GOOD Eventshttp://www.good.is/Previews, recaps, invites and information about GOOD events, and, perhaps, other happenings we're interested in.Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:29:04 -0800CakePHPhourly1en-us <![CDATA[Event: Green Patriot Posters Come to Los Angeles]]> http://www.good.is/post/event-green-patriot-posters-come-to-los-angeles/ http://www.good.is/post/event-green-patriot-posters-come-to-los-angeles/ Our friends at The Canary Project are bringing their Green Patriot Posters initiative to Los Angeles tomorrow night. Their new book features images by local artists Geoff McFetridge  and Shepard Fairey among others. RSVP here.

]]> Our friends at The Canary Project are bringing their Green Patriot Posters initiative to Los Angeles tomorrow night. Their new book features images by local artists Geoff McFetridge  and Shepard Fairey among others. RSVP here.

]]> Kyla Fullenwider Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:30:00 PST <![CDATA[Q&A: Ben Asks Davis About <i>Waiting for Superman</i>]]> http://www.good.is/post/q-a-ben-asks-davis-about-waiting-for-superman/ http://www.good.is/post/q-a-ben-asks-davis-about-waiting-for-superman/ Last week in Los Angeles, we held a private screening of Waiting for Superman, followed by a discussion between Ben Goldhirsh, GOOD's CEO and co-founder, and Davis Guggenheim, who directed the film. It was the last of our five-part education series, which brought together concerned citizens and education movers and shakers to talk about why education reform is badly needed and what we can all do about it.

For those that couldn't join us in L.A., we wanted to share with you the conversation between Ben and Davis, where they talk about filmmaking, good schools and bad schools, and the audacity of pragmatism.

Ben Goldhirsh: Did you always intend to narrate this film?

Davis Guggenheim: That’s a good question. My father made social justice documentaries and I grew up in a generation where narration was terrible —it was the voice of God, it was dogmatic. It goes back to my decision to make the film. Participant Media funded An Inconvenient Truth and asked me to make this film and I originally said no, that it was too difficult, that public education was a storytelling quagmire, which it kind of is. After I had said no, the next day I was packing my kids into the minivan and driving them to their great private school. I’m a visual guy and out of the corner of my eye was our local public school and I felt it going by, and the next one, and the next one—there were three public schools. That feeling of driving by really haunted me, that idea that my kids were going to have a great education but that the kids in my own neighborhood were not. The question was: Is it enough that my kids were going to be okay? And struck me that that would be the way in. If you talk about it from an expert point of view, I would get lost, the audience would get lost, but if you told it from a very personal point of view, maybe that gives you a way of talking very directly and with a strong opinion but a very personal opinion. I probably never will narrate another film again but that this film, by necessity, needed to have a personal point of view.

BG: Relative to An Inconvenient Truth, can you speak to the swell of energy that existed then around climate change and how that compares to the energy that we’re all seeing around education and do you think this is the beginning of a kind of education storm happening or is this a window in time?

DG: It did feel like there was this feeling that maybe An Inconvenient Truth was this once in a century moment, that maybe you couldn’t do that again. It’s a different energy and a different swell but it’s definitely a swell. But I’m the last person to judge its breadth and volume. What do you think?

BG: I think you've sharpened the tip of spear that is in front of a whole bunch of weight behind it. For a lot of people, this has been a latent frustration and awareness, which has now been brought to a broader group of people and there’s a real call to action. Are you proud?

DG: The attention is fine, the reviews are fine—meaning when they’re good they’re fine and when they’re not good it’s not fine—but to me it’s about turning it into real energy and real change, and really transforming people’s lives. But I’m still anxious. I don’t want it to be a blip, the fashion of September of 2010 when we all thought about education and all went back to our lives. In America we’ve done that before. The real proudness would come out of hearing real change happening.

BG: As you look back at the film, if you could take what you know now and you were back in the editing room, would you make any amendments?

DG: You have to be careful not to respond to criticism too much—you want to listen and listen to the things that still gnaw at you. But the quick judgement of the film, that we’re pro-charter, bugs me because we tried to be clean and clear, that only one in five are high performing. And there are some things I would do, but on the whole I think it’s working. You have to make a choice when you make a film about who your audience is. Is your audience there to please the experts or to move the experts, who have been thinking about this for a long time, who will debate the nuance 'til you kill it? Or do you make the film for the broad swath of people who worry about it but aren’t engaged? And I don’t think you can make it for both. People who criticized An Inconvenient Truth the most in my world were the environmentalists who said we didn’t go far enough. There’s a lot of that in education, where there’s an industry of people, nonprofits, the press, and editorial pages, that are just there debating the latest thing in a maddening way and you’ll never please them. The idea of this film was how do you bring people who are disengaged to the table. I made this film for them and in that case, I think the film works, or is an experience for that audience.

BG: As you've spent however many years on this issue, do you think that you’ve been able to wrap your head around this or has it gotten more complex?

