Adventures with Steve

I was taken by this conversation on kindness between Ezra Klein, the award winning blogger, and George Saunders, one of America’s preeminent writers of fiction and nonfiction. I knew nothing of each of these men but will now pay attention. I am interested in kindness. I am taken by Saunders’ apparent humility and his take on thinking about getting too big for your britches.

If you dare, please enjoy the tennis conversation with my younger brother Tim, the 2019 Eastern Tennis Association Man of the Year. He’s been a highly ranked player in Kentucky and New York and has accumulated dozens of doubles and singles titles over the decades. Tim and I discuss competition, family life, sharing our passion, friendships, and keeping our heads and hearts in the game that’s been so good to us. Our father is in the New England Tennis Hall of Fame and we were the New England Tennis Family of the Year in 2009. Our four other siblings, Jeff, Scott, Susan and James, are avid players and will have much to add in a later conversation.

I had the good fortune to work at Near North Montessori School in Chicago for six years. Eloise, my daughter, attended from age 2 to 5. We learned so much. Eloise learned to be independent and collaborative. I learned what it means to create the conditions where children can thrive then trust and be patient. The kids are alright if we treat them well.

Sound bites from Joseph Campbell, author of the Hero's Journey, and Neha Sampat, founder of GenLead | BelongLab inspired me to share on how we are at our best as humans when we share our gifts. And Neha's insights let me know there are experts working on Belonging and if we could get her and the GenLead | BelongLab to persuade schools to emphasize belonging over test scores we might see transformational change in our children's schools.

Dr. Scott has had an extensive career beginning as a teacher in middle school level and director of diversity programs for 15 years; as a psychologist training, coaching and consulting to schools and their leadership for 21 years; and, finally as a superintendent and associate superintendent of schools for nine years. Dr. Scott’s first book and signature workshop named Making Equity Work were the focus of numerous workshops and seminars for many years. He has focused on bringing concerns of equity in education to light for the past 20 years.We discuss engagement, entrepreneurship, inspiring students to taking ownership over learning, and the power of feedback.

Baking. Many more people are baking so why not catch up with Ray Ranldi. Ray grew up in the kitchen of his family's bakery that employed up to 300 people in the name of cakes, breads, pastries and more. Ray’s grandfather lived in Federal Hill and began the business by delivering bread. They launched into making their own breads and moved the family business to Cranston. Rays says making bread is equal art and science, requiring patience. In the second half of our conversation he provides tips on proteins, gluten, flours, heating your oven, and more.

A fortunate family of five from East Greenwich discuss distance learning and how they are making the most of their “free” time 3D printing face shields, flying drones, making art, bouncing on a neighbors trampoline, playing Minecraft, designing computer games, sharing family dinners and thinking about what life might be like if high school were more like college. Thanks to these longtime FabNewport supporters who've been coming to the lab for years. This is a family of makers. Enjoy.

Does the COVID crisis present an opportunity to rethink what school? A Providence high school senior tell us what it is like schooling at home, and what school might look like if students had more choice and power.Steve Heath is the executive director of FabNewport, a community based nonprofit teaching urban and middle high school students how code, sew, design, prototype and run machines. FabNewport's vision is that all students will have the skills, confidence and commitment to positively impact their communities and make their lives.The student interviewed, Andréa, works with Steve and his team, including 19 other youth, as part of the PVD Young Makers program in Providence. PVD Young makers works in partnership with the Providence Community Library, Providence Public Library to run maker spaces in all of the city's public libraries. They have many other partners, also.

I caught up with David Gregg, executive director of the Rhode Island Natural History Survey, to learn more about spring peepers; the musical little tree frogs that show up every spring and pierce the April evenings with relentless chirping. These 1" long amphibians come to the vernal pools to lay their eggs. Good news for urban dwellers, as the peepers can also be found in the retention ponds near most shopping centers. David says they are really hard to see but if you go to a pool at night, sit quietly, wait for the music to crank up, turn on a flash light. you might see one on a branch of a bush or tree. Good luck.