 |
| January 2009 Volume 3, No. 5 |
Articles Featured in This Issue
1. Calendar of Events
2. Our Web Site Picks for January
3. Open-Air Marketplaces PD Workshop, February 4
4. SPAVA – Helping to Create a More Peaceful Society
Environmental Education Articles:
1. 2009 Earth Day Perspectives: An Invitation to Share Your Thoughts
2. Arbor Day Poster Contest
3. Bernheim ECO Kids January Programs
4. Blackacre Lecture Series, January-April 2009
5. The Earth Charter
6. National K-12 Sustainability Listserve
7. Summer Work for High School Students
Multicultural/Diversity Education Articles:
1. 2009 Black Family in America Conference, March 12-15
2. UofL Repertory Company Offers Free Performances, Spring 2009
3. 2009 Crane House Teaching in Asia Program
4. Ali Center To Honor Dr. King’s Legacy
5. Celebrate African-American History Month at the Ali Center
6. January Books and Resources at the LFPL
7. National Acrobats of China
8. Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities, 2009
Calendar of Events
January 20 at 11:00 am - "Live Broadcast of the 44th Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama" at the Kentucky Center in the Bomhard Theater. Doors open at 10:45 am. The broadcast will also be shown on screens in the main lobby. Beginning on January 5, please visit the Kentucky Center box office to pick up free tickets to this event. Limit four tickets per person. Inauguration broadcast tickets are not available online or by phone. Accessible seating for people with disabilities is available in the theater; please let the box office staff know of your needs when picking up tickets. Attendees are encouraged to bring a donation of canned goods to the event to benefit Kentucky Harvest. For more information, please contact Jeffrey Jamner at (502) 562-0703.
January 24 - "Crane House Lunar New Year Dinner and Auction" at the Brown Hotel, Crystal Ballroom (Fourth Street & Broadway). RSVP by Friday, January 16. For information about ticket prices, please call Jing Zhang at (502) 635-2240.
January 26 - Feb 28 - "15 Annual African American Art Exhibition," at Actors Theatre. This exhibition features an exuberant array of works by local and regional artists, ranging from sculpture in various media to unique mixed media collages to evocative paintings and photography. There will be two main events:
Opening Reception
with free food and live music
Feb 6 at 6 p.m.
Actors Theatre lobbies
Meet the artists and enjoy entertainment and refreshments at the art reception and awards ceremony. Free and open to the public.
Open Panel Discussion
Feb 7 at 11 a.m.
Pamela Brown Auditorium
Enjoy this free panel discussion with artists Kevin Cole, Ed Hamilton and Dr. Douglas as they delve into the business of art.
For information about the Exhibit, please e-mail Leslie Hankins at: lhankins@actorstheatre.org.
February 4 and 5 - "National Teach-In on Climate Change" - There will be thousands of gatherings, events, happenings and old-fashioned teach-ins around the theme of climate change. The national organizing committee is encouraging communities, universities, middle and high schools to organize initiatives to learn about climate change and to demonstrate their support for action. Go to the "National Teach-In on Climate Change" Web site and check out the events listed for Kentucky. Join one of those events or start your own. It can be as big as you like or as small as you like.
February 6 at 8 pm - "De La Raiz, Flamenco Production" at the Clifton Center Eifler Theater, 2217 Payne Street. For more information, please call (502) 345-2945.
February 7 - "Robert Burns' 250th Birthday Gala" - Celebrate the birthday of Scotland's best known poet Robert Burns at Masterson's in the Nicholas Room, 1830 S. Third Street. Reservations should be submitted by January 17. Ticket applications are to be sent to: The Scottish Society of Louisville, Burns Night Tickets, P.O. Box 32248, Louisville, KY. 40232-2248. For more information, please visit the SSL Web site at www.scotsoflou.org or call (502) 533-9336.
February 26 - "World Cultures Bazaar" at Seneca High School. Students will be participating in the annual World Cultures Bazaar. Each year, Seneca's 9th-grade liberal arts students select countries and, as a group, research all aspects of that country's culture. Then they produce a booth to display all that they have learned. They will prepare authentic foods, dress in traditional clothing, and put on a performance that represents their country's culture.
March 1 - Deadline to submit an essay for the "2009 Earth Day Perspectives" project. See article below.
