Each One – Teach One Alliance

On Saturday, January 21st, Congress Woman Karen Bass (37th Congressional District) launched her 2012 campaign for re-election to an exciting crowd of supporters at the Teen Center in Culver City. Energy abound as supporters listened to an impressive list of California political leaders address the important issues of the city, state and country, in support and encouragement of the community going about the work of sending Bass back to the Unites States Congress, to continue the work of getting our country back on track.

Before the group was addressed by Bass they were energized by passionate introductions by California State Senator Curren D. Price, Jr. (26th Senate District); the President of the Los Angeles City Council, Herb Wesson, Jr.; and, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. After being introduced by Price, Wesson brought the crowd of over 200 supporters to their feet when he proclaimed that part of the reason it was important that Bass be overwhelming supported to return to the Nation’s Capital because; “We want her to be a big dog. And, why do we want her to be a big dog? Because big dogs eat first.”

Wesson continued by giving a well accepted introduction of LA Mayor Villaraigosa. Wesson reminded the group of Villaraigosa long history of supporting him and other progressive politicians throughout California, including Bass.

After the Mayors very supportive endorsement of Bass the audience was finally addressed by the candidate. The supporters welcomed her with a resounding and committed wave of applaud. She spoke candidly and precise about what’s at stake in the 2012 national elections. She was clear that the issues the community must be committed about was not just her re-election, but the the other democratic candidates that running for the US Congress and Senate.

She shares with her supporters, “The fight we are going through over the next few months…over the next 60 days frankly, within the House of Representatives, and in Congress, are fights that are going to determine what kind of country are we going to have? While we fight to make sure that we have the best quality of life in Los Angeles, the struggles that are going on already in Washington D.C., if they don’t get resolved in the right way over these next few months, life as we have know it in this country will fundamentally change.” She goes on to qualify this statement by pointing out that, “…the ‘tea party’ has in effect, seized the government of the United States because they have a voting block within the House of Representative, and nothing can get passed without ‘tea party’ support.” She continues my warning that over the next sixty-days one of the issues Congress will be dealing with is, “…whether or not unemployment insurance is extended, or whether it is fundamentally changed, and this is what the Republicans would like to do.” She explains, “They would like to reduce the number of weeks someone can be on unemployment…” Other examples that she shares are that some states are wanting a person to pass a drug test before a person qualifies for unemployment benefits. Another example is that Republicans want to give states the power to require that an individual have a GED (General Education Development) before they can qualify for unemployment benefits. She summarizes, “They are trying to paint a picture of the unemployed as being uneducated drug users…they are trying to say that unemployment insurance has become the new form of welfare.” She declares to the applauding crowd, “We can not allow that to happen.”

Congress women Bass begins her closing by pointing out what she feels are the three most important issues before the community: a) maintaining Democratic control of the US Senate; b) re-gaining control of the US House of Representatives; and, c) re-electing Barack Obama to the United States Presidency. She explains that she has began her campaign early to insure there is momentum for the opportunity get 3,000 signatures to get her name on the ballot, and to raise awareness to the opportunity for California to win 5 of the 25 seats needed to re-gain control of the House of Representatives. She called on everyone in attendance to get involved and participate in the goal of taking back the House and setting the country back on the course of progress. She points out to the audience the significance of her, and the other political leaders who were in attendance, being attentive to the needs of the next generation. This is what her candidacy and campaign is all about. Securing the future for community and the next generation of citizens and leaders.

Rep. Karen Bass

Eloquent, articulate, and committed are just a few of the words to
describe the message, delivered to a standing room only attentive
crowd, by the U.S. Congress member Karen Bass (33rd district). On
December 21st Rep. Bass address her engaged constituents at the Holman
Methodist Church in Los Angeles on her 2011 Year in Review. The tone
of the evening was appropriately set by the harmonic vocals of the New
Directions Veteran Choir, who more than impressed the audience with
their a cappella rendition of “Did you ever know that you’re my hero”
which they dedicated to Rep. Bass and “Ole man River.” The more than
150 men, women and children of all ethnicities were impressively
engaged and receptive to the messages Bass was prepared to deliver
from the Nation’s Capital.

