Podcasts about parent teacher association

A battle is raging—and it's destroying people's lives. No, I'm not talking about wars and conflicts scattered across the globe. Rather, I'm referring to the cultural war on gender identity.Secular activists use words like “toxic masculinity” to shame people into thinking that gender is destructive. But the Bible is clear. God created people either male or female. As a parent, it's important you fight back against the bombardment of identity politics. Here's a tip: Get involved at your school's Parent Teacher Association. Voice your concern to coaches, teachers, and community leaders. Make sure they respect the differences between boys and girls.It's time to take a stand. Because our children's futures are at stake, it's time to speak up for truth. But do it in love. The world is full of strident and angry voices. Let yours be seasoned with grace.For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Sister Michelle D. Craig received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Brigham Young University. Sister Craig has served in many ward and stake positions in the Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society organizations. She has served as temple ordinance worker in the Provo Utah Temple and Gospel Doctrine teacher in Sunday school. Sister Craig served a mission in the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo Mission. She was serving as a member of the Primary general board at the time of her call as the First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency. She served from March 31, 2018 to August 1, 2023. Sister Craig has enjoyed community service in the Parent Teacher Association of her children's schools, as a literacy tutor, and as a school support volunteer for a national education foundation. Sister Craig and her husband, E. Boyd Craig, reside in Orem, Utah. They have three children. She loves family history, temple work, reading, and enjoying time with her family.

Today, we are talking all things Parent Teacher Association, or the PTA. Having been around for 125 years, the National PTA is the oldest and largest child advocacy association in America.  We knew there was no better mom qualified to speak to this organization than Melanie Olson-Cox, Kansas City Mom Collective contributor and Lee's Summit mom. Join us as we learn about what the PTA is, common misconceptions, avoiding volunteer burnout, and ways to get involved.  Meet Melanie Olson-Cox Melanie grew up in Lee's Summit, MO and chose to raise my family here as well. She is married with four children, ranging in ages from 10-17. She works full-time in the marketing and communications department for a community mental health provider. Melanie enjoys connecting with others and learning how to be the best human she can be. She is passionate about PTA, PTA legislative advocacy for public schools, Moms Demand Action, being an ally for the LGBTQIA community and helping her kids learn that this world is a big place but they can make a difference - even in non-traditional ways.   What We're Loving In Kansas City McLain's Cakery in Waldo McLain's has been making cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and wedding cakes for the Kansas City area for over 75 years! Sarah is a big fan of ordering their birthday cakes. They are beautiful AND delicious! Axe Throwing at Blade and Timber Megan and her husband, Chris, enjoyed a rare night out hurling axes at the wall at Blade and Timber in Leawood. Check out our guide for more information and keep it in mind for your next date night! Connect with Megan and Sarah We would love to hear from you! Send us an e-mail or find us on Instagram or Facebook!        

Victor Udoewa works in the Office of Public Health Data Surveillance and Technology at the CDC. Previously, he worked at the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs at NASA, as well as at 18F and Google. We talk about his journey into design and leadership, the role of design in the civic space, radical participatory design, and orchestrating relationships in complex systems. Listen to learn about: >> Civic design and social impact design >> Radical participatory design and working with the people and communities you're serving >> The effect of relationships on systems >> The fallacy of problem solving Our Guest Victor Udoewa works in the Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance, and Technology (OPHDST) at the CDC. He previously served as CTO, CXO, and Service Design Lead of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs at NASA. He was the Director of Strategy at 18F, a civic consultancy for the federal government inside the federal government. He led the digital strategy practice and served as a designer and strategist on projects. Previously, as a Global Education Instructional Designer and Training Development Specialist at Google, he designed learning products and services for people in low-to-middle-income countries around the world. Show Highlights [01:07] Victor started out in aerospace engineering, building computer models. [03:44] How one summer in El Salvador working on composting latrines changed everything. [06:05] Wanting his work to make a positive difference. [06:22] Becoming a science and technology policy advisor for the government. [06:38] Moving to the UK and designing educational products and services focused around literacy. [06:57] Coming back to government work as a civic designer and innovator. [08:39] Civic design and designing for social impact. [09:19] Much of the work of the U.S. government is done by contractors. [10:11] Civic work has numerous challenges. You must be prepared for that struggle. [12:30] Victor talks about finding and working with good people. [15:02] Why Victor uses the term radical participatory design to describe what he does. [16:19] The three main characteristics of the projects Victor works on. [17:08] Why the choice of facilitator is so important. [17:48] Professional designers can underestimate the skills and expertise of the community they are working with. [18:57] The process Victor uses to help community members feel comfortable with leading and facilitating. [21:45] Shifting from problem- and need-based methodologies to asset- and place-based methodologies. [23:30] Victor talks about a community he's working with to create a socially-equitable and racially-just Parent-Teacher Association. [23:42] The Sustained Dialogue methodology. [26:53] The correlation between poverty and the absence of healthy relationships. [27:50] How Victor defines poverty. [28:56] A Miro Moment. [32:18] The effect of relationships on the design space and beyond. [36:41] Viewing school as a service. [40:16] Going beyond human needs. [42:17] How might we create environments that facilitate learning well? [44:39] Making a shift from student-centered to student-led. [45:29] Building innovation and flexibility into institutions. [47:24] “The end of solutions.” [49:44] Solving is not “one and done,” especially when working with complex systems. [52:50] Books and resources Victor recommends. [58:01] Dawan talks about Victor's article, Radical Participatory Design (link is below). Links Victor on LinkedIn Victor on the Federation of American Scientists Victor on ResearchGate Victor on the Service Design Network Control the Room: Victor Udoewa: Giving Up Power In Your Space Guest Lecture - Dr Victor Udoewa - Participatory Design: A Digital Literacy Case Study | UMD iSchool Relating Systems Thinking and Design Association for Community Design – Chicago conference Life Centered Design School Radical Participatory Design: Awareness of Participation, by Victor Udoewa   Book Recommendations Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples, by Linda Tuhiwai Smith Research Is Ceremony: Indigenous Research Methods, by Shawn Wilson Thinking in Systems: A Primer, by Donella H. Meadows and Diana Wright The Non-Human Persona Guide: How to create and use personas for nature and invisible humans to respect their needs during design, by Damien Lutz My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies, by Resmaa Menakem Designs for the Pluriverse: Radical Interdependence, Autonomy, and the Making of Worlds, by Arturo Escobar   Other Design Thinking 101 Episodes You Might Like Facilitation + Remote Teams + Miro with Shipra Kayan — DT101 E121 Collaboration + Facilitation + Workshops with Austin Govella — DT101 E83 Designing Facilitation: A System for Creating and Leading Exceptional Events // ALD 006 — DT101 E73    

Victor Udoewa works in the Office of Public Health Data Surveillance and Technology at the CDC. Previously, he worked at the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs at NASA, as well as at 18F and Google. We talk about his journey into design and leadership, the role of design in the civic space, radical participatory design, and orchestrating relationships in complex systems. Listen to learn about: >> Civic design and social impact design >> Radical participatory design and working with the people and communities you're serving >> The effect of relationships on systems >> The fallacy of problem solving Our Guest Victor Udoewa works in the Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance, and Technology (OPHDST) at the CDC. He previously served as CTO, CXO, and Service Design Lead of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs at NASA. He was the Director of Strategy at 18F, a civic consultancy for the federal government inside the federal government. He led the digital strategy practice and served as a designer and strategist on projects. Previously, as a Global Education Instructional Designer and Training Development Specialist at Google, he designed learning products and services for people in low-to-middle-income countries around the world. Show Highlights [01:07] Victor started out in aerospace engineering, building computer models. [03:44] How one summer in El Salvador working on composting latrines changed everything. [06:05] Wanting his work to make a positive difference. [06:22] Becoming a science and technology policy advisor for the government. [06:38] Moving to the UK and designing educational products and services focused around literacy. [06:57] Coming back to government work as a civic designer and innovator. [08:39] Civic design and designing for social impact. [09:19] Much of the work of the U.S. government is done by contractors. [10:11] Civic work has numerous challenges. You must be prepared for that struggle. [12:30] Victor talks about finding and working with good people. [15:02] Why Victor uses the term radical participatory design to describe what he does. [16:19] The three main characteristics of the projects Victor works on. [17:08] Why the choice of facilitator is so important. [17:48] Professional designers can underestimate the skills and expertise of the community they are working with. [18:57] The process Victor uses to help community members feel comfortable with leading and facilitating. [21:45] Shifting from problem- and need-based methodologies to asset- and place-based methodologies. [23:30] Victor talks about a community he's working with to create a socially-equitable and racially-just Parent-Teacher Association. [23:42] The Sustained Dialogue methodology. [26:53] The correlation between poverty and the absence of healthy relationships. [27:50] How Victor defines poverty. [28:56] A Miro Moment. [32:18] The effect of relationships on the design space and beyond. [36:41] Viewing school as a service. [40:16] Going beyond human needs. [42:17] How might we create environments that facilitate learning well? [44:39] Making a shift from student-centered to student-led. [45:29] Building innovation and flexibility into institutions. [47:24] “The end of solutions.” [49:44] Solving is not “one and done,” especially when working with complex systems. [52:50] Books and resources Victor recommends. [58:01] Dawan talks about Victor's article, Radical Participatory Design (link is below). Links Victor on LinkedIn Victor on the Federation of American Scientists Victor on ResearchGate Victor on the Service Design Network Control the Room: Victor Udoewa: Giving Up Power In Your Space Guest Lecture - Dr Victor Udoewa - Participatory Design: A Digital Literacy Case Study | UMD iSchool Relating Systems Thinking and Design Association for Community Design – Chicago conference Life Centered Design School Radical Participatory Design: Awareness of Participation, by Victor Udoewa   Book Recommendations Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples, by Linda Tuhiwai Smith Research Is Ceremony: Indigenous Research Methods, by Shawn Wilson Thinking in Systems: A Primer, by Donella H. Meadows and Diana Wright The Non-Human Persona Guide: How to create and use personas for nature and invisible humans to respect their needs during design, by Damien Lutz My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies, by Resmaa Menakem Designs for the Pluriverse: Radical Interdependence, Autonomy, and the Making of Worlds, by Arturo Escobar   Other Design Thinking 101 Episodes You Might Like Facilitation + Remote Teams + Miro with Shipra Kayan — DT101 E121 Collaboration + Facilitation + Workshops with Austin Govella — DT101 E83 Designing Facilitation: A System for Creating and Leading Exceptional Events // ALD 006 — DT101 E73    

In this audio profile, Principal Mahri Aste explains how students helped choose a new name for their school, inspired by the community's multi-cultural profile. Principal Aste also shares examples that have helped Mosaic Elementary welcome parents of all backgrounds into the school's Parent Teacher Association, and identifies three instructional practices that have been key for […] The post Audio: Students, Parents and Educators: Forming a ‘Mosaic' of Support appeared first on National Blue Ribbon Schools.

