We need more than Superman...

I had the opportunity to see 'Waiting for Superman' tonight as part of a screening sponsored by the the KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) Academy (http://www.kippjourneyacademy.org/) here in Columbus. First, if you are not familiar with KIPP, take a few minutes and read about them. Read about their commitment to making sure all children succeed - they truly are working to fulfill 'no child left behind' and fulfill it in a way that does not just move children forward but actually creates learning and engagement. Now, I have been reading about this movie for a few months - Time Magazine covered it and so did Oprah, so it was hard to miss the information about it. And, I was intrigued to see how Michelle Rhee was portrayed, given that she just resigned as Chancellor of the D.C. School District, in advance of what many believed was her removal by the new mayor. This film highlights many of the huge problems within our education system but it also leaves you with hope that those few bright spots may actually help light the path to our way forward. A way that makes a difference and turns the tide on what has become a failing system of non-education.

I am sure many of you will go see it so I won't tell the whole story, but here are some startling statistics (hopefully I captured them accurately - any error is on my part): in the state of PA, almost 60% of inmates are high school dropouts and the annual incarceration costs are $33K a year, with an average stay of 4 years. Now, tuition at a private school costs a little over $8K a year. When you do the math, you realize that investing in our youth can make an impact in more ways than one. There are more than 2,000 'dropout factories' across the U.S. - schools where less than 50% of students graduate; in a tracked school, only 62 out of 100 will graduate and only 31 of those 100 students are ready to go to college; in NY, they spend $100M annually in supervising and paying teachers who are have pending trials for terminable offenses and that leave averages THREE years. And that does not even touch the below average performing teachers - these are for things like sexual misconduct, shoving a student's head in a toilet and excessive absenteeism. As long as they show up for 7 hours ands sit in the 'rubber room', they get paid and accrue benefits. I mean, if there was ever a scenario for the phrase "WTF", this is it.

Now, I do not believe that teachers are the only problem - we have a broken system, one where there is a 23-page evaluation for a teacher that must be done by specific dates within specific time frames with each step being completed or the review process gets prolonged another year. We have federal, state AND local regulations that have bloated our system with bureaucracy and inefficiency beyond belief and we have parents who do not work with their kids and emphasize the importance of education. A system where the teachers' unions are THE largest donor to politic campaigns in this country - more than the Teamsters or any other group. So, when Michelle Rhee put together a proposal in D.C. to keep the current system and allow for moderate raises (average salaries around $54K) or an alternative proposal to reward teachers on their performance (with those salaries being around $122K), the teachers' union would NOT allow a vote.

But here is the most important thing that I walked away from this film with - it can be different, it can change and children, no matter where they live or where they come from, can learn and can excel in school. Remember that 31 out of 100 statistic earlier? Well, a charter school in that same area that does not track students but operates with the belief that all students can and should be ready for college? 96 out of 100 students graduate AND are ready to go to college.

It is going to take more than our government trying to fix a problem to find the solution - no matter which side of the aisle you are on, I think we can all agree on that. It is going to take communities standing up and demanding change, it is going to take parents, friends and family being active in their children's education and it is going to take kids understanding and valuing their education. Superman might be able to stop us from going off the cliff but it is going to take all of us to turn the bus around and getting it moving in the right direction.

This film really made me stop and think - and it made me want to tell the story because it is not just the kids who go to these schools who are impacted - it is our economy, our innovation and our future. I love what KIPP is doing and think their story is just one of the many out there that show we can make a difference when we are willing to change the system. Check out the film when it opens here - the Drexel will be showing it and take the opportunity to read to a child, donate books to a school or volunteer your time to make a difference, not just for one child but for our future.

Speaking Up

So, unless your head has been in the sand for the last few weeks, you know that there has been several young people who have taken their lives over bullying. And you know there are a lot of people, famous and not, speaking up about bullying and how it needs to stop. You are also seeing people make correlations to the laws that prevent equality and the belief that those inequalities justify behavior toward those minorities in the minds of those who bully. I am not going to pretend that I have any idea what is in the minds of those who bully - we all know that kids can be mean, they don't comprehend how deeply their words and actions can reach and there are many reasons beyond gender and sexual identity that people bully. But, as we have learned so many times before - ignorance is not an excuse and I am speaking up to bring awareness to an issue that we cannot afford to ignore - one life lost is one too many.