Bass began her remarks by expressing her appreciation for being back
at home among friends, supporters and good music, such as that of the
New Directions Veteran Choir. She reflected on how such experiences
give her the will to take on the challenges in Washington. She
boasted, “I can take this energy and go back there and do combat with
them any day.” Before she delved into her scheduled report on the
highlights of the year she digressed a bit to shed light on what she
described as the three most pressing congressional issues affecting
the country today:

1. Unemployment for 160 million Americans is going to run out in the
next couple of weeks.  She states that, “…these are people who have
been on unemployment for a long time, and they need us to pass
legislation to extend their unemployment insurance…”

2. The President, as part of his jobs act, want to have a payroll tax
cut extended into next year.

3. Doctors who take care of patients who are on Medicare will have
their pay cut if Congress does not pass legislation by the end of the
month. This is likely to have these doctors decide not to take care of
Medicare patients.

She went on to explain that the Senate had not come to an agreement to
extend these three items for a year. However, they did agree to extend
them for two months. She further explained that while House Speaker
Boehner seemed to be initially willing to go along with the Senate
version of the bill, covering these three issues, the Tea Party has
seen fit to thwart the passage of the Senate bill, in favor of a much
less desirable bill. In the Tea Party’s (original) bill, unemployment
would be extended for a year with the following conditions:

1. Unemployment benefits would be cut in half. Recipients would only
be able to receive unemployment for half the number of weeks.

2. Recipients would have to pass a drug test before qualifying for unemployment.

3. Recipients who did not have a high school diploma would have to
obtain a GED before qualifying for unemployment benefits.

After some final comments about how these sorts of things should serve
to awaken the voters of the consequences of electing individuals into
public office who are so beholding to their ideology, they are willing
to “…take the economy to the brink of ruin”, Congress member Bass was
able to start her discussion on the 2011 Highlights.

She began by expressing her appreciation for the overwhelming turnout
for her District Swearing-in Ceremony on January 30th presided by
Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. She also spoke about her ability to get
bipartisan collaboration on issues related to foster care legislation.
Additionally, she has provided support for job creation and small
businesses; and assisting in “organizing thousands of constituents
into the 33rd congressional council.

She went on to share, “One of the highlights for me, certainly this
year, was to be able to go to the Oval Office at the invitation of the
White House, while legislation was signed to extend resources and
services in the foster care arena.”

Her legislation highlights included the Foster Care Mentoring Act
which provides for student loan forgiveness if a student is willing to
be a mentor to children in the foster care system.

The balance of the evening was replete with other legislation
highlights that Rep. Bass has been directly involved. Additionally,
she shared with the group the various town halls she has participated
in over the year, including:

1. April 7 – Virtual Town Hall: Update on Federal Budget Negotiations.

2. July 21 – Los Angeles Small Business Day with the Small Business
Administration.

3. August 14 – Health Care Reform Town Hall with HHS Region IX
Director Herb Schultz.

4. August 31 – Job Fair with Congressional Black Caucus

5. September 8 – Virtual Town Hall: President’s Address on Jobs to a
Joint Session of Congress

6. September 28 – Education Reform Town Hall with Assistant Secretary
for Civil Rights Russlyn Ali

7. November 21 – Honoring the Contribution of Women Veterans.
Rep. Bass then address specific questions during a 30-minute Q&A.
Follow the work and commitment of Representative Bass at:

http://karenbass.house.gov/  and http://www.facebook.com/RepKarenBass

As the country and world reflects, in either mourning or commemoration, on
the events of September 11, 2001, I am compelled to meditatively celebrate
the energy, scholarship, commitment, solidarity and enthusiasm
overwhelmingly exhibited at yesterday's Western Regional Council on
Educating Black Children (WRCECB) Board of Director's Retreat. I
especially want to express my abiding gratitude and appreciation to Dr.
George McKenna for taking the time to not only impart his wisdom and
encouragement to the extraordinary group of attendees, but to also
establish an inaugural tone of positivity, vigilance, determination, and
spirit of collaboration that sustained and carried the group throughout
the entire six-and-a-half hour working day. 