Top or Archives
Our Web Site Picks For January
The Human Toll of Climate Change
http://maps.scienceprogress.org/climate/
Science Progress has created an interactive map that tracks and highlights the impacts of climate change. You can check out the many natural disasters that scientists attribute to climate change and look at any country in the world to find out information on hurricanes, floods, droughts, and wildfires; the spread of infectious disease such as the West Nile virus; rising sea levels that could wipe out coastal cities and towns; and declines in crop production and fish catches.
Wetlands & Wonder: Reconnecting Children with Nearby Nature
www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/education/wetlandsvideo
This online video from the Environmental Protection Agency discusses the benefits and importance of immersing children in nature.
Top or Archives
Special Feature Articles
Open-Air Marketplaces PD Workshop, February 4
 |
|
| The Kizito Cookies open-air market in Louisville, KY. (photo by Aukram Burton) | |
 |
|
| An open-air vegetable market in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil (photo by Aukram Burton) | |
K-12 teacher guides and CDs will be available to participants. Please bring either curriculum and assessment map for your level and content area, or course description/syllabus for high school courses you are teaching. This workshop is open to all certified staff. Register through JCPS pdCentral using the keyword “marketplaces."
The "Open-Air Marketplaces" workshop is a collaborative effort of the JCPS Diversity/Multicultural Education Office, the JCPS Center for Environmental Education, and the JCPS Curriculum Resource Center. For additional information, please visit http://www.jefferson.k12.ky.us/Programs/oam/index.html
Top or Archives
SPAVA – Helping to Create a More Peaceful Society
By Judy Lippmann, SPAVA Coordinator,Volunteer Talent Center
and Catherine Collesano, Editor, Global Connections
“You can’t be my friend if you’re friends with her!”
“Get lost! We don’t want you on our team.”
“Did you hear what she did? I can’t believe it! Now nobody’s going to talk to her.”
Every day, kids experience conflict in some form. How do they deal with it? How can they deal with it effectively without violence? How can they help others and be peacemakers?
Teaching kids to resolve conflicts without violence is one of the purposes of the SPAVA program (Society for the Prevention of Aggressiveness and Violence among Adolescents), now in its ninth full year in JCPS classrooms. SPAVA’s goals for students in grades one through twelve are to increase respect, honor and integrity; to understand feelings; to build impulse control and anger management skills; and to learn from the lives of famous peacemakers. SPAVA teaches students that we must, in the words of Gandhi, “be the change we want to see. . ..”
Coordinated for JCPS through the Volunteer Talent Center, this ten-session program is offered without charge to any class of students for whom the teacher requests it. During the ten weekly 45-minute classroom sessions of SPAVA, trained volunteer mentors conduct this interactive program with the teacher participation following the SPAVA Curriculum Guide. Some topics included are kindness, assertiveness, dealing with unpleasant or dangerous feelings, integrity, bullying, positive attitude, listening skills, personal growth, peacemakers and peacemaking. The SPAVA Curriculum Guide allows for some flexibility in how the material is presented to students, so volunteer mentors can customize activities according to the needs and personality of the class. After completion of each class’s SPAVA sessions, the mentor, teacher and students are asked to complete evaluation surveys.
SPAVA volunteer mentor Brenda Morris has been involved with the program for nearly two years and is currently working with two classes at St. Joseph Children's Home, a residential program for children ages 5 to 14 who have a variety of special needs. As a mentor, Morris' goal is to get students actively involved in SPAVA projects that teach them about personal values (e.g. respect, honor, compassion, empathy and courage), anger management, the development of self-esteem and good listening skills, the fair treatment of others, and about how to become peacemakers in their communities and beyond. She customizes activities to appeal to the needs and interests of the students. Morris says, "At St. Joseph the younger kids have enjoyed the role playing activities the most. They get together in groups of two or three and compose a play about our theme for the day, such as bullying and good listening skills, and present it to the class. We talk about character traits of the person who 'bullies' versus the 'victim' versus the 'bystander.' We discuss in depth about how to respond to bullying and how to stop being a bully. This topic has been a favorite one with all the classes I've been in."
Brenda Morris learned about SPAVA from the organization's founder Dr. Timir Banerjee. Dr. Banerjee founded SPAVA as a personal response to the 1997 student shooting at Heath High School. He now offers the program to anyone anywhere through the online curriculum guide at the SPAVA Web site. Morris believes that, in general, everyone involved in SPAVA - mentors, students and teachers - will find benefits and rewards from the program. She says, "The rewards are many. The kids love to see you come in....I think that SPAVA makes for happier kids and, of course, the goal of preventing violence among our youth will help to make a better world for all of us."
