Tag Archives: education

Social Change Rockstar: Meet Colleen Hinds


Posted by ajlovesya
Photo from Echoing Green

Colleen Hinds, Photo from Echoing Green

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of meeting some of the finalists for the echoing green fellowship.  Colleen Hinds’ idea—the creation of boarding schools, the Jamaica Leadership Academy,  to combat brain drain in Jamaica and foster interest in social change—really stood out to me so I asked her if she would let me interview her.  Once again, her thoughtfulness and insight continue to inspire me and I hope you all enjoy it as well!  She is also looking for enthusiastic people to help her move forward so please contact her if you would like to get involved.

What was the inspiration behind this idea?

The inspiration behind The Jamaica Leadership Academy has come from several sources. I would say the biggest contributors have been growing up hearing about the large disparity in educational experience and opportunity my parents experienced in Jamaica, with one going to a top boarding school and later to Law School in the states and the other, based on economics and access, not being able to complete secondary school.  This problem became of more interest to me as I saw this mirrored in my own experience.

When my family moved to the suburbs of South Jersey, I left the private Catholic School experience behind in Paterson NJ to attend an equally high quality public school in the suburbs.  I thought to myself “why wasn’t this good public/free education afforded to every child regardless of where they lived?”

As I completed my M.A. abroad in 2006, I spent ½ of the year in Jamaica and the other ½ in London.  There, I chose to look at the feasibility of community boarding schools as a way to create an intentional community that nurtures intellectual potential and social development. In Jamaica I spent time at schools that ran the gamut of the elite government schools, the skill training school, and the All-Age schools that stop formal education at grade 9.  It was in this space that I decided to effect change for the disempowered many falling through the chasm between the “best” schools and the “worst”.  The mission of The Jamaica Leadership Academy is not only to provide a college-preparatory opportunity and safety, but also to create a pipeline of capable and experienced graduates passionate about invigorating the many in need areas of Jamaican society for decades to come.

How has your idea been received in Jamaica?

I have been so overwhelmed with the positive support I have gotten thus far in Jamaica. Mr. Jasper Lawrence, the CEO for the Ministry of Education supported the project by organizing a presentation to a large group of stakeholders back in December.  Most recently I met with the Core Curriculum Unit to see how JLA can integrate relevant issues of social justice and raise the bar on rigor and alignment in our curriculum. A large issue is “brain drain” which we plan to counter with knowledge and experience that instills a sense of local loyalty in our alumni.

Many of my former professors at UTech and UWI have been extremely helpful as program advisors. Many others have given moral support and extended their own relationships and networks to support in anyway they can. I look forward to building new relationships of support through the larger Jamaican diaspora here in the US who will play a large role in sustainable development especially since 20% of student enrolment will be open to the larger diaspora.

What have been some of the challenges in starting your project?

Really the largest challenge thus far has been accessing additional Human Capital. As a full time administrator at a charter school in New Jersey, people have been surprised at how much energy I have been able to put into The Jamaica Leadership Academy. Despite the time restraints, I have made it a priority to take 5 trips to Jamaica in the past 12 months to continue the process of planning and implementation. I would love to find someone equally passionate (and disturbed) by the disparity that continues to persist in Jamaica’s educational system, to come on board.

Another challenge has been finding sustainable funding prospects. One of the major challenges of bringing access to quality education for all of Jamaica’s children is grounded in funding. For a nation that spends nearly 60% of its income on debt repayment, there is very little left for capital investment in social services that include education. Currently, there is a deficit of secondary school spaces that come close to 3,000.

Although our model takes this into consideration by covering nearly 25% of all expenses through sustainable development projects such as renewable wind energy and a community barter system called STEP, we need several committed capital investors to build a campus that provides safety, develops intellect in science and technology labs and nurtures social development so that these children can go on to compete for spots in top universities around the world and ultimately return to effect large scale change for the social and economic dilemmas plaguing the country.

Lastly, because there has not been a radical transformation of education in Jamaica in decades, the idea of Charter Schools, that combine autonomous partnerships and firm accountability, is largely foreign.  Shifting the mindset of those government entities, teachers, parents and communities alike who label children as “worthless” will be a long and tedious process.  JLA will show the world that “average” and underperforming children, who have a fierce ambition, can become extra-ordinary people with hard work, opportunity and lots of affirmation.

What resources have been helpful?

So far, ordinary, bright and interested people have been the most helpful. From friends who have taken time out of their schedule to travel to Jamaica with me and sign up as my applicant coaches, to parents who continue to champion me every step of the way.

