Kirkpatrick Bank’s Post

How do you build 44 schools in Sierra Leone? One village school at a time, American generosity, and great local partners! For anyone interested in the global goals, education with a community focus Schools for Salone has the blueprint. #globalimpact #educationconnotwait #SDG4 #goalkeepers https://lnkd.in/d_8Rmrv6

Read our blog to pick up a few ways to raise awareness of the benefits of Lutheran education and generate interest in your school. #LutheranSchoolsWeek

#throwbackthursday: Earlier this year, we did a thorough revamp of The Praxis Institute website. We knew that some people/orgs only know us for certain services and were not fully aware of who we are or the entire range of offerings we provide, and we were motivated to course-correct. It was a months-long process to get the website to a place that we felt fully throughly and comprehensively captured everything about the work of our organization, but I am extremely proud of how it turned out! So with that said, if you’re curious about learning more about us and our services, please visit our website! https://www.praxisinst.com Under ‘Our Services’ you will find detailed descriptions of the types of services we offer to our partners in education, government, nonprofits, and philanthropy. In addition, under “Research and Publications” you can find examples of reports that document our action-based research. Check us out and use the contact form on our homepage or hit me up directly if you’re interested in connecting! #tbt #chicago #education #nonprofits #philanthropy

It’s that time of the year to meet with the stakeholders at the Elaine Education Foundation. We are a bridge to help children access and enjoy their right to education. During our stakeholders’ meeting, we meet the children in our scholarship program (62 of them now), their parents, representatives from their schools (over 30 schools), donors, community members, and our EEF team. The children also register for the next academic year and submit documents from their schools showing a breakdown of their fees. The children in our scholarship program were either out of school or on the verge of being out of school because of a lack of funds. We moved from having 52 children in our scholarship program for the 2022/2023 academic year to having 62 children for the 2023/2024 academic year. We plan to increase this number yearly as, according to UNESCO, about 250 million children are out of school now (read here: https://lnkd.in/gr_gubGq). The range of their fees was $22.50 - $226.71/year last academic year. With inflation, we anticipate an increase this year. I invite you to sponsor a child to attend school for the next academic year (https://lnkd.in/gSN3i2zh), repost to spread the word, and get involved by visiting our website (https://lnkd.in/gUFN5Ner). We can do this! 💃💃 It has been a joy to serve children, schools, parents, and communities in 5 cities and two countries through EEF. #Internationaldevelopment #nonprofit #Sdg4 #QualityEducation #Educationmatters #stakeholders #EEF #Impact

While alarming statistics on chronic absenteeism in schools are easy to find, impactful interventions are rare. That’s where Newark’s youth come in. Through Newark Opportunity Youth Network, they've pioneered a youth-led conversation campaign that’s changing the game in educational reform. By engaging their peers in over 30 recorded small-group conversations around their lived experiences, these young leaders have built a model for meaningful educational change led by youth and powered by youth voices. To learn more about this game-changing initiative and what's coming next, check out our latest spotlight story below! #youthvoices #chronicabsenteeism

Truly Valued emerged as a beacon of positive change, extending its benevolent reach to encompass 18 schools and community sites across Sarasota and Manatee Counties. In the transformative year of 2023, the spirit of sacrifice and appreciation permeated the air, marking a significant chapter in the community's collective journey. As of December 2023, I AM Academy conducted a survey across seven sites, with the target response rate of 80%. The findings are as follows: 54 out of 63 respondents (86%) identified two character-building, confidence-boosting, and self-esteem enhancing aspects they learned. 57 out of 63 respondents (90%) reported implementing positive changes in their lives, such as cultivating better friendships, enhancing their behavior, and focusing on improving their academic performance. 58 out of 63 respondents (92%) indicated an increased level of self-respect and situational awareness due to what they had learned. The remarkable achievements of Truly Valued in 2023 were made possible by the invaluable support and investment from individuals like you who believe in the potential of our youth and families. To discover more about Truly Valued's initiatives and to continue making a difference, we invite you to visit www.trulyvalued.org.

