Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Intervention Now | Improved Lives Later
"Johns Hopkins researcher Dr. Robert Balfanz has uncovered a series of indicators that he says can predict how likely a student is to drop out of high school: attendance, behavior and course performance, which he describes as the “ABCs.” "
Middle School Moments, as shared FRONTLINE
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/education/dropout-nation/middle-school-moment//
Ex. "In high-poverty schools, if a sixth grade child attends less than 80 percent of the time, receives an unsatisfactory behavior grade in a core course, or fails math or English, there is a 75 percent chance that they will later drop out of high school — absent effective intervention."
This is a stat, like many the education system learns, puts on a flyer, uses to leverage support around funding or volunteering. Sure, we see them, hear them, and understand there should be action post learning them. It makes sense that if you don't attend school consistently, your grades falter, and you are at a school with a high poverty rate - the youth there are at greater risk of dropping out, negative behavior, lower test scores, and the like.
This bolsters why our non-profit focuses on helping 6th-8th grade and High School students. The reason we focus on intervening during the 6th-8th grade years is due to the amount of decisions made around school, patterns, habits, friends, and other choices that dictate these pivotal times in youth's lives (prior to venturing into High School). Our lives are shaped and molded since entering the world of course, studies conducted around how the mind is most impacted between 0-2, then highly influenced during these middle school years - into adulthood.
Our approach with heartprints is to not only help improve math and reading scores - as well as improved achievement test results, but motivate youth to succeed holistically as a person beyond scores, and through 5 key areas (Leadership, Decision Making, Jobs/Career, Higher Education, and Participation).
Scores/Grades are good measures, but to measure and test the true success solely on this will not work. Studies do show that improving these areas are essential to progress through the system, but infusing innovative methods such as divergent learning, working with mentoring/tutoring groups internally and externally, real-time service learning, and case studies allow for unique learning experiences. Not everyone learns the same. Some folks are process, others are creative. Some are both. Some are visual, others written learning works. Some need hands on experiences, others can dissect the essence of a lesson by literary study. It's diverse, differs across the board, and what has worked for decades may not work the same in a changing world.
As businesses evolve to ever changing markets and are agile to develop strategies for survivability and growth - schools may learn from this approach as well. Realistically, we cannot overhaul an entire educational system constantly, but in the least we can work to infuse dynamic opportunities for growth/learning experiences. There's no magic pill or simple solution to a system that is in place and is gargantuan. The way we process kids
heartprints noticed this trend as well, and works to be more strategic in impacting the lives of youth, families, and our communities. It's time to stop the blame game and excuses. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) blame schools. Teachers blame home. Schools blame the government. Government blames everyone.
The blame stops with you. Taking ownership and accountability to get involved in changing the system through your involvement is the start of the marathon race. We would like to generate excitement in your spirit, for service. It would be great if you choose us, no shameless plug (ha), but find a trust worthy, passionate, energizing, and caring cause that is focused on helping youth succeed academically and also personally.
Collaborating with the appropriate leaders at the sites we (heartprints) serve, through our mission, striving to earn volunteers to mentor/tutor, and amplify impact through our programs + services like CincyJobSpace, Charity Coffee, and our heartprints help guide to positively infiltrate the home/family unit a well also inspires connectivity to opportunities.
Email hello@heartprints.org to get involved with our cause!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Meet Josh
Josh, an 8th grader, was seeking ways to enhance his opportunities and learning related to homework, careers, and higher education.
He was introduced to the YMCA Mentoring Program, and from there heartprints Mentors/Tutors were asked to assist Josh with his goals.
During the first few meetings, Josh was reserved, which is to be expected around first engagements. Volunteers invited him to participate in activities such as basketball, soccer, and board games. Once he began trusting and knowing the Mentors/Tutors, Josh began bolstering his confidence in himself, and his projects.
He shared with a volunteer that some other kids at school were calling him names, and bullying him. heartprints worked with Resource Coordinators, and recommended that his mother inform the teachers and Principle at his school.
Once this was done, the bullying diminished, and Josh has gained more confidence, interest in learning, and improved his Math, Reading, and Science scores.
