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Why I’m Partial to the Fifth Promise

March 22, 2017

This blog is part of the #Recommit2Kids campaign, marking the 20th anniversary of America’s Promise Alliance and calling the nation to recommit to action on behalf of children and youth. Join the conversation at #Recommit2Kids.

Type: Opinion

TAG: Youth Involvement

promises: A Healthy Start, Caring Adults, Effective Education, Safe Places, Opportunities to Help Others

campaigns & initiatives: GradNation Campaign

The Most Politically Radical Thing You Can Do

March 16, 2017

For young people passionate about changing laws and changing the world, the most radical thing you can do may be to speak up and live out the one issue on which you insist on staying silent.

Type: Opinion

TAG: Youth Involvement

promises: Caring Adults, Effective Education

campaigns & initiatives: GradNation Campaign

Youth Voice: 10 Tips for Graduating High School Seniors

June 29, 2016

As students across the country have graduated from high school, we know that the transition into the “real world” can be a challenge.  Here are 10 tips that will help make the transition a little easier.

Type: Opinion

TAG: Youth Involvement, Youth Voice

promises: Effective Education, Opportunities to Help Others

campaigns & initiatives: GradNation Campaign

Fourteen Too Many

June 16, 2016

It may be your daughter’s best friend. It may be the captain of the football team. It may be the new student who just transferred in. It may be the one who has lived in your neighborhood for as long as you can remember. What we know is that the vast majority of public schools serve at least one student experiencing homelessness. In fact, the average public school has 14 students facing this crisis.

Type: Opinion

TAG: Youth Involvement, Using Data, Homeless Youth

promises: Effective Education

campaigns & initiatives: GradNation Campaign

Making My Own Path

June 14, 2016

When I tell people I’m graduating in May, the first question they ask is “What do you want to do?” or “What’s next?”   I don’t know the answer, and I’ve come to terms that it’s OK not to know. For the second time in 22 years, I get to decide what to do with my life. It’s not something I should be afraid of or nervous about. I should be excited because I know I can get through it because I’ve done it before.

Type: Opinion

TAG: Youth Involvement

promises: Caring Adults, Effective Education

campaigns & initiatives: GradNation Campaign

Five Must-Reads About Young People, Written by Young People

June 09, 2016

Every day, my colleagues and I share and read studies, news reports and op-eds written by experts in the field, and I love reading them. And yet, I often find myself learning the most from pieces written by young people themselves—the real experts not just on education, but on all the issues that concern them and have an impact on their lives.

Type: Opinion

TAG: Youth Involvement

promises: Opportunities to Help Others

campaigns & initiatives: GradNation Campaign

Youth Voice: What Students Like Me Really Need

May 30, 2016

“As a student, I’m told where I need to go, but not how to get there. What kids like me really need is guidance. We need a community that is supportive and open to students. We need a community that understands that most kids are very eager to learn and are desperately waiting for inspiration to ignite within themselves.”

Type: Opinion

TAG: Youth Involvement

promises: Caring Adults, Effective Education

campaigns & initiatives: GradNation Campaign

Let’s Not Forget These Real Experts

May 18, 2016

Adults are used to being experts. Too often, they’re certain they know what young people need. Though often well-meaning, these adults don’t stop to ask young people if a new building or block scheduling or new technology or exit exams will help motivate them to achieve.

Type: Opinion

TAG: Youth Involvement

promises: Effective Education, Opportunities to Help Others

campaigns & initiatives: GradNation Campaign

First Lady Michelle Obama’s Keys to College Success College Signing Day 2016

May 18, 2016

On Tuesday, April 26 America’s Promise staff members Eboni-Rose Thompson, Erica Turner and I  attended the College Signing Day event, featuring  First Lady Michelle Obama as part of the Reach Higher initiative.

Type: Opinion

TAG: Youth Involvement

campaigns & initiatives: GradNation Campaign

Two Pieces of Advice Michelle Obama Gave Me About Going to College

May 17, 2016

I never imagined that I’d be in the same room as First Lady Michelle Obama—but that’s exactly what happened at College Signing Day last month. I’ll be attending New York University in the fall, and the transition to college from high school is boggling my mind. It will be the first time I will have such a large responsibility and so much independence.

Type: Opinion

TAG: Youth Involvement

promises: Effective Education

campaigns & initiatives: GradNation Campaign