DG: I think it’s gotten simple, especially in the last couple of months. I think it all boils down to: Are you doing something in your life that affects the life of a kid or is changing the quality of a school or are you not? The truth is that many of us are not. Many of us want to come to a screening and be moved and go home feeling like they learned something. Or they want to go home and say, yeah, but. Surprisingly, when you make a film, only after time passes and the film is done do you learn what you were doing. It’s fascinating and it happens in every movie. A couple of week ago, I finally knew what I was doing. I was drawn to a group of pragmatists—people who were not driven by ideology or by politics, didn’t care if you were a Republican or Democrat, didn’t have the magic bullet or the magic solution. They were pragmastists who were making great schools one at a time. I want people to make more great schools. To me, it's quite simple: I want more great district schools, I want more great charters, I want more great magnet schools, I want more great parochial schools. I don’t care about ideology. It’s much more simple than we make it when we debate it.

]]> Last week in Los Angeles, we held a private screening of Waiting for Superman, followed by a discussion between Ben Goldhirsh, GOOD's CEO and co-founder, and Davis Guggenheim, who directed the film. It was the last of our five-part education series, which brought together concerned citizens and education movers and shakers to talk about why education reform is badly needed and what we can all do about it.

For those that couldn't join us in L.A., we wanted to share with you the conversation between Ben and Davis, where they talk about filmmaking, good schools and bad schools, and the audacity of pragmatism.

Ben Goldhirsh: Did you always intend to narrate this film?

Davis Guggenheim: That’s a good question. My father made social justice documentaries and I grew up in a generation where narration was terrible —it was the voice of God, it was dogmatic. It goes back to my decision to make the film. Participant Media funded An Inconvenient Truth and asked me to make this film and I originally said no, that it was too difficult, that public education was a storytelling quagmire, which it kind of is. After I had said no, the next day I was packing my kids into the minivan and driving them to their great private school. I’m a visual guy and out of the corner of my eye was our local public school and I felt it going by, and the next one, and the next one—there were three public schools. That feeling of driving by really haunted me, that idea that my kids were going to have a great education but that the kids in my own neighborhood were not. The question was: Is it enough that my kids were going to be okay? And struck me that that would be the way in. If you talk about it from an expert point of view, I would get lost, the audience would get lost, but if you told it from a very personal point of view, maybe that gives you a way of talking very directly and with a strong opinion but a very personal opinion. I probably never will narrate another film again but that this film, by necessity, needed to have a personal point of view.

BG: Relative to An Inconvenient Truth, can you speak to the swell of energy that existed then around climate change and how that compares to the energy that we’re all seeing around education and do you think this is the beginning of a kind of education storm happening or is this a window in time?

DG: It did feel like there was this feeling that maybe An Inconvenient Truth was this once in a century moment, that maybe you couldn’t do that again. It’s a different energy and a different swell but it’s definitely a swell. But I’m the last person to judge its breadth and volume. What do you think?

BG: I think you've sharpened the tip of spear that is in front of a whole bunch of weight behind it. For a lot of people, this has been a latent frustration and awareness, which has now been brought to a broader group of people and there’s a real call to action. Are you proud?

DG: The attention is fine, the reviews are fine—meaning when they’re good they’re fine and when they’re not good it’s not fine—but to me it’s about turning it into real energy and real change, and really transforming people’s lives. But I’m still anxious. I don’t want it to be a blip, the fashion of September of 2010 when we all thought about education and all went back to our lives. In America we’ve done that before. The real proudness would come out of hearing real change happening.

BG: As you look back at the film, if you could take what you know now and you were back in the editing room, would you make any amendments?

DG: You have to be careful not to respond to criticism too much—you want to listen and listen to the things that still gnaw at you. But the quick judgement of the film, that we’re pro-charter, bugs me because we tried to be clean and clear, that only one in five are high performing. And there are some things I would do, but on the whole I think it’s working. You have to make a choice when you make a film about who your audience is. Is your audience there to please the experts or to move the experts, who have been thinking about this for a long time, who will debate the nuance 'til you kill it? Or do you make the film for the broad swath of people who worry about it but aren’t engaged? And I don’t think you can make it for both. People who criticized An Inconvenient Truth the most in my world were the environmentalists who said we didn’t go far enough. There’s a lot of that in education, where there’s an industry of people, nonprofits, the press, and editorial pages, that are just there debating the latest thing in a maddening way and you’ll never please them. The idea of this film was how do you bring people who are disengaged to the table. I made this film for them and in that case, I think the film works, or is an experience for that audience.

BG: As you've spent however many years on this issue, do you think that you’ve been able to wrap your head around this or has it gotten more complex?

DG: I think it’s gotten simple, especially in the last couple of months. I think it all boils down to: Are you doing something in your life that affects the life of a kid or is changing the quality of a school or are you not? The truth is that many of us are not. Many of us want to come to a screening and be moved and go home feeling like they learned something. Or they want to go home and say, yeah, but. Surprisingly, when you make a film, only after time passes and the film is done do you learn what you were doing. It’s fascinating and it happens in every movie. A couple of week ago, I finally knew what I was doing. I was drawn to a group of pragmatists—people who were not driven by ideology or by politics, didn’t care if you were a Republican or Democrat, didn’t have the magic bullet or the magic solution. They were pragmastists who were making great schools one at a time. I want people to make more great schools. To me, it's quite simple: I want more great district schools, I want more great charters, I want more great magnet schools, I want more great parochial schools. I don’t care about ideology. It’s much more simple than we make it when we debate it.