During the 2007-08 academic year, approximately 1,850 JCPS students participated in the SPAVA program plus approximately 230 additional students at local private schools and community sites. Currently in 2008-09, SPAVA is being conducted in thirty-five classrooms, with requests for the program in twenty-nine additional classes. The program is always in need of additional volunteer mentors to fill these requests. Trainings are arranged as needed. SPAVA students may also apply for SPAVA scholarship awards.
To learn more about SPAVA, please visit www.spava.us. If you, or someone you know, are interested in becoming a SPAVA volunteer, please contact the JCPS Volunteer Talent Center at (502) 485-3710.
Top or Archives
Updates from the Center for Environmental Education
2009 Earth Day Perspectives: An Invitation to Share Your Thoughts
By Dr. David Wicks, Coordinator, JCPS Center for Environmental Education
Catherine Collesano, Editor, Global Connections
The Partnership for a Green City and the editors of Global Connections are planning for the second annual "Earth Day Perspectives" essay project. Last school year, over 50 community leaders and educators made their voices heard on environmental issues when we published the "Earth Day Perspectives" project for the very first time. Click here to read their ideas and words.
“Kentucky’s Energy Future” is the theme of the 2009 Earth Day Perspectives. Though you may write anything you choose for submission, we are asking for energy saving ideas; thoughts on conservation; suggestions for renewable energy; thoughts on clean coal or on a life that is not dependent on fossil fuels. Focus on short term ideas, on future visions, on what individuals can do or on the big societal or governmental changes and ideas for our energy future. Feel free to address what our children should know and be able to do in order to ensure that future generations are not “addicted to energy.”
To participate, submit your essay, 500 words or less, along with a digital photograph of yourself by March 1, 2009 to: Catherine Collesano, Editor, Global Connections, at catherine.collesano@jefferson.kyschools.us
Entries will be posted in the April edition of Global Connections and selected pieces will be printed in an Earth Day booklet. For more information or suggestions, please contact the following individuals:
Dr. David Wicks, Coordinator, JCPS Center for Environmental Education
david.wicks@jefferson.kyschools.us or (502) 485-3295
Catherine Collesano, Editor, Global Connections
catherine.collesano@jefferson.kyschools.us or (502) 485-7075
Aukram Burton, Specialist, JCPS Department of Diversity, Equity and Poverty Programs
aukram.burton@jefferson.kyschools.us or 502-485-7075
Top or Archives
Environmental News and Resources
Arbor Day Poster Contest
The Arbor Day Foundation is calling all fifth-grade students to participate in the 2009 Arbor Day National Poster Contest, an annual competition that engaged nearly 70,000 fifth-grade classrooms in 2008. The 2009 contest, sponsored by Toyota, will carry the theme, “Trees Are Terrific…in Cities and Towns!”
Kentucky's deadline for submissions is March 17, 2009.
The competition is free and open to fifth-grade students nationwide. As a supplement to the poster contest, several lesson plans are available to educators for classroom use. The lesson plan activities help increase students’ knowledge of how trees grow and the environmental benefits trees provide. Activities correlate with the National Education Standards.
The 2009 theme, "Trees Are Terrific…in Cities and Towns!” was chosen in part because it helps students better understand the importance of trees in communities. This is the fourth time the Foundation has selected this theme since the poster contest’s 1994 inception. The theme has always been among the most popular.
“A lot of students relate to the theme because they can actually see the trees that are a part of their community,” said Michelle Saulnier-Scribner, program director of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Students learn that properly planting and caring for trees plays an important part in the quality of life and environmental health of their community.”
Public Can Vote Online
A new component will be added to the judging of the 2009 contest posters. For the first time students, teachers, and other visitors to the Foundation’s Web site, www.arborday.org, can help select a finalist for the national competition. From March 30 through April 3, visitors can select their favorite poster. The entry with the most number of votes will automatically move to the final round of judging.
How to Enter
To enter the contest, students, teachers and parents can visit www.arborday.org/postercontest for contest rules and entry guidelines. The site includes information on how to request the free 2009 contest materials as well as extensive, downloadable activity guides that teachers can incorporate into the contest.