Today's episode topic: EFT Tapping for Running for the PTA, PTO, PA Your hosts — and fairy godmothers in Tapping — Collette Schildkraut and Lee Uehara know how nervous one can feel when considering running for a position on the executive board of a Parent Teacher Association, a Parent Association, or a Parent Teacher Organization. But, now we have a Tap for that, mommas! Today's Set-up Statement:  "Even though I'm scared and excited about the thought of running for a position on the executive board of my PTA, PTO, or PA, that's where I'm at [or, "and I deeply and completely love and accept myself."]." You can always visit Lee and Collette at www.TappingLikeAMother.com, or on Instagram, or you can email them: info@tappinglikeamother.com. They'd love to hear from you! If you'd like to have Lee and Collette speak at your event or lead a workshop, please let them know this, too. And, if you like the idea of having them as a guest on your own show, please connect with them today!

Our Seat Our Table: Leadership Lounge connected to the Florida PTA (Parent Teacher Association) in celebration of their upcoming events in celebration of their 100 year!

Welcome Sarah Vibert, the CEO of the National Council of Volunteer Organisations (NCVO), a charity that has been supporting thousands of voluntary and community sector charities and non-profits in England for over 100 years. Sarah joined NCVO in January 2020 as director of membership and engagement and was later appointed as Chief Executive in early 2022. As a child, Sarah always aspired to lead an organisation, and now she is living her dream. She strives to be a relatable CEO who leads with empathy, transparency, and openness. This is evident in NCVO's commitment to publishing the salaries of its senior leadership team, along with an explanation of why they are paid that amount. According to Sarah, transparency is a critical value for NCVO, as it helps the organisation build trust with its donors and the public. Sarah's personal experience growing up with a younger sibling who was disabled was a driving force behind her decision to work in the charity sector. She feels a strong connection to the mission of organisations like the Epilepsy Society and The Neurological Alliance, which she previously led, as they go beyond her professional responsibilities. Before joining NCVO, Sarah held various roles in the charity sector, including advising the now King of the United Kingdom, then HRH Prince of Wales, on his charitable entities, as well as working for In Kind Direct. She began her career in local government management, including working for the Mayor of London. Despite her busy schedule, Sarah finds time to volunteer for the Parent Teacher Association at her son's primary school. She has also previously served as a trustee for National Voices and The Brain and Spine Foundation. Sarah's unique background and experience make her an asset to NCVO and the wider charity sector. Her leadership style, which emphasizes transparency, empathy, and relatability, sets a positive example for other leaders to follow. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mark-longbottom2/message

Join cohosts Athena & Mims in this weeks episode on how to build in time to visit and collaborate with your children's school. Leave the stress out of PTA by coordinating with teachers in advance,getting your child's perspective, asking for help or offering your strengths, and share the experiences with each other so we can encourage each other, get ideas and lean in with our strengths to make these experiences impactful for your child, their classmates and school educators. Reach out with questions, Torn Moments or Mends to tornmlb@gmail.com - Listen, Follow, Subscribe and Share the podcast. @tornmlb on IG, Facebook and Twitter. Choose Grace, Torn Tribe! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/torn/message

The Emperor's Regret Author Barbara A. Pierce was born in Memphis, Tennessee where she lived before moving with her family at an early age to New York City. She attended junior high there, then high school in Mount Vernon, New York where she received an excellent education.After graduating, she held a job for two and a half years as a telephone operator until entering Cheyney State College (now known as the Cheyney University of Pennsylvania), where she received her Bachelor of Science in education. Her career as an elementary school teacher began in Mount Vernon in 1968 and lasted for thirty-five years. It was during that time she pursued and earned a Master's Degree in education and reading. After retiring in 2003, the author returned to teaching as a substitute for a few years, and also pursued her dream of writing books for young people. When asked about the highlights of her career, she cites educating children as one of the most important aspects of her career. She says she would like to think she had been a beacon of light and a source of inspiration for all of her students to pursue their own professional and personal goals. The author credits her faith in God for her success. In recognition of her service in the school system, Ms. Pierce received the Jenkins Award from the Parent-Teacher Association of Mount Vernon.

Hear how just a few hours of volunteering at schools can positively impact students with food allergies and everyone seeking safe fun!  FAACT-recognized support group leader, and FAACT Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Board Member, Ashley Smith, shares why volunteering can model inclusive behavior, raise awareness, and support safe celebrations and events.To keep you in the know, below are helpful links:NNMG Food Allergic Families of Los Angeles Facebook Group National Parent Teacher AssociationFAACT-recognized Support GroupsVisit us at www.FoodAllergyAwareness.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and YouTube. Contact us directly via Email.You can find the FAACT Roundtable Podcast on Pandora, Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Podcast Chaser, Deezer, and Listen Notes.

Michael Jerome Sturdivant is the President and CEO of Closed Gap Solutions LLC where he is literally closing the gap between requirements and solutions for clients. As a third-generation veteran, he knew two things from an early age; he wanted to serve his community and nation after graduating from George Washington Carver High School for Engineering and Science (Philadelphia, PA).In Fall 1993, he enrolled at Howard University. He joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant as a Field Artillery Officer in 1998. Those first 23 years of discovery prepared him for the next two decades of service to his nation and community.Every duty station marked a time for him to commit to serving in the community in many capacities; Parent-Teacher Association positions, coaching youth sports, Cub Scouts Den Leader, High School Mentorship program advisor, motivational speaker, and being elected vice president of non-profits. Michael is also the president of small business ventures focused on community planning, diversity, equity and inclusion, and team building. He genuinely finds joy in impacting communities with resources, programs, and opportunities. Without the loving support of his best friend, confidant, and loving wife YaVonne and their four children: Brandon, Grant, Lauren, and Blake, Michael wouldn't have been able to do anything he has done. They are committed as a family to the vision to contribute to the community, fulfilling the gaps to provide much-needed support.Connect with Michael Sturdivant: www.closedgapsolutionsllc.comDr. Virginia LeBlanc “DocV”, The Pivot MaestroDr. Virginia LeBlanc (DocV) is a highly sought multi‐disciplinary expert and global thought leader delivering value across industries world‐wide sharing key ingredients to successfully pivot through transition gaps, earning her the nickname “THE Pivot Maestro.” Her work leading major change initiative with Joint Forces commands at the Pentagon, Department of the Navy, Booz Allen Hamilton, Indiana University, and the National Pan‐Hellenic Council birthed her passion in personal wellness and transformation through transition founding Defining Paths (DP)—not only a company but a heart‐centered, socially conscious movement and network for thought leaders, change makers, legacy builders, and purposed entrepreneurs—healing, rebuilding, and transforming lives and businesses from the inside out.A Holistic Coach, particularly serving retiring military and women leaders in career‐life transition, DocV specializes in putting YOU back in business guiding clients through next steps facing fears, connecting the dots, and thinking without a box while to live inspired with a “be your own boss” mind‐set.Dr. LeBlanc is the international bestselling author of Love the Skin YOU'RE In: How to Conquer Life Through Divergent Thinking, her autobiographical love‐letter to “Society” on socio‐cultural conditioning and how she overcame to define her path.Learn more at https://linktr.ee/definingpaths.Define Your Pathhttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/define-your-path/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/ep-17-michael-sturdivant-define-your-path-with-dr-virginia-leblanc-docv-the-pivot-maestro

National council of Parent – Teacher Association calls on GES not to hesitate to shut down schools if the ongoing strike by teacher unions protract.

A battle is raging—and it's destroying people's lives. No, I'm not talking about wars and conflicts scattered across the globe. Rather, I'm referring to the cultural war on gender identity.Secular activists use words like “toxic masculinity” to shame people into thinking that gender is destructive. But the Bible is clear. God created people either male or female. As a parent, it's important you fight back against the bombardment of identity politics. Here's a tip: Get involved at your school's Parent Teacher Association. Voice your concern to coaches, teachers, and community leaders. Make sure they respect the differences between boys and girls.It's time to take a stand. Because our children's futures are at stake, it's time to speak up for truth. But do it in love. The world is full of strident and angry voices. Let yours be seasoned with grace.For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Families are holding a 'move-a-thon' in South Seattle all week to work on a big gap in public schools: Parent Teacher Association funding.

Tune in to listen about the amazing things our PTA here at Millstone River School does! Be sure to check out their website and follow their social media accounts! - Website - Calendar of Events - Facebook - Twitter