Community Involvement is key

Check out this insightful Op-ed from CSGF President Darryl Cobb in the Sun Sentinel Media Group "Charter schools show how to reverse pandemic learning losses." In the piece, Cobb discusses strategies to overcome the challenges posed by COVID-19 on students' education. Discover success stories of schools that have managed to turn the tide and help students thrive once again. Dive into the article for valuable perspectives on education's resilience and adaptability. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g4TJdGa3 #CharterSchoolGrowthFund #CharterSchools #Education 

**** Opportunity for Poughkeepsie (City and Town) High School Seniors **** Please help spread the word. Alert: Summer 2024 High School Exchange Program Deadline: This Friday, January 18 Eligibility: Any Poughkeepsie resident who will graduate high school in 2024 Cost: Free The American Exchange Project (AEP) is a first-of-its-kind domestic exchange program that sends high school seniors on a free, week-long trip to a hometown very different from their own. Several local partners have been able to work with AEP to have Poughkeepsie become an AEP community — with  City of Poughkeepsie nonprofit Community Matters 2 leading implementation locally. There are currently 4 spots left. Any Poughkeepsie resident (town or city) who will be graduating high school in 2024 is eligible to apply. The deadline to sign up is only two days away, though. All students must be signed up by Friday, January 18. Signup Link: https://bit.ly/aepsignup Questions? E-mail <cm2pkny@gmail.com> or call (845) 768-6998. Website: https://lnkd.in/dDtpUQX Thank you to Community Matters 2 for supporting this unique opportunity for local students! … Where will students go? In 2023, AEP partnered with 53 high schools in 31 states. Once you sign up, AEP will consider where you’re from, your interests, and your availability to place you and a group of other AEPers from across the country in one of its partner communities. You could go to any of AEP’s partner towns.  Is it really free? AEP covers all costs associated with the program. This includes airfare, meals, housing, local transportation, and fees for events and activities. Why is it free? AEP trips are free thanks to hundreds of donors from around the world who care deeply about bringing together our divided country and offering our students an incredible experience. AEP also believes this experience ought to be a public good. Nothing should get in the way of a young person who wants to learn more about their country and their fellow citizens. https://lnkd.in/dDtpUQX

I want to give a shout out the Municipal Court in my hometown of Lawrence, Kansas! While I often discuss systemic failures in our justice system, today I want to shift the narrative and highlight an innovative, restorative approach that has had a direct, positive impact on the community. 📚 Innovation in Lawrence Municipal Court: A Win-Win for All The court recently launched an initiative allowing individuals to offset $50 in traffic fines with just $15 worth of school supplies. The result? A collection of 924 essential school items that will directly benefit local students. 🔄 Resource Redistribution: A Restorative Approach This initiative exemplifies how we can creatively redistribute resources from punitive systems to community enrichment. Instead of fines perpetuating a cycle of debt and system maintenance, they are redirected to tackle educational inequities. 📊 Data-Driven Impact: 44 individuals participated, reducing their fines. Over 900 educational items collected. Donations received even from those without fines, amplifying community engagement. 🌱 Why This Is Innovative and Restorative: Humanizes Debt Forgiveness: It offers a compassionate alternative to financial penalties. Empowers Community: By converting fines into educational supplies, the initiative directly invests in the community it serves. Promotes Educational Equity: The supplies go directly to local schools, addressing a critical area of social inequality. 🤝 A Model Worth Replicating This initiative serves as a compelling model for how restorative justice can be both innovative and directly beneficial to the community. It's an approach that deserves to be celebrated and considered for broader application. 🔗 Let's Amplify Restorative Practices I invite you all to consider how we can implement and champion similar restorative projects that are both compassionate and effective. #RestorativeJustice #CommunityEngagement #DebtForgiveness #EducationalEquity #LawrenceMunicipalCourt #rockchalk Feel free to share, comment, and engage in this transformative conversation. 🌟