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SRQ DAILY Mar 2, 2019

"With collaborative and creative design-thinking, we can create catalytic change and spark a new paradigm of thinking."

- Jennifer Vigne, Education Foundation of Sarasota County
 

[Education]  The Role of Creative Design-Thinking in Transforming 21st Century Education
Jennifer Vigne, jvigne@edfoundationsrq.org

“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”

I thought of the quote attributed to Henry Ford when I spoke at the SRQProjectTHINK Conference last evening. The Education Foundation of Sarasota County was proud to sponsor the illuminating forum alongside SRQ Media, CareerSource Sarasota and Ringling College of Art and Design.

ProjectTHINK is a conference for anyone who thinks or wants to think outside the box—innovators, creators, inventors and “forward thinksters.”

Innovative thinking and research drive the Education Foundation’s commitment to elevate student success by advocating for instilling a 21st century life readiness culture throughout the education continuum. This is the rationale and basis for the design of our College, Career and Life Readiness Initiative.

With collaborative and creative design-thinking, we can create catalytic change and spark a new paradigm of thinking.

Historically, such revolutionary shifts have moved at a glacial pace. Witness our steady march in the 19th and 20th centuries through Agricultural, Industrial and Technological Ages.

Two decades into the 21st century, the convergence of creativity, innovation and technology spurs rapid changes, some planned and long-lasting while others lack staying power.

In our new Creative Age, some components of society are fluidly integrating creativity into their philosophy and practice.

Others, such as education, have challenges trading the old for the shiny new 21st century model—but this is the era that today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders already are shaping. They cannot succeed in their era based on past thinking.

This is where forward, creative design-thinking enters.

Instead of investing in improving the old educational model, what can we accomplish if we rethink education for tomorrow?

This concept has been put forward by behaviorists and education experts such as popular TED talk presenter Sir Ken Robinson, authors Tony Wagner and Ted Dintersmith, and school change theorist Dr. Michael Fullan, who urges educators and parents to substitute the Three R’s with the Six Cs: character education, citizenship, collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking.

Dialogues about the Six C’s and variations called executive functions, life skills and socialemotional learning increasingly are taking place as research demonstrates links between emotional intelligence and success in school and life.

Fortunately, our vision to see all students graduate with a college, career and life plan that leads to success is shared by our partner, Sarasota County Schools, and we frequently meet teachers who are practicing this new thinking.

However, we also know that until a life readiness culture is embraced fully by all educators and a system-permeating growth mindset is adopted, then we have more work to do.

How much more effectively could we accomplish our mission if we ask ourselves a few questions, such as:

• “How would school look if we really embraced this concept so that the linear acceleration of kids going through school can be quantifiable in the grades they’re given and the way they measure themselves?”

• “Are we asking our children questions that open the window for them to develop creative design-thinking skills and create their own lifelong learning pathway?”

• “How could we change if we take the ProjectTHINK raison d'être to heart and challenge ourselves to internalize our creative design-thinking process?”

The challenge for all of us is to ask questions that propel us forward and enable us to prepare our children to drive into a future without us but with confidence that they will be ready, willing and able to devise solutions to questions not yet asked.

As author and innovative educator A.J. Juliani said, “Our job is not to prepare students for something. Our job is to help students prepare themselves for anything.”

Jennifer Vigne is president of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County.  

[Community]  A Home Run for Experiential Learning in Our Schools
Roxie Jerde, roxie@cfsarasota.org

My husband Mike and I love to experience the amazing community we live in as well other communities when we are fortunate to travel.  As I often share, we both enjoy cycling (each summer take part in RAGBRAI, an annual ride across Iowa), but we also love football, baseball, plays, museums, cultural events and just about anything else that allows us to get out and experience the world around us.

At this time of year in our region, there are so many activities and events to enjoy. From my office at the Community Foundation, you can practically smell the popcorn at Ed Smith Stadium, and you can definitely hear the roar of the crowd when a Baltimore Orioles player makes a big spring training play. For me, a trip to the ballpark is just one more of the many attractions that make Sarasota such a special place to live.

Yet, for thousands of school-age children living in our area, the local arts, culture and natural resources that so many of us take for granted are simply not part of their experience.

For these youngsters, attending the Van Wezel for a live performance, visiting The Ringling to be inspired by the world-renowned artworks, touring Mote Marine to discover the wonders of the sea or exploring the grounds of Selby Gardens to learn about the beautiful flowers and plants are things their families simply cannot afford. Due to their parents’ busy work schedules and other limiting factors, many have never even had the chance to visit our local beaches, admire the annual Embracing Our Differences displays on Sarasota’s bayfront or hike a trail in Myakka State Park.

That is why the Community Foundation, in partnership with The Patterson Foundation, Sarasota County Schools, the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County and the Science and Environment Council of Southwest Florida, is proud to support EdExploreSRQ.

Thanks to this initiative, K-12 students in Sarasota County Schools are being given the opportunity to experience and learn about the many arts, cultural, scientific, historical and natural resources our area has to offer. But these are not just field trips. Instead, they are active learning experiences that are tied to state educational benchmarks and standards.