The science of indoor air quality UK air quality expert Dr. Andy Dengel on an invisible threat Andy is currently Director of Environment in the Building Technology Group at BRE. He gained a PhD and postdoctoral research experience in chemistry at Imperial College London, publishing extensively on the structures, properties and catalytic oxidising abilities of transition metal complexes. Andy then spent the next 16 years of his career working in and managing contract analytical laboratories. Starting with drinking water analysis, this took in food and consumer product analysis at a Public Analyst laboratory and latterly the operational/site management of a growing suite of contaminated land/water laboratories for ALcontrol. Since joining BRE in 2006 Andy has led the IAQ and Chemical Assessment teams, and in 2008 also assumed overall responsibility for the other BRE environmental engineering and consultancy teams (HVAC, Air Pollution, Lighting and Environmental Noise) and in 2013 he became Deputy to the Director of BRE's 70-strong Building Technology Group. This bio work constitutes a fair-use of any copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US copyright law. View original source here: Andy Dengel   Episode transcript: The transcription of this episode is auto generated by a third-party source. While Microshare takes every precaution to insure that the content is accurate, errors can occur. Microshare, Inc.  is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. Michael Moran [00:00:11] This is manifest density. Hello, everyone, and welcome to this edition of Manifest Entity, your host Michael Moran here, and we are here to explore the intersection of COVID 19 global business and society. And unfortunately, war, which has now entered the picture in Ukraine. Manifest density is brought to you by the global smart building in ESG data company Microshare. Unleash the data and today I speak with. I'm pleased to have with me, Dr. Andy Dingell, who is the director of the environment team at Barry, which is the kind of leading building research establishment in in the UK and has global reach and influence. Andy, welcome to the podcast.   Andy Dengel [00:01:13] Hello, Mike.   Michael Moran [00:01:17]  So, Andy, tell us a little about yourself and your work on indoor environments at spirit.   Andy Dengel [00:01:29] Yeah, sure. So I started off as a chemist, so my doctorate was in chemistry and then I went on to do a lot of analytical chemistry. In the last 15 years, I've been at body building research establishment and I've headed up what we loosely call prairie environment, but really, really concerns the indoor environments that we find ourselves living and working in learning in. So it's everything from indoor air quality through to ventilation and H-back and also lighting noise and other other parameters that can affect us when we're in the buildings. And in that we we do various types of work. We do a lot of research, both collaborative research but also commercial research. And there's R&D for people with products in this area. And we also do advisory work and sometimes to street testing of other products or materials to do the indoor air quality.   Michael Moran [00:02:25] So we were talking before the podcast began about the, you know, really new impetus that air quality has gained throughout the pandemic. Obviously, a virus travels through an airborne virus. It's going to be something that alarms you a bit about. The space you're in makes you wonder about what you might have considered a fairly neutral space. But air quality goes back well before the pandemic. Air quality as a as a capability, as a concern in indoor spaces. Can you give us a little background on where the science has come from?   Andy Dengel [00:03:06] Yes, absolutely. I mean, we've been involved here before and before I joined even the last twenty five years when he was some of the the IQ issues that come about and of course, traditionally equality came to the consciousness in terms of external air quality, air pollution and those sort of things. But then gradually over the last maybe 10, 15 years, people start to think, Well, we actually spend more time indoors. Some people spend all of their time indoors. And often they are. The indoor air quality indoors has a great, great potential to affect the health and well-being. So I say the last 15, 20 years, we've seen a gradual increase in awareness, I'd say, of indoor air quality. And of course, the internet and social media really take that to another level in a lot of people start to know, you know, listen to podcasts like they say they they can read things, they can access things and it's getting more on the agenda. And I think before the COVID pandemic, we were starting to see a lot of organizations, whether it be schools, medical corporate offices, whatever. So into place a bit more emphasis on the health and well-being of occupants. Because after all, if your employee isn't happy in their indoor environment, they won't perform as well. They may become ill and they may become absent. So we were starting to see that before the for the pandemic, but I think the pandemic has really thrust it even more into the spotlight.   Michael Moran [00:04:36] I want to look state state pre-pandemic for just a moment and talk about some of the research and some of the case studies that were were floating around before anybody really had it focused on COVID 19. I mean, a lot of these things had to do with preventing absenteeism, preventing the the ill effects of CO2 buildup, which which make people drowsy and toward the end of the day, for instance, could really hit productivity in a workforce. And then there was, you know, the pure health care or the health issues which which had to do with things like the humidity and temperature mix, which can affect the spread of disease. What are some of the factors that go into the pure? Air quality concerns that predated the pandemic.   Andy Dengel [00:05:31] Yeah, so I think a lot of what we used to do used to be reactive in a way which is a pity where people would contact us when they were experiencing problems enough in an office or a school or hospital. And normally that would be one or two or more people experiencing irritation or discomfort or ill health. Then, of course, you have this sort of psychosomatic factors in the so-called sick building syndrome where, you know, open plan always if three or four people become uncomfortable and attribute that to the indoor environment that can start to to spread. So we were starting to do that sort of work and we were developing protocols ready to go in and assess indoor air quality in indoor environments. And we often call it Iizuka, you know, taking everything into account. But there weren't many standards or guidelines for people to hang their hats on as such. There were a lot of schemes, so voluntary schemes such as Brianna, where you can raise a building for a whole load of factors, one of which is air quality ventilation, but very little proactive stuff. But we had, you know, started to look at ways of, yeah, for a reasonable amount of money to be able to go in and assess what's important. And that, first and foremost, would be things, as you said, the CO2 levels, the level of ventilation and also the effects that can come from, you know, too much ventilation or too little things like dampness or on the other hand, dryness of air is too dry and then particular sources of indoor pollutants bosses, for instance, which can make those effects, you know, two out of nine out of 10 people, but one person could be sensitive and have problems. So we were starting to look at that, but really don't know. So it was one to one basis, but I think we had the advent of more technology is going to thrust us all towards a point where there's more measurement going on.   Michael Moran [00:07:30] And you hold that thought we're going to take a break to hear from our sponsor. There will be a little dead air here, and I'll come back. OK, I'm back with Dr. Andy DeAngelo of the British I'm sorry, the building research establishment in the UK. Doctor, is there a. Kind of secret weapon for indoor air quality. We've now seen, as you were mentioning before, we took the break. Technology has really evolved. We've had a pandemic which certainly raised the awareness of the concerns that might be extended in indoor air. But I know iOttie, of course, allows for a certain amount of collection of data. But what's it seems like? There's a real challenge in connecting all the various elements that can affect indoor air quality into a responsive single unit. Is that about is that right?   Andy Dengel [00:08:33] Yes, because it can be quite complex, you know, on the level of CO2, that's reasonably straightforward. I mean, but even then, you know, there can be other factors. But you know, there are so many factors. So it really all comes down to something it a balance between. Energy efficiency, I'd say, in ventilation, because more and more we're seeing very airtight buildings relying on mechanical ventilation. And if that doesn't work properly or isn't designed properly, you can have problems. Of course, some places don't have that luxury and they'll still be problems because there's not the opportunity for the cross ventilation, etc. So to the whole thing really makes it quite difficult to know which premises you should look at. And there are certainly some important markers, but I think where is the the iottie and the ability to share data and collate data and do things with data is really going forward. The technology to have really robust and reliable sensors to do continuous monitoring is a little bit behind when it comes to economies, you know, in terms of financial economy, because really the more you spend, obviously the better you you'll be. But you know, some of the sensors do have limitations, and I think those limitations need to be at least understood before data is collected.   Michael Moran [00:09:59] You know, we had we've had several experiences at Microshare where clients have gone ahead and deployed air quality monitors, IoT monitors. And discovered the air was less than ideal, and their decision, rather than to take remedial steps, was to remove the air quality monitors and pretend like they'd never found this out. It's not a very progressive way to approach it, obviously. But is that a common problem? Is there is the is the reaction so complex that you find some people would just rather not know?   Andy Dengel [00:10:42] Yes, I think I think it's all about, first of all, deciding, you know, what you're trying to do and who you're going to share the data with and how much data because and then more importantly than anything, are you prepared to act on it? I think you just touched on the worst case scenario there they're acting on. It is removing the measurement. But it is important. And I think, you know, all sorts of organizations at the moment, I think, are wrestling with this problem in that, you know, if they're going to do this and they do, and if you do either well or you don't do so well anyway, there'll be lots of data. And if you're if you're sharing that with a with a lot of people, there's a lot of different little subjectivity. People will look at different things and you've got a problem. If, for instance, a red light starts flashing when there's, for instance, voices are deemed to be high and so on. So we're thinking, well, wait a minute, the air quality is not good. What's my employee or my landlord going to do about it when in fact, it could have been a false positive? Because, you know, for the sort of sensors we're talking about, they're not always as selected as he might wish. And things can actually trigger trigger responses. So I think there's a bigger piece here in terms of, you know, really thinking. Do I want to do this? How are we going to do it and how are we going to share data are all prepared to go the whole way and then work with the the people who have effectively been being monitored to try to show that you want to do something about it?   Michael Moran [00:12:17] You know, there was a pretty well-traveled story a few months back in the New York Times, where parents of children in the New York City Public Schools were sneaking air quality monitors into their lunchboxes and backpacks and then showing up at the Parent Teacher Association meetings and raising hell about the air quality in the schools. Is that is that indicative of what you think the COVID pandemic has done to people's realization about all this?   Andy Dengel [00:12:52] I think so. I think it is a real possibility and I say these things are quite affordable. You know, you can buy some some of some of these things, single parameter things for maybe under $500, I don't know. But even but in our in our experience, even ones that cost multiple hundreds of dollars or pounds, we'll still have limitations in and a lot of cases simply because the parameters that they are trying to measure are very complex in themselves. I think CO2, the sensors there, they're much more mature and at the end of the day, you're looking for one one, one compound or molecule. But if you're looking for bio seeds and you have a sense of the claims, look at total doses or tbose. That's pretty much impossible for that sort of sensor because there are so many different viruses that will give different responses. So it's a very complex parameter and similar.   Michael Moran [00:13:45] Can you define viruses? I don't think most of the audience will understand what that   Andy Dengel [00:13:48] yes, VOCs, volatile organic compounds. So it's a whole whole range of different chemicals that have to volatile always will be big vapor at room temperature. And they include anything from something like petrol. So if you think of petrol, that's a good example. You can smell the volatile organics and petrol go right through to lots of things we use in in our in our homes and in our offices, the cleaning products. And through to the furnishings of paints and varnishes. Air fresheners, you know, people may have may use plug in air fresheners. They emit VOCs, so there's a whole whole range of seasons. Some are potentially hazardous. Some are potentially irritable. Some won't be. But the point is in anyone's face, there may be dozens of different voices and so sensitive to look at so-called tbo AOC is really oversimplifying.   Michael Moran [00:14:50] Does there in any way virus come into this, I mean, things that travel through the air as well, which may not have a particular. Telltale odor sensors, are there sensors that can actually find these kind of things in the air?   Andy Dengel [00:15:11] Yeah, we don't know. I don't think at the very top level as we speak, people probably working on ways to, for instance, you know, to to detect COVID 19 in the air, for instance. I think there's been work done on surfaces, but the problem is you're really dealing with surrogates in a way it's a part of the particles. Viruses are particles in very small particle size range, which we call ultra fine particles. So if you can have a sense of it looks for ultra fine particles, that's particles under one micron. So. You know, there's an indication that if you can remove if, for instance, an air purifier or a piece of ventilation reduces the amount of ultrafine particles, then it's a pretty it's a pretty good assumption that you will be doing something to either remove or reduce the amount of virus particles in the air. But as we stand at the moment, there's nothing that I know certainly to be able to do in reducing buildings to actually sense virus particles. So you're really into the realms of, you know, looking at the closest surrogate, which in this case would be small particles.   