]]> Amanda M. Fairbanks Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:00:00 PDT <![CDATA[The GOOD Education Event Screening of <i>Waiting for Superman</i>: What Question Will You Ask?]]> http://www.good.is/post/the-good-education-event-screening-of-waiting-for-superman-what-question-would-you-ask/ http://www.good.is/post/the-good-education-event-screening-of-waiting-for-superman-what-question-would-you-ask/ This Thursday, we will be convening the last of our five-part education series, with a private screening of Waiting for Superman, followed by a Q&A with director Davis Guggenheim.

We'll talk about what we've learned about making college readiness a reality, why education reform is badly needed, and what you can do about it.

What question will you ask Davis?


 

]]> This Thursday, we will be convening the last of our five-part education series, with a private screening of Waiting for Superman, followed by a Q&A with director Davis Guggenheim.

We'll talk about what we've learned about making college readiness a reality, why education reform is badly needed, and what you can do about it.

What question will you ask Davis?


 

]]> Amanda M. Fairbanks Mon, 11 Oct 2010 11:30:00 PDT <![CDATA[This Weekend Is 10/10/10 and There's Lots Going On]]> http://www.good.is/post/this-weekend-is-10-10-10-and-there-s-lots-going-on/ http://www.good.is/post/this-weekend-is-10-10-10-and-there-s-lots-going-on/ This Sunday is October 10, 2010, and there happens to be a lot going on. To help you plan for a great weekend, here's a quick roundup.

First and foremost there is the global 10/10/10 Work Party being organized by Bill McKibben and the nonprofit 350.org. The point of this event is to gather likeminded people to do something that's both fun and addresses climate change in your neighborhood: Fixing up bikes, installing solar panels, cleaning up a beach, that kind of thing. Find an existing event in your area or host one yourself.

On Saturday, in New York, there's the Re:Form School art show. It's a group exhibition featuring the work of GOOD guest art director Keith Scharwath, Swoon, Shepherd Fairy, and many others who've created pieces advocating for a better education system. See some behind-the-scenes photos for a taste.

On the other side of the country, Los Angeles is holding its first CicLAvia event. Seven and a half miles of streets will be shut down for a car-free urban jam. 

Finally, this weekend there will also be a series of events to celebrate the classic short film Powers of Ten, made by the designers Ray and Charles Eames in 1968. You can see the film online here, and find events at the Powers of Ten blog.

Have a great weekend, friends.

]]> This Sunday is October 10, 2010, and there happens to be a lot going on. To help you plan for a great weekend, here's a quick roundup.

First and foremost there is the global 10/10/10 Work Party being organized by Bill McKibben and the nonprofit 350.org. The point of this event is to gather likeminded people to do something that's both fun and addresses climate change in your neighborhood: Fixing up bikes, installing solar panels, cleaning up a beach, that kind of thing. Find an existing event in your area or host one yourself.

On Saturday, in New York, there's the Re:Form School art show. It's a group exhibition featuring the work of GOOD guest art director Keith Scharwath, Swoon, Shepherd Fairy, and many others who've created pieces advocating for a better education system. See some behind-the-scenes photos for a taste.

On the other side of the country, Los Angeles is holding its first CicLAvia event. Seven and a half miles of streets will be shut down for a car-free urban jam. 

Finally, this weekend there will also be a series of events to celebrate the classic short film Powers of Ten, made by the designers Ray and Charles Eames in 1968. You can see the film online here, and find events at the Powers of Ten blog.

Have a great weekend, friends.

]]> GOOD Fri, 8 Oct 2010 13:15:00 PDT <![CDATA[The GOOD Education Event Series: <i>Waiting for Superman</i> Screening]]> http://www.good.is/post/special-screening-invite-waiting-for-superman/ http://www.good.is/post/special-screening-invite-waiting-for-superman/ Please join us for a wrap-up event, the last of our five-part education series, with a private screening of Waiting for Superman.

Next Thursday, October 14, we'll gather at 7 p.m. for a screening of the film at Creative Artists Agency in Los Angeles, followed by a Q&A with director Davis Guggenheim. We'll talk about what we've learned about making college readiness a reality, why education reform is badly needed, and what you can do about it.

To RSVP, email GOODeducationevents@gmail.com by October 10th (include the total number of people and your role/organization). Seating is limited. Please RSVP soon.

Full invite:



 

]]> Please join us for a wrap-up event, the last of our five-part education series, with a private screening of Waiting for Superman.

Next Thursday, October 14, we'll gather at 7 p.m. for a screening of the film at Creative Artists Agency in Los Angeles, followed by a Q&A with director Davis Guggenheim. We'll talk about what we've learned about making college readiness a reality, why education reform is badly needed, and what you can do about it.