Beyond the walls of a school, a Y, or kicking a ball around, we have learned that connecting professional and caring adults to youth in need, discussing the things a kid enjoys, and interacting with them around their dreams can have a significant impact in their lives.
Josh and his family have been given donations, tickets for opportunities to visit basketball games, the orchestra, art shows, and other educational yet fun events he otherwise would not have access to. This improves cultural proficiency, builds relationships, and also memorable experiences.
Due to heartprints volunteers getting involved, the partnership with the Y, and good people getting involved, Josh now believes the sky is the limit, and is developing a more positive attitude. This is being achieved by the generosity of volunteers aligning to the Y's mission, in tandem with collaboration with the after school programs, and heartprints mission to diminish educational poverty through mentoring, jobs and outreach areas.
To learn more about heartprints or to become an advocate through volunteering or donating, give heartprints a hello@heartprints.org, and visit www.heartprints.org.
Blessings
*NOTE: For confidentiality purposes, only first names are utilized, the names of the families and schools are not mentioned, and this is to protect the privacy of participants in our programs.
He was introduced to the YMCA Mentoring Program, and from there heartprints Mentors/Tutors were asked to assist Josh with his goals.
During the first few meetings, Josh was reserved, which is to be expected around first engagements. Volunteers invited him to participate in activities such as basketball, soccer, and board games. Once he began trusting and knowing the Mentors/Tutors, Josh began bolstering his confidence in himself, and his projects.
He shared with a volunteer that some other kids at school were calling him names, and bullying him. heartprints worked with Resource Coordinators, and recommended that his mother inform the teachers and Principle at his school.
Once this was done, the bullying diminished, and Josh has gained more confidence, interest in learning, and improved his Math, Reading, and Science scores.
Beyond the walls of a school, a Y, or kicking a ball around, we have learned that connecting professional and caring adults to youth in need, discussing the things a kid enjoys, and interacting with them around their dreams can have a significant impact in their lives.
Josh and his family have been given donations, tickets for opportunities to visit basketball games, the orchestra, art shows, and other educational yet fun events he otherwise would not have access to. This improves cultural proficiency, builds relationships, and also memorable experiences.
Due to heartprints volunteers getting involved, the partnership with the Y, and good people getting involved, Josh now believes the sky is the limit, and is developing a more positive attitude. This is being achieved by the generosity of volunteers aligning to the Y's mission, in tandem with collaboration with the after school programs, and heartprints mission to diminish educational poverty through mentoring, jobs and outreach areas.
To learn more about heartprints or to become an advocate through volunteering or donating, give heartprints a hello@heartprints.org, and visit www.heartprints.org.
Blessings
*NOTE: For confidentiality purposes, only first names are utilized, the names of the families and schools are not mentioned, and this is to protect the privacy of participants in our programs.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Vote for heartprints inc. TODAY!!!
Vote for heartprints inc. TODAY to help diminish educational poverty through Mentoring, Jobs, and Outreach!
Link to cast your vote >> http://apps.facebook.com/carsforgood/
__________________________________________________
DIMINISHING EDUCATIONAL POVERTY
heartprints inc. is honored to announce we’ve been named a finalist in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program.
The next step is for you to vote for us TODAY only on Toyota’s Facebook page, http://apps.facebook.com/carsforgood/
, as we compete for a new Toyota vehicle that will be utilized to amplify our capacity to improve the lives of youth and families through Mentoring, Jobs, and Outreach.
*Direct link >> http://apps.facebook.com/carsforgood/
*Check out heartprints video via >>
http://youtu.be/SPFyvTsSa6k
http://vimeo.com/23438871
*Blog >> http://heartprintsinc.blogspot.com/20...
*Website >> www.heartprints.org
*Email >> hello@heartprints.org
With appreciation,
heartprints inc.
"We're as great as we help others become!"
ps Please share with others! This is the only day to vote for us. We thank you for your generous support.
http://apps.facebook.com/carsforgood/
Monday, May 2, 2011
Vote for heartprints inc. on Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 in the Toyota 100...
Vote for heartprints inc. on Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 in the Toyota 100 Cars for Good Program
heartprints inc. is honored to announce we've been named a finalist in Toyota's 100 Cars for Good program.