Michael Moran [00:16:22] And there's, you know, one of the things I wanted to talk to you about is the reaction to an indication that air is substandard. So the Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S. has a as a kind of basic best practices guide on its website. And they they run through things like the obvious, which are, you know, open a window, you know, down to, you know, essentially having that tough conversation with your HVAC company to see whether there's something they can do with it. The one thing that stood out for me was they have a very they're they're not saying that air purifiers, even those with HEPA filters are particularly effective and they're not, you know, they're not saying they're useless, but it's not part of their recommended reaction to poor air quality. Why is that?   Andy Dengel [00:17:24] I think you know that on top of those, of course, with the things that you probably thought about before resource control, you know, there are things you could do in terms of hopefully reducing sources of air pollution, but coming onto the things like filters and other air purifiers. I think it's because they're all good in principle, but they all have to be used properly and sited properly and maintained properly. And I think that that's the thing where we're lagging behind. So, for instance, the HEPA filters need changing every so often. If you're going to sell air purifiers that are actually using Nuvei or Ozone or combinations of those things to change the chemistry of the air, then you've always you've got problems that you might produce, byproducts you don't want. And certainly in the UK, the Sage Group, which advise the government on COVID and other issues, are saying be very careful before you tax things simply because. There's a chance that you may you may cause other problems. We'd like to see more standards for these sort of things, both filter systems and they have HEROFi assembly so that people can have some confidence but know that their only one. I think only one part of the armament or the armory, if you like to combat bad air quality, I think it's the combination has to be. Things like opening windows, if you can, but then being careful, you don't do so if there's pollution outside. There's a lot of occupant behavior and the way people use buildings. There's a bit about source control. I think if all those fail, then of course you do need to start. First of all, monitoring to some extent and then using some sort of, you know, ventilation or air purification technology on top of what's already there. But I think it's I'm not saying it's the last resort. But I think there's a there's a sort of a hierarchy of things you might want to try and do before you got to that to that extent, because it can be hard to do it in large buildings and complex buildings.   Michael Moran [00:19:26] And you mentioned something interesting the the open the window thing. You know, obviously you've got to be selective. If you're in Beijing, you don't open the window. There is, I mean, early in my career, I would say an Associated Press reporter in a city in the U.S., Newark, New Jersey, not notable for its clear air. And in fact, the State Department of Environmental Protection noted that the place where the Associated Press put the bureau, which was at the confluence of some rail yards, the runways at Newark airport and three interstate highways was measured as the worst air in the state. Luckily, because of the Associated Press penchant for trying to save money, we used to say You can't spell cheap without AP. We had no windows anyway, so we couldn't open the windows. But no, but I can totally relate to that because you would walk outside the door and realize that you were surrounded by particulate matter. You know, that brings up an interesting question what is someone to do in an environment which exist all over the world? Places like Mumbai and Beijing and many industrial cities where the air quality outside is is almost certainly worse than whatever you're experiencing inside is. How do you unravel those kind of conundrums?   Andy Dengel [00:20:55] And I think that is the big problem when it comes to, you know, just having to shut the windows and knowing when you can open the windows. In other words, almost monitoring or, you know, when there's a time when there's no air pollution outside, so you get some ventilation. But then the rest of the time just keeping it out. I think that that's the big problem here. It was different. All buildings are different. All localities are different. And then, you know, we have the other problem where people are encouraged to open windows, but because they're in high storey buildings, the health and safety regulations say you can only open the windows 10 centimeters. So the opportunity for sort of cross ventilation and proper ventilation is very small because it is only a very small OpenTable amount of windows, so it really is, you know, it can be a varied problem, depending where you are. But it definitely comes down to, I think, more public awareness. And some of that is out there on the internet. But I just we we we feel it needs to be more targeted and almost brought into school curricula because it's such an important thing. You know, bad air quality, as we know, can have the potential to cause health effects, and some of the worst damage can be done to respiratory systems, you know, when people are young. And some of that, some of those things that they may experience due to bad air quality and then, you know, go and live with them for the rest of their lives. So there's some very good work done in this country in the UK by the Royal College of Physicians and also the Royal College of Pediatricians and Child and Child Health. Big studies looking at, you know, scientific indoor air quality and air quality and its effects on people throughout their lives and starting to look at how we can educate people to do the best they can to to limit their exposure.   Michael Moran [00:22:52] Andy, hold on right there, we're going to take one more break. OK, we're back with Dr. Randy DeAngelo of the building research establishment in the UK. Any right before the break, we were talking about the studies that were now being mounted to look at the real long term health effects of poor air quality, of course, in my youth. I remember very well in the U.S. it was those kind of studies of outdoor air pollution that led to things like the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act as a twin and really kind of in the start of the environmental movement back in the 70s and 80s. Are we now seeing a regulation that's inevitable? I know there is some in the U.K., there's some in in specific jurisdictions in the United States like New York City and some of the more progressive cities around the country. But are we likely now to see much more focus from regulators on indoor air quality?   Andy Dengel [00:23:59] I think we're getting towards that. But I say it's always it's always difficult because if you going to do that, you then you need to be able to incentivize house builders and other developers to think more about it. But I think we're starting to see the need to look more indoor outdoor air because as you said, we've known about it a long time and there is a monitoring zone in the UK now, and I'm sure that's the case in the US and other places. Lots of monitoring of outdoor air to the point where you can go on to government website in the UK and find out, you know, the particle level will be an O2 level at any one time near to where you live. But there just isn't the data indoors, and I think this is being recognized by certainly the government departments I talked to. You know, where's the large study that starts to really look at indoor air quality and measuring? The last one that I know of was done by the Bay Area cells 20 25 years ago when we monitored 900 houses for a whole range of parameters that gave some good indications of the salt levels you can get in houses. But of course, twenty five years has seen a whole new way of building more modern methods of construction, the air efficient natural indoor energy efficiency agenda. So things have changed and there are studies out there, but they tend to become just very small samples of houses or or one development. So I think there's very much a call for bigger studies and then link that to the to the effects on health and well-being more. And I think we need quick studies that happened immediately rather than three to four year collaborative research. It's brilliant. But you can often take two years to conceive it and then four years to do the research and another year to disseminate. I don't think we necessarily want to take that long. I think some stuff needs to be done now. To look at the real situation and what what government can then do and use its regulation and use its incentivization to promote change.   Michael Moran [00:26:08] And I want to ask a question, it's not about air quality, I know your your title is about the IS reference. Sorry, your title references indoor environments generally, and there's a lot more to indoor environments than air. One of the things that also has been subject to study over the years is the extent to which high decibels or the wrong lumens brightness. You know, getting that kind of a mix wrong can be very damaging to people as well. Could you talk about that for a second?   Andy Dengel [00:26:45] You are very important, so a lot like, for instance, is very important for many reasons, not only in having the right amount of light and the right spectrum of light. If you like to do the tasks which you need to do, whether that be reading or some other wherever Typekit might be. And also, there are some big influences on the amount of sunlight the daylight people get. Effects on circadian rhythms. And also, of course, the thing people forget is, you know, too much sunlight into a building then causes heating and thermal discomfort. Settings and lighting is very, very important. And also. A sound and a noise, and there are two two main things here, there's there's plenty about what we call background noise or environmental noise, and then there's. Acute noise due to certain processes, and I think often the more important one is because you can often do something if you know there's going to be some particular noise in there, loud people can take some action. But it's really the background level of background noise and the the frequencies involved that can can cause problems in in workplaces and homes. So very important to take those into consideration, as well as things like ventilation and equality in a holistic. Assessment, and I know that in the UK, there are some moves towards having some some standards which really take in all of these parameters in an overall assessment of an indoor space so that, you know, so that nothing gets left out. Because if you treat one and leave the other three, you can have problems.   Michael Moran [00:28:27] I think just as with the pandemic, air quality has become something that people pay attention to tinnitus and issues of hearing loss have have become more focused upon in recent years. I suffer from it myself, I should say, which is not surprising. I spent years in very loud cities and played rock and roll in a band. I ride motorcycles. I covered wars when I was a journalist. I mean, I've been in some pretty loud environments and you know, there's a persistent ring. And I think there's a lot of people now that have this issue and it's become a much more front and center issue. Is that something that you're seeing employers be concerned about because there's not tonight specifically, but just let decibel levels background noise? Is there a demand in the market? I guess is the way I should ask it for it, for the kind of measurements that would help people prevent these problems.   Andy Dengel [00:29:34] Overall, not suffice to say, it's another thing that comes into the good. These things are measured for if people want credit for an environmental assessment scheme and they sometimes measure when people have already come forward with problems. Unfortunately, the sort of proactive measurement is quite rare in my experience. And so it's not my particular specialty acoustics, but certainly a lot of what goes in the design stage and stuff like that. And as I said, to get credits for four environmental schemes in terms of actually in occupation measurement. Certainly, I would. I'd say not enough is done. Some some projects have employees will do this, but often in my experience, it's people who are exposed to very loud sounds, for instance, you know, in a workshop or a lab or a factory. They will then have hearing tests as part of their occupational health. But I think we're missing a lot of other people who are exposed, not through, not through the incident to their occupation exposure at work, if you like. So I guess my answer is we probably need to do more and a much more proactive basis.   Michael Moran [00:30:48] Any of this has been tremendously fascinating, I could continue forever. And thinking about all the train stations and fire stations I've lived next to in London and New York and other cities in the course of my life and damage that probably did. But in any case, would you give the audience a sense of how they could learn more about these issues and follow your work at? Very.   Andy Dengel [00:31:18] Yes, certainly, I mean, the first of will very quickly say is that we some of we see some of the worst cases. So if I've painted a bad picture, you know, always that concern is something to think about. And if you need more information, please go to our website, which is W WW dot Beharie Group dot com. And under testing, you'll see a section on indoor environments that will give you some information and also some some publications that we've done on things like ensuring good air quality and good lighting for for health and well-being. And there's a lot more on on the website connecting that with our aspects of the built environment.   Michael Moran [00:32:03] Thank you, Doctor. I'll ask one more question if you were going to read one study on the importance of air quality. What would it be in your recommendation?   Andy Dengel [00:32:16] And there's there's a report called Every Breath We Take is the RCP, so if you if you put in Royal College of Physicians, Physicians, RCP, I'm sure it's called every, every breath we take. That's a sort of it was about 2016, but it really sets the scene about air quotes. And although most of it's not outdoor air quality, it references the importance of indoor air quality. And in fact, it's led to another report since when I say every breath we take by the RCP. We'll give you a very good understanding of both air quality and its potential effects on people's physical and mental health.   Michael Moran [00:32:58] Well, thank you so much, Dr. Andy Tangle theory, of course, you can learn more about microshare and how we're helping get the world safely back to work with our every smart suite of products, including every smart air, which is directly related to this conversation, every smart, clean, smart space. You can also subscribe to Manifest Density on the website or download it on iTunes, Google Play, iHeartRadio, Spotify and other platforms. But that'll do it for this week. And on behalf of Microshare and its global employees, I want to thank Dr. Randy Dango again and say, This is Mike Moran saying so long. Be well and thank you for listening.  

