E-Newsletter: July 2010
In the first physics class of the year, instructor Steve Temple gives SMASH students the assignment to measure the volume of a sphere. He hands them a small rubber ball and directions. One third of the class receives a string and a ruler, the second third is instructed to use pi calculations, and the last group gets water to displace the contents.
When the students reconvene to share their findings, they discover that while in the same ballpark, none of the three measurements are exactly the same. Each method has its degree of accuracy, but also a degree of error.
“So who gets to measure you?” Steve asks the students.
The room is silent as the lesson’s implications register on each student’s face.
SMASH Academy has begun.
We all know the statistics: high school drop-out rates, under-resourced schools, overtaxed teachers, parents struggling to prioritize making ends meet over spending quality time with their children.
While these kids may not necessarily be the ones most “at risk,” they stand at a critical point in their lives where what happens next will radically affect the course of their future – and ours.
The SMASH model meets the hunger for learning and provides it space to thrive. Last week, LPFI launched its annual five-week residential program -- a unique combination of the summer-camp experience with its capacity for character-building, and FUN with a rigorous and challenging state of the art STEM curriculum.
Sustainable and replicable, the SMASH formula produces immediate and lasting transformations – even in the midst of our nation’s present economic and education crisis. Surrounded by like-minded peers and talented teachers focused exclusively on their success, students begin to see themselves as a community of engaged, dynamic and multi-colored scholars who will become the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians – the ones who will provide the solutions to society’s greatest challenges.
At the powerful threshold of adolescence, in a community outside the world of school and family, SMASH scholars discover they have standards and tools, and the means to use them.
They discover that they can choose how they will be measured.
We ask that you support this incredible program that offers self-discovery and important education opportunity for some truly amazing young people.
Please click here to make a donation today. Thank you.
E-Newsletter: May 2010
Today marks the 56th anniversary of the United States Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared public school segregation unconstitutional and a violation of the 14th Amendment. This decision was a catalyst for education reform and the civil rights movement.
We honor those who provided the precedent upon which we at LPFI base our efforts for fairness in education. In the half-century since Brown, we have seen greater diversity in many areas of business, government and higher education.
But we have also seen an ever-widening achievement gap, a segregated urban school system and continued racism, unfairness and bias defining education access and the workplace experience.
Almost half of students in the United States are students of color, and millions of them are trapped in underresourced schools where there is no way to get the education and preparation needed to attend college and enter the workforce, regardless of their motivation and personal talent.
We are failing these K-12 students on a daily basis and thus creating a higher education system and workforce that lacks diversity and does not take advantage of the extensive resources of our population. This is not the legacy of Brown envisioned at its passage fifty years ago. This is not equality. This is certainly not fairness.
Level Playing Field Institute works every day to increase fairness in education and to mitigate the subtle, and thus often difficult to adjudicate forms of bias, prejudice, discrimination and stereotyping, that inform the experience of too many in our schools and workplaces.
As you think today about the legacy of Thurgood Marshall and the Brown v. Board of Education decision, ask yourself how together we can advance fairness in education. What is the role we can each play in the academic pursuit of a student of color?
As Thurgood Marshall said:
“None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody - a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony or a few nuns - bent down and helped us pick up our boots.”
We are inspired and motivated by history and by the students we serve daily. Thank you for joining us in this critical fight.
E-Newsletter: April 2010
Join us May 5th at the Welcome Reception for Robert Schwartz, LPFI Executive Director
LPFI is thrilled to announce the selection of Robert Schwartz as our new Executive Director! Robert is a seasoned educator and leader who brings with him dedication and experience creating solutions to mitigate education inequity. He will lead LPFI to increase the breadth and depth of its impact.
Please join LPFI Board, staff, and students in welcoming Robert at a reception on Wednesday, May 5th, 5:30-7:30 pm at LPFI, 543 Howard St, 5th Floor, San Francisco.
RSVP to jenelle@lpfi.org by April 28. Questions 415.946.3062.
In announcing the selection, LPFI Founder and Board Member, Freada Kapor Klein stated: “Robert is exactly what LPFI needs at this moment in time. He is a passionate, experienced leader who can help execute LPFI's goal of dramatically increasing the number of underrepresented students of color pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) studies. We chose Robert - after a national search that yielded nearly 100 stellar candidates - because of his unwavering commitment to helping students achieve academic success and develop their enormous potential.”
Robert spent the last three years as Chief Academic Officer for Inner City Education Foundation (ICEF) Public Schools in South Los Angeles. Prior to serving as ICEF’s CAO, Robert was the founding principal at ICEF’s flagship high school. Robert began at ICEF as a middle school science teacher where he was twice named teacher of the year and lead teacher in his second year. Prior to that, he was a Teach for America corps member where he spent seven years at his initial placement site in East Los Angeles, becoming science department chairperson after his second year.