I want to also thank all of the special guest and parents who joined us
for the day, providing much needed and appreciated perspectives relevant
to the ubiquitous challenges facing African American children, parents,
educators, and organizations, such as the National Council on Educating
Black Children (NCEBC) and the Western Region affiliate, charged with
engaging intervention and change of systemic education inequities
throughout the country. Additionally, every person in attendance freely
and enthusiastically shared strategies that we must consider and utilize
in our collective commitment to fulfill the charge of our shared mission
and vision to address, educate, and actively engage in sustainable
solutions relevant to the fulfillment of superlative levels of Academic
Access, Achievement and Success for Black Children. 

Additionally, I must thank the numerous individuals, including members of
the National Council on Educating Black Children (NCEBC) Executive Board,
full Board, and membership, who were not able to make yesterday's meeting,
but have nonetheless expressed to me the same level of enthusiasm and
commitment to our charge, and who will surly be involved in future NCEBC
and WRCEBC meetings, events, programs, initiatives and actions. The
community and National support of the WRCEBC is undeniable and robust.

Again, thank you all. I look forward to getting information out to the
committee chairs and hearing, along with the rest of our growing
organization, the results of your strategic planning meetings.

Peace and Blessings to you all.

Chris L. Hickey, Sr.
WRCEBC Board President

On July 21, 2011 Chris L. Hickey, Sr., the Executive Director of Each One – Teach One Alliance for Academic Access, Achievement and Success will be presenting a workshop at the 2011 College Board AP Annual Conference in San Francisco, as part of The Equity and Access Colloquium. The conference theme for 2011 is “Sharing Knowledge. Motivating Students.” Mr. Hickey’s presentation topic is: “The Role of Leadership in Creating a College Going Culture that students experience at Home and in their Community.”  In this workshop school administrators and teachers will explore and share perspectives relevant to the environment, attitude and practices that define a college-going culture. The focus will be on how school leadership can strategically influence the experience of their students at school, in a manner consistent with transforming their experience at home and community-utilizing methods that consistently support: a) students being interested and aware, as early as elementary school, of career and college options from a global perspective; b) the school’s expectation that all students can be prepared to attend college; and, c) a consistent message of high expectations for the student’s future.

For more information on the Conference and The Equity and Access Colloquium visit:

http://apac.collegeboard.org/

http://apac.collegeboard.org/program/equity-access

On June 4th, 2011 Chris L. Hickey, Sr., the Executive Director of Each One – Teach One Alliance for Academic Access, Achievement and Success will be presenting a workshop at the Council of Black Administrators’ (COBA) 36^th Annual Black Child Conference/Scholarship Luncheon, in Los Angeles. The Conference Theme is: “Quality First Teaching: The Key to Academic Success for the African-American Child.” My presentation topic is, “Understanding the iGeneration: The New Science of Learning.” In the workshop teachers, parents and caretakers explore and share perspectives relevant to the new science of the brain, learning and cognition. The focus of this workshop is on how classroom instruction can be strategically aligned, at home, with how iGeneration students learn. Participants are presented with ground breaking research that challenge traditional notions of how students spend their (multi-tasking) time, direct their (creative) attention, and are inspired (motivated) to learn. Specific attention is given to how the staggering global proliferation of cell phones, IPads, digital social networks, eBooks, video games, Wikis, Wiis, email, texting, IMing, MP3 players, IPods, PS3s, personal computers, Xboxes, etc., are affecting the nature and cognitive process of learning.