Beyond the known monthly meetings and bake sales, today's Parent Teacher Association or PTA is a leading child advocacy organization comprised of millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders all devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools.

The 2021-2022 school year is fast approaching and neither parents nor students can afford to jump into this school year blindly. Because as we all know, COVID-19 turned everything that our nation once knew about getting a public K-12 education upside down. 2020 was the first year that students and parents were forced to adapt to an online learning model without much warning or precedent. So as students, parents, and school administrators continue to embrace our new normal this school year, we're sharing some practical and seldom discussed advice so you can ensure that your child gets the top-notch education that they deserve no matter what school they go to. In this episode of the Ed Gap Evolution podcast, we're speaking with Pam Phillips, and this isn't her first time on the podcast. She's actually my mother and I interviewed her on the topic of homeschooling in episode (3) of the podcast. She's back on the show! But this time, she gives advice on 3 impactful ways that every parent can help their child have a successful school year. Pam also gives tips on how you can advocate for your child's education if your child attends public school in the U.S.  She has taught in public school, private school, homeschool, and supplemental education companies like Sylvan Learning. So she offers well-informed opinions on the topics that we jump into on the show! In this episode, we recommend that every parent who has a student in public school get involved in your school's Parent Teacher Association.   To learn more about the National Parent Teacher Association you can visit: https://www.pta.org    If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the podcast, you can! Simply subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts. That way, you will get notified when the next episode is released and you'll never miss an episode. You can show your support by leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or sharing this episode on your social media. Reviews and ratings help more people find and listen to the podcast. This means more children get the resources that they need to thrive. Please visit our website to show your support Edgapevolution.com

Episode 5 - Our Parentaversary: 10 Years in the Game Your favorite Triple Cs (co-parents, colleagues, collaborators) Drs. Dorimé-Williams and Williams talk about the trials and triumphs of a decade of parenting. Dr. Dorimé-Williams also comes for Texas and its decision-making processes. (She has a lot of questions). Our Attempt at Minute Markers: Parentaversary | 1:00 The Gift of University Communities | 4:12 Parenting Before IG | 6:20 The Parenting Contract | 9:47 Parenting Championship | 14:05 State Hate (But it's not) | 20:55 Mean Evaluations | 26:40 Links: Jack & Jill of America, Incorporated | https://www.jackandjillinc.org/ Parent-Teacher Association | https://www.pta.org/ Pod Schools | https://www.nytimes.com/article/learning-pods-coronavirus.html Saint Joseph's University | https://www.sju.edu/ Villanova University | https://www1.villanova.edu/university.html Mainline Rivalry | https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/villanova/villanova-st-josephs-basketball-schedule-virginia-20201217.html Texas is Open | https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-lifts-mask-mandate-opens-texas-100-percent | https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/03/02/abbott-hints-at-exciting-news-tuesday-that-could-include-rollback-of-texas-covid-19-restrictions/ Texas Freezing Weather & High Resident Utility Bills | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56147311 Scholar Shoutouts: N'ya Fritz | https://www.instagram.com/x.tommy_/ Joseph Kitchen | https://people.miami.edu/profile/jxk1077@miami.edu Leroy Long | https://faculty.erau.edu/Leroy.Long