Last night, I went to the Kaleidoscope Youth Center last night to interview for volunteering there. What an amazing resource for young LGBTQ people in central Ohio. With a variety of activities to engage the youth, as well as opportunities for them to talk, share, play, vent and relax, this is an organization that is working every day to make a difference for youth in our city. I was reminded again that Columbus is an amazing city, with so many great organizations working hard to support various groups within the community. I left there so motivated and inspired to give back. As I have shared before, I have been incredibly lucky in my own experience of coming out and I realized that I have something I can give back. I can give back support, mentoring and engagement with those who miss out on that in their home or school lives. Once I clear all the stuff (background check), I will be jumping into volunteer opportunities with this organization. One person making an effort - I believe it will make a difference.

Then, tonight I watched a video of a city councilman from Ft. Worth, Texas - he took almost 13 minutes at the city council meeting to address the recent suicides from bullying and to share his own story, one that he had never shared before. Now, I think anyone who shares a personal and emotional story has courage but a city councilman in Ft. Worth, TX? From where I sit, it seemed that the odds of support were stacked against him. And he inspired me to write this blog post because here he is, one person making an effort to make a difference.

See, at the end of the day, we are all so much more alike than we are different and that is what I hope we can find our way back to - the knowledge that we are all human and we all deserve to be treated with respect. I don't have to like or agree with everything about you, but I should still be able to show you compassion and acceptance as a person. Such a big goal but I do believe we will get there. So, next time you see or hear something that doesn't sit right - speak up, show kids that courage is possible and show them that there are people who are on their side, in their corner and hopeful that tomorrow will be better than today.

Celebrating the passion of Columbus

As I reflected on a recent Twitter conversation regarding the best restaurants in Columbus, and the subsequent in-person conversations that occurred about it, it got me thinking about passion and how that is one of the things that I think sets Columbus apart from so many other places I have lived. See, to me it was never about the best 10 restaurants in Columbus, it was about sharing the passion for food and the amazing diversity this city is creating. Anyone can create a top 10 list and have people agree, or disagree, with their choices, but I want to be inspired by the passion. I want to see the passion of those restaurant owners and chefs and employees coming through the words on the paper, making me want to be part of their adventure.

During local foods week, I had the chance to participate in two events that really captured the passion that people have in this city. The first event was a tour of Jeni's Ice Creams. Now, I have yet to meet someone who does not enjoy the experience of Jeni's ice cream - the interesting flavors, the friendly team at every store and the seasonal treats are just a few of the highlights. But, in the event you did not already love Jeni's, upon meeting Jeni you can't help but fall in love. She embodies the definition of passion. From the way she talks about Snowville and the dairy that she starts with to the smile in her voice when she shares stories of the artisans on her team who help create the Jeni's experience, you walk away wondering how you can find that passion in your own life.

The second event was the local foods tour with Columbus Food Adventures. Now, if you have not joined Bethia on one of these tours, you have no idea what you are missing. Bethia is another person that embodies passion. She is spreading the word, one tour at a time, about the diverse food offerings that Columbus has - whether in taco trucks, alt eats around the city or walking through the short north. Her creativity and passion for local and authentic foods is bringing an exciting new perspective to the community. I love hearing about her ideas and thoughts - the tours are so much more than getting from point A to point B, they are about the stories and experiences that make each place unique and interesting.

Now, I know there are so many others who bring passion every day to this city - but these two jumped to mind after my experiences last week. If you are looking, ask someone about their dining experience with Alana, shop the North Market, stop at the Hills Market sometime, pop into one of the many independent retailers around the city, check out a mobile food truck, let Rogue Bakery deliver you some cookies or strike up a conversation with someone in your neighborhood. Who knows where you will discover your next encounter with passion.