Category Archives: Intentional Communities

Federal and state authorities announced Tuesday that the female monk seal found dead near Molokais Kawela Stream on Sept. 10 was killed by a bullet wound to the head and theyre seeking the publics help to find who killed her.

That seal, known as L11, was about a year old and known for her playful and curious nature, one local conservationist said. She was also one of at least three of the critically endangered animals that were intentionally killed by humans on Molokai in 2021, according to the authorities.

Make no mistake, the killings of L11 and two other monk seals by blunt-force trauma in April were evil, despicable acts perpetrated against an endangered animal in its own natural habitat, said Jason Redulla, chief of the states Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement.

Someone has information whether they know it or not, he added.

In all, nine of the endangered animals were found dead on the Friendly Isle this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A 10th died in May 2020. Officials deemed the cause of death for five of those seals on Molokai inconclusive because their carcasses were either too badly decomposed when found or were swept out to sea.

Nonetheless, NOAA officials say they suspect several of the seals in those inconclusive cases were intentionally killed by humans as well, and the investigations remain open.

Since 2009, some 15 monk seals were confirmed to have been killed intentionally by humans in Hawaii, all on the islands of Molokai and Kauai, according to Angela Amlin, the Hawaiian monk seal recovery coordinator with NOAAs National Marine Fisheries Service.

In recent years at least four seals have died from gunshots including a pregnant female, according to a NOAA fact sheet.

Its unclear whether theres been an increase in the intentional killings in recent years because authorities have also received more alerts on monk seals from a growing number of volunteer networks and from a NOAA statewide hotline, Amlin said Tuesday.

The animals, which are endemic to Hawaii, also face peril from toxoplasmosis, a disease that originates in cat feces, and from fishing hooks and nets. There have been 15 confirmed monk seal deaths from toxoplasmosis alone since 2001 and probably many more, Amlin added.

Overall there are about 1,400 monk seals across the Hawaiian archipelago, including some 300 to 350 of them in the main islands.

Their numbers in the wild have seen some modest gains in recent years about 2% annual growth between 2013 and 2019. Amlin said data collection on the species wasnt as sharp in 2020 due to Covid-19, and the data for 2021 isnt yet available.

Still, a NOAA press release on Tuesday called the intentional killings of the animals devastating to the recovery of this population.

We are committed to engaging with partners and community members to exchange information and support protection of natural resources and cultural traditions on Molokai, the release added.

Todd Yamashita, Molokai operations manager for the nonprofit Hawaii Marine Animal Response, said via text Tuesday that there's been active "disinformation" campaigns on the island to convince locals that seals are "stealing" their fish and that they have the right to stop any animal that gets in the way of that.

The seals consume relatively small amounts of food in a given area and the majority of their hunting occurs far offshore, Yamashita said. "The idea that seals are taking fish off our table is just as misplaced as saying that sharks are eating all the fish in the ocean. It's simply untrue."

Amlin added that the intentional killings are not broadly reflective of the Molokai and Kauai communities that have deep-rooted traditions of stewardship.

Molokai is home to roughly 70 monk seals and sees at least a dozen seal births each year -- the most of any of the Main Hawaiian Islands, according to Yamashita.

Redulla said that the investigations into monk seal killings are especially difficult because the animals really dont have any way to tell us how they got killed except for the evidence thats found at the scene.

NOAA thanked Hawaii Marine Animal Response, which aims to rescue and protect monk seals, and state authorities for recovering L11s carcass quickly and in sufficient condition to determine what killed her. A NOAA release says a bullet fragment was found in association with evidence of severe, lethal trauma. NOAA is awaiting test results to see if L11 had any diseases, but does not expect the results to change.

Killing monk seals is a state and federal crime with a punishment of up to five years in prison under state law alone, Redulla said.

Authorities encouraged anyone with information about the deaths of monk seals to contact NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement hotline at 800-853-1964 or the DOCARE hotline at 808-643-DLNR (3567). They can also use the DLNRTip app on their phones.

"This is a very sad and difficult time -- to know that one of our people here on Molokai would choose to hurt these critically endangered animals," said Yamashita, a fourth-generation resident of the rural island.

Civil Beat reporter Brittany Lyte contributed to this story.

Civil Beat's coverage of Maui County is supported in part by a grant from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation.

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Original post:

Endangered Monk Seal Died Of Gunshot Wound To The Head, Authorities Say - Honolulu Civil Beat

Hank Willis Thomas, All Power to All People (2020).

When Percy Ricks reached out to the Delaware Art Museum searching for a location to host the revolutionary exhibition he was curating, he didnt even receive the courtesy of a return call. Not only was the museums answer no, it was delivered with an insulting dismissal at his even imagining to exist on its level.

Big mistake.

That was 1971.

Ricks was Black.

The Delaware Art Museum was white, its brick exterior disguising its white insides: a white director, white board and white curators representing white patrons looking at white artists in a white neighborhood.

Ricks would have to settle on the Wilmington Armory to host his show.

What a show it was.

Black artists who had achieved recognition and would go on to become icons of American artRomare Bearden, Sam Gilliam, Los Mailou Jones, Faith Ringgold, Alma Thomas, Hale Woodruffwere joined by up-and-coming Black artists as well as local Black artistsHumbert Howard, Simmie Knox, Edward Loper, Sr., and Edward Loper, Jr.

Photograph of Delilah Pierce, Alma Thomas, and Dorothy B. Porter with Larry Erskine Thomass ... [+] AfricaThe Source during Afro-American Images 1971 opening, Wilmington Armory, Delaware, 1971.

Ricks (19232008) mined his deep connections across the artistic community to assemble an exhibition which proved broadly representative of African American creativity circa 1970. From Washington, D.C. where he was born and educated at Howard University, to Philadelphia where he earned a graduate degree at Tyler School of Art and exhibited his own work, to New York where he earned a second graduate degree at Columbia Universitys Teachers College and established a friendship with a pillar of the Black art community there, Bearden, Ricks brought artists working in a variety of styles, across various media, exploring a range of content together under one roof.

His guiding philosophy for Afro-American Images 1971 was a purposeful commitment that the exhibition be organized by the recommendation of those who are totally involved and committed to the Black art community, particularly the artists themselves in his words.

On the 50th anniversary of the show, the Delaware Art Museum makes amends for its historic snub by presenting Afro-American Images 1971: The Vision of Percy Ricks, a restaging of the exhibit.

Presenting Afro-American Images 1971: The Vision of Percy Ricks cannot right the countless wrongs the Delaware Art Museum committed in the past, but it is an essential first step in publicly acknowledging its past, the role it played in upholding institutional racism and its exclusion of so many people and stories, Margaret Winslow, Curator of Contemporary Art, Delaware Art Museum, told Forbes.com.

The show has been rehung as accurately as possible to its original version. Fifty-eight of the 66 artists participating in the 1971 exhibition have items on view here, including some of the exact same pieces.

Percy Ricks with painting c. 1970. Unknown photographer.

Wilmingtons Black community was staggered in 1971. Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated in 1968. The frustration of mourners who took to the streets remembering him evolved into two-days of unrest, looting and vandalism.

That uprising resulted in a nine-month occupation of the 40% Black population city by the National Guard, the longest military occupation of a U.S. city since the Civil War. Another racist page from American history largely ignored.

It was against this backdrop that Ricks formed Aesthetic Dynamics, Inc., a local organization supporting Black artists in the community. Afro-American Images 1971 would be the first major undertaking for the organization which persists to this day and partnered with the Delaware Art Museum in presenting the rebooted show.

