As a volunteer with PENCIL, I provide pro-bono public relations services to the Alain L. Locke Elementary School – PS 208 in Harlem. Principal Susan Green and her staff are some of the most dedicated, diligent people I’ve ever had the privilege of working with.
This year, fifth-grade teacher, Monica Burns, has done an exemplary job of keeping the school’s blog updated, providing the teachers, parents and community with important and exciting information about Alain L. Locke Elementary.
MS. Burnes ensures a post goes up every day. sometimes twice in a day and weekends.
Kudos to Ms. Burns!!
Jacqueline Colon, Vice Principal; Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Andrea Wenner, Out to Play, Principal Susan Green
Brazilian reporter Antonio Gois, working on a special article about New York City’s reforms in public education, made a stop at PS 208. An education correspondent for Brazil’s largest newspaper, Folha de S. Paulo, Mr. Gois interviewed administrators, teachers, parents and students to learn about Alain L. Locke Elementary.
On Thursday, March 25th, Alain L. Locke – P.S. 208, the elementary school in Harlem that I work pro-bono with, shared a wonderful celebration of world culture and dance.
The school’s populace of 3rd, 4th and 5th graders exhibited their skills in 2 World Dance performances. They worked exceedingly hard for only 10-weeks to prepare and beautifully demonstrated their talent via: African Dance, African Drumming, Brazilian Dance, Native American Dance and Ballroom.
Study of these international dance styles provided the students with the unique opportunity of experiencing a hands-on social study of world cultures as they were incorporated into their curriculum.
Community leaders came out to support the children and their presence couldn’t have been more appreciated by the parents and children. There’s nothing like watching a group of young people doing their absolute best in the lime-light. The children were truly delighted seeing their auditorium filled with people who love and support them, gathered together to celebrate them.
Pictured: Charise Liggens, PENCIL; Principal Susan Green, of Alain L. Locke; Serge St. Ledger & Kebrina Carter, Manhattan Integrated Service Center; Lermond Mayes, City Council Woman Inez Dickens’ Office; Laurent Delly, Mt. Morris Park Community Improvement Association; Kara Smith, Karasma Media PR
I knew the kids would be excited when Principal Susan Green announced they’d be having this special desert, but they went WILD!!
Paul, thank you so very much for this wonderful gift, which the kids aptly described as, “Crazy Good”!
I’ve been working with Alain L. Locke for approximately a year-and-a-half, and its thrilling to see how much parental involvement and community support has grown, and how much of a difference it’s making for the children. I even got to dance the Merengue, so I think the kids had almost as much fun as I did, which one of the many reasons I encourage legal marketers to take on pro-bono projects that they love.
President Obama’s signing this act means a newly opened door of possibility for young people, hoping to become attorneys who were contemplating not pursuing advanced degrees and law school due to the exuberant costs.
We are in the midst of experiencing how an economy suffers when students are unable to afford access to higher education or graduate with a degree
That’s why President Obama signed today a historic piece of legislation that delivers real reforms and critical investments to our higher education system. By strengthening the Pell Grant program, investing in community colleges, extending support for Historically Black Colleges and other Minority Serving Institutions, and helping student borrowers manage their student loan debt, we will make college more affordable and enable more Americans to earn a college degree.
For more information on these federal student aid programs, please go to www.studentaid.ed.gov, or call 1-800-4FED-AID.
Mr. Alberto Arroyo, our 94-year-old keeper of the Reservoir, who came to be known as the Mayor of Central Park passed away. Reading through the Sunday Times, I got a “ping” in my heart when I saw this story…
If you’ve ever run or walked the Central Park Reservoir in Manhattan, chances are pretty good that you laid eyes on Alberto Arroyo. Those of us privileged enough to have had a conversation with him, knew from the time he started talking, we were speaking with a quintessential New Yorker and an extra-ordinary human being.
Photo by Chester Higgins Jr./The New York Times Alberto Arroyo, at 83, along the Central Park Reservoir path.
When I ran the reservoir regularly I would see him often, always talking to someone and sharing the incredible warmth of his smile and wisdom. During one of our first chats, he told me about how he kept the parks department abreast of repairs needed on the reservoir; how he met Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and how the reservoir came to be named for her.
I didn’t know where he lived, what he did for a living, or that he lived in a hotel room. I heard that he raised $100,000 from passing runners for the Achilles International, saw him regularly for about 2-years and still and thought about him often. When Mr. Arroyo, first stopped and spoke to me, he was walking around the reservoir with a cane! Needless-to-say, he made a lasting impression on me.
