Notes on the gathering at Jane and Paul's house, Sunday 27th June 2010:
It was a small but important gathering that we enjoyed on Sunday.
We met Natasha Dravid who made me, at least, feel very humble next to the great work she is doing in Boston helping to run an education program that trains college students and sends them into high schools to teach about health issues. She is going to be an important resource for us in many ways.
Jeff Ravasio joined us for the first time and had us fascinated with his work in Philadelphia. Jeff has been working with at-risk youth for some time through after-school programs, the YMCA, and for the past six years at an alternative high school program that serves a low-income, learning disabled, emotionally challenged population with no support from the district. The positive side of this is that Jeff is able to work with the same group of students for several years running, organizing the curriculum around their interests.
Business proceeded as follows:
Update on action steps:
Paul has secured a space at the Arts Council of Princeton for a fee of $8000 for four days a week between 9 - 2:30 during the 2010-2011 school year.
Joel is proceeding with the application for incorporation as The Learning Cooperative. It was agreed to incorporate in New Jersey initially. Joel will investigate what is involved in order to eventually operate in Pennsylvania as well.
On July 13th, the planning group will meet at 9:00 am. and Paul will invite interested students and parents to an open house at the Arts Council Center at 1:00 pm. Paul will speak with Patty and Jill this week about publicizing this event and perhaps planning others.
Paul will begin meeting with individual families to discuss their hopes and plans for the 2010-2011 year.
On September 30th at 7:00 pm, TLC will sponsor a viewing of The Race to Nowhere at the Arts - Council. Paul will clarify the financial arrangements for this event.
Joel reported that www.princetonlearningcooperative.org is available as a domain name. Joel will proceed in setting up the website through Squarespace. Shelley could probably be asked to help build it.
Amy Childs – a home-schooling “guru” in Philadelphia – has volunteered 10 hours per month. Joel shared her offer with the group. She has already sent out an alert to all home school organizations within a 50-mile radius of Princeton. Check her website unschoolingsupport.com
A friend of Joel’s runs a blog – www.buckshappening.com – and she is willing to run an article about the Learning Cooperative. Joel will follow up on this. We will think more about advertising and ask advice from our supporters.
To Do:
Set up a series of open houses in July and August
Draft a budget for the pilot program
Investigate fundraising for start-up expenses?
Draft an enrolment agreement
Investigate insurance requirements
A place to record thoughts and musings as we explore ways to help young people find their places in our communities. Initially this is a record of our meetings..