To RSVP, email GOODeducationevents@gmail.com by October 10th (include the total number of people and your role/organization). Seating is limited. Please RSVP soon.

Full invite:



 

]]> Amanda M. Fairbanks Thu, 7 Oct 2010 11:00:00 PDT <![CDATA[Hacks and Hackers Meetup at GOOD this Wednesday]]> http://www.good.is/post/hacks-and-hackers-meetup-at-good-this-wednesday/ http://www.good.is/post/hacks-and-hackers-meetup-at-good-this-wednesday/ hacks hackers meetupHacks and Hackers, a community focused on bringing journalism and technology together, will be having a casual meetup at the GOOD offices in Los Angeles on Wednesday—part of an effort to get the L.A. chapter of this group going, and, as the Hacks and Hackers mission says: "to collaborate to invent the future of journalism."

So, if you're a journalist, technologist, something in between, or just interested in this stuff, you should swing by.

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

915 North Citrus Avenue, Los Angeles, California, 90038

Find the event: On Facebook and on Meetup

(B.Y.O.B. — It's that kind of casual)

Photo by Flickr user Grant Hutchinson

]]> hacks hackers meetupHacks and Hackers, a community focused on bringing journalism and technology together, will be having a casual meetup at the GOOD offices in Los Angeles on Wednesday—part of an effort to get the L.A. chapter of this group going, and, as the Hacks and Hackers mission says: "to collaborate to invent the future of journalism."

So, if you're a journalist, technologist, something in between, or just interested in this stuff, you should swing by.

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

915 North Citrus Avenue, Los Angeles, California, 90038

Find the event: On Facebook and on Meetup

(B.Y.O.B. — It's that kind of casual)

Photo by Flickr user Grant Hutchinson

]]> Casey Caplowe Tue, 5 Oct 2010 13:50:00 PDT <![CDATA[Slideshow: GOOD, Education Experts Talk High Expectations]]> http://www.good.is/post/slideshow-good-education-experts-talk-high-expectations/ http://www.good.is/post/slideshow-good-education-experts-talk-high-expectations/ On three Thursdays over the past month—at our kickoff event on August 19, our discussion about enabling creativity on September 9, and our discussion about content on September 16—we've gathered to talk about ensuring that all kids are on track to receive the 21st century education they deserve.

Yesterday's final panel focused on how to urge students to set high expectations for academic achievement. The panelists were: JB Schramm (College Summit), Estelle Reyes (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship), Paul Miller (Teach for America), and Steve Zimmer (Board of Education, LAUSD)

Check out our slideshow of photos from last night's event. And thanks to everyone who came out for any or all of the GOOD education events. You made them a resounding success and got us really excited about the hard (but rewarding) work ahead of all of us.

All photos courtesy of Greg Dale

















]]> On three Thursdays over the past month—at our kickoff event on August 19, our discussion about enabling creativity on September 9, and our discussion about content on September 16—we've gathered to talk about ensuring that all kids are on track to receive the 21st century education they deserve.

Yesterday's final panel focused on how to urge students to set high expectations for academic achievement. The panelists were: JB Schramm (College Summit), Estelle Reyes (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship), Paul Miller (Teach for America), and Steve Zimmer (Board of Education, LAUSD)

Check out our slideshow of photos from last night's event. And thanks to everyone who came out for any or all of the GOOD education events. You made them a resounding success and got us really excited about the hard (but rewarding) work ahead of all of us.

All photos courtesy of Greg Dale

















]]> Nikhil Swaminathan Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:30:00 PDT <![CDATA[Slideshow: GOOD Welcomes Teachers and Innovators to Talk Content]]> http://www.good.is/post/slideshow-good-welcomes-teachers-and-innovators-to-talk-content/ http://www.good.is/post/slideshow-good-welcomes-teachers-and-innovators-to-talk-content/ On three Thursdays over the past month, at our kickoff event on August 19, our discussion about enabling creativity on September 9, and our discussion about content on September 16, we've gathered to talk about ensuring that all kids are on track to receive the 21st century education they deserve.

Last Thursday's panelists included: Aaronthomas Green (KIPP), Louise Davis (Peer Health Exchange), and Blair H. Taylor (Los Angeles Urban League).

Check out our slideshow and be sure to join us on September 23 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at our final Thursday night discussion on setting expectations. If you haven't done so already, RSVP by emailing: GOODeducationevents@gmail.com.

All photos courtesy of Greg Dale and Alex Gorosh.















]]> On three Thursdays over the past month, at our kickoff event on August 19, our discussion about enabling creativity on September 9, and our discussion about content on September 16, we've gathered to talk about ensuring that all kids are on track to receive the 21st century education they deserve.

Last Thursday's panelists included: Aaronthomas Green (KIPP), Louise Davis (Peer Health Exchange), and Blair H. Taylor (Los Angeles Urban League).

Check out our slideshow and be sure to join us on September 23 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at our final Thursday night discussion on setting expectations. If you haven't done so already, RSVP by emailing: GOODeducationevents@gmail.com.

All photos courtesy of Greg Dale and Alex Gorosh.















