Trust Matters November 28, 2022

AN INFORMED COMMUNITY OF CARING ADULTS CIVICALLY ENGAGED IN STUDENT SUCCESS

SPOTLIGHT THIS ISSUE: PARENT LEADERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT

PARENT COORDINATORS IN NEWARK SCHOOLS: Sign up with the Trust now!

The Newark Trust for Education is seeking ways to support parent coordinators in building "AN INFORMED COMMUNITY OF CARING ADULTS CIVICALLY ENGAGED IN STUDENT SUCCESS."

First, we would like to understand the work you are doing. After understanding your work, we will explore the possibility of forming partnerships, collaboratively developing projects, and identifying and securing resources.

If you are a parent coordinator in a Newark school, we would like to explore ways the Trust might be able to help your parent community.

Take two minutes to fill out this form, and we will follow up with you.

Thank you.

WORK WITH EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS: Parent Leadership

The Trust has co-developed a draft position paper, Organizing for Change: Parent and Family Leadership in Syst em Reform, with Kathleen Roe, Executive Director of Parents Inc., and the Family Success Institute Learning Community.

The goal is to develop a unified vision of parents' power in education, promote policies that support the idea, and work with the community to implement the vision.

Please let us know what you think.

You can access a draft copy here (5-minute read time). After reading it, we ask that you comment on it by filling out this form (3- to 5- minute completion time).

Parent Engagement in Action Around Newark

Over the past two weeks, the Trust has participated in two parent conferences. We were guests at the Alliance of Newark Public Schools Parent Conference and presented at the 36th annual Title 1 Parent Conference of the Newark Board of Education.

We learned a great deal from listening to community advocates, district personnel, and parent participants during our session on Adult SEL Strategies. The following are two examples of what was discussed during the conferences. The Trust looks forward to many more opportunities to learn from Newark parents.

Being Your Child's Advocate: Dr. Viva White

Click on Dr. Viva White's image. Hear about an experience she shared focused on advocating for her child. She was a featured speaker at the Alliance of Newark Public Schools Parent Conference held on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at Rutgers, Newark.

The conference honored the work of Wilhelmina "Mimi" Holder, a Newark icon and a Newark Trust for Education Board Member.

Parent Input for Continuous Improvement: Deputy Superintendent Nicole T. Johnson

Click on the Deputy Superintendent's image to hear her welcoming remarks at the Newark Board of Education's 36th annual Title 1 Parent Conference.

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A STORY

Deputy Superintendent Johnson shares a story of listening: hearing what parents have to say, reflecting on what was said and taking action on the input provided.

She also encourages parents to ask their children for stories of when they feel successful in school. "What you hear will be amazing."

HAPPENING AT THE TRUST

WORK WITH FAMILIES: Great Start, Great Future

Workshop Series for Caregivers of Children 0-5

The Trust’s Great Start, Great Future Workshop Series continues. The sessions are virtual and in-person and are either content-focused led by a direct-service partner organization or networking-focused led by members of our family advisory board.

As mentioned previously, the Trust will collaborate with Studio Institute for the family activity portion of the sessions moving forward. (Click on the image for information on Studio Institute's Creative Start.)

On November 22, 2022, the Trust welcomed Koritza Alvarez of Aetna Health to present the Healthy Moms and Kids program.

Having a child comes with a lot of joy and responsibility. We’ve got your back. These articles will help you understand how to best take care of yourself during pregnancy and what to expect post-birth. You’ll also learn about women’s health and taking care of your new child.

Additionally, Jasmine Morrison of the Unapologetic Parents Coalition shared information on places where parents' voice is welcome and heard.

Unapologetic Parents Coalition

When we are unapologetic about the needs of our family as a community, we all rise to meet the needs. The coalition brings parents and caretakers together to listen to their needs. We then educate stakeholders about the needs of parents and families. The Unapologetic Parents Coalition is the place where the parents' voice is welcome and heard. We believe in honoring the parent choice in education and the well-being of their children. Our mission is to listen to the parent's voice, honor the parent's choice, develop the child and uplift the family.

Future GSGF sessions are scheduled for December 20 (Networking Opportunity), January 17 (Content Focused), February 21 (Content Focused), March 21 (Content Focused), April 18 (Networking Opportunity), May 16 (Content Focused), and June 20 (Content Focused).

WORK WITH FORMAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS: The Launch of the Newark CARES Network

A collaborative effort with Unified Vailsburg Services Organization and Clinton Hill Family and Early Learning Center

Click on the image for more information.

THE TRUST IN THE NEWS

Is There Really a Problem with Social-Emotional Learning? Research Says Absolutely Not By Stephanie Parry

The Newark Trust for Education has taken a stance against recent attempts by groups in New Jersey and across the country to undermine the benefits of social-emotional learning (SEL). In an August NJ.com Op-Ed called "Is There Really a Problem with Social Emotional Learning? Research Says Absolutely Not", Stephanie Parry, Director of P - 12 Strategy, points out that for more than a decade, social-emotional learning (SEL) has had strong bi-partisan support and has been shown to have a positive impact on how we learn, how we perform at work and our quality of life.