The Delaware Art Museums institutional racism led to an incomplete understanding of this moment in history, Winslow said of the museums refusal to host the show. We can gain much in acknowledging that and exploring what other work needs to be done.

The Museums other work to correct its historical biases has included years of serious research, publications, visual and performing arts commissions, and exhibitions centering the diverse stories of our citys contemporary art history, Winslow remarked, adding, internally, these changes have led to an intentional centering of diverse local perspectives throughout the Museums galleries and a practice of seeking guidance from community partners and advisory committees.

Black Orpheus, 1969, Humbert Howard (19051992). Oil and collage on Masonite , 49 3/4 40 inches. ... [+] Delaware Art Museum, Gift of Dr. John E. and Carol Hunt, 2009.

Afro-American Images 1971: The Vision of Percy Ricks comes as the result of seven years of research at the Museum along with input from a committee of dedicated and knowledgeable community advisors and the work of current and former Aesthetic Dynamics members.

It is the work that the Museum must do to ensure that it supports its community, celebrates its creativity, and preserves those histories for future generations to ensure the wrongs of the past are not perpetuated today, Winslow said.

Anecdotally, the Museums efforts appear to be working. Winslow recounts the recent remarks from a longtime school partner on changes she has seen during student tours.

In the beginning, students liked the art, but couldnt connect with it. Now, the artwork they see looks like art they can do. The people in the art look like people they know. The stories seem like their grandparents stories. They can see themselves, Winslow recalled being told, adding that the partner shared, the most important thing the Museum is doing is listening.

These comments reflect the Museums progress in centering center diverse voices in special exhibitions, within the permanent collection galleries and in Museum programs.

There remains much work to be done to respond to our history of exclusion and create a more equitable Museum. This work requires a continued commitment to address and overthrow systems and power structures rooted in inequity, deep engagement with our Black audiences, shared authority, and responsiveness to our community's interests and needs, Winslow said. Ricks' legacy offers a model for honoring the rich diversity of our local artists, learning from the expertise of our communities, and assessing our history of exclusion to shape a more inclusive future.

How does the show, on view through January 21, 2022, hold up 50 years on?

It feels as inspiring and relevant today as it must have 50 years ago! Winslow said. Indeed, the word used most often by visitors to describe how they feel after seeing the exhibition is inspired.

Coby Kennedy Kalief Browder: The Box (2021).

Four contemporary art superstars, Black artists who took inspiration from and stand on the shoulders of the historic artists featured in Afro-American Images 1971, now have major public installations on view in Philadelphia, 30 miles north of Wilmington.

The Monumental Tour, an exhibition empowering social change through the arts, puts Arthur Jafa, Coby Kennedy, Christopher Myers and Hank Willis Thomas in a group exhibition through January 31, 2022.

The works call attention to each artists distinct visual voice and simultaneously they engage with one another in a curated discourse, Marsha Reid, the director of Kindred Arts which has produced the exhibition, told Forbes.com. Collectively, the works honor and examine aspects of the African American experience, from the first slaves brought over in the 16th century to the present-day prison pipeline and the struggle for liberation in between. Individually, the sculptures invite the viewer to consider themes such as colonization, oppression, privilege, Black middle-class labor, and the decline of industry, Black pride, Black power, Black joy and subjugation.

Reid carefully considered public sites along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Delaware River Waterfront to place each artwork. For Kalief Browder: The Box, she chose Thomas Paine Plaza.

Directly facing City Hall, the building and plaza have been a historic backdrop to life in Philly for more than half a century. Most recently, citizens protested and demanded the removal of a polarizing larger-than-life statue of Frank Rizzo, Mayor of Philadelphia, former police commissioner and an overt symbol of white police officers' brutal treatment of black people and other minorities, she explained. It was fitting that the first monument to inhabit this site since Rizzos removal is Coby Kennedys protest piece. The work is a critique of the gross abuses of civil liberties found in the carceral systems.

Each site throughout Philadelphias Center City where artworks have been placed is highly visible.

Directly adjacent to the magnificent Central Branch of The Free Library of Philadelphia was Shakespeare Parka resplendent oval that was a perfect debut site for Christopher Myers piece Caliban's Hands, Reid said. The title references a character from Shakespeare's Tempest. Many consider the play an allegory of European colonization.

Christopher Myers, Caliban's Hands (2020).

Monumental Tour sites are free to visit.

Hank Willis Thomas: All Power to All People. Eakins Oval, 2451 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Christopher Myers: Calibans Hands. Shakespeare Park, Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Coby Kennedy: Kalief Browder, The Box. Thomas Paine Plaza, 1401 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Arthur Jafa: Big Wheel IV. Cherry Street Pier, 121 North Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Located within walking distance of all of these locations except for the Cherry Street Pieras well as the Barnes Foundation, the Rodin Museum and the Philadelphia Museum of Artthe Logan Hotel places guests directly in the heart of the citys cultural district and amongst its collection of almost 2,000 artworks created by local artists making it the ideal accommodation for time spent in Philadelphia.

Read more here:

Black Artists, Then And Now, On View In Wilmington, Delaware And Philadelphia - Forbes

A coalition of education groups is pushing forward with efforts to increase the number of educators of color working in the nations public schools, with the goal of adding 1 million teachers and 30,000 leaders of color to the workforce by 2030.

It is a very bold, audacious goal, and were all excited about being associated with [it], said Javaid E. Siddiqi, the president and CEO of the North Carolina-based Hunt Institute, the organization leading the effort.

The One Million Teachers of Color campaign, launched in February, got a financial boost last month from The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative as part of a $9 million round of funding by the philanthropy to groups working on educator diversity initiatives and supporting educators and communities of color.

In addition to the Hunt Institute and the teacher-effectiveness group TNTP, the coalition includes the Center for Black Educator Development, The Education Trust, Latinos for Education, Men of Color in Educational Leadership, Teach Plus, and New Leaders.

The coalitions effort comes as the growth in the number of students of color outpaces the percentage of teachers and leaders of color in public schoolswhile 54 percent of students are nonwhite, 80 percent of teachers and 78 percent of principals are white. Research shows the benefits of educators of color on all students, but also, in particular, on students and teachers of color of the same race.

It improves their lives beyond just high schoolthis is about improving their longer-term outcomes, said Tequilla Brownie, the executive vice president of strategy, policy, and community coalitions at TNTP, one of the anchor organizations on the campaign. Its not a nice to have. The data is pretty unassailable ... that having access to more diverse teachers means students will have better outcomes, both short term and long term.

But getting there requires a dramatic shift in how the federal government, states, and districts approach the issue, Brownie said.

While the percentage of school leaders and teachers of color have increased in the last decade and a half, it has not kept up with the rising enrollment of students of color.

Unfortunately, right now, our policies have led us to a place where we have mostly white teachers and more diverse students, said Brownie, who will become TNTPs executive director next month.

The strategies target the federal and state governments, as well as higher education and school districts.

The campaigns success will hinge a lot on what will happen in statehouses and governors mansions over the next few years. With 36 upcoming gubernatorial elections, the Hunt Institute, for instance, is preparing for briefings and meetings with gubernatorial candidates on both sides of the aisle on the importance of a diverse educator workforceespecially amid a teacher shortage.

The goal is to get the data to the candidates and create individualized playbooks to address the issue on the state and district levelsas well as the implicationsin each of those states, Siddiqi said. The coalition partners are hoping that the governors will commit to producing a share of the one million teachers and 30,000 leaders of color over the next decade.

Additionally, he said, the efforts of North Carolinas DRIVE Taskforce can serve as a blueprint for how governors can take the lead in promoting education workforce diversity.

