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November 9, 2011 | What Drives You - Facts or Feelings?
As advocates, we need facts to make the case for better public services for families and communities. We need the right data in the right form, with the right messaging.
But that alone won't spark change.
After all, as Writer Geoff Colvin notes in a recent Fortune Magazine column, facts don't drive people to the streets -- feelings do. Our messages must resonate, and stir peoples' passions.
Right now there's plenty of frustration across the country. Can we come together to channel this frustration toward collective, cross-cutting goals?
That ain't easy, especially with the diversity of opinion and approach. Case in point: a recent Urban Institute panel highlighted the differences in approach between advocates and budget analysts. SparkAction's Alison Waldman shares the two sides. We want to know: where do you stand? What will it take to see progress?
Also this week, we're watching a new Census report on poverty in America that has some important take-aways and some poverty researchers worked up -- about how and whom government programs are helping and who is getting the bigger share of government help.
Others are adding their voices and passion to protect those programs that help families and youth: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) petitions for protecting Pell grants; South Carolina advocate Terri Towle says budget cuts should be matched with new revenues to hold kids harmless; and Voices for America's Children says if Congress wants a smart investment, they should start with kids.
It's why SparkAction's Tara James traveled to NYC for the launch of Opportunity Nation, a national campaign to promote opportunity, social mobility and access to the American Dream.
We hope you'll add your voice to the rising chorus through SparkAction's action alerts and share your goals with us!
Jan
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We heart feedback. Email jan@sparkaction.org.
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RT @OppNation: RT @xavbriggs: @SparkAction & learn to organize others (across social divides) to ACT on issues that can't wait #OppSummit
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Connect with SparkAction!
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| Quote of the week
"Problem-free isn't fully prepared."
- Karen Pittman is quoted in the new UCLA Center for Mental Health in Schools' brief about actively promoting youth development through enhancing student assets, improving settings and setting an agenda to address factors interfering with such development.
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| A Dangerous Divide?
 SparkAction's Alison Waldman attended an Urban Institute panel of budget and child advocates, where she saw a big difference in the mindset and aproaches of the two. Budget experts see a need for an overhaul of institutions and entitlements before we can focus specifically on kids, or any other specific issue.
Advocates, on the other hand, want to see more immediate changes that will help the people who are suffering right now. That's a big canyon to cross in thought and approach.
What do you think? Weigh in. |
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| Youth Voices - and the Wealth Gap Between Young & Old
The Associated Press reports that the wealth gap between younger and older Americans has stretched to the widest on record, worsened by a prolonged economic downturn that has wiped out job opportunities for young adults and saddled them with housing and college debt. (This isn't a pitch for "generational warfare" but an important reminder that these issues matter to all of us, young and old.)
The State of Young America
A national poll shows young Americans are discouraged with their current economic standing, but continue to hold out hope for their futures and express strong opinions about the way forward for their generation.
Interview with Sam Bruckman: Occupy Wall Street Millennials
Millennial student Sam Bruckman answers questions about Occupy Wall Street, and what it means for young people and for the nation.
 Call for Submissions: Share Your Idea for Changing the World
What's your idea for positive change? Has it been tried before? Why do you think it's a great idea? Submit your idea before the December 1 deadline for the Roosevelt Institute Campus Network competition.
Generation Gap: How Age Shapes Political Outlook
A new survey from the Pew Research Center finds wide gaps in how different generations view politics. NPR reports.
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|  Washington Watch: Politics & the Real World
Many Americans have a pretty low opinion of government, but social programs are helping millions of children. The good news in the Census report using a new supplemental poverty measure is that government programs, like food stamps and EITC refunds, reduce the child poverty rate. The bad news is that poverty rates among the under-18 age group are still higher than for any other age group.
- CounterPoints: The PBS NewsHour offers a good point-counterpoint between Ron Haskins and Heidi Hartmann on the take-away lessons from the new Census poverty report.
Coming Together: The Opportunity Nation Summit
 Spearheaded by TIME Magazine, AARP/AARP Foundation, United Way and the Ford Foundation, last week's Opportunity Nation Summit convened 500 leaders to kick-start a national campaign for opportunity, social mobility and access to the American Dream.
- Get the scoop on the Summit from SparkAction's Tara James, who was there to participate, and blog.
Most of the time we petition politicians. In this column, Senator Whitehouse (D-RI) warns that Pell grants are under fire and offers his own petition to protect these grants, which help regular families pay the rapidly rising costs of college.
Terri Towle, Afterschool Alliance Ambassador Emeritus in South Carolina, makes the case for protecting kids from budget cuts by insisting that every dollar in cuts is offset by at least one dollar in new revenue -- if there is no revenue, there is no deal.
 Tell Congress: Smart Investments in Kids Can Save Money
Voices for America's Children's infographic shows that the smart money is on investing in kids.
In his Fortune Magazine column, Geoff Colvin argues that facts don't drive people to the streets -- feelings do. And the feeling that an "infuriating injustice," a pervasive sense that "the innocent are punished while the guilty are rewarded" is a powerful force currently driving public protests and frustration.
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| Using What We Know to Improve Lives
November 17 Webinar: Assets & Opportunity Scorecard: New Data on Strength of State Policies
CFED hosts this webinar reviewing its comprehensive look at state and national data on wealth, poverty and the financial security of families and a review of strong state policies that could help set an agenda for states in 2012.
 For busy families, it's hard to beat fast, easy and cheap food. SPARK Physical Education & Wellness (not to be confused with SparkAction) has some quick, practical tips for helping kids eat a healthy breakfast and lunch at school.
MDRC reports that early evaluation findings suggest that summer bridge programs in Texas improved passing rates and enrollment in higher-level courses in college-level math and writing courses in the fall.
The National Human Services Assembly is offering a series of webinars, including this one, on how human services organizations can help clients and families take advantage of critically needed supports in tough times.
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| Learning Throughout the Day
There are lots of ways after-school programs can boost science and technology skills through hands-on learning.
A vast majority - 82 percent - of surveyed school superintendents across the country agreed that educational  programs beyond the traditional school day are not only important, but improve learning and social interaction and are highly successful at supplementing in-class curriculum.
The Wallace Foundation hosted a gathering where leaders in education, after school and other areas grappled with the challenges and merits of expanding learningtime for disadvantaged students. This report summarizes the discussion, and calls for more info on what works.
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| Improving Schools - What Works & How to Measure It
CLASP has resources for states to take advantage of the Early Learning Challenge to direct their attention to the needs of English language learners (ELL), a group of children who are often overlooked in policy conversations.
Know anything about the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund? This American Association of School Administrators toolkit explains its reporting requirements for college enrollment and persistence, and how to inform (yourself and) educators and the public about it. Researchers trying to find appropriate measures for student achievement in large-scale studies will find this MDRC analysis of how best to measure student achievement useful.
Democrats for Education Reform offers a "preseason" ranking of states showing potential for improving ways to measure teacher performance.
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| Keeping Children Safe
"Too many of our babies are dying, and they don't have to." Deborah Klein Walker talks about the high US infant mortality rate in a CNN special.
The Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project and the Family Online Safety Institute study on teens and social media offers an in-depth analysis of teens' use of and experiences on social networking sites, including a discussion of their privacy and safety concerns and the role of parents in keeping kids safe online.
How do you as a parent, educator, caregiver or peer tell the difference between experiencing "just a phase" and early warning signs that warrant professional attention? This screening tool from the REACH Institute, endorsed by leading professional organizations, can help. A toolkit and trainings are also available.
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Caitlin Johnson and Thaddeus Ferber
SparkAction and the Forum for Youth Investment
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