Professionally, going through the rigorous applicant process for the Echoing Green Fellowship has been extremely helpful in clarifying the nuances of the model that had not previously been developed. It forced me to think critically and plan strategically. Teach for America’s Social Entrepreneur Initiative has been helpful in seeing me through the last phase of the Echoing Green application process.

What advice do you have for those who want to start their own school?

I don’t know if I’m the best person to give this advice (yet) but I would use the old saying “measure twice, cut once”.  It is really, really important to get on the ground and do the research. Find out if what you WANT to do, will meet the need of those who you are trying to serve!  Humble yourself and seek resources. Use every obstacle as a learning lesson. Lastly, I would say listen closely to the nay-sayers and use their criticism as mortar, to fill the gaps in your idea.  If is something you are truly passionate about, keep pushing forward and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

What kind of support do you need now?

At this moment, The Jamaica Leadership Academy needs committed seed money to start a pilot day school model in 2010.  The good thing about new social initiatives is that it is fertile ground to gain valuable experience.  We need someone with non-profit development experience or one looking to gain that experience who can spearhead long-term sustainable development. We also need someone to manage the communications and social networking that will be critical to investing the larger diaspora in the UK, Cananda and here in the U.S.

You don’t have to be Jamaican to help! For the many that see Jamaica as a paradise location for summer vacation, those who have connected with the warm local families, and those who have a cultural conscience that longs for home, we need you!

Can people contact you if they want to help out/get involved?

Of course! People who have an interest, a passion, or expertise that may help support the mission of JLA can definitely contact me directly through the website www.jaleadershipacademy.com or by email at founder@jaleadershipacademy.com. I am in the process of organizing at will voluntary tasks that anyone interested can do after a brief orientation to the mission and vision.


Academic Research and the Problem of "Othering"


Posted by ajlovesya

There was a great article in the New York Times yesterday about Zora Neale Hurston’s hometown Eatonville, FL and how it tries to preserve its legacy in the face of tourism and academic research.

The article made me reflect on my own research experiences as an undergrad where I focused on the racial and sexual identities of black teens and what impact those indentities have on their views of education and career aspirations.  Essentially I had to get very close with the students which was not always easy.

Early on I noticed that the the consequence of academic research is the sense of “othering” that emerges.  It can feel like a drive by love affair: I come in, ask you personal questions, get you to trust me, we become intimate, but I leave, often severing any ties built.  My research is used by god knows who to do god knows what, presummably in your community, yet you have no idea of what the plans are.

However, what stood out to me in the NYT article were the demands that members of that community make when people want to “study” them. 

Advance permission is required for most interviews, and certain things — like the murals at Eatonville’s oldest church, painted by a white man, showing black men in the fields — are not allowed to be photographed.

Many in Eatonville, like Ms. Jones, a bold, confident teacher partial to bright red, still fear that their insular community will be misunderstood.

And yet, as the Hurston festival has expanded, a heightened level of hometown pride has also emerged. Young people, in particular, tend to see Eatonville as Hurston saw her entire race: beautiful, problems and all, no better, no worse and as proud, creative, hard-working, silly and mixed-up as other racial and ethnic groups in America.

That last line really hit me.  While various groups certainly have unique histories and unique experiences, it is crucial that we put their lives in the greater context of this country and of our own lives.  The more we realize how connected our stories are and how our behaviors impact others the less likely we are to remove ourselves.  We should push ourselves to be objective while being dedicated to the people–not just the project.

We should spend time learning about the community itself before conducting our research, paying attention the boundaries, rules, and codes in place and respecting them.

We should be upfront about what our goals are and what we intend to do with our research.  While we all have specific goals and interests in our research that must be met, whatever we produce should be shared in terms that the community in which we researched could understand.

We should give something back.  If your research pushes you to advocacy and encourages you to continue building relationships, that’s an excellent outcome.  We can also ask what needs there are in the community and investigate how we can help–perhaps that question alone can inform your research. 

We should discuss our research with the community before we conduct it.  Why?  Not to throw your ideas out of the window, but to better inform them. 

I came into a neighborhood looking to talk about sexuality and ended up focusing on a problematic organization that ignored and mistreated the teens.  I certainly paid attention to sexuality but had I not enaged the teens on what was important to them at that time I would have missed how the organization treats them based on their views of sex.  Additionally, maybe they know a person to talk to or an organization to contact. 

