DOL White House Bound!

Dreaming Out Loud will officially be attending the 
YNPNdc’s Annual Networking Reception at The White House Serve Today, Shape Tomorrow: Celebrating the Impact of Young Nonprofit Professionals"

The Emmett Till Moment

When will we reach our collective "Emmett Till Moment" in regards to violence in our communities?

Dr. Mae Jeminson's Powerful TED Address

http://www.ted.com/talks/mae_jemison_on_teaching_arts_and_sciences_together.html

Dr. Mae Jemison begins this presentation before TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Conference in 2002 with quotes from Alice Walker, Zora Neale Hurston, and goes on to mention Frantz Fannon. This is the definition of having an African-centered consciousness. Her normative positions start from her own cultural experiences letting these expressions move into a broader conversation concerning the myopic ways in which we approach education.

She argues that we teach science and the arts together, rather than teaching them as some disparate subjects confined to either hemisphere of the brain. Intuitive can apply to science, just as much as analytical can apply to creative fields. She is able to seamlessly weave her cultural and philosophical disposition into an address before attendees who more than likely are not of African-descent without coming off as the "angry black woman" or the "belligerent Afrocentrist." It wasn't an attacking posture that she assumed, it was an enlightening posture that affirmed the people that she quoted, while not asking for validation.

And a bit more on TED according to their site:

TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader. Along with the annual TED Conference in Long Beach, California, and the TEDGlobal conference in Oxford UK, TED includes the award-winning TEDTalks video site, the Open Translation Program, the new TEDx community program, this year's TEDIndia Conference and the annual TED Prize.

Skate Board Beef

Skateboarders Vs. Rappers
Question. Would skaters feel the same way about a nonprofit that is trying to work on programs that use skateboarding to reach kids? Is there a difference between Pharell and Lupe's "violations" that upset the skateboard community?

Adinkra Symbols

Dreaming Out Loud is founded upon an idealistic vision that is grounded in the realities of everyday life. Our culture is exemplified by a collection of African symbols known as Adinkra. These symbols come from the Akan – one of the larger ethnic groups in West Africa – who live in southern Ghana and southeastern Cote d’Ivoire.

The Adinkra symbols are used most often during funerals, serving as reminders of divine providence and the wisdom inherent in the fundamental virtues of life.  Literally the word Adinkra means “a message one gives to another when departing.” The symbols are woven or printed onto cloth that is worn during the solemn occasion of one’s transition to the “afterlife.” The grieving person conveys a message to the departing soul that reflects the Akan’s communal values and worldview.

These multi-layered parables and philosophical concepts express a cultural posture centered on the quality of human relations, spiritual upliftment, and character building. As such the Adinkra symbols are woven into the fabric of Dreaming Out Loud’s culture and provides the context for our daily work.

Uncle Teddy Gone at 77

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/26/obit.ted.kennedy/index.html

OK

one more try!!!

Trying again

Well that one didn't work! Maybe now!

Twitter Feed

I just figured out how to link my Twitter and blog stuff together...does it work?

Google For Nonprofits Conference

Hey Folks,

I am here at Google's Headquarters in DC at a conference on their offerings for the social sector. I am pleased to say that we are doing many of the right things already including using Google Apps for the management of our daily work. Using Google Apps, we manage our calendar, share documents, and send emails (of course), and also host our forthcoming website.

With the information presented it does let me know that we need to step up our social media game, so we have enlisted the help of Cecile Dingong-Eboa as our defacto social media coordinator. Look for lots of DOL content to come, keeping you updated on programs, fundraisers, and even some commentary on current events!!!

Thanks,

Chris

Walking the Dream Path

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Dreaming Out Loud’s character education initiative operates from the principle which states that “it is much easier to ethically build a child than to repair a broken one.” We help to construct the moral framework that guides each child’s development as they navigate life.

It is imperative that our core values be incorporated in the superstructure of the schools where we operate, which in turn supports the learner. Walking the Dream Path seeks transformation in school culture and climate, making parents, teachers and administrators an integral part of our activities. Our inclusive learning community also incorporates the surrounding community, embraces multi-cultural experiences, and encourages a life-long exploration of learning and growth.