Prizes will be awarded to first-, second- and third-place winners. The national winner, his or her parents, and the teacher of the winning student will receive an expense-paid trip to the National Arbor Day Awards Weekend in Nebraska City in April 2009. The national winner also will receive a $1,000 savings bond, a lifetime membership to the Arbor Day Foundation, a tree planted in his or her name and a framed color copy of his or her poster. The national winner’s teacher will receive $200.
The second- and third-place winners will each receive savings bonds and trees will be planted in their honor. Prizes also will be awarded on the state level.
More about Arbor Day: On January 4, 1872, J. Sterling Morton first proposed a tree-planting holiday to be called “Arbor Day” at a meeting of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture. The date was set for April 10, 1872. Prizes were offered to counties and individuals for planting properly the largest number of trees on that day. More than one million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day. Now, 136 years later, each April, millions of trees are planted all across the United States in celebration of Arbor Day.
Top or Archives
Bernheim ECO Kids January Programs
Provided by Joe Yurt
Youth and Public Programs Educator
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Meet an eagle up close and personal. At the Education Center, come anytime between 1:00 and 3:30 p.m., $8 per family for members, $12 per family for others, registration not required.
Extraordinary Rocks, January 17
View decorative rocks and displays of the ancient art of flint knapping. At the Education Center, come anytime between 11:00 a.m. and 4 p.m., free, registration not required.
The Beauty of the Winter Landscape, January 24
Go on a self-guided visual scavenger hunt in the arboretum to discover some of the trees and plants that are “stars” in the winter landscape. Starts at the Visitor Center anytime between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., free, registration not required.
Getting to Know Trees in Winter, January 31
Learn tree lore and tree identification tips. Starts at the Education Center, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., $7 for members, $10 for others, advance registration required.
For additional program information and group rates contact Joe Yurt, (502) 955-8512 or at jyurt@bernheim.org. Please visit the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest Web site at www.bernheim.org.
Top or Archives
Blackacre Lecture Series, January-April 2009
Provided by June Sandercock
Blackacre Nature Preserve
Starting in January, the Blackacre Conservancy will be hosting a lecture series on the third Thursday evening of the month through April. Join us for appetizers and cocktails in the 1844 Presley Tyler Visitors Center for what's certainly going to be a series of fascinating discussions. Refreshments are served at 6 pm; lectures begin at 6:30. RSVP required, please call (502) 266-9802. $15 per lecture or $55 for the series. We hope to see you there!
The series will feature the following lectures:
Quilting - From Bees to Billions
Thursday, January 16 at 6 pm
Join Linda Slye and members of the Kentucky Heritage Quilt Society for a look at quilts and quilting - today and yesteryear. Explore the local quilting scene. Learn how a quilt can earn $20,000. Expand your vocabulary - rotary cutter, long arm, Thangles, fat quarters, photo transfer, art quilt, bed turning. And no self-respecting quilt gathering is complete without "show and tell"; bring your quilts and share a time-honored Kentucky tradition.
The Tyler Family - Blackacre's First Settlers
Thursday, February 19 at 6 pm
Join historian Joellen Tyler Johnston as she shares her vast knowledge of Blackacre's first pioneer family. You'll learn about early settlement in Louisville and Jeffersontown area, along with interesting stories of the Tyler family and why they chose to make their home at Blackacre. Joellen, a Tyler family descendent and author of The First 200 Years in Jeffersontown, will bring history to life as we focus on Blackacre's early years.
From Pub to Shining Sea - A Casual Tour of Ireland
Thursday, March 19 at 6 pm
From quaint country pubs to Druid circles on farm lands, rainbow-colored villages to the medieval streets of Galway, Matthew Sandercock will lead you on a casual tour of the spectacular scenery and captivating quirkiness that is modern-day Ireland. Matthew's trip to the Emerald Isle in November 2007 began and ended in Dublin with stops in Glendalough, Avoca, Waterford, Cashel, Cahir, Blarney, Cobb, Killarney, Dingle, Galway, Kilronan, and Newgrange. Matthew will provide helpful travel tips such as the art of mastering one lane roads from the right-hand side of the car, finding elusive parking, and avoiding oncoming sheep! Matthew's wonderful photos will certainly be something to look forward to!