]]> Amanda M. Fairbanks Wed, 22 Sep 2010 05:00:00 PDT <![CDATA[The GOOD Education Event Series on Setting Expectations: What Question Would You Ask?]]> http://www.good.is/post/the-good-education-event-series-on-setting-high-expectations-what-question-would-you-ask/ http://www.good.is/post/the-good-education-event-series-on-setting-high-expectations-what-question-would-you-ask/ What are the methods that allow students to set expectations for achievement?

This Thursday, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the GOOD headquarters in L.A., we'll be talking about content and we want to know what question you'd ask our panel of experts.

Panelists will include: JB Schramm (College Summit), Estelle Reyes (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship), Paul Miller (Teach For America), and Steve Zimmer (Board of Education, LAUSD).

What question would—or will—you ask?

If you haven't done so already, please RSVP to: GOODeducationevents@gmail.com.


 

]]> What are the methods that allow students to set expectations for achievement?

This Thursday, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the GOOD headquarters in L.A., we'll be talking about content and we want to know what question you'd ask our panel of experts.

Panelists will include: JB Schramm (College Summit), Estelle Reyes (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship), Paul Miller (Teach For America), and Steve Zimmer (Board of Education, LAUSD).

What question would—or will—you ask?

If you haven't done so already, please RSVP to: GOODeducationevents@gmail.com.


 

]]> Amanda M. Fairbanks Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:00:00 PDT <![CDATA[Slideshow: GOOD Welcomes Teachers and Innovators to Education Events]]> http://www.good.is/post/education-events-view-our-slideshow/ http://www.good.is/post/education-events-view-our-slideshow/ On two Thursdays over the past month, at both our kickoff event on August 19 and our discussion about enabling creativity on September 9 (we also had one last night), we've gathered to talk about ensuring that all kids are on track to receive the 21st century education they deserve.

So far, we've hosted a wide array of panelists: Randi Weingarten (President, American Federation of Teachers), Jordan Henry (Teacher, Santee Education Complex, UTLA House of Representatives, Member), Steve Barr (Founder of Green Dot), John Deasy (Deputy Superintendent LAUSD), Allison Graff-Weisner (Executive Director, City Year LA), Joel Arquillos (826LA), Jan Kirsch (Inner City Arts), Sofia Klatzker (Los Angeles County Arts Commission), and Cynthia Campoy Brophy (The HeArt Project).

Check out our slideshow and be sure to join us at our next event on September 23, when we'll be discussing high expectations. RSVP by emailing: GOODeducationevents@gmail.com.

All photos courtesy of Greg Dale. 



























]]> On two Thursdays over the past month, at both our kickoff event on August 19 and our discussion about enabling creativity on September 9 (we also had one last night), we've gathered to talk about ensuring that all kids are on track to receive the 21st century education they deserve.

So far, we've hosted a wide array of panelists: Randi Weingarten (President, American Federation of Teachers), Jordan Henry (Teacher, Santee Education Complex, UTLA House of Representatives, Member), Steve Barr (Founder of Green Dot), John Deasy (Deputy Superintendent LAUSD), Allison Graff-Weisner (Executive Director, City Year LA), Joel Arquillos (826LA), Jan Kirsch (Inner City Arts), Sofia Klatzker (Los Angeles County Arts Commission), and Cynthia Campoy Brophy (The HeArt Project).

Check out our slideshow and be sure to join us at our next event on September 23, when we'll be discussing high expectations. RSVP by emailing: GOODeducationevents@gmail.com.

All photos courtesy of Greg Dale. 



























]]> Amanda M. Fairbanks Fri, 17 Sep 2010 17:00:00 PDT <![CDATA[The GOOD Education Event Series on Content: What Question Would You Ask?]]> http://www.good.is/post/the-good-education-event-series-on-content-what-question-would-you-ask/ http://www.good.is/post/the-good-education-event-series-on-content-what-question-would-you-ask/ How can we engage students in a way that achieves optimal understanding?

Tonight's the night! From from 7 to 9 p.m. at the GOOD headquarters in L.A., we'll be talking about content and we want to know what question you'd ask our panel of experts.

Panelists will include: Aaronthomas Green (KIPP), Louise Davis (Peer Health Exchange), and Blair H. Taylor (Los Angeles Urban League).

What question would—or will—you ask?

If you haven't done so already, please RSVP to: GOODeducationevents@gmail.com.



 

]]> How can we engage students in a way that achieves optimal understanding?

Tonight's the night! From from 7 to 9 p.m. at the GOOD headquarters in L.A., we'll be talking about content and we want to know what question you'd ask our panel of experts.

Panelists will include: Aaronthomas Green (KIPP), Louise Davis (Peer Health Exchange), and Blair H. Taylor (Los Angeles Urban League).

What question would—or will—you ask?

If you haven't done so already, please RSVP to: GOODeducationevents@gmail.com.



