Commitment to African Higher Education - $350M by 2010

Presidents of the seven U.S. foundations comprising the Partnership for Higher Education in Africa today announced their unanimous decision to continue both their collaborative and individual grantmaking
aimed at strengthening higher education in Africa beyond their original ten-year commitment.

The Partnership was created to strengthen Africa’s institutions of higher education so that they can better contribute to poverty reduction, economic growth and social development in their respective countries.  Outcomes from partners’ investments range from more and cheaper Internet bandwidth for universities and the establishment of research and training networks in the sciences and social sciences to the launch of a new Internet gateway for the collection and dissemination of research.

The presidents noted with great pride that by 2010, $350 million in Partnership grants will have assisted universities and other African institutions and programs dedicated to improving higher education access, excellence, research and diversity for men and women at select universities in Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Speaking on behalf of the seven foundation partners, Vartan Gregorian, the current rotating chair of the Partnership said, “By strengthening a core group of universities through collective and individual investments, the foundation partners have helped to nurture a rising generation of women and men who will contribute to the further development of democracy and civil society on the African continent.  To enable
universities to continue to address Africa’s many complex challenges, however, demands that we affirm our long-term commitment to build upon this progress.”

Launched in May 2000 by Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Ford Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and The Rockefeller Foundation, the Partnership for Higher Education in Africa represents both a belief in the importance and viability of higher education in Africa and a mechanism to provide meaningful assistance to its renaissance.

Between the Partnership’s establishment in 2000 and September 2005, the founding partners contributed more than $150 million to build core capacity and support special initiatives to further the development of higher education in six African countries: Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The Partnership was re-launched for a second five-year period on September 16, 2005. The re-launch represented several milestones. Two additional foundations joined the Partnership: the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Together, the six foundations pledged a minimum of $200 million over the next five years. A major initiative to supply cheaper and more reliable Internet access to Partnership grantees through a bandwidth consortium was announced at the re-launch. At the same time, Kenya was added to the list of Partnership countries. In 2006 Egypt and Madagascar became Partnership countries.

In April 2007, the Partnership welcomed its newest member, the Kresge Foundation.

The stories of twelve New York City Gold Key winners

The stories of twelve New York City Gold Key winners at Radiant Minds, the local exhibition and awards ceremony at the Brooklyn Museum.

Scholastic, Inc. was founded in 1927.  The Central New York Region has sponsored an annual art competition for over 55 years.  Scholastic’s Art Awards Program is the largest annual student art competition in Central New York and nationally. Over 5,000 entries are submitted to the CNY competition each year.

Art awards are given in 19 categories of 2 and 3 dimensional media.  Nationally, over 100 scholarships are offered each year to qualified seniors.  The CNY Region encompasses 13 counties and over 400 eligible schools.  More than 60 professional educators, artists, and photographers select the award winners.  Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention winners are recognized along with American Vision winners, Best of Show, scholarship winners and other cash award winners.

The entire awards show is broadcast to 19 counties in Central New York region by WCNY-TV.  The exhibit and opening reception are housed at the Whitney Applied Technology Center on the campus of Onondaga Community College, Syracuse, NY.

Google offers $10M for ideas that can ‘change the world’

If you could suggest a unique idea that would help as many people as possible, what would it be?

Google has unveiled a bold $10M effort to implement ideas that can “change the world.”  Project 10^100 (that’s “ten to the hundredth”) marks the 10th anniversary of the company and is meant to “celebrate the spirit of Google users and the web.”  All ideas need to be submitted by October 20, 2008.

“We’re launching  a call for ideas that could help as many people as possible, and a program to bring the best of those ideas to life,” says Andy Berndt, Managing Director, Google Creative Lab. “CNN will be covering this project, including profiles of ideas and the people who submit them from around the world.  For a deeper look, follow along at Impact Your World.”

Google noted that the ideas can be big or small, technology-driven or not. But they do have to have a potential positive impact on the world.  As part of the announcement Google provided some examples of projects that fall in line with the spirit of Project 10^100.