Mother Nature's Medicine Cabinet
Thursday, April 16 at 6 pm
Herbs have been used for medicinal purposes for millions of years. Katie Clark, owner of Porch Time Herbals, will talk about medicinal uses of various plants and herbs, easily obtained either by walking out your back door or buying from your local nursery. Katie will identify herbs that can be used to treat simple illnesses such as colds, flu, stomach distress, bites, stings, infected cuts and poison ivy. She will also discuss proper ways to harvest, preserve, and store herbs for medicinal use, including the preparation of oils, tinctures and salves.
Top or Archives
The Earth Charter
Provided by Dr. David Wicks, Coordinator
JCPS Center for Environmental Education
The Earth Charter is a declaration of systemic ideas that provide a hopeful way forward to a just, peaceful and sustainable world. The charter is built around four fundamental principles that should guide our thinking:
Respect and Care for the Community of Life
Ecological Integrity
Social and Economic Justice
Democracy, Nonviolence and Peace
The Earth Charter was initially proposed in the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The Charter Secretariat spent 8 years working with delegates from over 50 counties to form the document. With leadership from Mikhail Gorbachev, Maurice Strong, Jane Goodall, Wangari Muta Maathai and 65 others the Charter was formally approved in 2000 in the Netherlands. The Charter is envisioned to be an international document similar to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Charter of the United Nations. In 2005, The Earth Charter in Action: Toward a Sustainable World was published by KIT Publishers in Amsterdam. The essays organized around the Earth Charter principles provide a variety of perspectives of how the Charter is influencing policy and prompting action around the world.
One might ask, what does this have to do with Louisville or with the Commonwealth of Kentucky? The answer is that the Earth Charter is relevant and I believe should be an organizing document for our work. Louisville’s international connections are strong and we must build upon them to become a leader in new sustainable strategies. Louisville is undertaking many initiatives that directly support individual Earth Charter initiatives, including the 21st Century Parks, Project Win, the Urban Renewal initiatives, the U of L Muhammad Ali Institute and JCPS’ new student assignment plan. We need to be clear that, in addition to leading, our city of Louisville and our commonwealth has much to learn from the world community.
In summary, Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Secretary General of the former USSR, writes about his views on the Charter in the Earth Charter in Action:
I believe that the world is confronted today with three major challenges which encompass all other programs: the challenge of security, including the risk associated with weapons of mass destruction and terrorism; the challenge of poverty and underdeveloped economies; and the challenge of environmental sustainably….No national government, even that of a superpower, nor group of counties, even the richest ones, can meet these challenges alone…. The only answer is a universal coalition of informed, responsible and active citizens. Hence the importance of initiatives like the Earth Charter which, from an idea shared by a handful of like- minded individuals, has developed into a mass movement supported by millions of people worldwide.
For more information about the Earth Charter, contact Dr. David Wicks at (502) 485-3295.
Top or Archives
National K-12 Sustainability Listserv
The K-12 and Teacher Education sector of the U.S. Partnership of Education for Sustainable Development has launched the first national listserv for K-12 educators focused specifically on the topic of education for sustainability. Educators involved in teaching students in any subject in the K-12 arena are encouraged to join. The goal of the SustainK-12 Listserv is for educators to communicate and collaborate on strategies to integrate education for sustainability into the teaching and operations of U.S. K-12 schools. There are two ways to join the listserv:
1) Go to https://listserver.itd.umich.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=sustaink12 and join; or
2) Send an email message to sustaink12-request@umich.edu with the word "subscribe" in the subject line of your message.
Top or Archives
Summer Work for High School Students
Provided by Dr. David Wicks, Coordinator
JCPS Center for Environmental Education
The Student Conservation Assocation is looking to select high school students to work on conservation crews. Crew members must be between 15 and 19 years old.
High school students work in groups of six to eight supervised by two young adults (over 21) in natural areas across the United States including Alaska and Hawaii. They work on building trails, conservation projects and ecological research initiatives. The program is free, but students must pay their own transportation costs and a $25.00 application fee. There are scholarship funds to pay for transportation for families who can not afford it. Check out the Student Conservation Assocation Web site or give David Wicks a call at (502) 485-3295 to find out more.
Top or Archives
Updates from the Multicultural Education Office
2009 Black Family in America Conference, March 12-15
Provided by Aukram Burton
Specialist
JCPS Department of Diversity, Equity and Poverty Programs
The "36th National Conference on the Black Family in America" will be held on March 12-15 at the Hotel Louisville Downtown, 120 West Broadway. This year's theme is the "Achievement Gap in the Black Community." The principal speakers are Dr. James Banks (University of Washington), Dr. Pedro Noguera (The Metropolitan Center for Urban Education), Dr. Molefi Asante (Temple University), and Dr. Janic Hale (Wayne State University).
