in our lives and live our purpose, then we will always be at the whim of all outward influences - people, popular culture, societal pressures.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When I speak to both adults and young people, I often share some of the challenges that I have overcome in my life - the death of two of my siblings, challenges with my health, being labeled and mis-labeled early on in my own education. I don't share these things so people will feel sorry for me. Instead, I share them to illustrate that no matter where you may have come from in life, we all have the power to make positive steps in our lives today, and tomorrow, and the next day. In other words, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">every setback is a set-up for a comeback. </span></span></i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's about empowerment, really, and understanding that when we focus on what we can control (instead of what we can't) we begin to move from </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">impossible</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> to </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm possible</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> in our lives. When we make this mental shift, opportunity often knocks.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And when opportunity knocks, we best be ready...</span></span>Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587671732861492987.post-89674879977824251382011-10-12T03:28:00.000-07:002011-10-12T03:35:55.023-07:00"Sometimes the wrong choices bring us to the right places."<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This quote has been circulating around facebook and twitter recently. What's interesting is that if we look at it closely, it really speaks to an idea that in some ways flies in the face of conventional wisdom. Because we speak to our young people a lot about making good and right choices, not wrong ones.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And this is important, of course. It's our job to uplift our youth and show them that when they make positive and proactive choices in their lives now, they are more likely to reap the benefits of these choices later.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But at the same time, we also need to teach our young people that even when we make the wrong choices we can learn from them, land on our feet, and keep going. And sometimes, decisions that we think are "wrong" at the time lead us to some unexpected and wonderful places.</span></span>Keith L. Brown and The Institute for Educational and Social Justicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13365700478071172351noreply@blogger.com2