Working with the Hunt Institute, Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, convened the task force two years ago of stakeholders, including parents, educators, university representatives and government officials, to identify ways to diversify the states education workforce. (DRIVE stands for Developing a Representative and Inclusive Vision for Education).

So, he is on message, said Siddiqi. Imagine if every governor ... every time theyre talking about education, they were talking about this.

The power of a governor and legislature to significantly shape who is teaching in the classrooms or sitting in principals offices goes beyond raising awareness.

Tennessee, for example, adopted a new policy this year requiring districts to create educator diversity goals and update the state education department annually about the progress theyre making against those benchmarks.

State regulatory agencies also can review and revise certification and licensure requirements that often keep people of color from entering education. State legislatures also can adopt policies, such as student loan forgiveness programs, that incentivize teachers to stay in the profession and help districts diversify their pipelines.

TNTP, which has long championed the creation of an effective teaching workforce, sees diversity as going hand in hand with that goal, Brownie said.

Effectiveness means diverse and effective; so they are not two separate priorities. An effective workforce is a diverse workforce, she said.

Jean Desravines, the executive director of New Leaders, a New York City-based school leadership preparation program, argues that states and districts can see teacher shortages as an opportunity to diversify the workforce.

The goal here is not to say that we want to replace existing white leaders, said Desravines, whose group is the only one in the coalition that focuses exclusively on school leadership. Rather, it is: We have attrition through retirement and people transitioning out, we have to be more intentional about building a more diverse pipeline.

The coalition also wrote to the Biden administration earlier this year to urge that educator diversity be a priority in the administration.

If its a stated priority in a federal administration, we can expect to see funding dollars steered toward incentives and programs like removing financial barriers, for example, which is cited as one of the causes and contributors to our inability to diversify the workforce, Brownie said. We can also think about incentives to states as they set policies and priorities around trying to diversify the workforce.

The campaign also is providing technical assistance to states and districts to make progress on their stated diversity goals, Brownie said.

Organizations like TNTP offer alternative certification programs that get more people of color into the pipeline. And grow-your-own programs aimed at students and para-professionals and school support staffwho tend to come from more diverse backgrounds than teacherscan also help districts increase the numbers of people of color in their schools. Recruiting from the broader community is also an economic investment in the communities in which students live, she said.

But to do all of that, districts need a targeted, comprehensive HR policy that not only articulates a diverse workforce as a priority, but also details the steps necessary to accomplish those goals, she said. And those efforts have to include equal emphasis on creating a culture that encourages and supports the retention of teachers of color, who have a higher turnover rate than their white peers.

It doesnt happen by accident, Brownie said, so, paying attention to where you are recruiting from, looking at which districts and how districts are partnering with higher ed [institutions]... Its not just symbolic. It helps them identify where they are getting more diverse, effective candidates from and they can therefore be more intentional about partnering with those programs.

See the rest here:

'Bold, Audacious Goal': Coalition Pushes to Add More Than 1 Million Educators of Color - Education Week

This is part of aseries of regular updatesthat Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Mara Pabn Gautier sends to the campus community.

Dear St. Olaf Community,

Do not be daunted by the enormity of the worlds grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it. the Talmud

As we approach the close of 2021, I found myself reflecting on all the work we did this year and all the exciting work we have ahead of us. We started the year full of hope and caution as we grappled with our current realities and engaged in the change we wanted to see. As a college, this year showed us that we are stronger together. I was humbled by the hands that helped hold the work up and pushed it with the strength that only people who care and are invested have.

I decided to dedicate this update to highlighting some of the great work that happened this last year. This is just a big-picture highlight of some of the DEI work. It does not include the individual work happening in departments, offices, centers, and student organizations. I will continue to highlight that work in the updates to come, but I didnt want to miss the opportunity to thank you for your support and engagement. You did justly, loved mercifully, and walked humbly.

2021: A Year of Change and ConnectionCo-Creating an Inclusive Community Initiative. This year we launched the Co-Creating an Inclusive Community Initiative that aims to engage students, staff, and faculty in working together to envision and create a more inclusive St. Olaf: one in which people of all identities experience connection, belonging, and agency.

Hostile Terrain 94 (HT94). Our students launched the HT94 exhibition after spending more than a year working on filling out toe tags and educating the community. Hostile Terrain 94 is a participatory art project sponsored and organized by the Undocumented Migration Project (UMP), a nonprofit research-art-education-media collective directed by anthropologist Jason De Len.

Pop-Up Barbershop. The barbershop made its debut in October. A group of student-athletes from Oles Against Inequality, or OAI, came up with the idea. The students, many of whom are students of color, saw the need for barbers who know how to cut different hair textures. The project has already gained outside attention, including a feature story on Minnesota Public Radio.

Professional Development and Learning Opportunities. At the beginning of the year we heard loud and clear that we needed more targeted and intentional opportunities to develop as well as opportunities to have dialogue about areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism (DEIA). Therefore, we provided different opportunities to learn and exchange ideas. Below are a few of those opportunities.

Improvements to Communication. One of the biggest challenges of doing DEIA work is to make sure that we do it authentically, timely, and we communicate throughout the process. This year we made several changes to increase transparency and improve how we communicate around areas of DEIA with our campus community. Among some of the changes are:

George Floyd Fellowship for Social Change. The George Floyd Fellowship directly supports the advancement of Black American students. Students participating in the fellowship will work toward improving the collective experience of marginalized communities, with a focus on advancement of social justice and equity. This year the first George Floyd cohort graduated, advancing a diverse array of social issues.

Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The Council worked arduously this year to refresh their mission, outcomes, and engagement with the work of inclusion at the College. We welcomed new members and actively worked in improving transparency about the meetings and efforts.

Climate Surveys and Studies. Understanding the campus climate is a crucial part of engaging in change. Our students participated for the first time in the National Assessment of Collegiate Campus Climates (NACCC) survey. The survey was administered as part of our membership in LACRELA and measures the racial climate on our campus. In addition to measuring student climate, we conducted a BIPOC staff study to understand the racial climate that our BIPOC staff were experiencing at the College (a junior BIPOC faculty study was done in 2020).

To Include is To Excel. This year To Include is To Excel, a four-year, $800,000 initiative funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, came to a close and we celebrated the accomplishments, work done, and excitement for the work that needs to be done.

Diversity in the Workplace Student Workers Training. This is a new DEI initiative sponsored by the Taylor Center, the Piper Center, the Vice President for Human Resources, and the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion. This initiative supports St. Olafs commitment to create an equitable and inclusive community, and gives students perspectives and skills that they can use both on campus and in their work after graduation.

Review of Review Working Groups. The Faculty Governance Committee and the Provosts Office invited faculty this summer to address both external and internal recommendations of the colleges tenure and promotion process, with special emphasis on its effect on early career BIPOC faculty members. Three working groups were formed (Assessments of Teaching, Statements of Significant Scholarship and Artistic Work, and Advocacy), and each group developed a report of areas that need to be addressed during 2021-22 academic year.

Social Justice Award. This year we established the inaugural Social Justice Award to recognize an individual faculty member or group who has made an outstanding contribution to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism at St. Olaf.

Academic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force. In consultation with the faculty, the Academic DEI Task Force will:

Ole Core. First-year students engaged for the first time this fall with the new Ole Core Curriculum. This new Ole Core responds to the request of students and faculty to be more intentional about integrating discussions and conversations around DEIA. One of the many changes of the new Ole Core is adding a power and race requirement where students gain knowledge of how race and ethnicity can contribute to inequality in contemporary U.S. society, and how these forms of inequality intersect with other social characteristics and institutions such as gender, religion, sexual orientation, social class, and the environment.