In Knuckles by Kathryn Hitchcock, a radiation oncologist and a patient learn how people are not always who they seem.   TRANSCRIPT ANNOUNCER: The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement.   [MUSIC PLAYING]   LIDIA SCHAPIRA: Welcome, to JCO's "Cancer Stories-- The Art of Oncology," brought to you by the ASCO Podcast Network, a collection of nine programs covering a range of educational and scientific content and offering enriching insight into the world of cancer care. You can find all of the shows, including this one, at podcast.asco.org.   [MUSIC PLAYING]   KATE HITCHCOCK: The swastikas on his knuckles kept stealing my attention. I tried not to stare, but every time he gestured to emphasize his words, my gaze snapped back there. That awful symbol multiplied across all 10 digits refused to be ignored. The blue lines were blurred, misshapen, probably jail tats.   I grew up in a prison town and then joined the Navy. You would think the inking of flesh could no longer hold any fascination for me. My appearance seemed to be equally distracting to my patient and his wife. Hair just beyond clipper short, no make up, button up shirt, and pressed slacks. I could practically see the thought bubble over their heads. Definitely a lesbian. Different word, though.   Their brows creased every time I spoke. I had learned not to expect much from people who looked at me that way but wrestled the feeling down. We had serious business.   I explained what we needed to do together-- 5 and 1/2 weeks of radiation treatments if we went through without a break. Not too tough day-to-day, but a real marathon taken together-- fatigue, loss of appetite, and loose stools. He'd have to eat as best as he could. His wiry frame didn't carry much he could afford to lose.   I glimpsed at his teeth and wondered if he was still using meth and not admitting it. We were going to have a couple of long months. He sat stiffly while I listened to his heart and lungs as if I were a ghost that would become real if he acknowledged it. I took a chance and patted his shoulder reassuringly anyway.   He was alone when he came for the first of his weekly on-treatment visits. His body language announced that he was not excited to talk with me, but I deliberately stayed away from the computer. I would be all-in on this, even if he wasn't.   Your weight is steady so far. You must be doing a good job with eating, I said. He nodded and looked at his fingernails. Any pain? Nope. Bowels doing OK so far? Yep. He sighed and looked at his watch. I knew my excellent, meticulous nurse had covered all of this already. I just had to find some way to get him to talk.   How is your wife taking this, I asked, without moving or changing my tone of voice. He was so startled, he actually jumped a little and met my eyes for the first time. Well, I think this is real hard for her. She has to work while I do this. We got to have her insurance.   Yes, that's how it is for most folks unless they're retired. Thank goodness you guys have insurance. A lot of people, spouses, or even the patients have to work the whole time to try to pay for this in cash, I said. Money's the last thing you should have to worry about at a time like this, but it's always there, isn't it?   Yeah, it is, he said, and paused. I think she might be a little depressed. I can imagine, I said, for people who have brain chemistry that turns that way, anyhow, and sometimes, I think that's all of us, this is exactly the kind of situation that can make it hard to deal with that. Yeah, I guess so, he said, pensive.   I let him think on that for a minute and then, what about you? Do you think you're feeling depressed? He shrugged with one shoulder. Wouldn't look at me. Whatever you think about that, I trust your judgment, I said. But you told me you'd use some drugs before. I know for a lot of people that's a way to try to dig their way out of depression when they can't get to a doctor for whatever reason.   I held my breath, hoping I hadn't just made things worse between us. Slowly, to my great relief, he started to nod. Yeah, I think I've been pretty far down for a long time. It's hard to get a job, he said, holding out his hands and gesturing to the Confederate flag on his neck. Once you've been convicted, it's hard.   Yeah, I've heard that, I said. Tough when people judge you by how you look before they get to know you. He met my gaze again, sharply. He knew I wasn't just talking about him.   So you know, I pressed on, there are treatments that can help get your brain where it's supposed to be. We just aren't made for this modern life we live. We are wired for chasing buffalo across the plains and taking them down with spears. Instead, here we sit on fluffy upholstery with the air conditioning blasting over us. Our bodies are comfortable, but our brains just can't deal with it sometimes. He nodded. I guess so. I guess I never thought of it that way.   So what do you think? Want to see if we can get your brain to a better place, I asked, trying not to let my voice sound too hopeful. I doubted he was ready for any sort of agenda from me. I guess, maybe so, he said slowly. Is there something we can do now?   There was. Like so many before him, he learned that when he had someone to tell about the many weights on his mind and added some better brain chemistry, the world looked like a very different place. At the start of his third on-treatment visit, he actually stood up and shook my hand. No smile, but I'd take what I could get.   We talked about the usual things. His gut was not loving the rads. I reiterated the need to stay hydrated and not work outside too long in the Florida heat. He said a friend of his had started coming over every evening after dark so they could get a little work done while it was less than 90 degrees outside. They were shade tree mechanics of some kind.   When we were finished, he got up and headed toward the door but paused with his hand on the knob. I saw your technician, the lady who gives me my treatment, I saw her looking at my tattoos yesterday. I was wondering if you could tell her for me that that's not who I am anymore. I was full of hate back then, but I'm not too proud to say I was wrong. I was going to get rid of them-- do that laser thing. But now all that money is going to my cancer bills, he said, searching my face for some sign of understanding.   I just blinked for a moment. This was more words than he'd given me in our entire acquaintance, all at once. There was a lot to unpack there, and I wanted to get it right.   I finally decided on a reply. She grew up in the South. I think she gets it. You've been nothing but polite to everyone here. I'll make sure she knows, though. That therapist had a best friend whose granddad was a vocal segregationist but whose parents doted on both women as though they were twins. She knew people could choose to be better than their upbringings.   He nodded. I've changed a lot. Sure, I said. None of us is who he used to be. We just have to try to keep moving in a good direction. Yeah, it's hard to know what that is sometimes, but I'm trying. Thanks for understanding.   Of course, I said. Just remember this conversation later when I do or say something stupid, OK? Sure, Doc, he said. I guess I can spot you one. He smiled then for the first time since I'd met him, and it was truly beautiful.   His wife was with him on the last day of treatment. She talked to me this time, instead of looking at the wall while she spoke. She even smiled a little. He cradled his diploma carefully in his lap. We give people a certificate when they finish their last radiotherapy treatment-- tangible recognition of what they've endured.   Thank you for taking care of me. Sometimes doctors try to get rid of me because of how I look, he said, fiddling with the snap back of his mesh trucker-style hat. Well, I guess I can sympathize. Sometimes people don't have much use for me because of the way I look, too, I told him honestly.   Yeah, when my wife and I first met you, we wondered what we were getting into. He laughed, and I laughed with him, remembering the furrowed brows. She looked a little embarrassed but smiled shyly. We thought about changing doctors. I'm really sorry about that. We just haven't known anybody like you before. I'm really, really glad I stayed.   Well, I'm glad I've made it worth a try. We're all learning as we go, aren't we?   Yeah, he said. I'll tell you, this cancer's been good for one thing. I understand a lot more of what's important in life. There's so much I can leave alone now. I feel like one of those great old guys who love their gardens and their grandkids, and really, they love people, too, everybody. They just laugh at the rest of us running around and worrying about who deserves a nice car or who should get to be the head of the Parent Teacher Association. They're just happy.   Well, I hope that rubs off on me, I said. Maybe I can get a little ahead of the usual schedule in figuring that out because of you. I appreciate you're talking to me about it.   I appreciate you, he said, one arm out in the offer of a hug but holding back a little, prepared for rejection of his kindness. I took him up on it.   LIDIA SCHAPIRA: Welcome to "Cancer Stories." I'm Lidia Schapira, your host for this program and the consulting editor for "Art of Oncology." With me today is Dr. Kate Hitchcock, a radiation oncologist and an assistant professor at the University of Florida College of Medicine. Dr. Hitchcock is the author of "Knuckles," that was published in JCO's, Volume 39, Issue 3 on January 20th of '21. Welcome, Kate.   KATE HITCHCOCK: Thank you so much for having me.   LIDIA SCHAPIRA: It's a pleasure to have you. And before we start talking about "Knuckles." I love to ask our contributing writers a little bit about what they're reading and what drove them to write? So in this case, let's start with the first question. Are you a reader, and what are you reading now, and what's on your table?   KATE HITCHCOCK: I am so much a reader. It is a little out of control, in truth, as it is with a lot of serious readers. I always have two or three books going, at least. Right now, those include my book in Spanish. I'm learning Spanish, since there are a lot of Spanish speakers in Florida, and I want to try to meet them halfway. So I'm reading a novel in Spanish right now that is fluffy, light read, but enjoyable while I'm building some vocabulary.   I am reading a book of collected stories from my old ship from when I was in the Navy that's called "King Paul's Reactor and Engineering Memories." It's from the Enterprise, specifically. A lot of sea stories, written down by my shipmates, and that's a really fun read. But yeah, those are my two main books right now.   LIDIA SCHAPIRA: So when I was looking up your bio, I saw that you have a PhD in biomedical engineering. So in addition to a career in the Navy, it seems, you've done a lot of things. Tell us a little bit about that and how your past experiences outside of medicine inform your relationship with your patients.   KATE HITCHCOCK: Well, I would say the most important effect that they have on my relationship with my patients is that the Navy teaches you very quickly to do very complicated and very emotionally difficult things with people who are nothing like you. And I think that's part of what I was trying to capture in the story that we're talking about today. What a gift that is to have been through that experience of not only working but living very closely with people who grew up completely differently from me, who have completely different cultures than I knew up until that time.   And what that allows me to do now, as a doctor, is try to meet people where they are. And that is it. Boy, that is the art of medicine right there, because I can have the best treatments in the world. If I can't convince my patients that they're the best thing, if I can't convince them to make it through hard treatment, which radiation often is, then all the science that I have isn't good for anything.   LIDIA SCHAPIRA: That's so interesting, and it made me pause and think about how all of that informed your encounter with this patient, who is the protagonist of your story. So tell us a little bit about what made you see the story in these encounters and when you thought about telling the story and actually sharing the story with others? Because many of us write, perhaps, to process difficult experiences, to achieve clarity. But then to bring it out and share it with others through publication requires many different steps. So walk us through that, from this encounter, this patient to the story.   KATE HITCHCOCK: I would say this encounter with this patient started as my time with my patients usually does, which is in me trying to figure out who they are. And I have to be a very quick study there because cancer doesn't wait. You've got to get people in treatment. And a lot of times, coming into the radiation oncology clinic, they have lots of preconceived notions about radiation. And it's a very scary thing for a lot of people because they haven't learned about it in school very much.   So I very quickly need to figure out who they are, where they're coming from, so I can figure out how to talk to them. And the process of doing that is the joy of my work. I love meeting new patients and hearing about how they see the world and how it's different from the way I do. And so many times, in fact, just about every time, I wish I could capture that experience of getting to know them and share it with my loved ones, share it with my friends, because the joy of it is just, ah, it is just indescribable.   So I think that's where it started with this particular patient, was realizing, boy, this is going to be one of the more challenging times, that I really need to do a good job at this. I can save this man's life. This is a very curable cancer, and he's going to die if I don't treat him. So somehow, I have to figure out a way to get us there.   And it was a tall order, as I hope I captured well in this story. Because it was so hard and because I constantly sort of think back over those experiences later, the writing of this story was good for me, too. It let me kind of process what went well, where there are things I could have done better. And I hope that that's something I can bring to my future patients.   LIDIA SCHAPIRA: So you start with these amazing visuals-- the swastikas on the knuckles, then the Confederate flag on his neck. But it's not just about him. It's about you plunge into this two-sided checking each other out. And you see the patient and his wife looking at you, and you use the expression, I think, their brows creased every time I spoke. And I'm quoting you here, "I had learned not to expect much from people who looked at me that way but wrestled the feeling down." I was just blown away by that phrase. Tell us a little bit about what was going on there.   KATE HITCHCOCK: That moment happens every time. I always-- my heart is always in my throat a little bit as I go to put my hand on that knob to walk into the exam room. And that started back in medical school, where there were practice patients, trained actors who are on the other side of the door. It was a zero stakes situation, but still that feeling of walking in and not knowing what you're going to encounter on the other side of that door, ooh, that is a powerful moment.   And I know it is for my patients, too. You know, they're sitting there. They hear voices in the hall. They are going through one of the most difficult times of their life, and whoever comes through that door is either going to save them or fail to save them. What a moment that is. It's just so full of emotion.   And I think the big thing from the doctor side of it is just to try to figure out how to get past that initial reaction, that initial set of presumptions we have about each other. And of course, all of us have that in life. We all have preconceived notions about other people. First impressions are so, so important, and this is just a very high-pressure version of that.   LIDIA SCHAPIRA: And then you go on to say, and you can tell, I love your writing, so I'm going to keep quoting you to you. "Tough when people judge you by how you look before they get to know you." I was just very struck by how direct you are and how quick you are to figure out that what's on the line is building rapport and trust. And you come at this from so many different ways.   And then you take us through the sequence of the visits, when he comes in not just for the initial consult but also for the exit consult but for the checks, the weekly checks. And you try to address mental health and you address the acceptance and show support and praise. Tell us a little bit about all of that with this patient. What were the moments that were really key for you, and were there moments when it didn't go well?   KATE HITCHCOCK: Sure, there are always moments when things don't go quite like you wanted them to, and you have to figure out how to recuperate from those. I would say the hardest ones for him, as is true for a lot of patients, is those moments where he was most worried about what I was thinking about him. And so I had to choose my words so carefully to not reinforce maybe ideas he had about my preconceived notions or about the way that the world views him that would not be constructive to our relationship together, would not help us get where we needed to be.   For example, mental health is a huge issue in the way that people accept it all over this country and a lot of other countries, too. It's a very delicate topic to bring up, but it plays into every interaction I have with my patients. Of course, they're stressed out. Of course, a lot of them are experiencing symptoms of depression that make it hard for them to get their cancer treatment. Sometimes it's a matter of trying different approaches to that topic until I find one that works.   And in this case, as I wrote about in the story, that was through talking about his wife's feelings, first. He was so worried about how she felt about everything, and a lot of cancer patients, or really any patients who have a serious illness, that's really the number one thing on their minds is they feel like they're being a burden to their families. And if I can address that and figure out a way to, if I can't improve their financial situation or anything material with it, if I can at least give them some tools to think about in a way that makes them feel better, that is really constructive to what we have to accomplish. And luckily, in this case, I think I was able to do that.   LIDIA SCHAPIRA: So when I hear you talk, and you come across as somebody who's really mastered many techniques. You clearly have mastered the physics of radiation and the art and science of communication. But one of the things that I found so enormously compelling about your story is that you make yourself vulnerable, too. Your hesitation or your vulnerability comes across, and you put it right out there. Can you talk a little bit about that?   KATE HITCHCOCK: I think that's so important. And it's a difficult thing to do, because we, as doctors, we're just people. And we have to set aside our egos sometimes and make ourselves vulnerable to our patients. And I think I figured out when and how to do that, at least part of the time.   And it's not an easy task. You know, doctors, when we're talking to each other, both to our coworkers and in social media and so on, we talk a lot about do we put ourselves out there on social media? Do we let our patients have ways to contact us that might be outside of work?   And I think the problem there is twofold. One, that you're opening yourself up to harassment and problems. This gentleman certainly could have come back to me in a way that would have hurt my feelings or caused me problems in other ways. But also, we're still coming away from the old approach to doctoring in which the doctor was this unapproachable being, who had to think of themselves as being a little omnipotent, a little removed from the rest of society, and they wanted their patients to think of them that way.   And through time here, we're growing to where doctors and patients are much closer. It's not this paternalistic relationship that it used to be. And I really think part of that is the doctor has to have some skin in the game.   We have to be able to talk about how we feel about things and the problems that we're having, if our patients are going to trust us with their lives with critical decisions. And I have found that doing that in a careful way, not making the conversation about me but talking enough about myself that they see me as somebody who is a person who is really invested in their future, it really pays off.   LIDIA SCHAPIRA: I agree with you. And at the beginning, you hint at the fact that you were, in a way, at the margin. And you bring that up because you say they're looking at me in this way. I'm dressed this way. I'm a lesbian to them, but they were probably thinking about this using a different term. That is pretty raw. How has that experience-- I mean, you put it out there in your first paragraph. So it's right there in front of the reader. So how have those experiences in a way deepened, perhaps, your compassion for others, who are themselves different or are viewed or are likely to be judged quickly by others. Tell us a little bit more about that, because I think that it adds another dimension, another depth, even, to the essay.   KATE HITCHCOCK: Absolutely, I think people who have grown up in a marginalized way for whatever reason bring a lot to any sort of situation where personal interactions are important and especially where lots of different people have to come together. And I think medical schools are starting to figure that out. This process of getting people into medical school-- they are really starting to value true diversity, not just we're getting the guy from the lacrosse team instead of from the football team, but really trying to get people from a broad array of backgrounds.   And one of the reasons is exactly the one that you mentioned, which is that when you've grown up in a way where you were discriminated against, it makes it a lot easier to anticipate the sort of mental barriers to good care that your patients might have. So, so important in this country where there are a lot of marginalized populations, who don't have good relationships with the health care system overall, and that's very much to their detriment. They are the ones who are paying the price for that. And I think the burden is on us, as physicians, to try to figure out how to overcome that.   And luckily, I do think I have a convenient tool there, having grown up in a place where, I think it was pretty obvious that I was different, even from a pretty young age. And I got bullied a lot and ran into problems there. Of course, my experiences isn't their experience, but at least I have a place to start in thinking about where they're coming from.   LIDIA SCHAPIRA: So to wrap it up, I must say, I was very moved, too, with the ending that you have for the story. The first line is so confronting, the swastikas, and I immediately ask myself, would I ever have the compassion and the kindness and the discipline to really work through my reactions to get to the point where you did, which is that not only did you help him, but he offered you his hand halfway through treatment. And then he ends by offering you a hug, which you accept. So I'm just getting goosebumps thinking about this right now, and I've read and reread your essay a bunch of times. So let me give you the last word, and tell us and our listeners what that final interview was like.   KATE HITCHCOCK: That final conversation together was pure magic, you know? There was no certainty going into it that it would go the way that it did. We were both a little unsure of each other, and especially with his wife there, who hadn't sat with us very much through the course of treatment and had to rely on his interpretation of the situation. But that magic is-- that's it. That is everything right there.   I think part of what I was trying to capture in this story is that this is what we need in the country right now. This is the only way that things get better. We can't lecture each other into accepting the way other people think about things. We have to find this moment over and over again. That's it.   LIDIA SCHAPIRA: Well thank you, I and our readers and reviewers understood your message very clearly. And we thank you so much for sending us your work. So thank you, Kate, for being with me today. And I hope you continue to write, and let's keep reading and talking. Thank you very much for your time today.   KATE HITCHCOCK: Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.   ANNOUNCER: Until next time, thank you for listening to this JCO's "Cancer Stories-- the art of Oncology podcast. If you enjoyed what you heard today, don't forget to give us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or whatever you listen. While you're there, be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. JCO's "Cancer Stories-- The Art of Oncology" podcast is just one of ASCO's many podcasts. You can find all of the shows at podcasts.asco.org.   [MUSIC PLAYING]