 

]]> Amanda M. Fairbanks Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:30:00 PDT <![CDATA[Join Us on September 30 for GOOD Design Bay Area]]> http://www.good.is/post/join-us-on-september-30-for-good-design-bay-area/ http://www.good.is/post/join-us-on-september-30-for-good-design-bay-area/

You may remember last year around this time when we headed up to San Francisco to host GOOD Design SF, where six designers answered our call to solve their city's problems, each proposed by an urban leader who could help to put it into action. The night was a huge success, and for this year's program, we examined how we could expand the program, and help solve larger issues that impact more residents. So we're going regional. This year, please join us for GOOD Design Bay Area on Thursday, September 30 at 6pm at SPUR.

Once again we've recruited an incredible lineup of challenges submitted by city leaders which have been paired with some of the city's smartest designers. Here are the regional challenges and who will be presenting solutions at this year's event:

Foster civic engagement through technology
Ben Barry and Lee Byron, Facebook
Submitted by Lisa Frazier, President/CEO of the Bay Citizen

Increase the use of solar hot water use in California
Kate Lydon & Anton Willis, Civil Twilight
Submitted by Molly Sterkel, California Public Utilities Commission

Reframe urban density as a channel for public good
Larissa Sand of Sand Studios
Submitted by Alexa Arena, Forest City

Connect aging farmers with the next generation of agricultural landowners
Allison Arieff & Bryan Burkhart, modernhouse
Submitted by Steve Schwarz, CA Farmlink

Create a landscape that eases forgetfulness
Sarah Kuehl of Peter Walker & Partners
Submitted by Nader Shabahangi, President & CEO of Agesong

Increase public transit ridership in Silicon Valley
Brute Labs
Submitted by Kevin Connolly, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

Develop a system to store disaster response supplies across the Bay Area
Brian Singer, Altitude
Submitted by Gregory Smith, Director of Disaster Services, American Red Cross

We'll start at 6pm with an introduction and hear from all seven designers, followed by a Q&A with their city leaders, and finally questions from the audience. Afterwards there will be a reception in SPUR's gallery. This year's event is also the closing party for AIA SF's annual Architecture and the City festival, which is taking place all month around the Bay Area. We hope to see you there!

GOOD Design Bay Area
Thursday, September 30, 6 to 9 pm
SPUR Urban Center, 654 Mission Street, SF
$25 general admission; buy tickets here
Presented by AIA San Francisco, GOOD and SPUR
Moderated by Alissa Walker, GOOD contributing editor

GOOD Design pairs designers with city problems proposed by urban leaders, and showcases the solutions at lively public forums. Events have been held in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, at the annual conference of CEOs for Cities, and with Art Center College of Design and Ringling College of Art and Design. If you'd like to bring GOOD Design to your city or school, let us know!

]]>

You may remember last year around this time when we headed up to San Francisco to host GOOD Design SF, where six designers answered our call to solve their city's problems, each proposed by an urban leader who could help to put it into action. The night was a huge success, and for this year's program, we examined how we could expand the program, and help solve larger issues that impact more residents. So we're going regional. This year, please join us for GOOD Design Bay Area on Thursday, September 30 at 6pm at SPUR.

Once again we've recruited an incredible lineup of challenges submitted by city leaders which have been paired with some of the city's smartest designers. Here are the regional challenges and who will be presenting solutions at this year's event:

Foster civic engagement through technology
Ben Barry and Lee Byron, Facebook
Submitted by Lisa Frazier, President/CEO of the Bay Citizen

Increase the use of solar hot water use in California
Kate Lydon & Anton Willis, Civil Twilight
Submitted by Molly Sterkel, California Public Utilities Commission

Reframe urban density as a channel for public good
Larissa Sand of Sand Studios
Submitted by Alexa Arena, Forest City

Connect aging farmers with the next generation of agricultural landowners
Allison Arieff & Bryan Burkhart, modernhouse
Submitted by Steve Schwarz, CA Farmlink

Create a landscape that eases forgetfulness
Sarah Kuehl of Peter Walker & Partners
Submitted by Nader Shabahangi, President & CEO of Agesong

Increase public transit ridership in Silicon Valley
Brute Labs
Submitted by Kevin Connolly, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

Develop a system to store disaster response supplies across the Bay Area
Brian Singer, Altitude
Submitted by Gregory Smith, Director of Disaster Services, American Red Cross

We'll start at 6pm with an introduction and hear from all seven designers, followed by a Q&A with their city leaders, and finally questions from the audience. Afterwards there will be a reception in SPUR's gallery. This year's event is also the closing party for AIA SF's annual Architecture and the City festival, which is taking place all month around the Bay Area. We hope to see you there!

GOOD Design Bay Area
Thursday, September 30, 6 to 9 pm
SPUR Urban Center, 654 Mission Street, SF
$25 general admission; buy tickets here
Presented by AIA San Francisco, GOOD and SPUR
Moderated by Alissa Walker, GOOD contributing editor

GOOD Design pairs designers with city problems proposed by urban leaders, and showcases the solutions at lively public forums. Events have been held in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, at the annual conference of CEOs for Cities, and with Art Center College of Design and Ringling College of Art and Design. If you'd like to bring GOOD Design to your city or school, let us know!