Student Support Services for Students with Disabilities (SSSD). SSSD is a brand new, federally funded TRIO college retention program serving 100 students per year. SSSD helps students with disabilities develop the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue and successfully complete a college education by helping them focus on academic and personal development.

Assistant Director of Retention and Success. Although our student retention numbers are strong, we know that we can do better. This year we created a new position, Assistant Director of Retention and Success, to help us think more intentionally about retention, especially across students with marginalized identities.

St. Olaf Orientation to Academics and Resources (SOAR). SOAR was launched for all first-year students in the fall of 2021. SOAR provides an extended orientation for all students in their first year to equip them with the knowledge and tools to be successful at St. Olaf. Students learn key skills like how to utilize campus resources and implement techniques for success with college-level reading and studying through small group conversation, reflection, and the practice of successful academic habits.

TimelyCare. This year we launched TimelyCare, a 24/7, no-cost telehealth service for students to address common conditions that can be safely diagnosed and treated remotely. This service provides students with additional services for medical care, mental health care, health coaching, and psychiatric care.

Thank you to our community who worked to make progress and change happen this year. I am energized and looking forward to building on our dedication and partnership to continue this important work.

Sincerely,Mara

Dr. Mara C. Pabn GautierVice President for Equity and Inclusion

See the article here:

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Update St. Olaf College - St. Olaf College News

Health and mental health providers, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, arewarningthat US children and adolescents are facing a mental health state of emergency. Well before the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of many behavioral health conditions affecting children and youth hadbeen escalating. In 2018, suicide was thesecond leading cause of deathfor youth ages 1024. Theproportion of all emergency departmentvisits for kids related to mental health increased substantially in 2020.Use of servicesrelated to intentional self-harm, substance use disorders, and other mental health conditions also increased since the start of the pandemic. Too many youthmore than 48,000remain confined in facilities away from home because of juvenile justice or criminal justice involvement. Urgent action is clearly required to help Americas kids.

The pandemic has created additional financial stress, loss of loved ones, and educational and social disruptions for many children. For the more than 12 million US children who live in families with incomes below the poverty line, there are additional pressures that can reduce health and well-being, including homelessness and food insecurity. These forms of disadvantage have beendirectly tiedto child brain development and mental health. Children who have experienced mental health challenges are more likely to experience mental illness, addiction, and other chronic medical conditions as adults, so these rates of illness are not just having impact today but are likely to reverberate through US society when these children are adults.

We can act to help kids thrive now and grow into healthy adults. Doing right by kids requires simultaneously preventing as many of them as possible from experiencing mental health problems and providing services for those who do. Roughly half of US children with a mental health disorder did not receive mental health treatment in 2019, and the unmet need for mental health for children of color in theUS is higher thanthat of White children. Expanding access to mental health and addiction services, especially services that are available in communities, rather than in hospitals and residential facilities, is a national imperative.

Prevention and early intervention are also essential for taking care of kids mental health. Major advances in neuroscience and clinical medicine have yielded effective prevention and early intervention strategies that pay bothimmediate and long-term dividends. Early intervention for serious mental illnesses, which frequently emerge in late adolescence, can change the course of some illnesses and reduce their disabling effects. For other conditions, effective psychosocial interventions and pharmacotherapies exist that can help meet childrens needs and promote their health. Specific evidence-based interventions include family skills training, maternal depression screenings, and resiliency training for children. Screening young children for trauma and circumstances that can lead totoxic stress(including maternal depression, parental substance use disorder, poverty, and community violence) can be highly effective.

Behavioral models that integrate effective mental health expertise into pediatric practices includeHealthy Steps,Help Me Grow, andTeamUp. These offer ways to expand the reach of behavioral health prevention and treatment intervention. Some programs based in schools, including early intervention based on the Bounce Back intervention, a group-focused school-based intervention for children experiencing trauma, havedemonstrated positive impact. Similar evidence-based interventions that strengthen core capacities in childrencan benefit themin arange of ways, from lower risks of mental health and substance use problems to school dropout, social isolation, and self-harm.

These types of programs arerelatively low cost and high yield. With concerted effort across government, insurers, providers, and community leaders, we can make them part of everyday practice. Current conditions are ripe for progress. The nations mental health and addiction crises, and the COVID-19 pandemic, have created broad recognition that the nation must reform its approach to behavioral health services. Interest on the part of Congress and the executive branch is strong; many state and local leaders also recognize the urgent need for action. Various COVID-19 grant fundsincluding substantial increases in funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as well as general COVID-19 grant support to states and localitiescan and should be deployed to build prevention and early intervention systems, as well as community-based behavioral health treatment. These increase the impact ofrecent grant fundsprovided for youth suicide prevention and other mental health programs under the American Rescue Plan Act.

The greatest gains in access to effective treatments are likely to come from integrating them into the two primary systems that shape childrens health and well-being: the health care system and the education system. Wherever possible, health insurers should cover evidence-based interventions. Medicaid has a particularly important role to play, as insurer ofnearly halfof Americas children, whose low incomes make them particularly vulnerable to homelessness, food insecurity, and toxic stress. Medicaids mandatory, comprehensive pediatric benefit, the Early Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Program, is designed to meet childrens health and developmental needs, and can support many preventive and early intervention approaches.

But Medicaid alone will not solve this crisis: Commercial insurers must recognize that promoting childrens health means meeting kids mental health needs. Stronger benefit packages that cover behavioral health services and interventions for children and families must be offered. Health care providers, especially pediatricians and primary care providers, including community health centers, should focus on prevention, integrate behavioral health into their practices, and adopt whole family approaches. It is also critical for the federal government to enforce the parity laws that require private insurers to cover behavioral health services. Grant funding through the agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, SAMHSA, and the Health Resources and Services Administration is particularly important for funding aspects of prevention, treatment, and support for people with mental illnesses that do not fit comfortably into insurance programs and other broad-based programs.

Schoolsplay a major rolein delivering behavioral health care for children, especially children who are poor or children of color. Schools can and should useElementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fundingnot just to start up immediate programs but to build the staff, services, and infrastructure needed to provide Medicaid-covered services. Some schools arebuilding comprehensive school mental health systemsthat advance students skills and provide early intervention and treatment. Federal leaders can build on recent efforts to encourage schools to use American Rescue Plan Act grant funds for mental health by creating a technical assistance center between the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services to support development of school-based behavioral health services. Addressing the needs of the schools with the lowest resources should be its first priority.

Spreading and scaling proven interventions throughout the health, public health, and educational systems is the necessary, if overdue, response to the current behavioral health crisis facing children and youth. All levels of government, industry, providers, advocates, and community organizations should commit themselves to working across sectors and silos to build delivery and public health systems that are needed to advance the health and well-being of kids. The stakes for millions of children, families, and our society are high and depend on taking comprehensive and immediate action.

Disclosures: Victoria Wachino is an advisory board member and consultant to Mental Health Strategic Impact Initiative. Other than the aforementioned, the authors did not receive financial support from any firm or person for this article or from any firm or person with a financial or political interest in this article. Other than the aforementioned, the authors are not currently an officer, director, or board member of any organization with a financial or political interest in this article.

Read more:

The kids are not all right: The urgent need to expand effective behavioral health services for children and youth - Brookings Institution

How is the future being shaped today?

As any entrepreneur will tell you, hard moments can bring opportunity to improve, or change things up altogether. You can learn a lot from what you didnt plan for, and find new approaches along the way.

That has been evident in Baltimores community of technologists and entrepreneurs during 2021. After a year of pandemic, pivoting and a renewed push for racial justice in 2020, the following year has brought more sustained solutions, a wave of coalition-building, and focused efforts to build in a new way going forward.

