Wise King Solomon tells us about wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Read Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Songs of Solomon.
Prayer is an essential element of life. It helps you to stand when there seems every reason to give up. Keep hope alive about yourself, your family, your neighborhood, your community, and the nation. Pray for yourself, your family, your friends, your network, your connections, your community, and your leaders (chosen or not).
It may seem foolish but trust the process.
Growth is process with many toils and tears.
Love takes COURAGE!!
Remain future focused. Make the best memories.
Know your job. It’s easier said than done to judge or to measure people’s worth. It’s easier said than done to lift the fallen, restore the broken, and to heal the hurting. It’s easier said than done because we project ourselves unto others.
Take the time to gain knowledge, seek wisdom, and try to understand. Those ingredients facilitate the use of proper words.
Self nurturing is positive investments that facilitate your progressive growth. Do your best to be your best.
This is the second week of January and the wellness activity this week is reading.
So the question is “What are you reading to nurture yourself and build up yourself spiritually?” It’s important to read affirmations, articles that help you learn more about yourself, and/or spiritual material that connects you with a broader community.
Wellness Activities based on SAMHSA 8 Dimensions of Wellness
Plan your wellness activities accordingly for the sake of being better. Get an accountability partner. When you’re better, so is your family and community.
When we watch, we look for something. In 1863, enslaved people in the U. S., African Americans, looked for emancipation from the peculiar institution of slavery.
Saturday night is Watch Night, a late-night tradition in some African American communities to mark the end of slavery at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
This year, 2022, is the 160th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Lincoln on September 22, 1862, and taking effect on January 1, 1863, ordering that enslaved individuals in all areas still in rebellion against the United States during the Civil War “henceforward shall be free.” The Proclamation was limited in scope, but revolutionary in impact.
Many people attend Watch Night services as a religious tradition but it is in fact a cultural one.
January 1 also marks Haitian Independence from the French. The first Black Republic in the Western Hemisphere. The independence was in 1804 and will be 219 years in 2023. This too is significant because it was a successful slave rebellion which also made it possible for the U. S. to purchase Louisiana from France. 🇭🇹 🇭🇹
As we conclude Kwanzaa celebrations, let us remember our collective struggles for emancipation and healing. We must look out for one another and make the Nguzo Saba our lifestyle.
1️⃣It’s NOT an “African” holiday. Kwanzaa is a tradition to celebrate family, community and culture.
2️⃣It’s only been around since 1966 and was started by Dr. Maulana Karenga (Ron Karenga) a Black dude.
3️⃣Celebrated Dec 26 – Jan 1, each day is honored by 1 of the 7 principals and sealed with the lighting of the candle for the day.
4️⃣There are 7 candles 1 Black (the people), 3 Red (the past blood shed), 3 Green (the abundance of future possibilities)
5️⃣NO you don’t have to exchange gifts for each day. The idea is to foster togetherness, support and gratitude. Not materialism or commercialism! Actually, gifts that are given are mostly hand made🤷🏾♀️
6️⃣The Kwanzaa greeting is Habari Gani (what’s the news in Swahili). The response should be the principle for the day. Today: Umoja.
7️⃣There’s no 1 way to set your Kwanzaa table. Be creative w/it but respect the Ancestors 🖤.
Unity isn’t necessarily about what you do together. It’s also what you do individually to bring us closer together. Learning about one another is a start.
The principles can be a lifestyle and practiced 24/7/365
For some, the shortest day is good because it starts the transition to longer days. For others, it may be a disadvantage because of what brightness represents.
the longest night of the year
The longest night of the year may be a benefit for some because they can get more rest while for others it is a sad time.
Darkness is perceived in a negative manner but it is important to keep in mind that stars shine the brightest in the darkest hour
On Saturday, November 12, 2022, The Alliance for Newark Public Schools had a Parent Conference at Rutgers Paul Robeson Center.
It was a half day conference with 4 workshops and a keynote. Also, there was childcare provided by NJ State Licensed Childcare Providers for parents who attended with children.
For our first event, I believe we did a great job.
Parents empowering parents to be the advocates our children need
We are planning for the next one in Spring 2023, be on the lookout and make sure to register so you may attend. Be sure to tell others about the work of The Alliance for Newark Public Schools. Like us on Facebook and that is where you can view snippets of the Parent Conference. Join us as we work to ensure our children’s children have a great school system.
On November 15, 2022, NBOE held its Title I Parent Conference at New Jersey Institute of Technology. It was during the day, 9-2:30, when most parents worked. Yes, I had to take a day off work to attend. Also, I saw more NBOE staff than NBOE parents. Additionally, I did not see any advertisements or notifications about the Parent Conference nor was I invited by my son’s school Parent Liaison.
The keynote speaker was the NJDOE Acting Commissioner, Angelica Allen-McMillan, who is not a parent of an NBOE student, but instead a parent of an NBOE student. FYI: I was nominated to be the keynote speaker; however, Superintendent Roger Leon involved himself with planning the Title I Parent Conference and chose the speaker. But, I had an opportunity to be a panelist regarding “Mental Wellness” because it seemed a better place for a parent.
The theme was “Let’s Go to Work”
To my knowledge, the planning committee chose this theme, I was a member of the planning committee but I’m only one NBOE parent. There were no NBOE Parent Liaisons, NBOE Parent PTA members, or NBOE Parents who were part of the planning committee.
Back to the keynote speaker. Why not have an NBOE Parent be the keynote speaker? Inquiring minds want to know. That would have been a great opportunity to brag about the parents of NBOE District who did a star studded performance with the keynote speech. Instead, the NJDOE Acting Commissioner, Angela Allen-McMillan was chosen but not by the parents but NBOE Superintendent Roger Leon.
The keynote speaker provided good information such as how much Title I funds will be allocated to NBOE District and the involvement f community and parents as required by various laws.
I have a serious question, ” Do y’all feel involved with NBOE such as input, recommendations, collaboration, consultation, and shared decision making? Honestly, I feel the opposite and have said for more than a year that the community and parents are dismissed, ignored, disrespected, and disregarded.
The Alliance for Newark Public Schools had a Parent Conference on Saturday, November 12, 2022. There were big differences between the APS and NBOE. 1) the conference was on a Saturday when parents are more likely not working; 2) 4 workshops where people did not feel overwhelmed with choosing a workshop to attend; 3) the parents and community were the stars. There will be another conference in the Spring of 2023. Be sure to register and attend.
I enjoyed the conference but there are some necessary changes.
There is a cost to being a light. The cost is an investment of time, talent, skill, study, and network. Pay attention to the other shiners and watch how they handle rejection.
This was a journey with a story to go along with it.
There is very much a story about my Ph.D. journey.
One part of the story is why I chose to pursue my Ph. D. in Social Welfare. I started to journey as a way to agitate the social work profession. There is much I do regarding educational advocacy and social workers are not in the rooms.
WHY?
The social work profession is targeted toward working with poor people. So, WHY are social workers not fighting for education in impoverished communities where people are marginalized, under-resourced, and underrepresented? I wonder the reason myself because it is a travesty the profession trained to work with poor people does not help poor people in the most essential manner. AND, social workers are practitioners from the womb to the tomb.
Education is an institution that must help ALL since it interacts with multiple societal institutions simultaneously. Yes, a few are housing, labor, and health. Only time will tell the continued work of my fellow social workers.
I want to repeat, There’s a Doctor in the House and I am sounding the alarm.
sistateacher 