Mr. Arroyo was the measure I used for judging what was “normal” when discussing my father’s dementia care, and communicating the way men over 70-years old were “supposed” to be, so my meeting him effecting my entire family.
I’m sure that being surrounded by people who were committed to community involvement has everything to do with my dedication to Alain L. Locke Elementary School, and why I attract people like Mr. Arroyo into my life. I truly believe the universe aligns prosperity with generosity, so I continue to encourage members of the legal community to do the same.
Mr. Arroyo, the world is surely a better place because you were here.
Brett Larson of Fox-5 New York covered PENCIL’s “Principal For A Day” kick-off at Alain L. Locke Elementary School on October 16, 2009.
PENCIL is a non-profit working to improve public education in New York City and other large cities by engaging the private sector. You may already know that I provide pro-bono services the school as a PENCIL partner. Whether you did or not, I wanted to share the incredible development of the school and why working with them is so important to me. My work with these beautiful children, their terrific principal their dedicated teachers not only lights up my life, it directly correlates with the services I provide my clients.
In structuring the online conversation with my clients, I emphasize that social Media is public relations for your organization, and should be interacted with accordingly. With this in mind, the pro-bono services you provide reflect the goals and mission of your firm, and you make people cognizant of who you are and the level of commitment you bring to the work you perform.
I work with Principal Susan Green to empower her children scholastically, impact the staff’s development and build the community’s awareness of the school and the education provided there.
Some of the projects we worked on with them last year include a new logo; an environmental club and a partnership with a green school in Maryland. For the 2009-2010 school year, our emphasis will be on creating a strong foundation for their educational future with college visits, and being of service thru partnership with The Africa Hope Center, a school for orphans in Nairobi, Kenya.
Principal Susan Green, Alain L. Locke students Jashira Johnson and Mariama Seckwere on the air during morning drive time from 6-10, with 10/10 – WINS’ Alice Stockton-Rossini discussing PENCIL’s Principal For A Day Kick-off
Alice Stockton-Rossini
LISTEN HERE!
[audio:pencil_1.mp3]
[audio:pencil_2.mp3]
[audio:pencil_3.mp3]
[audio:pencil_hd.mp3]
Mariama Seck, Principal Susan Green, Jashira Johnson and Kara Smith
Principal, Susan Green, of Alain L. Locke P.S. 208, and I had the privilege of being the recipients of PENCIL’S 2008-2009 Emerging Partnership Award last night. My company, Karasma Media, Public Relations & Publicity, responded to a need to create a new identity for the school.
We garnered a wide variety of media coverage, developed a new school logo and social marketing platform. The platform includes a blog http://alainllocke.org; that has helped to increase communication between teachers, parents and students, as well as businesses, elected officials and other members of the local community.
PENCIL, the nonprofit organization that develops innovative solutions to the challenges confronting public schools by creating partnerships between business leaders and principals, held its 2008-2009 Year-end Partnership Celebration last night. Sponsored by long-time supporter JPMorgan Chase, the event marked the accomplishments of more than 450 PENCIL Partnerships during the school year, and honored several standout partners with three inaugural awards for “Emerging,” “Innovative,” and “Veteran” PENCIL Partnerships.
NEHAL BELTANGANDY (logo designer) and PAUL LEIBOWITZ
“Through my PENCIL Partnership at the Alain L. Locke School, I have seen that—when provided with the right opportunities—children will take steps to proactively develop their future,” Smith said. “I am proud to be playing a role through PENCIL in creating new possibilities for young people that often help them defy their circumstances.”
The other two awards given:
The 2008-2009 Innovative Partnership of the Year Awardwas given to Principal Christopher Ogno of PS 247, The New York City College Partnership Elementary School in Brooklyn and Partner Ivy Cohen, President of Ivy Cohen Corporate Communications.
The2008-09 Veteran Partnership Award was given to Principal Rima Ritholtz of PS 176X in the Bronx and Justin Israel of Channel 13 WNET/21 WLIW. With a student body of more than 570 autistic pre-K to 12th graders, PS 176X in the Bronx called upon the veteran experience of PENCIL Partners Rima Ritholtz, Principal of PS176X and business partner Justin Israel, Senior Patron Advisor at Channel 13 WNET/21, to develop programs that would offer critical support to the students’ parents.
Congratulations to my fellow PENCIL Partners on a wonderful year of truly making a difference for the children New York City!