Crises can be cyclical like that. They have a tendency to bring to a boil what was previously simmering just beneath the surface, and the focused work necessary to solve the immediate challenge can create more resolve to make lasting change. It can even present opportunities we didnt expect.

As Omicron reminds us, this tumultuous period isnt over. Yet, two years in, there has also been enough time to take stock of all thats emerged, and what weve learned. Its also a moment that can build the future, with a newly mobile knowledge workforce that can choose to live anywhere, hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding set to arrive, a mayoral administration thats engaged like never before, and leaders who are jumping in and bringing folks together.

Its why Technical.lys December editorial theme is Lessons on Resilience. With that in mind, we reached out to Baltimore leaders with a question to help us gather thoughts on all thats changed, and what might help us push forward:

Whats the biggest learning or opportunity to emerge from the last two years that will help Baltimore move forward in the future?

Heres a look at their responses:

Ive run across a couple of quotes that rang true about the last two years. One is: We all went through the same storm, but we were not in the same boat.

Some of us had the resources to float through the pandemic. Many of us did not have that kind of a ship at our disposal, and were still bailing. Looking back, Baltimore has a long history of shipbuilding prowess, dating all the way back to the canoes crafted by the regions indigenous peoples. During the pandemic, the way the community came together, often virtually, to create new resources suggests how we can move forward in the future. The collaborations and the commitment to the city that emerged as a response to COVID-19 also demonstrate that Baltimore has what it takes to thrive. We must lash our vessels together. To extend the boat metaphor, the opportunity for Baltimore is to chart our own course using local skills and talent, not just wait on a lifeline we hope is coming from somewhere else.

The other quote is from Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield, who said, Work is no longer a place you go. Its something you do. Thats liberating and suggestive of opportunities for Baltimores future if our creative and tech talent can stay in the enriching, supportive Baltimore ecosystem and find even more options to do the work they do, without having to relocate to find funding and new prospects.

The biggest learning to emerge from the last two years that will help Baltimore move forward in the future is this enduring and clear lesson: We are stronger when we reach out and partner together across industries and silos to solve the biggest crises in our lifetime.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has surfaced so many challenges. Ensuring healthcare delivery to take care of all of our sick patients, getting our population vaccinated and building trust with communities who have been treated unjustly historically, health inequities and access barriers and the digital divide.

At LifeBridge Health, we saw firsthand the value of partnerships to save lives and protect our healthcare providers and staff during the pandemic partnering with Under Armour to design and produce face masks and PPE through massive supply chain disruptions. We launched 1501 Health, a payvider partnership with Healthworx, the innovation and investment arm of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, to incubate and invest in early-stage digital health startups, like Live Chair, that focuses on the barbershop setting to engage black men around prevention and treatment of chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes and obesity by providing health assessments and education. We partnered with Higi, the nations leading smart health stations provider, and the American Heart Associationto develop clinical content around prevention, hypertension and heart health across 70 kiosks in supermarkets, community and fitness centers in the greater Baltimore area.

Everyones ability to adapt and persevere over the past two years has been tested to the extremes. This is particularly true for entrepreneurs. Weve seen those who have a strong foundation and a network of support have been able to pivot as needed, but we must learn from this experience to make sure entrepreneurs have the opportunities and access in the first place.

In the last two years, our regional cybersecurity ecosystem experienced remarkable growth, highlighted by landmark investment, acquisitions and exits. Of course, the roadmap for this growth was created long before Dragos became the first industrial cybersecurity unicorn, or three DataTribe companies were acquired in one month, or ZeroFox announced their intent to go public. Weve known for years that Baltimore has the ideas and the talent to lead the cybersecurity industry, and were attracting, while building, the other resources (e.g., funding, advisory, etc.). We need to realize that potential.

The last two years have made obvious that East and West Baltimores black neighborhoods suffer from digital redlining as much as they suffer from discrimination in other areas. The people of these communities know how to solve their problems, but resources designated to help still go in large part to organizations and institutions outside of these communities. We have an opportunity to change that in 2022 and beyond, which will in turn benefit all of Baltimore.

If theres one thing weve learned over the past two years, its that internet connectivity is crucial for providing access to job opportunities and creating wealth. Given Baltimores history of redlining and its treatment of marginalized citizens, Im excited to see investments at the city, state, and federal levels in broadband and Wi-FI; basic internet access is increasingly critical for participation in modern learning and work environments.

Beyond physical infrastructure, career connections and learning opportunities are necessary to help bridge the gap to high-paying tech jobs. Were looking forward to seeing the impact of new programs like the Baltimore Tracks City Schools internship as they hopefully grow and build pathways for Baltimores young people to join the local tech community.

The biggest lesson learned for me, especially during Black Lives Matter and the pandemic, not everyone is treated equally. I think we always have assumed this, but the combination of those two things really brings to light the inequity in the world. Baltimore has and continues to see this and experience it firsthand. What we cant do is see the problem and revert to the same old policies, procedures, and way of doing things. We need to lean into the uncomfortableness of it all every day.

One silver lining from the last two years is that the move to Zoom/remote has started to level the playing field and increase opportunities outside of traditional tech hubs like SF/NYC/LA. For a company like ours, this has made finding and collaborating with clients a bit easier than it used to be in the business-travel-centric days. Hopefully, this trend continues to help Baltimore-based companies work with more clients nationwide.

In the past two years, Baltimore has formed some importantand formidable coalitions with a laser focus on equity. Whether our end goal is buildingresources for small businesses, improving digitalequity, or investing in diverse founders, we will always achieve more when we work together. The city can only move forward by intentionally shifting resources to the people and places that have been historically underinvested. While weve known that for some time, the past two years have created a sense of urgency to take real action and to build strategies that leverage the collective knowledge of committed leaders from the grassroots to the grasstops.

Baltimore has so much to offer, with unlimited potential. It is a gem. Take a moment to close your eyes and dream with me, something a mentor does. Envision a Baltimore where everyone is walking in greatness. A city that has tapped into the highest peaks of its potential, positively impacting and enhancing the lives of residents and those that have an interaction here. A place that is pushing boundaries, a change agent for other cities. How do we get here? Empathy!

Leading with empathy has been the biggest takeaway from these last two years, from my perspective, that could help Baltimore move toward the city we just closed our eyes and dreamt of. The experience of an ongoing pandemic, social unrest that was broadcast for the world to see (in your face), amongst other things led to many individuals and organizations changing behavior. There was a need to take a step back and be intentional or considerate of the potential impact an interaction or action could have on another. For example, thinking about what someone could be going through at home (e.g., childcare, new virtual world, job, loneliness) was essential. If we can lead with empathy, voices would be uplifted and that diversity of thought and/or perspective will result in more informed decisions, interactions and solutions to challenges on the path to greatness.

The biggest learning opportunityfrom the last two years that I think would help Baltimore move forward is paying attention to the small fries. So often we are looking at the talent we considerheavy hitters but those that are working small and steady are also having a huge impact on our city.

During COVID, particularly for school-aged children and our underserved communities, we did not have the broadband infrastructure, computers and training in place to provide adequate education and work-from-home opportunities. These technologies should be ubiquitous like water, septic, and electric utilities. We know we can do better and several initiatives such as the Maryland Tech Councils T12 Committee, UpSurge and Baltimore Tracks have shown up this past year to help change that.

Manufacturing matters. As much as I love the port expansion and the tunnel heightening, it is all meaningless if we dont develop a manufacturing base that uses those assets for export. Its not just bad economic development practice to ignore manufacturing but, as is now very clear, a matter of basic survival.