Most undergraduate research is controlled in terms of topic and time.  But I really recommend restructuring how we be deliberate and thoughtful in our approach so that understanding and trust is built early on.


Redefining the Role of College


Posted by ajlovesya

As I have indicated before, I love my college experience mainly because of what it exposed me to and the kind of woman it has allowed me to become. My life has been enriched immensely because of the mentors and friends that I met and I wouldnt trade the last four years for anything. However, there is a growing demand for more concrete examples of the importance of college. In the end, people are asking, “Is college necessary for us to become competent and competitive citizens?”

When it comes to job related skills you never learn how to do a job until you actually do it. No amount of schooling can show you how to become a lawyer, doctor, teacher, or any other profession until you are on site getting your hands dirty. But school has rarely been about tangible skills—it has been about capital; acquiring the networks, credentials, and mannerisms necessary to give you a foot in the door. People (not just employers) use it as a screening mechanism to assess intelligence. This practice is done with good reason: while two-thirds of all jobs require a college degree, a little more than a quarter of those who start school actually finishes, making a college degree seem that much more impressive.

At the same time, I can think of no other place where skill development is easier than in college. My alma mater practically threw money at us to secure internships, start clubs, and implement programs (locally, nationally, and abroad). The job I landed in New York never once asked for my transcript; rather they asked me about experiences where I was in the lead, where I had to take control of an issue, or where I was creative and innovative when addressing a problem. I had amazing experiences in college because I took my college’s money (and networks) and got my hands dirty as much as I could. Unlike the “real world” where failing projects and programs cost tons of money and time, in college the consequences are less dramatic making it an ideal place to cultivate leadership through trial and error.

College seems useless because the emphasis is on the content, rather than the process and the application of knowledge. I don’t think there is anything inherently wrong with theory, for example. However, requiring me to memorize a theory and recite it in a way that is pleasing to the professor is pointless. Why not take that theory and require that I apply it through an internship at a local organization? Or have me critique a theory using data and field work? And if the goal is to have me develop important skills such as critical thinking, then historical events must be examined next to current events to assess patterns and thus making knowledge more relevant.

At the end of the day, the world is changing and colleges must redefine their role in it as we as a nation struggle to redefine the importance of education overall. On the one hand, we view education as the “great equalizer”; yet if this is true the exorbitant prices of a college education must be addressed. If college is crucial for a successful future, then the discussions need to focus on retention, not just recruitment. There seems to be resistance and a desire to stick to older notions of the importance of the academy, like knowledge for the sake of knowledge or college being a place of comradery and fun. The former are important yet must work well with a sense preparation for the world that lay ahead.


Missing the Point about Youth


Posted by ajlovesya

A while ago “Men United for a Better Philadelphia” had a talk that featured Bill Cosby. Nothing said was earth shattering—in fact the talk itself was rather boring. I left a little frustrated not because of the usual “all talk and no action” atmosphere that generally cloaks these events but because I think a lot of people misunderstand what it means to be a young person in today’s world.

It is not enough to simply “mentor” young people: taking them to play basketball and play cards with them in order to “keep them off the streets.” While I understand the importance of strong families and positive relationships, we are dealing with a collective systemic failure that requires more than friendship and kind words. The issue with youth, in particular “inner city youth” is that there is a lack of constructive engagement: utilizing and developing their skills in a way that demonstrates their importance to their communities and to the world at large. It is unfortunate to send them into a world feeling unloved but it is sabotage to send them into a world with no skills.

In other words, there is a disconnect that is greater than just whether or not the older generation likes the young generation. It extends to perception of what the younger generation needs and if the older generation can or is willing to fulfill that need. Below I listed 4 major changes to black youth that need to be considered when trying to reach us.

1. We do not view leadership the way older folks do. This does not mean we don’t appreciate the sacrifices of the older generation yet our leaders are coming from the studio and the business office, not the church. In fact, we don’t even go to church and those of us who do are all too aware of pastors who have sexual relationships with their parishioners, gossip about others instead of making them feel welcomed, and using god as an excuse not think critically and offer real solutions to real problems. In other words we are disillusioned with the origins of many older leaders and have begun looking elsewhere for our own.

2. We are concerned about our jobs. We want to work, we want love what we do, love who we do it with. The older model of working until retirement, working all day just to get by, working with one company for the rest of your life, and working with no fulfillment in and outside of your job is not only out of sync with our generation but out of sync with the general changes in the work force.

