Category: Uncategorized

A critical part of the research phase of SLP’s Residency Program is interaction with experts in the field.  Last week, staff from Care for the Homeless (CFH) met with two groups of 3rd graders at an elementary school in Brownsville, Brooklyn.  Both classes have chosen to help solve the growing crisis of homelessness in NYC,…

Check out this article about a group of more than 50 NYC high school students who have come together post-election to speak out on critical policy issues. The three founders (all high school students) are determined to “give students, who might otherwise feel they don’t have a voice in politics since they’re too young too vote, the…

“Change only happens when ordinary people get involved and get engaged.  And they come together and demand it.”    President Barack Obama, Farewell Speech, January 10. 2017

So this is an amazing story.  And seriously inspiring. A few years ago, Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Jesse Ruben recorded a song called “We Can.” Originally intended to inspire people to run the marathon (he had just completed his first NYC race), the song has since taken on a life of its own. It’s larger message: we can work…

Earlier this week, National Education Secretary John B. King, Jr. made an incredibly compelling case for service learning. Some highlights from his speech to the National Press Club: “Schools have a special responsibility to prepare students for their role in democracy…This is one of the original goals of American public education, something that has become…

Last week, Hillary Clinton announced her plan for a 5 million member national service reserve project.  Americans across the country would continue in their full-time jobs but would be on call to respond to national disasters, health emergencies, and other crises. “America works best, ” she said, “when citizens volunteer in their own communities.”  She added, “Working…

Matt Gonzales, Appleseed’s School Diversity Project Director, believes that students are a critical part of the process of integrating NYC schools. We agree! He elaborated in a recent interview:  “We need to highlight the voices of students and actually ask them what they want, and try to help those students tell their parents what they…

As part of the effort to overhaul it’s evaluation of public schools, the New York State Department of Education (SED) recently released a draft list of guiding principals. These are measures New York education officials believe should be used to determine whether a school is successful or “highly effective.” We were thrilled to see that SED…

SLP was thrilled to participate in last week’s “Taking Stock” Elementary Youth Leadership Event hosted by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development.  Liz was a panelist along with staff from two inspiring NYC organizations: Urban Arts Partnership and the Leadership Program.  The audience included more than 50 Directors and staff from after-school programs located throughout NYC.  All…

The most persuasive advocates are so often young people directly affected by a pernicious social problem. Last year, SLP worked with an inspiring group of 5th graders in Brooklyn who persuaded their principal to improve the food and environment in their school cafeteria.  Their project was motivated by concerns about students who eat school lunch…