What are some examples of ideas we think are cool? A team of just two people are implementing a solution to help the millions of people who laboriously carry on their heads 5-gallon buckets of water for long distances by designing and distributing The Hippo Water Roller (www.hipporoller.org), a relatively inexpensive 24-gallon container that can be easily wheeled on the ground. First Mile Solutions (www.firstmilesolutions.com) is implementing simple but effective ideas for connecting isolated communities in developing countries to the Internet. One plan has communities tacking on Wi-Fi devices to public buses so they can detect and send stored emails and messages as the buses travel through unconnected areas. Google is excited to fund projects that similarly have a big impact.

Google provided the following categories for which it will be considering ideas:

• Community: How can we help connect people, build communities and protect unique cultures?
• Opportunity: How can we help people better provide for themselves and their families?
• Energy: How can we help move the world toward safe, clean, inexpensive energy?
• Environment: How can we help promote a cleaner and more sustainable global ecosystem?
• Health: How can we help individuals lead longer, healthier lives?
• Education: How can we help more people get more access to better education?
• Shelter: How can we help ensure that everyone has a safe place to live?
• Everything else: Sometimes the best ideas don’t fit into any category at all.

Healthy Lunches Help Kids’ Concentration in School

Healthy foods should be included on the list of back-to-school supplies for your children, says a University of Michigan Health System expert.

Dietitian Catherine Kraus explained that a healthy, balanced diet enables neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain) to function more efficiently, resulting in improved concentration and memory.

“Childhood is a crucial time when bodies are growing and brains are developing. Its so important to fuel the body with good nutrition, and teaching children smart eating habits at a young age is a great idea. It starts with the parents serving as the role model,” Kraus said in a university news release.

She suggested a number of ways for parents to provide well-balanced meals and snacks to give children the energy and nutrition they need to perform well at school.

Make sure children eat breakfast. Research has shown that children who skip breakfast don’t do as well in school as students who eat breakfast. A healthy breakfast includes a whole grain cereal, oatmeal or bread with a protein such as peanut butter or a hard-boiled egg. Including whole fruit instead of fruit juice adds more vitamins, minerals and fiber into the diet. Dairy products are acceptable as long as they’re in the form of fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt or cheese.

While many schools are striving to include healthier items on their lunch menus, there are still plenty of unhealthy items such as pizza, nachos, and sweetened drinks.

“When children consume a high-fat, high-sugar meal, their bodies will crash, and they will become very tired and lethargic — which is not going to help them perform at their best level in school,” Kraus said.

If you’re concerned about the cafeteria choices at school, give your child packed lunches that include a type of whole grain, such as bread or tortillas, with a lean protein, such as tuna, turkey or chicken. Include assortments of fruits and vegetables in various colors and sizes. Healthy beverage choices include water, fat-free or low-fat milk, or 100-percent fruit juice.

At dinner, half of your child’s plate should include vegetables and fruit, one-quarter should consist of a lean protein, and one-quarter should contain whole grains, such as brown rice or whole wheat pasta.

“A smart dinner will help your child’s brain function. If they are satisfied after dinnertime, then they will sleep through the night, and a child needs at least eight to nine hours of sleep a night in order to function while in the school the next day,” Kraus said.

Source: NLM News

25th Anniversary Run helps California schools

Primo’s Run for Education is a 25-year-old San Ramon Valley tradition bringing together athletes, educators, local business and our community of parents and children for a fun, healthful event.  Primo’s Run features a 5K Race & Fun Run/Walk and a 1/2 Marathon run with over 4,700 participants and 400 volunteers.  This year’s event is Sunday, October 19, 2008. The race course covers Danville and parts of San Ramon, with both races ending at Iron Horse Middle School in San Ramon. After the race, a fun fair is held and prizes awarded.

During its 25 year history, the Primo’s Run has raised over $2.4 million for the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. It is the primary fundraising activity for the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation (SRVEF), which is committed to fostering innovative and creative teaching approaches that will challenge and motivate students to learn. In 2008 alone, the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation distributed over $120,000 in teacher grants in the areas of math, science, arts, literature, and history.