Hacker Valley Studio presents: We Are Here - an audio journey and series exploring black excellence in technology and cybersecurity. In part three of this series, Ron and Chris interview Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, serving as the U.S. Representative for New York's 9th congressional district since 2013.  Congresswoman Clarke’s parents immigrated to Brooklyn, New York in the 1950s from Jamaica. Being born from immigrant parents and witnessing the transformation of the country during the civil rights movement helped shape her worldview. Congresswoman Clarke mentions that the nurture from her family and community sparked her interest in public service at an early age. Congresswoman Clarke recalls being a child and looking up to her pediatrician, Dr. Thompson. Congresswoman Clarke could see herself being like Dr. Thompson and that led her to pursue her interests in STEM in grade school and college. When Congresswoman Clarke went away to college she made a commitment to come back to Brooklyn and use her education to help others As the episode progresses, Congresswoman Clarke mentions her parents were engaged in the community out of necessity. They wanted to be able to navigate the United States and create community for her and her brother. Congresswoman Clarke’s mother started her community outreach at Parent Teacher Association meetings and was encouraged to run for political office after some time. In fact, Congresswoman Clarke became the first and only child to succeed a parent in political office.  Congresswoman Clarke describes community as essential and building communities is done through education. Digital transformation has enabled all generations to collaborate on common causes that they previously wouldn’t have had the opportunity to. An example that Congresswoman Clarke provides is narrowing the education gap for children of color. Through technology, parents have been working with government agencies and private organizations to provide more resources to schools in need.     Impactful Moments: 0:00 - Hacker Valley Studio presents We Are Here Pt 3 0:52 - Congresswoman Yvette Clarke on Hacker Valley Studio! 1:56 - Early life and how Congresswoman Clarke made it into office 3:38 - What inspired Congresswoman Clarke to help others 7:21 - Surprises while in office and servicing the public 13:35 - Congresswoman Clarke’s story of perseverance 16:36 - The importance of community and how to influence yours 24:40 - Education and mentorship 27:51 - Using technology to course correct and amplify your voice 31:59 - Sage wisdom for embarking on your personal journey     Follow Congresswoman Yvette Clarke on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter Learn more about Hacker Valley Studio. Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon. Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter. Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter.

lovethylawyer.comA transcript of this podcast will be easily available at lovethylawyer.com.Go to Blog for transcript lists.Elizabeth Echolshttps://www.elizabeth4parks.org/homeA former Obama Administration official, Elizabeth has a long history of public service, including leadership positions in park, recreation, and environmental policy issues. In 2016, Governor Jerry Brown first appointed her to serve as Director of the Public Advocates Office. In this role, she joined a team of senior environmental advisors in combatting climate change and preserving the natural environment for generations to come. Most recently, her policy work has primarily focused on wildfire prevention and mitigation. Her expertise on environmental policy and wildfire safety issues provides a valuable perspective as the East Bay Parks Board continues to plan for the impacts of climate change.Elizabeth previously served as Director of the U.S. Green Building Council for Northern California (USGBC) where she worked with legislators, labor, industry, and environmental groups across the state to pass legislation to protect our environment and create green jobs. She also founded USGBC California to influence state legislation and regulations by bringing together the eight USGBC chapters in California to speak with one voice in Sacramento.In a volunteer capacity, Elizabeth serves as a Commissioner on the City of Berkeley Children, Youth, and Recreation Commission. Their mission is to achieve equity in policies, programs, activities, and funding associated with youth, family, recreation, and education programs. She volunteers weekly in the Berkeley Public Schools helping children learn to read and is an active member of the Parent Teacher Association. She is a longtime elected member of the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee.Elizabeth holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Political Science from Yale University and a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School. Elizabeth met her husband on a Sierra Club hike in Tilden Park. They live in Berkeley with their daughter and regularly enjoy the East Bay Parks. Louis Goodman www.louisgoodman.com louisgoodman2010@gmail.com 510.582.9090 Musical theme by Joel Katz, Seaside Recording, Maui Technical support: Bryan Matheson, Skyline Studios, Oakland We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at louisgoodman2010@gmail.com. Please subscribe and listen. Then tell us who you want to hear and what areas of interest you’d like us to cover. Please rate us and review us on Apple Podcasts.

It's a country song. About a Parent Teacher Association. And it has no chorus. What more needs to be said? Apparently a lot because this song's legacy is long, convoluted, and exhausting, but Andrew and Dan are determined to cover it all.

Episode 6: Our guest is Theresa Rogers, the current president of the Duval County Council PTA. In this episode, Theresa talks with us about what PTA does at the local and national levels, how parents can get involved at their child's school and why it's important to stay connected particularly during this time of social distancing.

Former NFL linebacker who played for multiple NFL teams including the San Francisco 49ers and the Atlanta Falcons. He is a nationally recognized as a community leader and health advocate who serves as an NFL Ambassador, National Ambassador for the Parent Teacher Association and a national spokesperson on health-related issues, including the care and treatment of asthma, from ,which he suffers Chris Draft chatted with the "Self Proclaimed Sportsnista" Yakiri Thomas about social justice and racial inequality, why he did decided to help clean up vandalism at Children's Museum, Thoughts on the NFL donation of $20 million, remaining selfless when honoring his wife and continuing the fight to raise lung cancer awareness and much more!!...Game on!

Me? Teach? You must be joking. But there are 1.5 billion kids out of school right now - including my kindergartener - and all I know about teaching is what I learned at age 8 from my Aunt Dana while I helped her set up her first grade classroom for the new school year: every student should have a notebook. And if you need more than one worksheet, use carbon paper.Look, this is a professional’s job. I am not trained to take on my child’s education. But here we are. Now, it’s my turn to earn that shiny red apple. It’s my responsibility to put information into my child’s head in a compelling and retrievable way. How can I preserve my sanity, my income, and maintain her love of learning when all I want to do is throw away the books and play hooky?This week, I speak with Linda Stone. She has been teaching young actors in Los Angeles for 40 years when they’re on set, and not at school. She crams in lessons in 20 minute increments between rehearsals, long shots and emotional scenes, and still her students return to their schools after production is done on the literal same page as their classmates. She shares her most valuable lessons on what to teach within time constraints, and what are the essential supplies she uses to do it.In the second half, Anya Kamenetz, journalist, author and NPR’s education correspondent gives me the lowdown on which online resources are the best, and which unsolicited EdTech emails I can just delete before bothering to open them.The fate of the future actually is in parents’ hands. Can we panic now? The User’s Guide to Now is here to help.

Emily Harman, host of Onward Podcast, interviews Ginger Rosela, a mother of four who raised her children in Calvert County Maryland. She was a stay-at-home mother for most of the time during her children's’ lives and was a working mom when they were older. Ginger was involved in the Parent-Teacher Association, she was the Little League President, and her family home was known as “The Kool-Aid House”. Ginger’s family looked like any normal family. Substance use can affect any family. Ginger’s son was injured in a bicycle accident while in high school. His parents gave him his pain medicine as prescribed by the doctors. The doctors never told Jake’s parents the use of the pain medicine could become addictive. Ginger’s son Jake passed away from an overdose on July 19th 2013. Listen and learn about Jake and how Ginger provides families the support they need while their loved one is in crisis and helps families deal with the disease of addiction.   Episode Highlights:  Emily Harman introduces Ginger Rosela and shares some opioid statistics.  Ginger shares the story of how her son Jake became addicted to heroin. Ginger and Emily discuss the dangers of drug addiction.  Substance abuse affects the family and friends of the substance abuser.  What does Ginger advise a family member who is hiding behind the shame of their family member’s substance abuse?  You never know what is happening in someone else’s world.  What is harm reduction?  Ginger discusses opioid reversal drugs. Everybody deserves a happy, healthy life.  What is the Good Samaritan Law and how did Ginger help get it passed?  Ginger discusses her son Jake and the why she uses green hearts.  What should you do if jewelry is missing or a suspected substance abuser is constantly asking for money?  What is enabling vs. helping?  When people are ready to get help, help is out there. Asking for help is a sign of strength.   3 Key Points:  Addiction is not a choice it is a disease. We need to end the stigma associated with drug addiction. Education is key. Any type of substance abuse or mental health disorder is a family disease. It doesn’t just affect the one that is using the substance or has a mental illness. It affects the entire family and friends.   Tweetable Quotes: “I made a vow when I did his (son Jake’s) eulogy at his funeral and I said that, Jake’s death would not be in vain. And the third words out of my mouth were that our son died of a heroin overdose.” – Ginger Rosela “I don’t think that we think about our elder generation that are in their 70s and 80s that take prescribed medicine and then forget that they took it and take it again and take it again.” – Ginger Rosela “We all should know that any type of substance abuse or any kind of mental health disorder is a family disease. It doesn’t just affect the one that is using the substance or has a mental illness. It affects the whole family and friends.” – Ginger Rosela Resources Mentioned: Linkedin: Ginger Rosela http://www.mdcoalition.org National Institute of Drug Abuse: https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis The Good Samaritan Law in Maryland: https://health.maryland.gov/qahealth/substance-abuse/Pages/Good-Samaritan-Law.aspx Information on Narcan: https://www.narcan.com/ Maryland Coalition of Families: http://www.mdcoalition.org/ Contact Ginger: Grosela@mdcoalition.org – 443-510-7883 http://www.mdcoalition.org/get-help-now/list-of-family-navigators http://www.thebaynet.com/articles/1113/heroin-in-southern-maryland-the-brief-life-of-an-addict.html https://www.facebook.com/Advocates-For-a-Drug-Free-Calvert-County-Team-JAKE-1397061117213775/ https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/maryland/new-law-requires-naloxone-to-be-placed-in-all-maryland-schools/465535734 https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Mother-of-Overdose-Victim-Celebrates-Signing-of-Maryland-Good-Samaritan-Law-258034591.html https://emilyharman.com https://www.facebook.com/Onward-Podcast https://www.instagram.com/onwardpodcast https://twitter.com/OnwardPodcast https://www.soulpajamas.com/home https://www.podcastpress.io/

This edition of Montgomery Talks Education with Doug Tallman is one of a three part series called MCPS 2020. As the county budget debate roars on, Superintendent Jack Smith, Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Association’s Laura Stewart, and Montgomery County Education Association’s Jennifer Martin air their concerns – on Montgomery Talks MCPS 2020, with Doug Tallman. Available now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RadioPublic, Spotify and Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts and Twitter. Please help us grow. Subscribe and share with your friends.

Nathan R. Monell, CAE currently serves as executive director of National PTA, the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer child advocacy association. Throughout his entire career, Monell has pushed to help improve the lives of individuals who are often marginalized by multiple life factors. National PTA comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to making a difference for the education, health, safety and well-being of every child.

Ralph recently retired in August of 2017, and did not waste a second getting back in service of our country. We talk about the Army, being a Tac at West Point, 9-11 stories, Korea and more.  Rafael A. Paredes was born in El Salvador. At the age of 11, his family fled from the civil war and immigrated to the United States. Looking for opportunities to repay the country that provided his family safety, Rafael became a naturalized U.S. citizen when he turned 18 and attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1991 (C4) and was commissioned as an Infantry second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He retired as a colonel after 26 years of service, leading people and organizations at various levels. He served as a company commander in the 82d Airborne Division and battalion commander (OPFOR CDR) in Germany. His last leadership position in the Army was the Deputy Commander for Operations at US Army South in San Antonio, TX. Throughout his career, he led by example, building teams and partnerships, developing processes and systems that improved organizational effectiveness, and developing the next generation of leaders within the organizations he served. Rafael served overseas in Korea, Egypt, Somalia, England, Germany, and Afghanistan. His experience overseas and working with a variety of groups and organizations helped him gain an appreciation others' cultures and diverse points of views. Rafael earned a master of science degree in counseling and leadership development from Long Island University, C.W. Post, as part of the Tactical Officer Education Program (TOEP). He then served as a TAC for Company G4. As he changes careers, Rafael is working to promote national service, getting Americans to serve our country and make positive contributions to their communities. His passion for service that stems from a sense of gratitude and responsibility. To this end, he has been volunteering for organizations like Service Year Alliance, The Mission Continues, Team Rubicon, New Politics Leadership Academy, Military Officers Association of America, community organizer at COPS/METRO, the Parent Teacher Association, and San Antonio Food Bank. He currently lives in San Antonio, but eventually plans to move to the Northeast with his sons, Zachary (9) and Alexander (7), and his wife Kathy.  

