by Patreece Thompson

Patreece: Thank you so much Christina for the opportunity to speak with you about Youth in the Middle, (YiM) a pilot program that seeks to address youth development from holistic and systemic perspectives. We would like to learn a little about you. What inspired you to become involved with the  YiM Program?

Christina:  I was a former teacher for the 5th and 6th grades. Then I obtained my Masters in Education in Instructional Technology and curriculum design and later was involved as a program manager for NASA and The Tech Museum in STEM education – (STEM is an acronym for “Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics”).

I became interested in schools and reform. Through my network, I became connected with YiM because I wanted to be:  a. more in touch with school reform, b. in touch with schools that are doing the work of reform, c. in situations to think about school as a system.

(Read Christine’s Bio)

Patreece: As I understand it, this program started as a conversation between John W. Gardner former, Secretary of HEW during LBJ administration, and Dr. Milbrey McLaughlin, professor of education and public policy. What is a community school? How did Kennedy School come to be chosen for this “pilot”?

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Workshop: 26 & 27 March 2010

February 25, 2010

The Art of Questions for Social Change: Applications of Appreciative Inquiry Date: March 26 and 27, 2010 Time: 8:30AM-4:30PM Venue: William Penn House 515 East Capitol St., SE, Washington, DC 20003 A 2-day workshop for individuals, groups, and group leaders to gain a fresh perspective to an old idea. This workshop is ideal for people [...]

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Marge Schiller, PhD, Founder of PCC

February 10, 2010
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This is the first in a series of interviews with the founders and members of Positive Change Core (PCC) to create a mosaic of relationship, perspectives, and reflections of their experience. On Friday, February 5, 2020 Patreece Thompson interviewed PCC Founder, Marge Schiller, PhD. Patreece: What are the images of hope that have evolved since [...]

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Biking for Dollars

February 8, 2010
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The world has been touched and saddened by the devastation and destruction wrought by an earthquake in Haiti. Rescue teams including religious organizations, medical and military personnel swarmed Port Au Prince in an effort to prevent further loss of life and hope. But back in Fulham, West London, a little 7 year old named Charlie [...]

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Another Call to Act

February 2, 2010
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I found this uplifting story of seven year old Charlie.  I remembered how Patreece was moved by another story of a 14 year old, Jake, below who had to jump in and help when he saw another in need.  It also reminds of the message in our dear colleague, Judy Rogers’ book, Something Beyond Greatness, [...]

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PCC Wordle

February 2, 2010
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Here’s a Wordle word cloud about PCC. (With thanks to Patreece Thompson & Sue James)

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Life Lessons from Children and Youth

January 31, 2010
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“We saw him put his hand up and saying, ‘help, help,’ so we went over to him and pulled him on our board,” Satherley said on Monday. Jake Satherley and his partner in this extraordinary exploit, Spencer Jeams, rescued a middle aged man who was drowning in the ocean off the east coast of Australia. [...]

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