The next step is for you to vote for us Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 on Toyota's Facebook page, facebook.com/toyota, as we compete for a new Toyota vehicle that will be utilized to amplify our capacity to improve the lives of youth and families through Mentoring, Jobs, and Outreach.
Thank you for scheduling a moment 5/11/11 to vote for us via www.facebook.com/Toyota, and your time. Your support means we can increase our positive impact reach to the youth and families we serve. Feel free to share this 'event' with your network as well!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
PRESS RELEASE: heartprints inc. NAMED FINALIST IN TOYOTA 100 CARS FOR GOOD PROGRAM
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
heartprints inc. NAMED FINALIST IN TOYOTA 100 CARS FOR GOOD PROGRAM
Toyota to Donate Vehicle to Local Nonprofit Organizations Based on Public Votes
Cincinnati, OH – Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 – Cincinnati - based organization, heartprints inc. is one of 500 finalists in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program, which will award vehicles to 100 nonprofit organizations based on votes from the public beginning May 9, 2011.
Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program will showcase five non-profit organizations each day for 100 days on Toyota’s Facebook page, facebook.com/toyota. Visitors to the page can vote once a day for the organization that they feel is most deserving of a new Toyota vehicle. heartprints inc. will be one of the five organizations highlighted for voting on Wednesday, May 11th, 2011.
Local residents are encouraged to support heartprints inc. and their quest for a new Toyota Tundra. If heartprints inc. receives the most votes and is awarded the vehicle, it will be utilized to amplify our ability and capacity to diminish educational poverty, improving the lives of youth and families through Mentoring, Jobs, and Outreach focus areas.
heartprints inc.
heartprints inc. is a community driven positive impact 501(c)(3) approved non-profit organization that improves the lives of youth and families by diminishing educational poverty through Mentoring, Jobs, and Outreach focus areas so that people may life a significant, respectful, and successful life.
Learn more about heartprints by visiting:
www.heartprints.org
www.facebook.com/heartprintsinc
About Toyota.
Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants, including one under construction. Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design.
Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than $500 million to philanthropic programs in the U.S.
For more information on Toyota's commitment to improving communities nationwide, visit http://www.toyota.com/community.
Media Contact:
Brian Siegel
heartprints inc.
(513) 295.3533
hello@heartprints.org
# # #
For Immediate Release
heartprints inc. NAMED FINALIST IN TOYOTA 100 CARS FOR GOOD PROGRAM
Toyota to Donate Vehicle to Local Nonprofit Organizations Based on Public Votes
Cincinnati, OH – Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 – Cincinnati - based organization, heartprints inc. is one of 500 finalists in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program, which will award vehicles to 100 nonprofit organizations based on votes from the public beginning May 9, 2011.
Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program will showcase five non-profit organizations each day for 100 days on Toyota’s Facebook page, facebook.com/toyota. Visitors to the page can vote once a day for the organization that they feel is most deserving of a new Toyota vehicle. heartprints inc. will be one of the five organizations highlighted for voting on Wednesday, May 11th, 2011.
Local residents are encouraged to support heartprints inc. and their quest for a new Toyota Tundra. If heartprints inc. receives the most votes and is awarded the vehicle, it will be utilized to amplify our ability and capacity to diminish educational poverty, improving the lives of youth and families through Mentoring, Jobs, and Outreach focus areas.
heartprints inc.
heartprints inc. is a community driven positive impact 501(c)(3) approved non-profit organization that improves the lives of youth and families by diminishing educational poverty through Mentoring, Jobs, and Outreach focus areas so that people may life a significant, respectful, and successful life.
Learn more about heartprints by visiting:
www.heartprints.org
www.facebook.com/heartprintsinc
About Toyota.
Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants, including one under construction. Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design.
Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than $500 million to philanthropic programs in the U.S.
For more information on Toyota's commitment to improving communities nationwide, visit http://www.toyota.com/community.
Media Contact:
Brian Siegel
heartprints inc.
(513) 295.3533
hello@heartprints.org
# # #
Monday, March 21, 2011
ONE Award
Announcing ONE Award V 2011-12:
A Brand New ONE
The 2011-12 ONE Award offers nonprofit organizations fewer criteria, shorter application, longer lead time, and the opportunity for greater support for Applicants who want to improve their mission impact with an emphasis on process improvement.