Primo’s Run for Education is a great way for individuals and the business community to support education.  In addition to registering for the race, you can bid on items at the online auction or visit Primo’s Pizza in Danville for Spirit Week.  The business community can participate as a Primo’s Run sponsor or make a donation to the online auction.  Join local businesses such as Shapell Homes, Forward Motion Sports, Primo’s Pizza, Comcast, Danville Weekly and others as a sponsor of Primo’s Run for Education.

All information about the race, auction, Spirit Week, and sponsorship can be obtained by visiting vww.primosrun.com or calling (925) 820-9181.

Angela Hines - super mom becomes lawyer

Meet Angela Hines, the once-struggling mother of five and public-housing resident from Queens who put herself through hell, and law school, while lavishing the kind of affection on her children that would make any loving parent proud.

Whoever said, “You can’t have it all,” hasn’t met Angela  Hines. “I never really thought of it in those terms,” she says. “But I just knew that if I kept moving forward one step at a time, eventually I’d reach my goal.”

Hines graduated from CUNY Law School and was admitted to the bar in January, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Her professional life as an attorney will cap a career trajectory that includes earning her bachelor’s degree in law and paralegal studies at New York City College of Technology (City Tech), working at various jobs, including spending months as a bus driver at JFK International Airport, and successfully completing her studies at CUNY Law School.

These accomplishments are all the sweeter because during this time Hines struggled as a single mom to bring up a family of five — that’s right, five children! Three were born while she was an undergraduate at City Tech and two while she was working as a paralegal before attending law school.

“Growing up African American in a low-income Queens housing project, I realized early on that getting an education would be my only way out. Often, luck was not on my side,” she explains.  “My Mom died the day before I was to take my placement test for college.” Taking out loans became a way of life for her, a strategy she says she looks at as an investment, “even though I feel like I’ll be paying back forever.”

It’s clear that Hines has imbued her children with her love for education. Today, they are all well on their way. Her 19-year-old is a sophomore at Virginia State; her 17-year-old attends the School of Art and Design; her 14-year-old is studying at Taft, a boarding school in Connecticut; and her seven- and eight-year-olds are both enrolled in the Gifted and Talented program at P.S. 106, their neighborhood elementary school in Far Rockaway, Queens.

“My kids struggled along with me,” she explains. “I realized that I had to stay focused. And I always knew that if I succeeded, they would succeed. It was that simple.”

Succeeding, for her, always also had something to do with helping others. As a resident of Far Rockaway, for example, Hines became familiar with the difficult life situations of immigrants.  She translated that knowledge into becoming the chief administrator of City Tech’s Immigration Clinic for the past four years.

“The clients love her,” says Concetta Mennella, chair of City Tech’s Department of Law and Paralegal Studies, explaining that Hines’s main duties involved supervising work-study students and volunteers. “She’s accomplished wonderful things — like working doggedly to overcome obstacles faced by people whose citizenship applications were first denied by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.”

Hines, who happily states that she married her longtime boyfriend in 2006, says that she plans to devote her legal career to working in the public interest. “Her story is an inspiring example of how an individual can break out of a cramped environment, make positive life decisions, tackle the challenges of earning a bachelor’s degree, move on to complete law school, pass the bar and finally enter a career with the goal of serving the community,” Professor Mennella says.

“Through it all, being a mom didn’t stand in the way of her career moves. And her educational and vocational journey didn’t interfere with her determination to nurture her family. Angela did it all. She’s one of our great against-the-odds success stories,” Mennella says.

New York City College of Technology (City Tech) of The City University of New York is the largest public college of technology in New York State. The College enrolls more than 13,500 students in 57 baccalaureate, associate and specialized certificate programs. Another 15,000 students enroll annually in adult education and workforce development programs, many of which lead to licensure and certification. Located at 300 Jay Street in Downtown Brooklyn, City Tech is at the MetroTech Center academic and commercial complex, convenient to public transportation.

Angela was featured in the NY Daily News earlier this year.  You can read the article titled “Hero mom to be sworn in as lawyer” here.

Sources: NY Daily News, CUNY Newswire,  CUNY

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