What do we know? That we have heart, smarts, grit and ingenuity in every corner of our city, but not equal opportunities to prosper in a 21st century economy. That truly inclusive economic growth and stability for Baltimore families will require significant investment in an innovation economy that welcomes all who choose it. That Baltimore is home to a dynamic and determined ecosystem of founders, investors, accelerators, corporations and organizations like those who came together in UpSurge teams to craft Equitech 2030. That this is an ideal place to build a startup culture that grounds itself in a belief that diversity is a force-multiplier for company success.

Whats new? We are in the midst of an all-hands-on-deck moment to realize our potential in a way that is uniquely Baltimore. The untethering of startups and the tech workforce from traditional brain hubs changes the game. Amidst our challenges and imperfections, we sometimes forget how spectacular our city is. But weve been seeing Baltimore anew, through the eyes of the Techstars Equitech founders and other partners weve welcomed recently. Theyre shocked by the breadth of our entrepreneurial ecosystem. Surprised by how accessible and affordable Baltimore is. Impressed by how open Baltimoreans are to newcomers. And amazed at how connected we are to each other (Wait, you know her, too? Smalltimore, hon!). Most of all, they are in awe of what were trying to build, together.

This is lightning in a bottle. If we capture it, we can become a global model of a tech-for-all city, one that provides a launchpad for transformational companies and new pathways of opportunity for more Baltimoreans. We can do this.

Biggest learning to date:anything is possible. Before the pandemic, we may never have been able to imagine many things that are true today working from home, virtual school, eliminating travel, not eating out and yet, we did it. We found a way to persevere. And although it sometimes feels like we are taking steps backwards, I feel history will tell a different story. This pandemic is providing the perfect opportunity for us to use these conditions and constraints to re-think everything: how we work together, how we live together, and even how we love one another. Just as we have pivoted during the pandemic, we can now turn these learned skills into innovative ideas on how to continue to make our community good for us all.

I think the biggest learning opportunity was how to work remotely. Many companies, like my employer Think, had been doing it for years, but for other companies its been a real transition. The difficult side of this is that talent is now free to roam the country for jobs. This is going to make it even harder for places like Baltimore, Philly and Pittsburgh to retain talent. Tech folks are opting to move to cheaper, more climate freely or cooler geographies.

If youre a remote worker, Baltimore is a great destination. The cost of living is low, its on the East Coast and is a quick drive to/from other metropolitan areas. It scores high on a flexibility scale for remote workers. I believe more people will realize this and take advantage of all the positives Baltimore has to offer.

Baltimore is a city of neighborhoods, a phrase Ive heard from Baltimoreans and transplants alike ever since I moved here in 2007. Usually stated with pride or said as veiled acknowledgement to the unending impact of redlining, either way it is a reference to the diversity that divides us. I think that the last two years have taught us that this is the wrong thing about Baltimore to be proud of.

Baltimore is a city of teams. Baltimore Development Corporation worked with over300 businesses, community members, and organizations onBaltimore Together: A Platform for Inclusive Prosperity. With the launch of UpSurge Baltimore, over 150 team members produced theEquitech 2030report. B-360 united the States Attorneys Office, T. Rowe Price, Brown Advisoryand the Job Opportunities Task Force to launch theDirt Bike Offenses Diversion Program.

This is a tiny, yet far-reaching set of examples of teamefforts teams thatat times have played against each other, coming together to work for each other. If we could, in all aspects, take this mindset that we are a city of teams, working together in our efforts, wed find out that there is a massive opportunity to change the way that the future of this city plays out.

The life science industry in Baltimore stepped firmly into the spotlight in 2021. Demand for specific, well-designed bench and lab space has increased, and were perfectly positioned to help fill that need. At the UM BioPark, weve seen a number of our tenant companies large and small expand to not only meet the demands of the pandemic, but to pursue key discoveries in areas such as gene sequencing and gene therapy. Weve also welcomed several new, innovative device companies that are benefitting from our proximity and connection to the University of Maryland, Baltimore. We look to 2022 as a year for expansion and continuing growth.

How important partnerships are in order to accomplish big goals. Id love to see a place where true collaboration is valued, silos are dropped, and we come together, unselfishly.

Grace. Give yourself a little grace. We have all had to navigate challenges during this time. It is OK to say no, take your time, and pull back when necessary.

Sometimes you have to go alone. Working with others and group think is great until it comes time for execution and then silence. No one wants to lead, but someone has to go first. Get comfortable with being the unintended leader, even if you have to go first and alone.

A big lesson is that community holds more weight than weve previously considered. Julianna Holt-Lunstad, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University, put it perfectly when she said, What weve learned from COVID is that isolation is everyones problem. It doesnt just happen to older adults; it happens to us all. It took us being secluded to remember were all connected and that people matter. Over these last two years, everyone has fought some kind of battle and has had stark reminders about the fragility of life. I hope we remember how much we need each other. This is a cornerstone for how we move forward.

Baltimores economic future depends on inclusion: The more we can leverage the human assets we have and invest in a diverse workforce to fuel company growth, the more momentum we will build and the healthier our community will be.

More:

23 tech leaders on the opportunities that can shape Baltimore's future - Technical.ly

Guest Opinion. In 1492, Christopher Columbus set out, on behalf of the Spanish government, to find a nautical eastern passage to Asia. Much to the surprise of Spain and all of the European powers, Columbus instead found a land mass that had been inhabited since time immemorial. This was one of the first recorded contacts between the European and Tribal nations. Under the diplomatic norms of the 15thcentury, Columbus and Spain could have sought to establish diplomatic ties between the nations, which might have led to trade opportunities between the Tribes and Europe. However, the European powers had other ideas. Avoiding any pretense of diplomacy, the Catholic Church sought to legally justify settlement of the land mass, which they would later call America.

On May 4, 1493, Pope Alexander VI issued a Papal Bull called Inter Caetera, which provided justification for Christian nations to encroach upon the sovereignty of non-Christian nations by declaring, that barbarous nations be overthrown and brought to the faith itself. This document provided a legal justification for the colonization of the Americas by declaring that the sovereignty of Christian nations supersedes that of non-Christian nations. It also presented a theme that would permeate the relationship between Tribal nations and the European powers, as well as their successor sovereign, the United States of America. The document provided justification for the belief that being non-Christian (or non-civilized) made you less than human.

This philosophy persisted during the founding of the United States of America. In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence of the merciless Indian savages. Furthermore, despite the United States Constitution specifically recognizing the sovereignty of Tribal nations, the United States Supreme Court incorporated the Doctrine of Discovery into U.S. law in 1824sJohnson v. McIntoshwhen they stated that discovery gave title to the government by whose subjects or by whose authority it was made against all other European governments, which title might be consummated by possession [t]he history of America from its discovery to the present day proves, we think, the universal recognition of these principles.

[NOTE: This article was originally published by the National Indian Health Board. Used with permission. All rights reserved.]

The declaration that barbarous nations be brought to the faith itself was also foundational in understanding the approach to education that the European countries and the U.S. would take with Native people. Even before the official establishment of federal Indian boarding schools in the late 19thcentury, there were schools designed to Christianize native people. A notable example was Moors Charity School in Lebanon, Connecticut, which was established by Rev. Eleazar Wheelock. Wheelock would use the success of Moors Charity School to raise money for the establishment of Dartmouth College in 1769. Dartmouths charter included that it was founded, in part, for the education and instruction of youth of the Indian Tribes in this land in reading, writing, and all parts of learning which shall appear necessary and expedient for civilizing and Christianizing children of pagans[.] Many of these early schools were founded by Christian groups, often missionaries, and often with the full support of European powers, and later the U.S. government. In 1819, Congress passed the Civilization Fund Act, which provided funding to these groups to establish and operate boarding schools.