ONE Award V 2011-12 is brand new and inviting you to a preview session to learn more about how ONE can benefit you and your nonprofit organization! At this two-hour preview, you will learn more about the ONE Award V process, and how improvements you asked for can help you complete and submit your ONE Application and receive customized feedback on your Application at no charge.
If you are connected to a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, sign up for a ONE Preview Session to find out more about the 2011-12 program. Past applicants are welcome to attend along with anyone interested in seeing how ONE can help focus their organization on improvement of their critical value-creation and value-support processes. Veteran and prospective examiners are also invited to attend to learn more about the examination and site visit aspects of ONE Award V.
The Organizations of Noteworthy Excellence (ONE) Award program took a year off to self-assess and identify strengths and opportunities for improvement (OFIs). The result is a "brand new ONE" with fewer criteria, simpler and shorter format, longer lead time for developing your Application.
Sign up for a Preview Session to get more information on how the improvements in the ONE process can benefit you.
Register for a Preview Session
-Monday, March 28, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Central Bank in
Florence KY.
http://onepreview328.eventbrite.com/
Click here
-Tuesday, March 29, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Miami University, Voice of America Center in West Chester.
http://onepreview329.eventbrite.com/
Click here
Wednesday, March 30, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Columbia Center/Junior League Columbia Parkway in Cincinnati.
http://onepreview330.eventbrite.com/
Click here
NEW!! A five-session series of free Workshops offers nonprofits coaching through the Application Process.
"We heard so many organization leaders say 'If we only had the time' and 'Our team could do this if we had some structured help along the way'. And in that vein of feedback, the concept of ONE Award Workshops was born," according to Jim Lay, co-founder of the ONE Award.
For this cycle of the ONE Award, Jim Lay and ONE co-founder Marie Gemelli-Carroll will conduct a series of five Workshops between April and June, free of charge to nonprofit organization teams willing to commit five half-days to digging deeper into the ONE criteria, and identifying the process descriptions and performance data called for in the ONE Award Criteria Application.
http://www.one-center.com/applicants/register.php
Click here to sign up for the Workshop Series. Workshop Series begins April 26 and continues bi-weekly through June. As always, you can e-mail a question about the Workshop Series in particular, or ONE Award in general, by e-mailing Jim Lay
mailto:jim@one-center.com
jim@one-center.com or Marie Gemelli-Carroll
mailto:marie@one-center.com
marie@one-center.com
ONE Award changes improve criteria, shorten application, extend lead time and promotion opportunity
What's new about ONE? Plenty
-Three categories (People, Program, Process) with performance criteria included in each category
-Organizational Profile requires only two pages, instead of four
-Criteria topic areas reduced to include only key questions in each category
-Criteria response limited to six pages instead of 12
-Later deadline for applicant submission-July 15
-Longer period for Site Visits-Sept. 12 through Sept. 30
-Honorees announced early November
-Recognition ceremony late January 2012 for bestowing honors and to allow full year of promotion by honoree organizations
http://www.one-center.com/
A Brand New ONE
The 2011-12 ONE Award offers nonprofit organizations fewer criteria, shorter application, longer lead time, and the opportunity for greater support for Applicants who want to improve their mission impact with an emphasis on process improvement.
ONE Award V 2011-12 is brand new and inviting you to a preview session to learn more about how ONE can benefit you and your nonprofit organization! At this two-hour preview, you will learn more about the ONE Award V process, and how improvements you asked for can help you complete and submit your ONE Application and receive customized feedback on your Application at no charge.
If you are connected to a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, sign up for a ONE Preview Session to find out more about the 2011-12 program. Past applicants are welcome to attend along with anyone interested in seeing how ONE can help focus their organization on improvement of their critical value-creation and value-support processes. Veteran and prospective examiners are also invited to attend to learn more about the examination and site visit aspects of ONE Award V.
The Organizations of Noteworthy Excellence (ONE) Award program took a year off to self-assess and identify strengths and opportunities for improvement (OFIs). The result is a "brand new ONE" with fewer criteria, simpler and shorter format, longer lead time for developing your Application.
