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.

They’ve received coverage in the New York Times , and featured in a segment of NY1’s New Yorker of the Week, Andrea Wenner founder of the non-profit Out 2 Play.

MS. Burnes ensures a  post goes up every day. sometimes twice in a day and weekends.

Kudos to Ms. Burns!!

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.

PS 208 Featured in Brazilian Newspaper – Alain L. Locke Elementary School – P.S. 208.

Other articles you may be interested in:

The Joy of Watching Pro Bono Seeds Grow

Kara Smith of Karasma Media on Fox 5 NY – As PENCIL’s Principal for A Day” at Alain L. Locke Elementary School-P.S. 208

Karasma Media & Alain L. Locke – P.S. 208 Receive PENCIL’S 2008-2009 Emerging Partnership Award

Kara works with legal marketers to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy that will provide them with a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

Technorati Tags: Alain L. Locke, Andrea Wenner, Kara Smith, Karasma Media, Legal Marketing News, Legal Marketing Trends, Monica Burns, NY 1, Public Relations, Social Media, susan green

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.

The students had 10 week residencies with teacher/choreographers from PurElements, Lotus Music and Dance, and the American Ballroom Dance Company from December through March.

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.

From vips

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

My fellow PENCIL Partner, Paul Neuman of Neuman’s Catering donated a fabulous 18″ x 20″ carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, gorgeously decorated with the school’s logo, designed by my friends at Leibowitz Communications.

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.

Other articles you may be interested in:

50 Ways Legal Marketers Can Incorporate “Social Good” Into Their Social Media Strategy

What If I Were Just Getting Started In Social Media

Kara works with legal marketers to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy that will provide them with a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

Technorati Tags: Alain L. Locke, Kara Smith, Karasma Media, Legal Marketing Trends, News, NY Public School, P.S. 208, Pro-Bono, Public Relations, susan green

I frequently talk about the value of letting your clients and potential clients know what is truly important to you.  Whether you share via cross branding on Facebook with a personal page and a Fan Page for your business, or communicate the pro-bono work you’re doing with your favorite school, charity or other type of organization — the key is in the sharing.

There is nothing more rewarding to me than to see Alain L. Locke Elementary School-P.S. 208, the public school in Harlem I am in partnership with, being all the greatness that they are!

I am incredibly proud of the work they are doing not only by providing and exemplary education for the children in attendance, but by keeping the community informed of their activities and accomplishments.

I worked with them to establish and maintain their social media platform, alainllocke.org, in order to support their commitment to our community.  Their efforts were recently profiled in the New York Times and I wanted to share the article with you.

Yes, I am the “marketing company” referred to…

Pressed by Charters, Public Schools Try Marketing

Hugs & Kudos to Principal Green and the wonderful Alain L. Locke teachers and staff!

Other articles you may be interested in:

Social Media PR affords legal firms the opportunity to be moved “Beyond Words”

50 ways Legal Marketers can incorporate “Social Good” into their “Social Media Strategy”

Karasma Media & Alain L. Locke – P.S. 208 Receive PENCIL’S 2008-2009 Emerging Partnership Award

Karasma Media and Alain L. Locke-P.S. 208 Launch PENCIL’s Principal For A Day on 10/10 WINS

Kara Smith of Karasma Media on Fox 5 NY – As PENCIL’s Principal for A Day” at Alain L. Locke Elementary School-P.S. 208

Kara works with legal marketers to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy that will provide them with a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

Technorati Tags: Kara Smith, Karasma Media, Legal Marketing News, PENCIL, Public Relations, Social Media, susan green

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.

Here’s presentation I shared with the students:

Technorati Tags: 10/10 WINS, Alain L. Locke, Kara Smith, Legal Marketing News, NY Public School, P.S. 208, PENCIL, Social Media Legal News, susan green

Principal Susan Green, Alain L. Locke students Jashira Johnson and Mariama Seck were 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!

Technorati Tags: 10/10 WINS, Alain L. Locke, Kara Smith, Karasma Media, NY Public School, P.S. 208, PENCIL, Social Media Legal News, susan green

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.

I had the support and creative energy and generosity my friends and business colleagues: Paul Leibowitz of Leibowitz Communications, who designed the school’s logo and blog; Sperling Greene Partners, Tursack, Inc. and Karen Arthur of KA Communications, behind me.

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:

Technorati Tags: Alain L. Locke, harlem, Kara Smith, Karasma Media, PENCIL, Public Relations, susan green