In 1871, the U.S. ceased treaty making with Tribes and began moving towards a policy of complete eradication of Tribal nations. One of the primary means for achieving this policy goal involved the creation of boarding schools that would civilize native children and indoctrinate them into mainstream American society. It was to be the final phase of the call that barbarous nations be overthrown and brought to the faith itself that had been made almost 400 years prior and the end goal of the Doctrine of Discovery. Upon the founding of the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania, General Richard Henry Pratt declared his mission was to kill the Indian and save the man.

The establishment of Carlisle Indian school marked a turning point. No longer was the U.S. government (and the states) content to issue charters and funding to private individuals like Wheelock, it was itself moving into the business of civilizing native people. The formal establishment of the boarding schools represented a more aggressive approach to fulfilling the call of Inter Caetera. The Carlisle Indian School was one of many boarding schools founded for this purpose, and was operated from 1879 to 1918. After Carlisles closure, boarding schools continued to operate throughout the 20thcentury. In those years, countless Native children were involuntarily removed from their homes and forced into a strange land, hundreds of miles from homelands. Many of them never returned. The decision to send children so far from home was intentional. The boarding schools were to remove the child far from their home, customs, and family ties to force them to become civilized.

The boarding school experiment was a failure in countless ways. Tribal nations are still here, and we persist despite repeated attempts at termination. It also never met General Pratts goal of saving the man. In fact, the boarding schools caused incalculable harm to native people. Generations of children were taken from their homes with many of them dying and being buried in mass graves. Those that survived the experience were left with trauma from the harsh conditions of the boarding schools. Entire generations of many Tribes were lost, to both death and despondency from the trauma caused by the experience.

Native people have had to reckon with the historical trauma caused by the boarding schools and their predecessors. The Doctrine of Discovery is directly to blame for the boarding school experience. The call that barbarous nations be overthrown and brought to the faith itself fed an insidious ideology that prioritized civilizing Native children over providing for their well-being. It provided justification for the disruption of native communities, in pursuit of the nebulous goal of civilization. It provided justification for the subjugation of tribal sovereignty that would even make such an undertaking possible. Understanding the boarding school experience requires understanding the ideology that led to its existence. The Doctrine of Discovery has caused untold amounts of damage to native communities and our people continue to reckon with its fallout.

It's still 2021. Before you go ...

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Doctrine of Discovery and Its Impact on American Indian and Alaska Native Health Care | Health - nativenewsonline.net

As weve seen with events like climate change and the continuing pandemic, people who are not scientists or medical doctors are also not at all shy about sharing scientific or medical opinions.

Its true even when people are basing their opinions on little more than a bit of TV and newspaper coverage, a Twitter thread or two, and emoji-laden text messages with other non-scientists. But in an age in which science and technology are so deeply ingrained in our world, and the outcomes of research affect us all, theres a clear need for informed and meaningful public engagement with science and scientists. Have we figured out how to do that?

Many science funders have been addressing the scientist-layperson disconnect. The John Templeton Foundation, for example, names public discourse about science in its core mission statement. The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has long fielded a program in public understanding of science, technology and economics. The Rita Allen Foundation provides numerous grants for science communication, health-related topics and other areas. And many organizations award grants for science communication and outreach to diverse communities.

Now, the Kavli Foundation, one of philanthropys most committed funders of basic scientific research, has announced a new program that aims to bring non-scientistsa.k.a., the publicinto discussion with scientists on the ethical implications and risks of research. The foundation recently launched the first two of its Kavli Centers for Ethics, Science and the Public, based at UC Berkeley and the University of Cambridge, in the U.K.

The centers will develop what Kavli is calling an infrastructure for early and intentional public engagement with the ethical considerations born from scientific discoveries. The centers will also examine how transformative research may also present dangers to society along with any intended benefits.

Its important to note that these new Kavli centers are intended not just to help laypeople communicate or understand research after discoveries have been made, but to proactively engage with science professionals to guide research directions from the start. Its part of what Kavli calls the ongoing democratization of science. Thats a laudable goal, but so far, progress toward constructive communication between people who essentially speak different languages has been elusive. According to the foundation, the scientific community has long wanted some mechanism to better engage the public and scientists in discussion about ethics and potential negative fallout of research, but that none of the efforts along these lines have really taken root. As a result, the public has been left out of the process. The folks at Kavli hope the new centers will build the institutional commitment to ensure that happens.

At its heart, its meant to ensure that the public is involved in science earlier on, said Brooke Smith, director of public engagement at Kavli. Whats important for the foundation is that theres infrastructure within science to engage the public.

Kavlis new science ethics centers join the signature programs that have made the foundation into one of the more important philanthropic supporters of selected fields of basic research: the $1 million Kavli Prize and the 20 Kavli Institutes it has endowed at top institutions around the world.

According to Kavli, the new center at UC Berkeley will seek to reimagine how scientists are trained, beginning in the fields of neuroscience, genetics and artificial intelligence. Itll also involve some of the top researchers in those fields. The Kavli ethics center at the University of Cambridge will explore ethical questions in genomics, big data, health research and emerging technologies. Itll operate as a collaboration between the university and Wellcome Connecting Science. Its leaders will include experts with backgrounds in social sciences, genetics, bioethics and journalism, and it will draw upon experts from various countries beyond the U.K., including China, Russia, India and Japan.

Whats not yet known is how the centers will achieve their goals. The centers will need to try things outtheres not a recipe yet, Smith told me.

Still, the democratization of science has a nice ring to it, and in some areas, such as health and clinical research, efforts to boost public engagement in the research process are proving beneficial. The National Institutes of Health, the federal governments main instrument for health research funding, has driven community engagement programs at health research institutions across the country to bring long-underserved populations into clinical studies. This has helped clinical health research move beyond a decades-long white male bias and embrace efforts to better understand and address physiological and cultural factors affecting a more diverse array of patientsfactors that can have a big effect on medicine and medical care.

Obviously, the new centers at UC Berkeley and the University of Cambridge will bring a lot of smarts to bear on the challenge of scientist-layperson communication, but Im glad Im not the one in charge. I think the development of these public engagement programs is going to be a tall order: Scientists spend a long time learning to speak the specialized language of their fieldlanguages like statisticsand the rest of us layfolk frequently misunderstand their meaning and nuance. Just look at how frequently the public and scientists yell past each other on topics like the COVID-19 pandemic and global climate change. And lets also remember that these misunderstandings dont always happen by accidentdeliberate misinformation is a rampant problem online.

Still, this is one of those cases where philanthropic support can address a public challenge in ways that are not only interesting and potentially innovative, but also may never see the light of day without the application of philanthropic risk capital. As the new centers move toward a clearer picture of their strategy, well see if they make any progress against significant headwinds.

Original post:

Scientists and Laypeople Speak Different Languages. This Funder Wants to Bridge the Gap Inside Philanthropy - Inside Philanthropy

SEATTLE(December16,2021) Mayor Durkanand the Seattle Office of Economic Developmentannounce thegrantrecipients of the Neighborhood Economic RecoveryFund.

In August, Mayor Durkan announcedmore than$6million in neighborhood recoverythrough the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFRF) established under the American Rescue Plan Act.(ARPA).Funding was invested through both direct grants to neighborhood business district organizations and publicrequestfor proposals (RFP) to support community driven solutionsfrom a broader range of eligible applicantsincludingbusiness organizations, community organizations, cultural districts, cultural organizations, arts organizations, small businesses such as community event producers, artists, consultants, or a collection of individuals supporting neighborhood strategies with broadly shared benefits.