Sign up for a Preview Session to get more information on how the improvements in the ONE process can benefit you.
Register for a Preview Session
-Monday, March 28, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Central Bank in
Florence KY.
http://onepreview328.eventbrite.com/
Click here
-Tuesday, March 29, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Miami University, Voice of America Center in West Chester.
http://onepreview329.eventbrite.com/
Click here
Wednesday, March 30, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Columbia Center/Junior League Columbia Parkway in Cincinnati.
http://onepreview330.eventbrite.com/
Click here
NEW!! A five-session series of free Workshops offers nonprofits coaching through the Application Process.
"We heard so many organization leaders say 'If we only had the time' and 'Our team could do this if we had some structured help along the way'. And in that vein of feedback, the concept of ONE Award Workshops was born," according to Jim Lay, co-founder of the ONE Award.
For this cycle of the ONE Award, Jim Lay and ONE co-founder Marie Gemelli-Carroll will conduct a series of five Workshops between April and June, free of charge to nonprofit organization teams willing to commit five half-days to digging deeper into the ONE criteria, and identifying the process descriptions and performance data called for in the ONE Award Criteria Application.
http://www.one-center.com/applicants/register.php
Click here to sign up for the Workshop Series. Workshop Series begins April 26 and continues bi-weekly through June. As always, you can e-mail a question about the Workshop Series in particular, or ONE Award in general, by e-mailing Jim Lay
mailto:jim@one-center.com
jim@one-center.com or Marie Gemelli-Carroll
mailto:marie@one-center.com
marie@one-center.com
ONE Award changes improve criteria, shorten application, extend lead time and promotion opportunity
What's new about ONE? Plenty
-Three categories (People, Program, Process) with performance criteria included in each category
-Organizational Profile requires only two pages, instead of four
-Criteria topic areas reduced to include only key questions in each category
-Criteria response limited to six pages instead of 12
-Later deadline for applicant submission-July 15
-Longer period for Site Visits-Sept. 12 through Sept. 30
-Honorees announced early November
-Recognition ceremony late January 2012 for bestowing honors and to allow full year of promotion by honoree organizations
http://www.one-center.com/
Resources for youth to expand knowledge economy >>
· Ohio Department of Education
o http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDefaultPage.aspx?page=1
o http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=251
o testing http://portal.success-ode-state-oh-us.info/
o practice tests (choose ‘take a test without logging in) http://ohio3-8.success-ode-state-oh-us.info/Profile/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fPracticeTest%2ftestworkbook.aspx%3fnav%3dstudent&nav=student (Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies, Writing)
· Study Jams http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/index.htm
· Study Island http://www.studyisland.com/
· BizKids.com http://www.bizkids.com/
· Ourcourts.org http://www.icivics.org/
· Accelerated Reader http://www.renlearn.com/ar/
· Progress Book https://parentaccess.ocps.net/General/District.aspx?From=Global
· Walter Dean Myers http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/
· Sharon Draper (Tears of a Tiger) http://sharondraper.com/
· Parents for Public Schools http://www.ppsgc.org/pages/
· Strive http://www.strivetogether.org/education-results-resource/data-and-information-resources/
· Family Education http://www.familyeducation.com/home/
· Cincinnati Youth Collaborative http://www.cycyouth.org/?pgID=10
· College Mentors for Kids http://www.collegementors.org/inspire
· Children Inc. http://www.childreninc.org/
· Community Action Agency (Cincinnati) http://www.cincy-caa.org/
· CPS Tutoring http://www.cps-k12.org/community/tutoring/tutoring.htm
· Whiz Kids http://www.citygospelmission.org/whizkids.html
· Mankind Project http://www.citygospelmission.org/whizkids.html
· City of Cincinnati (Council Teams) http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cdap/pages/-6249-/
· CPS Community Involvement http://www.cps-k12.org/community/community.htm
· YMCA of Greater Cincinnati http://www.cincinnatiymca.org/
· heartprints inc. http://www.heartprints.org/
· ECOnsciously Living http://www.econsciouslyliving.com/
· Stand for Kids http://standforkidscincy.org/
· CincyAfterSchool http://www.cincyafterschool.org/
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