]]> Alissa Walker Wed, 15 Sep 2010 15:15:00 PDT <![CDATA[The GOOD Education Series on Creativity: What Question Would You Ask? ]]> http://www.good.is/post/the-good-education-series-on-creativity-what-question-would-you-ask/ http://www.good.is/post/the-good-education-series-on-creativity-what-question-would-you-ask/ Are youth being creatively engaged? And how do school programs in creative arts, music, and dance contribute to educational success?

Tomorrow night, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the GOOD headquarters in L.A., we will be talking about creativity and we want to know what question you'd ask our panel of experts.

Our panelists will include: Joel Arquillos (826LA), Jan Kirsch (Inner City Arts), Sofia Klatzker (Los Angeles County Arts Commission), and Cynthia Campoy Brophy (The HeArt Project).

We have some ideas, but we're looking for more. What question would—or will—you ask?

If you haven't done so already, kindly RSVP to: GOODeducationevents@gmail.com.


 

]]> Are youth being creatively engaged? And how do school programs in creative arts, music, and dance contribute to educational success?

Tomorrow night, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the GOOD headquarters in L.A., we will be talking about creativity and we want to know what question you'd ask our panel of experts.

Our panelists will include: Joel Arquillos (826LA), Jan Kirsch (Inner City Arts), Sofia Klatzker (Los Angeles County Arts Commission), and Cynthia Campoy Brophy (The HeArt Project).

We have some ideas, but we're looking for more. What question would—or will—you ask?

If you haven't done so already, kindly RSVP to: GOODeducationevents@gmail.com.


 

]]> Amanda M. Fairbanks Wed, 8 Sep 2010 13:30:00 PDT <![CDATA[The GOOD Education Series: You're Invited!]]> http://www.good.is/post/the-good-education-series-you-re-invited/ http://www.good.is/post/the-good-education-series-you-re-invited/ On August 19th, hundreds gathered at the GOOD headquarters in L.A. to talk about ensuring that all kids are on track to receive the 21st century education they deserve. The room was filled with education movers and shakers, not to mention teachers and concerned citizens.

For three consecutive Thursdays in September, we hope you'll join in the conversation.

September 9: Creativity

A discussion about enabling creativity: Joel Arquillos (826LA), Jan Kirsch (Inner City Arts), Sofia Klatzker (Los Angeles County Arts Commission), and Cynthia Campoy Brophy (The HeArt Project).

September 16: Content

A discussion about engaging students: Aaronthomas Green (KIPP), Louise Davis (Peer Health Exchange), and Blair H. Taylor (Los Angeles Urban League).

September 23: High Expectations

A discussion about setting high expectations for achievement: JB Schramm (College Summit), Estelle Reyes (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship), Paul Miller (Teach For America), and Steve Zimmer (Board of Education, LAUSD).

RSVP to one or all of the events by emailing: GOODeducationevents@gmail.com.

Full invite is available below:




 


 

]]> On August 19th, hundreds gathered at the GOOD headquarters in L.A. to talk about ensuring that all kids are on track to receive the 21st century education they deserve. The room was filled with education movers and shakers, not to mention teachers and concerned citizens.

For three consecutive Thursdays in September, we hope you'll join in the conversation.

September 9: Creativity

A discussion about enabling creativity: Joel Arquillos (826LA), Jan Kirsch (Inner City Arts), Sofia Klatzker (Los Angeles County Arts Commission), and Cynthia Campoy Brophy (The HeArt Project).

September 16: Content

A discussion about engaging students: Aaronthomas Green (KIPP), Louise Davis (Peer Health Exchange), and Blair H. Taylor (Los Angeles Urban League).

September 23: High Expectations

A discussion about setting high expectations for achievement: JB Schramm (College Summit), Estelle Reyes (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship), Paul Miller (Teach For America), and Steve Zimmer (Board of Education, LAUSD).

RSVP to one or all of the events by emailing: GOODeducationevents@gmail.com.

Full invite is available below:




 


 

]]> Amanda M. Fairbanks Wed, 1 Sep 2010 11:00:00 PDT <![CDATA[City R+D Event: Farms in Jersey City]]> http://www.good.is/post/66/ http://www.good.is/post/66/ Back in December we teamed up with urban planners, writers, artists and other people working to make Los Angeles better for LA 2.0. That project grew into City R+D, an open workshop platform for improving your city. The inaugural event in San Francisco was a smashing success.

If you're in the New York or New Jersey areas this Saturday, join the Jersey City Food Coop, Green Map Initiative, Riverview Community Gardens, Greater Good Giving and the Washington Park Association for the next installment of City R&D, in Jersey City.

Details below.


 

]]> Back in December we teamed up with urban planners, writers, artists and other people working to make Los Angeles better for LA 2.0. That project grew into City R+D, an open workshop platform for improving your city. The inaugural event in San Francisco was a smashing success.

If you're in the New York or New Jersey areas this Saturday, join the Jersey City Food Coop, Green Map Initiative, Riverview Community Gardens, Greater Good Giving and the Washington Park Association for the next installment of City R&D, in Jersey City.