For more information on the conference visit:

http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/orgs/coba/index.html

On April 28^th - 30^th, 2011 Chris L. Hickey, Sr., the Executive Director of Each One – Teach One Alliance for Academic Access, Achievement and Success will be presenting a workshop at the National Council on Educating Black Children Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. The presentation topic is: The Parents’ Role in Creating a College Going Culture at Home, School and Community. “In this workshop parents will explore and share perspectives relevant to the environment, attitude and practices that define a college-going culture. The focus will be on how parents can strategically influence the home, school and community of the student, utilizing methods that consistently support: a) students being interested and aware, as early as elementary school, of career and college options from a global perspective; b) the school’s expectation that all students can be prepared to attend college; and, c) a consistent message of high expectations for the student’s future.”

For more information on the conference visit:

http://ncebc.org/

On April 11^th - 12^th, 2011 Chris L. Hickey, Sr., the Executive Director of Each One – Teach One Alliance for Academic Access, Achievement and Success will be presenting a workshop at the College Board Dream Deferred National Conference in Philadelphia, Penn. The Conference Theme is: The Future of African American Education. The presentation topic is: Understanding the iGeneration: The New Science of Learning. “In this workshop parents and caretakers explore and share perspectives relevant to the new science of the brain, learning and cognition. The focus of this workshop is on how classroom instruction can be strategically aligned, at home, with how iGeneration students learn. Participants are presented with ground breaking research that challenge traditional notions of how students spend their (multi-tasking) time, direct their (creative) attention, and are inspired (motivated) to learn. Specific attention is given to how the staggering global proliferation of cell phones, IPads, digital social networks, eBooks, video games, Wikis, Wiis, email, texting, IMing, MP3 players, IPods, PS3s, personal computers, Xboxes, etc., are affecting the nature and cognitive process of learning.”

For more information on the conference visit:

http://www.collegeboard.com/dreamdeferred/index.html

On February  26, 2011 Chris L. Hickey, Sr., the Executive Director of Each One – Teach One Alliance for Academic Access, Achievement and Success will be presenting a workshop at the 2011 College Board Western Regional Forum in San Francisco. The presentation topic is: Creating a College Going Culture at Home, School and Community. “In this workshop school administrators and teachers will explore and share perspectives relevant to the environment, attitude and practices that define a college-going culture. The focus will be on how school leadership can strategically influence the experience of their students at school, in a manner consistent with transforming their experience at home and community; utilizing methods that consistently support: a) students being interested and aware, as early as elementary school, of career and college options from a global perspective; b) the school’s expectation that all students can be prepared to attend college; and, c) a consistent message of high expectations for the student’s future.”

For more information on the Forum visit:

http://westernforum.collegeboard.org/

At the LAUSD Parent Summit, Chris L. Hickey, Sr. presented the following workshop:

• Title: The Parent’s Role in Creating a College Going Culture at Home, School and Community.
• Description: In this workshop parents will explore and share perspectives relevant the environment, attitude and practices that define a college going culture. The focus will be on how parents can strategically influence the home, school and community experience of the student, utilizing methods that consistently support: a) their student being interested and aware, as early as elementary school, of career and college options from a global perspective; b) the school’s expectation that all students can be prepared to attend college; and, c) a consistent message of high expectations for the student’s future.

If your school or organization is interested in having this workshop presented at your event, please contact Chris L. Hickey, Sr. at: chickey@e1t1.org.

On Saturday April 24, 2010, Chris L. Hickey, the Executive Director of Each One – Teach One Alliance for Academic Access, Achievement and Success had the great honor and privilege of being among the over 40 workshop presenters at the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) 14th Annual Parent Summit & Infotech. The impressive event was organized by the district’s School, Family & Parent/Community Services and Parent Community Services Branch. The Summit theme was “Education in Everyone’s homework” and was impressively attended. For additional information regarding the summit log onto: http://parentsummit.lausd.net.