Who stays at the same job for 30 years? Please. I work to expand my skills so I can move on to the next big thing. Who works 80 hour weeks so they can retire at 65? Please. I am all about time flexibility and mini retirements throughout my lifetime. Working towards retirement implies that you hate your job and we don’t have time to do stuff we don’t like.

3. We do not identify solely around race. I for one am deeply concerned about gender related issues. Others are concerned about their sexuality. Most focus on their age and their income. What does this mean? It means making us chant in Swahili, going on and on about Kwanzaa, or discussing ad nauseum older leaders in the most uncontroversial way are pointless. If you are going to talk about race, don’t just focus on the oppression and don’t focus on the same old people in the same old way. You do us and the community a great disservice by acting as though nothing has happened beyond 1969.

4. We are part of the mainstream—for better or worse. Not only are we present in the mainstream but we are eager to join the mainstream. We see the wealth and we see the privilege and that’s what we want. I have said this before and I will say it again: African-Americans are AMERICANS. While we may have unique experiences we are not immune from the general trends of the nation. And in a capitalist system if it can be marketed and sold, it will.

There was a period of time when you couldn’t find a black movie to watch and had to stay up late just to hear some hip hop. Now we are every where—America and abroad—catering to a wide range of audiences. Young blacks are growing up feeling celebrated not ignored.

What does this mean? The trick is to empower us to create new images; to reclaim them and the own the institutions that create them, not boo hoo and go marching and bury the “n-word.” Whose battle was that? Not ours.


What I Learned in 2007


Posted by ajlovesya

First of all I cant believe that in a little over two weeks we will be bringing in the new year. And let me say, what a year this has been! Honestly, this has been the best year of my 21 years on this planet (that I can clearly remember). Igraduated from college, got my first “real job,” found confidence to kick people out of my life who were toxic, and really started having a crush on myself! lol I became more confident and really starting appreciating life more. So I wrote down 5 things that I learned this year that I believe have made me a better person and have granted me a bit more sanity.

1. Do not underestimate the transformative power of college.

When I graduated I ran into people who honestly questioned why I went to college. “You don’t need a college education to get a good job.” Well first of all, a myriad of statistics refute that claim. The reality is college graduates earn more than non graduates; college graduates are more likely to be employed and stay employed; that the benefits of college extend to the person’s family and 70% of jobs require an education beyond high school. There are several reasons for this, many not related to productivity, but there you have it. However, this DOES NOT mean that a person with a college degree is BETTER than a person without. It just means that they will earn more. The issue is that people connect money earned with personal worth which is major social fallacy.

In any case, people look at college as a way to get a job and I definitely understand the pressure to do so. However, when I reflect on my college years, it becomes clear that there is more to college than job opportunities. How many “jobs” give you grants to study in any country and any topic of your choice with the requirement that you “learn something?” How many “jobs” are characterized by the freedom to learn and grow as a person and as a citizen? How many “jobs” hold the center of intellectual debates and democratic growth for an entire nation? How many “jobs” embody the aspirations and desires of people and have done so for centuries? The answer to these questions lies in my college experience. I would not be as strong intellectually and personally if I didn’t go to college. The environment is conducive to self reflection and taking ownership of one’s life; a stark difference from the “real world” where people just get by, do their 9 to 5, very rarely reflecting and working for personal change.

I tell my siblings to go to college not just for “job” prospects and advancing earning potential. Rather I tell them to go GROW. Go become more confident and take advantage of the fact that the only requirement of you for 4 years is that you learn—that you come out better than when you went in. That you take advantage of debate teams, art clubs, study abroad opportunities, and sports. That you indulge in this freedom, this potential to be your best—because it comes and goes so quickly and if you sleep on it you will lose it for good.

The battle we should wage is to make college affordable so that everyone can have this privilege and to strengthen the colleges that exist to retain and better help students who struggle. It is sickening that the amount of students facing prohibitive debt is increasing and that many colleges act as greedy businesses rather than places of opportunities for growth. Indeed, I recognize that my experience is not so common among my college educated peers; that many barely made it out of college with several dropping out and the ones who did share my experience tended to be wealthy. Fortunately, Congress is taking steps to address this problem—deciding on whether or not to require universities with certain endowments to spend a certain amount of money on financial aid. So there is work to be done, but the possibilities are worth it.