The conference will begin at 10 am on Thursday, March 12 and will end at approximately 11:30 am on Sunday, March 15. Registration begins at 9 am on both March 12 and March 13. The registration fees are as follows:
Regular Registration - $175 (Advance by 2/25/09), $200 (On-site after 2/25/09)
Full-time Students & Senior Citizens - $140 (Advance by 2/25/09), $190 (On-site after 2/25/09)
Daily Registration (no meals) - $80
Title I funds will be available for parents to attend the BFC 2009. Parents MUST have a student who is enrolled in a Title I school and participates in the free/reduced lunch program. If you have any questions about eligibility for Title I assistance for registration, please contact Sheila Goodpaster-Troyer at (502) 485-6285 or email:
Sheila.Goodpaster-Troyer@Jefferson.kyschools.us
Click here to download a registration form.
Top or Archives
UofL Repertory Company to Offer Free Performances, Spring 2009
Provided by Russell Vandenbroucke, Professor and Chair
UofL Department of Theatre Arts
The University of Louisville Repertory Theatre Company is once again offering free performances for JCPS this school year. The Company will present Who Needs a Habitat Anyway? and The Dancing Turtle. The performances are held on-site at your school. To schedule a performance, please contact Joy Meeks at (502) 852-5922.
Who Needs a Habitat Anyway?
Written by Nefertiti Burton and directed by Laura Early, this thirty-minute participatory play raises awareness about how we, as a species, are degrading our environment. It invites young people to engage in dialogue about how we can change our ways. The play is aimed at K-8 audiences.
The Dancing Turtle
Written by Nefertiti Burton and directed by Robert O. Greene, this story of friendship and courage takes place on the coast of Brazil. It is designed for elementary school audiences.
Click here to download additional information.
Top or Archives
Cultural Diversity News and Resources
2009 Crane House Teaching in Asia Program
Provided by Lillian Hwang Peiper
Director of Education
Crane House, The Asia Institute
Crane House, The Asia Institute, Inc., announces its 21st Summer Teaching-in-Asia Program in July 2009. Teachers will conduct a short-term, intensive, English-training program for teachers and/or students in China or Vietnam. Host teaching sites provide free rooming, meals, and short day-trips. Cultural opportunities abound!
A cost is associated with the program, but generous subsidies are available to teachers who qualify. Classroom teaching experience is required. Both practicing and retired teachers in any discipline, from K through collegiate levels, may apply. Crane House conducts orientation sessions beginning in February and required training sessions through June. Crane House also provides teaching materials.
Facts:
1. Program dates: Wed., 7/8/09 through Fri., 7/31/09. Post-teaching tour opportunities immediately following TIA program.
2. Meals, rooming, day trips: All FREE - provided by host teaching site.
3. Teaching experience: Yes, required. Practicing & retired teachers in any discipline from K through collegiate levels may apply. Extensive teaching experience in lieu of certification is considered.
4. Training sessions: Crane House conducts orientation and training from February through June.
5. Teaching materials: Crane House provides books, materials, and their shipping to Asia beforehand.
6. Travel plans: Crane House coordinates all travel arrangements - flights, visa, passport, etc. - but does not pay for any associated personal fees.
7. Travel subsidy: Generous funding provided by the Freeman Foundation to teachers who qualify.
For a Teaching-in-Asia application, please see www.cranehouse.org link, Teach in Asia. For additional information, call Crane House’s Director of Education at (502) 635-2240, or email
education@cranehouse.org.
Top or Archives
Ali Center To Honor Dr. King’s Legacy
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, the Ali Center will show the film of Dr. King’s legendary “I Have a Dream” speech given in 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., January 17-19, 2009. Plus, travel back in time through the Ali Center’s 21⁄2 levels of award-winning exhibits. Explore the Civil Rights Movement and experience the triumphs of notable African Americans throughout history.
The “I Have a Dream” speech is approximately 60 minutes and will be shown Saturday at 12 noon, 1:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Monday, January 19, on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. The film will be shown every hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is FREE. A tour of the exhibits is regular admission price. Educators interested in related curriculum and/or scheduling a student group showing may contact Fronda Yancy at (502) 992-5303 or fyancy@alicenter.org. For general information, call (502) 584-9254 or go online to www.alicenter.org. In the spirit of Dr. King, we hope you will make plans to share the “dream” with us.