Continual reinforcement is another key element in creating multifaceted dimensions of student growth. We accomplish this by providing avenues for constructive feedback and active listening; encouraging critical thinking, problem solving and ethical decision-making; and also providing opportunities for students to reflect through essays, journal writings, and group discussions.

Most uniquely, we physically reinforce these core values in action-oriented projects which also extend the classroom to the greater community. This curriculum is designed to reinforce the, connecting constructive activities to greater life lessons. The use of various worksheets, puzzles, stories, and vocabulary building exercises will challenge students to think critically, as well as sharpen academic skills as prescribed by District of Columbia Public School Standards. The program components featured are as follows:

• The Monarch Sister Schools Program (MSSP) is an initiative to involve school children across North America in the protection and restoration of the habitat of the Monarch butterfly, including its threatened winter forest habitat in the highlands of central Mexico and its disappearing milkweed habitat along its migratory "flyway" from Mexico to Canada. This outdoor learning program features planting a butterfly garden that attracts these beautiful creatures for study as they traverse the continent from the USA to Mexico.
• Anacostia to Accra In this exchange, two groups of students, one from Ghana and another from the District of Columbia, are able to connect and communicate through physically mailing gifts and via the marvels of technology. The objective is to explore how location shapes the cultural similarities and differences that shape their identities through communication. They will also be able to explore the meaning of Walking the Dream Path’s Adinkra core values, helping convey the values and context which shapes their world.
• Eco-Field Trips allow our students to explore Washington, DC’s – particularly Ward 7 & 8 – beautiful natural gifts. Kingman Island, one of Ward 7’s great environmental resources is not only educational, but great fun. This experience extends beyond the regular classroom period to truly open up the children’s natural curiosity and create a “school without walls.”
• Art Projects – creative projects that include: photography collages of the surrounding community; play readings; journal keeping to record personal progress; and painting/drawing/graphic design.
• Academic Reinforcement – the use of dictionaries/encyclopedias to reference unknown words, concepts, or events; keeping of journals to record new vocabulary words; the incorporation of classroom lessons/current events as related to character.
• Community Involvement: Family Focus Group - Recognizing that family is the foundation of achievement and the construction of great character, we use family focus groups and parent cafés to gather information and build trust. Parent cafés are very informal gatherings that feature music, food, and conversation about the school’s direction and parent involvement.

DREAMSCAPE

Contact:
Chris Bradshaw
Dreaming Out Loud, Inc.
(p)202.518.5720
(c)301.768.5164
(f)202.518.5507
chris@dreamingoutloud.net
info@dreamingoutloud.net

Dreaming Out Loud, Inc., a young and vibrant non-profit here in DC, is set to entertain and enlighten for its fundraising event called Dreamscape. This event will take place on Sunday June 28th, 2009 from 2-5pm at Marvin (2007 14th St. NW). With DC’s most sought after rooftop and lounge location as a back drop,Dreamscape will not disappoint. Featuring a mixed-media arts experience (painters, photographers, and more) this fundraiser will be as soulful as this U Street area establishment’s namesake, Marvin Gaye.

Funds will help us make good on our mission to transform and transcend education through our character education program entitled Walking the Dream Path. Working with children prekindergarten through 5th grade, the program includes environmental field trips; planting gardens that attract monarch butterflies for study; exchanges with Ghanaian schools; and much more!

Founded in 2007 by friends Mark Shelton and Chris Bradshaw, Dreaming Out Loud, Inc., was created in response to the educational disparities in the African-American community. With the aim of developing African-American youth by reconnecting them to historical African and African-American traditions, these young men sought to transform the prevailing negative attitudes surrounding education and positive character development.

Since its inception, DOL, Inc. has become the means through which Chris Bradshaw realizes his vision of nurturing young, healthy minds, through strong programs that enable creative expression and sharpen academic skills. Help see vision through to fruition…


For Additional Info, please contact Chris Bradshaw chris@dreamingoutloud.net