What conservations can you have with your kids about your family's choices that help them share in your vision of honoring the essentials of their life (safety, health, play) while holding off on the non essential extras? I.E. "I know you will have more time soon for friends, math, camp, but are them some ways we could bring more joy into our little life for you??" Though I did make a recent pledge to talk LESS to my kids ;)
Can you see this as a moment to divest yourself from “the best” and redistribute your labor toward finding what’s inherently GOOD for yourself, your kids, and your community? One of my nonspeaking autistic friends wrote that we will not get back to normal. We will only get back to natural. Can this be a moment for us cultivate natural ways of mutual flourishing?
Hi Courtney - I was wondering if we could organize a Zoom conversation with interested families? I have been thinking about the POD concept a lot and talking to parents of mostly young kids of color living in poverty. I am happy to organize the call w my own org, but maybe it would be more relevant from you? I just wrote this to Ravi in another post, but here are thoughts:
Here is what I'm thinking:
1. Find these pod groups and institutions and make a list based on location
2. Contact them sharing that we believe in education equality and we want to see that as part of their mission.
3. Find organizations that serve children in rising families. I can manage the DC area where children live in double the national average of poverty (32%).
4. Look for matches and ask those orgs we find to partner with these POD groups to help kids.
We need to also hold our own local schools and governments to task. What about. speaking out to local government asking them to partner with libraries to create open air school options in tents with teacher paid by the city. And, offering small group safe childcare in places that are currently not being used? I'm working on a model legislation now called Education Equality Act of 2020. I'm not a lawyer but I'm giving it shot. I should have a draft ready early this week and hope to get a meeting with DC Council. I'll share this with anyone who wants to take and adapt it. And, of course, would love help.
I was on one of these Pod calls this week and the owner of the institution said "many children are in need, but I know that you only care about your own children." I disagree and know others do as well.
If you're ready for contribution-type questions, What could the elderly / retired do to safely support the effort ? Ben / Florida (where there's a lot of us)
I have to admit that when it comes to navigating school decisions, I find myself jealous of parents with little kids. I see a lot of ideas for kids in primary schools when many more can teach but so few ideas for high school kids where the though of helping my child with AP chemistry is downright scary. I also cannot just pass off building a fort or going on an adventure walk as education.
Hey Amazing Parents (including Courtney the Brave!):
Together with my amazing mom team, I am hosting a "Progressive Pod" collaborative talk this coming Monday where I hope to bring together those who can do and give with those who can do and need. We'd so love you to join or engage at a time that works for you!
Here is our Zoom link for Monday 8/24 at 11AM PST:
As I've been working with my survivor team of single moms who are survivors of sex trafficking and homelessness, we have developed a model concept and we are seeking to implement it in needed communities around the country. This is in tandem with advocating for city and state educational equality reform.
Our vision is to work with a professional educator (her name is Taryn!) of early childhood education to train 5 to 8 survivors to become in-home tutors for 6 to 8 children of survivors who would then receive quality education. Meanwhile, single moms and dads will be able to find work while their child learns. Without this, these children are suffering greatly and falling behind in school while their moms are struggling and at risk of or are already homeless. As a group of survivor moms, we feel and live their pain as we watch those with resources hire private tutors and join school pods that most survivors cannot afford. Our program could serve 40 to 60 moms and up to 80 children. The cost per child is around 500 a month as opposed to the 2300 a month that would be needed in a more traditional tutoring model.
We could use tutors, spaces, books and innovative ideas. We'd love to hear real feedback and ideas from all of you as we try to create equality for kids in need in this crazy world.
What conservations can you have with your kids about your family's choices that help them share in your vision of honoring the essentials of their life (safety, health, play) while holding off on the non essential extras? I.E. "I know you will have more time soon for friends, math, camp, but are them some ways we could bring more joy into our little life for you??" Though I did make a recent pledge to talk LESS to my kids ;)
Can you see this as a moment to divest yourself from “the best” and redistribute your labor toward finding what’s inherently GOOD for yourself, your kids, and your community? One of my nonspeaking autistic friends wrote that we will not get back to normal. We will only get back to natural. Can this be a moment for us cultivate natural ways of mutual flourishing?
Hi Courtney - I was wondering if we could organize a Zoom conversation with interested families? I have been thinking about the POD concept a lot and talking to parents of mostly young kids of color living in poverty. I am happy to organize the call w my own org, but maybe it would be more relevant from you? I just wrote this to Ravi in another post, but here are thoughts:
Here is what I'm thinking:
1. Find these pod groups and institutions and make a list based on location
2. Contact them sharing that we believe in education equality and we want to see that as part of their mission.
3. Find organizations that serve children in rising families. I can manage the DC area where children live in double the national average of poverty (32%).
4. Look for matches and ask those orgs we find to partner with these POD groups to help kids.
We need to also hold our own local schools and governments to task. What about. speaking out to local government asking them to partner with libraries to create open air school options in tents with teacher paid by the city. And, offering small group safe childcare in places that are currently not being used? I'm working on a model legislation now called Education Equality Act of 2020. I'm not a lawyer but I'm giving it shot. I should have a draft ready early this week and hope to get a meeting with DC Council. I'll share this with anyone who wants to take and adapt it. And, of course, would love help.
I was on one of these Pod calls this week and the owner of the institution said "many children are in need, but I know that you only care about your own children." I disagree and know others do as well.
for education equality, Andrea
If you're ready for contribution-type questions, What could the elderly / retired do to safely support the effort ? Ben / Florida (where there's a lot of us)
I have to admit that when it comes to navigating school decisions, I find myself jealous of parents with little kids. I see a lot of ideas for kids in primary schools when many more can teach but so few ideas for high school kids where the though of helping my child with AP chemistry is downright scary. I also cannot just pass off building a fort or going on an adventure walk as education.
Hey Amazing Parents (including Courtney the Brave!):
Together with my amazing mom team, I am hosting a "Progressive Pod" collaborative talk this coming Monday where I hope to bring together those who can do and give with those who can do and need. We'd so love you to join or engage at a time that works for you!
Here is our Zoom link for Monday 8/24 at 11AM PST:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3300117208
As I've been working with my survivor team of single moms who are survivors of sex trafficking and homelessness, we have developed a model concept and we are seeking to implement it in needed communities around the country. This is in tandem with advocating for city and state educational equality reform.
Our vision is to work with a professional educator (her name is Taryn!) of early childhood education to train 5 to 8 survivors to become in-home tutors for 6 to 8 children of survivors who would then receive quality education. Meanwhile, single moms and dads will be able to find work while their child learns. Without this, these children are suffering greatly and falling behind in school while their moms are struggling and at risk of or are already homeless. As a group of survivor moms, we feel and live their pain as we watch those with resources hire private tutors and join school pods that most survivors cannot afford. Our program could serve 40 to 60 moms and up to 80 children. The cost per child is around 500 a month as opposed to the 2300 a month that would be needed in a more traditional tutoring model.
We could use tutors, spaces, books and innovative ideas. We'd love to hear real feedback and ideas from all of you as we try to create equality for kids in need in this crazy world.
xoxo
-- Andrea