Top or Archives
Celebrate African-American History Month at the Ali Center
Make plans to attend the Muhammad Ali Center’s annual Find Greatness Within Series – cultural programs held two Sundays in February at the Center. The series of programs feature African- American heritage, music, storytelling and expressions of unity while incorporating into the experience the core values embraced by Muhammad Ali and the Ali Center. Each program includes a performance and interactive audience activity that focuses on significant elements of African-American history and reflect those core values: respect, confidence, conviction, dedication, giving and spirituality. Audience members will also discover how these six values play a role in finding the greatness within ourselves.
The first program, Follow the Beat of Your Own Drum/Step in Harmony, will be held Sunday, February 8 from 2 – 4 p.m. Discover the significance of drum-making in African heritage. Enjoy performances by the River City Drum Corp and receive a pair of drum sticks (while supplies last). Learn about various expressions of unity and their role in African-American history. Enjoy performances by the Imani Dance Company and the Soljettes Dance Team who will make you get up and dance! Receive a piece of ethnic cloth used in the dance performance as a colorful token of the experience.
The second program, Sing Loud and Proud/Let Your Voice Be Heard, will take place Sunday, February 22 from 2 – 4 p.m. Explore and experience how African Americans have used music and the spoken word to express themselves during tumultuous times in history. Learn the art of storytelling through musical performances by the Pod-Ville Theatre. Receive a copy of the lyrics from the inspirational song I Need You to Survive.
Tickets are $5 per person per program and can be purchased by calling (502) 992-5329. Seating is limited, so please call for availability. For more information, go online to www.alicenter.org. Be a part of this inspirational and memorable celebration of African American History at the Muhammad Ali Center.
Top or Archives
January Books and Resources at the LFPL
Provided by Lisa Sizemore, Director
Office of School Support
Louisville Free Public Library
Multicultural books for January at the Louisville Free Public Library:
 |
For 1st – 4th Grades: |
 |
For 3rd – 5th Grades: |
 |
For Middle School Students:
|
 |
For High School Students: |
Database Spotlight: You can access many databases for free with your library card at our library’s website: www.lfpl.org/research/Subjects/atozdatabaselist.asp.
Lands and Peoples Online: Need to research Columbia for a school assignment? Ever wanted to travel to Egypt? Would you like to know what the flag of India looks like? Then look no further than the Lands and Peoples Database. It contains maps, flags, and reference articles about the land, people, economy, and history of countries around the world. Some countries’ information includes recipes and links to related Web sites.
Programs at the Louisville Free Public Library that celebrate diversity, multiculturalism and the world in January and early February include:
Children’s Programs
It IS Easy Being Green - Tuesday, January 6, 7 p.m. Learn ways for kids live sustainability. Ages: 3 – 8. Highlands-Shelby Park Library.
World History for Homeschoolers - Thursday, January 8, 2 p.m. Topic: Russia. Call 245-7332 to register. Ages: 6-12. Middletown Library.
Celebrate American Indian Culture with David Michael Tolb - Tuesday, January 20, 6:30 p.m. Fairdale Library.
Stories from Around the World - Wednesday, January 14, 11 a.m. Join storyteller Cynthia Changaris as she shares stories from around the world and sings songs with her guitar, flute and dulcimer. Ages: 3 – 5. St. Matthews Library.
Remember, Celebrate, Act - Thursday, January 15, 1:30 p.m. Learn more about Civil Rights Hero, Martin Luther King Jr., through a scavenger hunt. Homeschoolers welcome. Ages: 7 – 16. Southwest Library.
African American Read-in - Monday, February 2, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Presented by Alpha Kappa Alpha. All ages. Western Library.
Teen Anime Clubs
Join our monthly anime clubs as we explore Japanese culture and the art form of animated film. This program is usually geared toward 12-18 year olds.
Iroquois Library: Thursday, January 8, 4 p.m.
Main Library: Tuesday, January 13, 4 p.m.
Fairdale Library: Wednesday, January 14, 4 p.m.
Okolona Library: Tuesday, January 20, 3:30 p.m.
Portland Library: Tuesday, January 20, 4:30 p.m.