Robert graduated cum laude from Binghamton University with a double major in Biology and Classical Languages, and he earned his MA in Urban Education Policy Planning and Administration and Ed.D. in Urban Educational Leadership at the Rossier School of Education at University of Southern California. His dissertation looked at inequity for students of color and their lack of access to 21st century skills in the classroom, and was nominated for 2010 dissertation of the year. In 2009, Robert was named to the African American Achievement Commission by the California State Board of Education. He is married and has four year old twins.
Robert will start full time at LPFI on June 1, 2010. You can reach him at Robert@LPFI.org or 415-946-3030.
STEM College Tour a SMASHing Success!
LPFI took twelve of its Summer Math and Science Honors Academy (SMASH) students on a STEM-focused (science, math, technology and engineering ) Southern California college tour last week. They visited UC Irvine, University of Redlands, Harvey Mudd, Cal Tech, UCLA and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
The scholars’ dedication and academic achievement paid off as all the campuses visited opened their doors and welcomed them by giving them private tours and dedicated time with admissions officials. Among the tour’s highlights was having our students told by UC Irvine Vice Chancellor Manuel Gomez :“As first-generation, university-bound students of color who are interested in STEM, you are as precious as gold. You belong here.”
SMASH Scholar Megan Gage blogged on SMASH’s Communication and Social Technology student-run site www.smashcast.org about the tour: “The most exciting part: everything …was planned for the utmost relevancy to our lives. We [are] looking at schools with a special interest in STEM related fields. We have events planned with people of color (just like us) who work in these fields of interest as well!”
Workplace Fairness staff presenting in New Orleans
LPFI’s Workplace Fairness Program staff is presenting two workshops entitled “An Exploration of Hidden Bias in the Workplace and How Managing It Can Reduce Conflicts” at the International Ombudsman Association Annual Conference on April 8 in New Orleans. LPFI experts will introduce the science behind hidden bias, present interactive exercises and studies, and debut one of its new Second Life animated videos as a case study. They will display several workplace-related scenarios in which subtle bias and conflict may arise, and ombuds and managers will be asked to examine what constitutes hidden bias versus hypersensitivity. LPFI experts will help ombuds staff understand hidden bias and address disputes that arise in organizations.
LPFI provides companies with tools and resources to combat bias and unfair practices while creating more equitable, inclusive workplaces for all employees. For resources to help make your workplace more equitable and inclusive, contact Jacqueline Switzer, Workplace Fairness Program Manager: Jacqueline@lpfi.org
E-Newsletter May 2009
A Message from LPFI...
In the past few months, LPFI has been undertaking a number of activities which broaden our impact on diversity and fairness. Our Workplace program is actively searching for companies to participate in their ground breaking research on mitigating bias; Ben Jealous, President of the NAACP visited our offices and spoke with our Education Program team; and we have hosted in-house lectures on “stereotype threat” from Stanford professor Claude Steele and on the Obama education transition team from Cal professor David Kirp. As the spring brings high school and college graduations, LPFI is also wishing our graduates well and recruiting new participants for SMASH and IDEAL programs.
The Board of Directors and staff are working hard to implement top-notch programs and run a lean and nimble organization during challenging times. As tuition increases and people of color disproportionately face pink slips, we encourage you to act generously toward our work. Your generosity is crucial to our ongoing success. Thank you for joining us to take on these important projects and advance the cause of fairness.
(photo above is of staff Genevieve Negron-Gonzales and Jeremiah Sims at the IDEAL recruitment reception)
SMASH Scholars at Pixar
Last week, two SMASH scholars visited Pixar Studios for an exclusive "behind the scenes" tour with Pixar animators. Our scholars were inspired to see what a professional animator's workspace really looks like, and attended a special screening of the-soon-to-be-released animated feature, UP. The students also met with UP's writer/director, Pete Docter, to ask about his education path to an animation career. Thanks, Pixar, for welcoming SMASH and inspiring our scholars!
Shop for LPFI Students
LPFI has just launched a convenient new way for you to support education for students of color. Visit our shopping page to purchase specific items that will help our scholars.
From graphing calculators to college scholarships, you can add items to your cart and simply proceed to the secure PayPal checkout.
100% of your donation will go directly to LPFI Scholars.
LPFI Welcomes New SMASH Cohort
LPFI just welcomed 20 new high school students to the Summer Math and Science Honors Academy. With more than 118 applications, we hand-selected this group through a competitive interview and math assessment process. These rising sophomores will join returning scholars when the SMASH residential program begins this summer at UC Berkeley. All 72 students will be on campus for 5 weeks.
Follow LPFI on Twitter
For bite-sized news about LPFI, follow us at www.twitter.com/LPFI.
New Video About Cal Students of Color
LPFI is in the process of recruiting, reviewing, and selecting new admits to Cal to become part of our IDEAL scholars program. Watch our YouTube video to learn about our new scholars, hear what Cal administrators have to say about IDEAL, and learn how you can get involved.