We are joined by the talented Gabrielle De Bourg who GM's Hjalmar and Craig through "Horror Movie Mayhem", an adventure she has created for the game "Tales from the Loop" by Free League that is included in the module "Our Friends the Machines & Other Mysteries". _"It is the summer of 1988, 30 years ago today, and the Parent Teacher Association are about to hold a Culture Festival in the little society of Stenhamra on Mälaröarna to celebrate the fine culture offerings in the area. But as soon as it has begun, notes are landing in the mailboxes and adults are going door-to-door. Because there is one type of culture that they think is dangerous. Everywhere they are talking about the Video Nasties and how it's making the children violent. But is there something more hidden behind it all? Come along for an adventure about moral panic, LGBT and paranoia in Simon Stålenhags 80's that never was in this Horror Movie Mayhem."_ Adventure: “Horror Movie Mayhem", Tales from the Loop, Fria Ligan Music by: Gabrielle De Bourg Web: https://www.redmoonroleplaying.com iTunes: http://apple.co/2wTNqHx Android: http://bit.ly/2vSvwZi Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/RedMoonRoleplaying RSS: http://www.redmoonroleplaying.com/podcast?format=rss Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RedMoonRoleplaying

Maggie Fauver joined Canna Care Docs in January 2015 as a member of the company’s mid-Atlantic expansion team. She worked closely with Delaware’s Office of Medical Marijuana during the implementation of the state’s medical marijuana program, forming strong relationships with state regulators and administrators. Promoted to mid-Atlantic operations manager in January 2016, Fauver oversaw Canna Care Docs’ April 2016 opening of its first office in Maryland, in Takoma Park. She has since continued the Maryland expansion and has opened Canna Care Docs offices in Cockeysville, Columbia and Baltimore, Maryland.  Informed by her perspective as the victim of a serious car crash, Fauver was inspired to pursue a career in health care advocacy. In January 2012 she enrolled in Shoreline Community College in Shoreline, Washington, to pursue a degree in health information and informatics management. She graduated with high honors as a registered health information technician (RHIT). She also holds a degree in business administration from Delaware County Community College. Fauver has become a strong advocate for medical cannabis. She devoted significant energy in support of the Delaware Senate’s 2017 passage of the Bravery Bill, improving veterans’ access to medical cannabis. She served on the board of directors and strategic planning committee for Delaware NORML, the state chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. During her career she has also been an active volunteer, including serving as vice president of her local Parent Teacher Association, as a Cub Scout leader, and as a judge for the Delaware Business Partners of America 2017 & 2018 State Leadership Conference. Episode sponsored by: Minnesota Functional Neuorology

Show Notes: During Part 1 of the MD PTA Diversity Conference, we feature a number of amazing guests to discuss how to engage more diverse viewpoints and families within a school's Parent-Teacher Association. What is the vision for the MD PTA Diversity Conference? How do we address the issues of racially, linguistically diverse children and their needs - how do we talk about those issues and make it a part of what we do? How do we raise those parent voices up in the PTA? Frances Frost (@FFEngageFamily) - Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chairperson, Maryland PTA Marice Morales (@marice_morales) - Delegate for District 19 in Maryland Resources Mentioned/Referenced: Maryland PTSA Diversity Conference  

Elsa Huxley is a member of Parent Teacher Association at Maury Elementary School in the DC Public Schools. She talks to Joel about how PTAs and PTOs work, the growth of their PTA, and why they’re so important. For more, visit www.weloveschoolspodcast.com.  

ton County students with advanced technological needs, as community representative for the House of Dawn; homeless shelter for teen mothers, focused on rescuing, restoring and rebuilding lives Clayton County Public School System homeless liaison; advocating for teen positivity at home and in school, and Parent Teacher Association president for the past three years at MD Roberts Middle School. Through community activism, Franklin-Warner serves as an active member of the Lake Spivey Rotary Club – where she's been instrumental the past three years in planning the 5K/10K Spring Sprint Race, a founding member of Lake Spivey Georgia Chapter Jack and Jill of America, Inc., served on a comprehensive Clayton County planning committee, and is an active founding community member of local church, Word of Faith. Franklin-Warner is dedicated to the arts for youth, working with Arts Clayton as the performing director for summer camps from 2006-2009, she collaborated with Clayton County Parks and Recreation to enhance summer activities for youth and research grant opportunities. As of recent, she was appointed to the Southern Regional Hospital Board of Directors in 2014 where she sought, with fellow board members, the best healthcare options for Clayton County residents, advocating for improved medical services. As a community member, Franklin-Warner believes wholeheartedly in the power of Clayton County and its hardworking and dedicated citizens. “I believe in the value of service above self,” says Franklin-Warner. “I believe in the power of Clayton County and the power that we as its residents have to make a difference.”

Last year, for the first time, I got involved in(1) a political campaign. A friend of mine decided to run for a position(2) on the local School Board. She is a busy mother of four, and running for that position would take a lot of time and energy, so a group of us decided to help her. The campaign was like many others; she had to get her name out(3) into the community, talk on the radio, go to public events, and attend lots of meetings. It just so happens that(4) those are the sort of things that she does anyway; she is a natural politician. Where I had to help was handing out information flyers on her, and waving banners on the street corners. For years, I have seen other people do that. They stand in small groups, near busy roads, and wave banners that say, "Vote John Brown for Council," or "Vote Judy Green for Mayor". These people generally face the traffic, show the banners, and wave. I could never imagine myself doing that(5). However, when I found out that my friend Jennifer wanted to run for the School District position, I was willing to do anything to help her. For years she has volunteered in schools, and has helped on the Parent Teacher Association, so she knows about our education system, and where it needs help. The School Board represents all of the schools in our area, about ten of them. They help to decide on spending, renovations, employment, and program(me)s of all sorts. As Jennifer is energetic, studious, determined, and personable, I knew that she would be a perfect addition to(6) the School Board, and would help to make positive changes. So, I found myself on the busy street corners, waving banners, smiling and waving, and saying, "Vote for Jennifer!" My kids even helped me. They got plenty of attention from the passing drivers. And guess what? Even though the person running against(7) Jennifer was well known in the community, and had huge banners, Jennifer won. The campaign was a success. I look forward to hearing about the changes in the School District, now that a new, dynamic person is on the board. 1. 'To get involved' - means to become part of a project, goal, or work. To do something to help. a. I want to get involved in the local community, to help solve some of its problems. b. She is very involved with a volunteer reading program. 2. 'To run for a position', the verb 'to run' is used when someone is in a political campaign of any kind. a. No woman has ever run for President yet in the U.S. b. My uncle is running for Mayor. 3. 'To get one's name out' means to inform the public about yourself, your name, and what you do or wish to do. It's like 'spreading the word' about yourself. a. Part of any campaign is getting your name out into the community. b. The business will increase as its name gets out. 4. 'It just so happens that' is the same as saying, 'it happens that', 'coincidentally', 'it's significant that'. It shows a connection between two things. a. My father makes shoes; it just so happens that he has huge feet, and finds it difficult to buy shoes. b. We need a large location for the party; it just so happens that the school gymnasium is available on that day. 5. 'I could never imagine myself (doing something)..' / 'I can't imagine myself (doing something)...' These phrases are interchangeable, but the first is also used when the action or event that you could not imagine, has taken place. a. I could never imagine myself singing on stage, but then I did it, and I wasn't too bad! (the event actually took place). b. I can't imagine myself as a politician. (the event hasn't taken place). 6. We talk about a person being 'a perfect addition to' a company, an organization, and even a family. a. When Julie marries Peter, she will be the perfect addition to the family. b. He's the perfect addition to the company; it will really benefit from his skills and experience. Join me on FACEBOOK at Anna Fromacupofenglish, and send your questions to my email at acupofenglish@hotmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you!   Need the app? You can find it in iTunes, called A Cup Of English. Click the link. // //   //    

PTO Today has named the Parent Teacher Association of Weatherstone Elementary in Cary as the Parent Group of the Year for its outstanding focus on Academics and Enrichment for its Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program. Kelly McCullen reports on this school's achievement.

PTO Today has named the Parent Teacher Association of Weatherstone Elementary in Cary as the Parent Group of the Year for its outstanding focus on Academics and Enrichment for its Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program. Kelly McCullen reports on this school's achievement.

Willie Mae Johnson was born in Marietta, Georgia, but moved to Acworth to live with her grandparents, Lizzie and William Cicero (Bud) Furr, at the age of 8 after the death of her parents. She attended the Rosenwald school in Acworth and Lemon Street High School in Marietta. Mrs. Johnson served as Vice President of the Parent-Teacher Association at the Roberts school. Her aunt and uncle owned Lucy Mae and Price Oliver's Cafe in Acworth. Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson attend the Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church. ID:ksu-45-05-001-03012 Rights:To request permission to publish, reproduce, publicly display, broadcast, or distribute this material in any format, you must contact the Archives, Rare Books and Records Management.

Clara Garrett Jenkins was born in the Happy Flat section of Marietta, Georgia, and grew up in the Baptist Town area. She attended Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated in 1951 from the Freedman's Hospital School of Nursing in Washington, D.C., which later became the Howard University Division of Nursing. Mrs. Jenkins returned to Marietta and immediately began work at Kennestone Hospital, which was segregated at the time. She was active in the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers (Black PTA), during segregation, as well as the Parent Teacher Association after integration. Use Restrictions: To request permission to publish, reproduce, publicly display, broadcast, or distribute this material in any format, you must contact the Archives, Rare Books and Records Management.

Claude Johnson was born in the Mars Hill area of Acworth, Georgia, and attended the local Roswenwald school. He left school at the age of 14 to work in food service at the Lockheed-Georgia Company in Marietta, retiring as a cook after 25 years. He joined Hewlett-Packard afterwards and retired as the head of shipping and receiving after 30 years. Willie Mae Johnson was born in Marietta, Georgia, but moved to Acworth to live with her grandparents, Lizzie and William Cicero (Bud) Furr, at the age of 8 after the death of her parents. She attended the Rosenwald school in Acworth and Lemon Street High School in Marietta. Mrs. Johnson served as Vice President of the Parent-Teacher Association at the Roberts school. Her aunt and uncle owned Lucy Mae and Price Oliver's Cafe in Acworth. Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson attend the Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church. Use Restrictions: To request permission to publish, reproduce, publicly display, broadcast, or distribute this material in any format, you must contact the Archives, Rare Books and Records Management.