From the neighborhood funding,$1.35million was set asidefor theNeighborhood Economic Recovery Fund(NERF)RFPtosupport community-led strategies to reignite the local economy with an intentional focus on promoting racial equity.Neighborhoodsare drivers of local economies, supporting local entrepreneurship, employment, and wealth creation and therefore a key driver of equitable economic recovery from the pandemic.

Neighborhood business districts in Seattle are the heart of our neighborhoods and centers of community, commerce and culture, which is why we quickly directed federal funding toestablishedbusiness districtswho have been working tirelessly toextend lifelines tolocal businesses and revitalize our neighborhoods,said Mayor Durkan. The Neighborhood Economic Recovery Fund RFP opensupparticipation in recovery efforts toevenmore community-drivenand arts and cultureactivities,particularly organizations that lead with equity,and we congratulate the awardees.

As we developed our framework for economic recovery in Seattle, we knew that we could not direct all focus and resources to downtown exclusivelyas our neighborhoods and neighborhood commercial cores across the city were also devastated by COVID. We also knew that in order to have thriving communities, we would need to be intentional and center these investments in projects that not only stimulated economic activitybut also served our communities that were disproportionately impacted by COVIDparticularly Black, Indigenous and other communities of color. said Pamela Banks, Interim Director of the Office of Economic Development. Through our neighborhood investments we are supporting community solutions that will help us holistically recover. I am amazed at the innovative ideas from our Seattle community and believe these projects will help create a better Seattle.

To address the negative impactsof theCOVID-19 pandemic and related public health measures had on neighborhoods and our local economy, theNeighborhood EconomicRecovery Investmentwill fund recovery strategies and activities such as:

Selection of awardees and final grant amounts were based on:

As soon as the pandemic hit in early March 2020, the leadership board of the Central Area Collaborative(CAC)decided to give direct funding to small businesses with no strings attached, said Dennis Comer, Executive Directorof CAC. We knew then that our community of color would be hit the hardest and last in line for any economic relief caused by the pandemic. The CACis honored to be recognized as the Central Area neighborhoods organization of choiceand wearegrateful for being continually entrusted with stewardship of public funds at any level and for being allowed to continue the advocacy for equitable access in economic development recovery in a post pandemic role as a testament to our early actions helping to quantify the needs.

Supporting our under-resourced entrepreneurs and small businesses, especially BIPOC-owned enterprises, is so critical at this time, so they not only survive through COVID, but are positioned to thrive. This leads to a vibrant local economy and flourishing neighborhoods. said B.J. Stewart, Chief Operations Officer, Urban Impact.

We are incredibly grateful and excited to be the recipient of the Neighborhood Economic Recovery Fund. This grant will have a big impact in bringing people back to the neighborhood and revitalize small businesses by helping us improve safety and sanitation of the 12th Ave Square Park and the adjacent streets. We cant wait to get started!Teresa Nguyen,BaBarCo-Owner, 12th Ave Recovery Collaborative.

Neighborhood Economic Recovery FundRequest forProposalsaward recipients include:

Direct grant recipientsto business district organizationsinclude:

The Citys Neighborhood Economic Recovery Grant is a lifeline that will allow us to build on the resilience of the people who live, work and play in the U District, said Maureen Ewing, Executive Director of the University Heights Center. Throughout the pandemic the U District lost dozens of our long-standing small businesses due to the dramatic 66% decrease in foot traffic and other issues exacerbated by the pandemic. With the City of Seattles support, a collaboration of U District businesses and nonprofit organizations will steward this generous grant to have a tangible impact in supporting our eclectic small businesses, over 65% of whom are woman-and-BIPOC-owned, to continue to thrive.Maureen Ewing, Executive Director, University Heights

Visit theOED websitetoreview thefull funding amounts of all direct grant recipients,RFPawardees,anddescriptionsofallfunded projects.

OEDcontinues to invest in economic recoverysupportsfor small businesses, workers, and neighborhoods. In addition to the Neighborhood Recovery Investments, OED has invested $4 million instabilization grantsfor small businesses, announced a$2 million expansionto the Small Business Stabilization Fund to support small businesses and non-profits required to enforce vaccination verification in King County, launchedShop to the Beata recovery program that matches local musicians with small retail businesses to provide in-store performances during peak business hours, help increase foot traffic and sales for retailers, and provide competitive pay for musicians who lost significant income due to the impacts of COVID-19, andrecentlylaunchedSeattle Restoreda new program focused on activating vacant commercial storefronts in Downtown Seattle neighborhoods such as Westlake, Belltown, Pioneer Square, and Chinatown-International District (CID).

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Mayor Jenny Durkan Announces Recipients of the Neighborhood Economic Recovery Grants - SPD Blotter

(Washington, DC) Today, at the DC Chamber Annual Meeting, Mayor Muriel Bowser released the Fiscal Year 2022 Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Opportunity Guide, also known as the Green Book, and, for the first time ever, announced a spending goal of $1.1 billion. The Green Book assists SBEs in navigating the local government procurement process by providing an agency-by-agency overview of SBE spending availability. For the second year in a row, the Green Book will be online, searchable, and interactive.

For two years in a row, the Green Book has helped DC Government spend a billion dollars with our small and local businesses, said Mayor Muriel Bowser. We reached this milestone because we were intentional about making it happen. We were intentional about keeping local dollars in DC. We were intentional about working with businesses that would train and hire DC residents. We were intentional about leveraging the procurement power of DC Government to give more DC residents a fair shot. Thats the power of the Green Book and thats why its so important that our small businesses are looking at upcoming opportunities and finding ways to work with us.

Mayor Bowser created the Green Book in 2015 (FY16), and that first edition had a spend goal of $317 million. In FY21, the Bowser Administration committed to spend $910 million with SBEs and exceeded that goal by spending more than $1 billion. FY21 is the very first time in District history that the preliminary SBE spend reached $1 billion. Last year, when FY21 Green Book was released, the FY20 preliminary spend was reported as $976 million; later, the final FY20 SBE closeout spend was confirmed at $1.064 billion. SBE is a certification category, which is part of the DC Governments Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) program that gives certified businesses a preference when bidding on District Government contracts.

TheGreen Book websiteallows SBEs to search for opportunities in real time through an interactive dashboard. The site brings the Green Book to life with dynamic spending data that businesses can easily sort by District agency and by products or services. Through the website, District small and local businesses will be able to easily identify current opportunities and make informed connections with District agencies that will make it easier for entrepreneurs to start, grow, and maintain their businesses.

DC is Open, and as the District continues to recover from the effects of COVID, our small and local businesses continue to show how resilient they can be in facing myriad challenges. Our government has been, and continues to be, there to support them at every step of the way, said Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio. The 2022 Green Book represents our latest commitment to ensuring that our small businesses and the workers and communities they support continue to thrive throughout the District.

There are a billion reasons to be excited about this years Green Book release. Committing to spend over $1 billion with our SBEs is another way that Mayor Bowser is advancing a #FairShot budget by making sure that more money is spent with District businesses. This Administration is committed to advancing equity, creating generational wealth, and supporting pathways to the middle class and we do that by keeping more local dollars local year after year, said DSLBD Director Kristi Whitfield. At DSLBD, we remain laser focused on finding new and innovative ways to make sure that the Districts small business community is winning by connecting them with District agencies through the Green Book or through the many other programs we have developed to grow and strengthen small businesses in every ward.

View the FY22 Green Book and spending goals online GreenBookDC.com.

Read more:

Mayor Bowser Releases the 2022 Green Book, the District's Small Business Enterprise Opportunity Guide | mayormb - Executive Office of the Mayor