Through these experiences, the students increase their knowledge of the arts, science, mathematics, history, language arts, social studies and other content areas. They also create valuable connections between what they are studying in the classroom and what is happening in the world around them.  

Research shows that experiential learning opportunities, like those provided by EdExploreSRQ, help students understand and apply concepts better, motivate them to engage and interact more deeply with content, and create new areas of interest.

Of course, EdExploreSRQ also makes learning more fun.

At present, nearly 70 local organizations and teaching artists participate in EdExploreSRQ, offering nearly 250 “Explorations” throughout the year. Since the program’s inception in 2011, the Community Foundation and The Patterson Foundation have committed $2 million in support of this program, providing access to more than 300,000 student experiences. Some of the students most impacted are those who come from Title 1 schools.

But perhaps the best thing about EdExploreSRQ is that it is allowing young people in our community to share in the many incredible resources our area has to offer. In baseball terms, I’d say that is a home run.

Roxie Jerde is president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. 

[County]  Supporting Sarasota's Seniors
Paul Caragiulo

As you make the gentle turn to the west on Mound Street near the junction of 301 and US 41, many recognize the beautiful campus that sits between 301 and Osprey Avenue. Some are even aware that this is the Main Campus for Friendship Centers. However, I believe relatively few members of our community are aware of what goes on at this amazing community facility that is adjacent to a beautiful and somewhat under-utilized city park.

Friendship Centers was founded as Senior Friendship Centers in 1973 by Brother William Geenen, a member of the Congregation of the Holy Cross. Brother Geenen's goal was quite simple; to help older adults in Southwest Florida live with dignity and independence. Since that time, Friendship Centers has been a leader in developing innovative and cost effective services for our older population. The organization's model focuses on volunteerism, or as we like to say, “People Helping People”. It is a great organization and I am very proud to serve on the Board of Governors.

What began in a small bungalow in downtown Sarasota now spans five counties and has grown into a national model for providing services to our older population. Adult day services provide a safe and caring place for older adults with memory and cognitive impairments, allowing their caregivers to work, run errands, attend a support group at the center, or take a much needed break. The Activity Centers in Sarasota and Venice help prevent social isolation by providing light-filled spaces to take classes, exercise, play cards, socialize, create art, dance and make friends. And the healthcare clinics provide medical and dental care for low-income adults aged 50-plus at clinics staffed by volunteer physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurses and other health professionals.

If it weren’t for our clinics, older adults in our community may not seek treatment, because they cannot afford it. They would postpone dental care, enabling tooth loss and infections. They may let vision problems, diabetes maintenance or hypertension remain untreated. They might ignore a respiratory infection, allowing for pneumonia and other problems.

For these reasons and more, Friendship Centers is in dire need of support. Although we have volunteers providing medical and dental care, we need to pay clinic support staff and nurses. We need to keep the lights on and the AC running. We need to maintain our building structures.

Today, it costs more than $1,000 per day just to keep each Activity Center open. And while costs rise, community support and state/government funding continue to decline. Friendship Centers is currently seeking assistance from the state to make these spaces safer for older adults, through facility improvements and additions, but more help is needed. As a private nonprofit, Friendship Centers relies heavily on support from the community.

This is why we need you.

Come take a tour to find out more about services and programs, volunteer, donate, sponsor an event, or simply tell your friends. Together we can help older adults in our community successfully navigate the journey of aging.

You can contact Friendship Centers at 941-493-3065 or visit FriendshipCenters.org, and click the donate button at the top of the page.

Paul Caragiulo is a former Sarasota County Commissioner and Sarasota City Commissioner. 

Sarasota Senior Friendship Centers



[]  Children's First, Inc. recognized with Friend of Literacy Award

Children’s First, Inc was recognized by the Literacy Council of Sarasota with the James E. Duffy Friend of Literacy Award at their annual 'Literacy Matters' luncheon. Children First, realizes the value of early childhood education outcomes, and the bright futures that can be created as a result. They work to teach children the power of knowledge and the opportunities it can provide them, while also working with the parents to strengthen the family as a unit as all work toward educational success. 

[]  JFCS seeks personal care items for homeless Veterans

JFCS is seeking donations of personal care items to give to homeless veterans as part of its 8th Annual Stand Down event, scheduled for April 13, 2019 at the Sarasota Fairgrounds. More than 150 veterans are expected to attend, who will each be handed a backpack with daily essential items, including hygiene, clothing, blankets and non-perishable food. Donations are being accepted at JFCS’ main campus office, 2688 Fruitville Road in Sarasota through March 29, 2019. Donors are asked to call JFCS in advance at 941-366-2224, ext. 121 or 125 to schedule a delivery date and time. 

[]  Free Medicare Presentation at Jacaranda Library on Mar. 9
Did you know that Sarasota County has more than 130,000 Medicare beneficiaries?
To assist beneficiaries in better understanding the benefits available to them, The Area Agency on Aging’s SHINE program is offering Medicare 101, a well-rounded presentation about Medicare parts A, B, C & D on March 12 in Cape Coral. The program will also include information on this year’s new Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period, which ends on March 31. A news release is attached with more information
SHINE provides independent, unbiased counseling. Counselors are not insurance agents and will not sell any products.  SHINE is a federally-funded program offered locally by AAASWFL through the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.
 

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

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