This week, Education Week published a new article, How Educators View Social-Emotional Learning, in Charts, with data that shows that support for SEL among educators remains strong across the country despite politically-charged attacks and is seen by many as a strategy that will also help improve academic performance.

POLICY AND PRACTICE THE TRUST IS FOLLOWING

Murphy Administration to Roll Out the NJ Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S) initiative

In October, the Murphy administration announced the rollout of the NJ Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S) initiative, an innovative hub-and-spoke model of services and resources intended to support youth wellness and prevent the need for deeper interventions in the mental health system.

The new model would create 15 regional hubs, aligned along court vicinages and Children’s System of Care service areas, to support statewide delivery of prevention services in schools under the New Jersey Department of Children and Family Services.

While the goals of the initiative are admirable, the Newark Trust and dozens of other organizations expressed concern over the lack of stakeholder engagement in the development of the model and its implications for current school-based mental health programs. We joined 19 other organizations in submitting the following recommendations in a letter to the New Jersey Department of Children and Family Services:

Continue funding for existing SBYS programs.
Conduct a comprehensive review of services that are currently being provided in school districts across the state.
Roll out the NJ4S Network as a pilot program in a few regions.
Add the NJ4S Network as an additional layer of student support to complement, not replace existing services.

Here is more information below:

To learn more about the importance of mental health in schools, especially post-COVID, read Dr. Maurice J. Elias' article, Alarm on children's mental health has been ringing for decades. Too few have listened.

NEWARK IN THE NEWS

Newark Community Street Team to Expand High-Risk Intervention and Community Sentinels Programs with Federal Support

Nearly half a million dollars is coming back to Newark to support the community’s violence intervention organization, the Newark Community Street Team (NCST), via a federal grant facilitated by Representative Donald Payne and Senator Cory Booker. The $471,000 in funding means NCST (Newark Community Street Team) will hire and train additional High-Risk Intervention (HRI) professionals and support its educational Community Sentinels Program. NCST is considered a national model for Community Violence Intervention (CVI) organizations. Read more here.

A MESSAGE FROM THE TRUST

We share the final stanza of Richard Blanco's inaugural poem, One Today, as we celebrate this season of thanks.

The poet reminds us that as we embark on our own separate journeys in life, as we seek fulfillment, the journey also takes place on one ground, under one sky, under one light, under one moon, in one country. The journey unites us, provides strength.

The Trust would like to thank you for the guidance, questions, vision, and support you have provided.

EVENTS AROUND TOWN AND IN THE DIGITAL SPACES

GlassRoots Holiday Flame Fun Classes: November 19 to December 22, 2022

Join GlassRoots for various class sessions, with the first class beginning on November 19 and the last class ending on December 22, in the flame shop and make seasonal keepsakes for you to enjoy for years to come! The minimum age requirement for children is 12+ with a parent. All supplies are included.

Click here to register: https://www.glassroots.org/for-adults.html.

“PowHer Hour” Event: Tuesday, November 29 at 6 pm

You're invited to "PowHer Hour" hosted by BIPOC members of Impact100 Essex. The event will be held on Tuesday, November 29 at 6 pm at Bar Vanquish in Newark. Maximize your giving impact by joining a giving circle funded by women. Provide transformative grants to organizations serving underrepresented communities in Essex County, NJ. Be a change agent to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion are fully integrated into all aspects of our work.

Creative Placemaking Technical Assistance Program: Conversation with NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) Chair Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson | Dec 07, 2022 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm ET

Join us as Dr. Jackson, the NEA Chair, reflects on what it means to build arts-infused civic infrastructure, in light of this historic moment of federal investment that is reshaping communities. The webinar will highlight two extraordinary Our Town grantee projects that embody deep cross-sector partnerships; positioning arts, culture, and design to advance equitable outcomes in place. This session is being presented as part of the Creative Placemaking Technical Assistance Program, led by the National Endowment for the Arts and Local Initiatives Support Corporation of Washington, D.C. Closed captioning will be available.

Should you need other reasonable accommodation, please send your request to [email protected] by Monday, November 28th.

2022 NJ Nonprofits Conference: Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Join the Center for Nonprofits on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 to celebrate the dedication of nonprofits during the pandemic and the Center's 40th anniversary. Learn (16 workshops & 2 plenaries), share & network, see exhibitors, and thank sponsors for keeping registration low.

The Academy for SEL in Schools: Webinars

The Academy for SEL in Schools is hosting a series of free live webinars on Best Practical Practices in your SEL/Character Work, beginning in January 2023. The webinars are being offered by Academy faculty. They cover SEL instruction, school leadership, SEL professional development, SEL and academics, Tier 2 SEL interventions, and SEL and Equity. Every webinar will have time for Q and A. The Academy also offers an online certificate in social and emotional learning with a concentration in school leadership or classroom instruction. Register here: https://psych.rutgers.edu/webinars-and-other-events.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRUST

Visit https://www.newarktrust.org to learn more about our work.

https://www.newarktrust.org/