Teen Outpost at the Mid City Mall: Wednesday, January 21, 4:30 p.m.
St. Matthews Library: Tuesday, January 27, 4 p.m.
Programs for High School Students and Adults
The French Circle - Saturday, January 3, 12:30 p.m. Dr. Charles Pooser, French professor at IUS and Vice President of the Alliance Française de Louisville will lead the discussion - in French. Iroquois Branch.
How to Embody Peace Every Day - Tuesday, January 6, 2 p.m.
Leaders from the Louisville School of Metaphysics bring several Nobel Peace Laureates to life across time and space in a demonstration exploring peace in ourselves and in our world. Crescent Hill Library.
2008: Reduced, Reused & Recycled! - Thursday, January 13, 3:30 p.m.
Bring in your old calendars and turn them into envelopes, beads, boxes and collages. Southwest Library
Community Book Club - Freakonomics: a Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything. Friday, January 16, 11:30 - 1 p.m. Join us and the Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission for a lively book discussion. Bring a sack lunch; drinks are provided. Iroquois Branch.
Top or Archives
National Acrobats of China
The National Acrobats of China will visit Louisville on February 21 at 8 pm at the Brown Theater. Treat your family or friends to a dazzling performance of martial arts, traditional music, acrobatics and illusion by China's premiere acrobatic troupe. For more than 50 years, the National Acrobats of China have been thrilling audiences with their incredible feats of juggling, tumbling, cycling, spinning, balancing and sheer theatrical brilliance. They've won every major international circus award and toured in over thirty countries around the globe. Soon, these 40 unbelievable artists will come to the Brown Theatre to take your breath away.
Tickets are limited. First come, first served. For information about ticket prices and how to obtain tickets, please contact Bok-Soon Slayton at (502) 635-2240 or bslayton@cranehouse.org.
Top or Archives
Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities, 2009
Provided by Aukram Burton
Specialist
JCPS Department of Diversity, Equity and Poverty Programs
The 2009 Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities will be held on Monday and Tuesday, May 4 & 5, 2009, at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. We hope you will join many advocates, consumers, researchers, and practitioners at this annual conference to learn about the latest developments in more than a dozen topic areas. The Independent Living topic area will focus on the following seven questions: 1.) What do we want independent living to be in the 21st century? 2.) What does independent living mean? 3.) Who defines an individual's independence? 4.) How are perceptions of choice about independent living defined? 5.) How does independent living change across and within cultures, space, time, disability experiences? 6.) How has independent living evolved since the 1970s? and 7.) How does independent living relate to educational settings?
The invited, featured speaker for this topic area is disability civil rights singer, songwriter, and activist, Johnny Crescendo. Originally from England, in 1993 Johnny Crescendo founded the Direct Action Network (DAN), an organization that uses public demonstrations and non-violent civil disobedience to increase the awareness and liberation of disabled people. DAN became instrumental in getting the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995 passed in the United Kingdom (UK) and for getting commitments from the UK government to make all transport accessible. Johnny moved to the United States in 2004 and is now based at the Liberty Resources Philadelphia Center for Independent Living. Johnny will discuss his work as the founder of ALFIE, (Alliance for Inclusive Education), bringing disability issues and disability culture into schools as part of developing inclusive practice. His most recent CD, Rollover, features "The Ballad of Roy and Julie," which highlights the issues of women with learning difficulties being forced to give their children up for adoption. In addition to Johnny Crescendo, the Independent Living topic area will highlight other presenters in breakout and topical sessions who will discuss various issues relating to emergency preparedness, international Independent Living activities, art, identity, diversity, disability culture and more.
Go to www.pacrim.hawaii.edu for more details about the Pacific Rim Conference and to http://www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/submissions to start the abstract submission process. For further information about the Independent Living topic area, please contact Steve Brown at
sebrown@hawaii.edu.
Top or Archives
Global Connections: Staying in Touch with Culture and Environment is a monthly publication of the JCPS Office of Equity, Diversity and Multicultural Education and the JCPS Center for Environmental Education. All submissions to the newsletter must be sent to Catherine Collesano, Editor, at catherine.collesano@jefferson.kyschools.us or fax (502) 485-3762 the Monday before the publication date. If you are interested in becoming a subscriber or a contributor to Global Connections, please contact the editor at the above email address.
www.jcpsky.net
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Offering Equal Educational
Opportunities