2. Be wary of the nonprofit mystique.

People get involved in non profits for the right reasons (usually). They want to change the world, eliminate social and economic injustice, and contribute to the greater good of their neighborhoods and countries. However, what people fail to realize is that not only is the nonprofit field huge (churches, hospitals, colleges/universities, your local community center, museums) and extremely wealthy (approx. $664.8 billion floating around in the nonprofit sphere in 1997 making up 6.1% of national income) but also each nonprofit is a social institution with its own culture. There are different rules, different types of leadership, and different working climates. Therefore, it is not just a nonprofit’s vision that you should look at: you should also examine how the organization works.

With this approach you will find that many nonprofits SUCK. There are horribly run, greedy, needy, weak, and defunct nonprofits out there that write nice mission statements to snare the optimistic excited young person starting their nonprofit career. Do not stick around at a nonprofit because you think it sounds good. Is it working well? Doing well? If the answer is no then keep it moving. It is ok to assess a nonprofit the way you assess a business. Indeed, since they claim to be in the business of helping people, there needs to be greater accountability.

3. Stay away from romanticizing people/places/events.

We all have people/places/events that we are very fond of. Many of us look back with nostalgia on major milestones in our lives. As evidenced above, I love my college experience and wouldn’t trade it for anything. However, it is all too easy for our love of something or someone to move very quickly to romanticization which can lead to dehumanization and distortion.

For example, how often have we heard stories that glorify poverty in developing nations as being “pure and true” living? How often have we watched people turn a blind eye to the savagery in our inner city neighborhoods because the kids are “so oppressed and can’t do any better?” How often have listened to older folks go on and on about the past—a past that was, for many, characterized by high rates of publicly supported domestic violence and grotesque business practices, laying the foundation for these issues to persist today?

When you romanticize a person, you dehumanize them by eliminating two things that make them human: agency and voice. I can promise you that while people are still dancing and singing in rural Africa at a special ceremony, the occasion does not eliminate their desire for clean water and housing. I know for a fact that kids, while poor, know better than to throw bricks at people and assault their neighbors.

And when you romanticize an event or place, you distort it, ignoring the bad and neglecting to see how far we have come and how much farther we need to go. While the past had its perks, we saw examples of savagery against the poor, against women, and against workers that is unparalleled in modern America (although obviously we still have work to do hence why we nonprofit workers exits).

So it is imperative to see the joy in your life and your community but still remain critical as to not let problems bubbling below the surface explode.

4. Having chemistry with someone doesn’t mean that they should be your lover.

This year I realized that I encountered many men with whom I had wonderful interactions and we both assumed that meant we were supposed to be lovers/partners. However, this doesn’t always need to be the case. In general I am attracted to men older than I am—who is to say that these men can’t be great mentors or friends? In fact, I think the desire to build a relationship off of what could be platonic chemistry actually ruins chances for great friendships. So now I take it slow and try not to underestimate the importance of building great non-romantic relationships.

5. Black pride is more than nice—it is necessary.

There are times when I am in awe of black history and the role of black Americans in the public imagination. A woman from a blog I frequent said it best so I won’t even try to imitate:

Because of my ancestry above all, I have had the drive and ambition to pursue those opportunities to the fullest, and have had a whole cavalcade of role models, from Dr. King and Malcolm X, to Bill Cosby himself, who are not only known to me and other black Americans, but are universally admired, from Thailand to Uruguay to Finland. I have a precious legacy like no other, and my gratitude for it is fathomless.

http://blackgirlshaven.blogspot.com/

The mistake that people make is assuming that pride automatically equates to hate/exclusion which is not true. And while black Americans are Americans whose existence is not totally separate from general American culture, we do have a unique history borne out of years of isolation, marginalization, and African origins; in fact I noticed many similarities between black Americans and Africans while I was in South Africa including food, music, hair/fashion, and how we socialize with each other.

But the bigger concern is our collective low self esteem that results in a kind of emotional savagery we inflict on each other that is unparalleled by whites. I have been made fun of for being dark skinned, for being smart, for my choice in clothes, for the way I speak, and for my interests. I have seen hatred by black men and black women towards each other, drastic acts of homophobia and all kinds of violence.

However the tragically low self esteem is not just a result of clinging to notions of whiteness as a guide; it is also comes from focusing on the sorrows of our history instead of our accomplishments. How on earth can we expect blacks to love being black when all we hear about is slavery and Jim Crow? Do people know that King had a PhD and that Malcolm X was self educated? Do people know about the snotty attitude of Zora Neale Hurston—who felt that she was not “tragically colored?” Are we aware of the intellectual power houses that have come before us and continue to be born every day? A positive identity is created not through oppression but through triumph—both experienced and learned.

So we must learn about the many accomplishments of our people and move forward.