Details below.


 

]]> GOOD Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:30:00 PDT <![CDATA[Education Kickoff Event: What Question Would You Ask? ]]> http://www.good.is/post/education-kickoff-event-what-question-would-you-ask/ http://www.good.is/post/education-kickoff-event-what-question-would-you-ask/ In preparation for next Thursday's community-based project (full invite is below), where we'll bring together education leaders to define the critical variables of a successful school and the best practices to bring these to life on a wide scale (not to mention, light food and drink), we want to know what question you'd ask our experts.

Our panelists will include: Randi Weingarten (President, American Federation of Teachers), Jordan Henry (Teacher, Santee Education Complex, UTLA House of Representatives, Member), Steve Barr (Founder of Green Dot), John Deasy (Deputy Superintendent LAUSD), and Allison Graff-Weisner (Executive Director, City Year LA).

We have lots of ideas, but we're looking for more. What question would—or will—you ask?

And if you haven't done so already, tomorrow is the deadline to RSVP: GOODeducationevents@gmail.com.


 

]]> In preparation for next Thursday's community-based project (full invite is below), where we'll bring together education leaders to define the critical variables of a successful school and the best practices to bring these to life on a wide scale (not to mention, light food and drink), we want to know what question you'd ask our experts.

Our panelists will include: Randi Weingarten (President, American Federation of Teachers), Jordan Henry (Teacher, Santee Education Complex, UTLA House of Representatives, Member), Steve Barr (Founder of Green Dot), John Deasy (Deputy Superintendent LAUSD), and Allison Graff-Weisner (Executive Director, City Year LA).

We have lots of ideas, but we're looking for more. What question would—or will—you ask?

And if you haven't done so already, tomorrow is the deadline to RSVP: GOODeducationevents@gmail.com.


 

]]> Amanda M. Fairbanks Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:00:00 PDT <![CDATA[Education Kickoff Event: You're Invited!]]> http://www.good.is/post/education-kickoff-event-you-re-invited/ http://www.good.is/post/education-kickoff-event-you-re-invited/ Join GOOD for a community-based project bringing together education leaders from all sectors to define the critical variables of a successful school, and the best practices to bring these to life on a wide scale.

On August 19, 2010, we’ll kick-off this discussion with Randi Weingarten (President, American Federation of Teachers), Jordan Henry (Teacher, Santee Education Complex, UTLA House of Representatives, Member), Steve Barr (Founder of Green Dot), John Deasy (Deputy Superintendent LAUSD), and Allison Graff-Weisner (Executive Director, City Year LA). We’ll then dig into further detail with other thought leaders during workshops around these defined variables in the month of September.

Be sure to RSVP by August 13th: GOODeducationevents@gmail.com.

Jordan Henry has taught elementary school, middle school, high school, music, and violin in bilingual and English-only classrooms of Los Angeles since 1994. He has assumed numerous leadership roles in his school, union, district, and city, including as member of UTLA’s House of Representatives, LAUSD’s Teacher Effective Task Force, staff to LAUSD Board Member Marlene Canter, and Interim Executive Director of The Harmony Project.  Jordan is an  alumnus of Yale University, Teach For America, Americorps, the Henry Mancini Institute, and Coro Southern California, and resides in South Los Angeles with his family of four.

John Deasy is Deputy Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Previously, Dr. Deasy served as deputy director of education for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Prior to joining the foundation, Dr. Deasy served as superintendent of the Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland, where he earned a national reputation for his leadership in significantly narrowing the achievement gap between low-income and minority students and their peers. He also served as superintendent of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District in California, and Coventry Public Schools in Rhode Island. He has been an Aspen Fellow, a Broad Fellow, and an Annenberg Fellow. He has also spoken and written extensively on education and serves on numerous boards.

Allison Graff-Weisner, a Southern California native, serves as the Founding Executive Director of City Year Los Angeles. In 2006, she moved to Los Angeles to launch CYLA, leading the organization’s eighteenth site. Starting with 75 corps members in its founding year, CYLA has quickly grown to meet the needs of the region, expanding to 200 corps members in its fourth year. Prior to launching CYLA, Allison served as the national Alumni Director for City Year, Inc. Allison has worked at numerous community development and education organizations in the U.S. and abroad. After running parent involvement programs at 20 schools in the Bronx with Learning Leaders, an organization that engages 10,000 volunteers in New York City schools, Allison became a leader of the program department. Prior to Learning Leaders, she taught and ran an after-school program in Washington, D.C. during her year of national service with Public Allies. She currently serves on the Board of Advisors at the Drucker Institute and is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.


 

]]> Join GOOD for a community-based project bringing together education leaders from all sectors to define the critical variables of a successful school, and the best practices to bring these to life on a wide scale.

On August 19, 2010, we’ll kick-off this discussion with Randi Weingarten (President, American Federation of Teachers), Jordan Henry (Teacher, Santee Education Complex, UTLA House of Representatives, Member), Steve Barr (Founder of Green Dot), John Deasy (Deputy Superintendent LAUSD), and Allison Graff-Weisner (Executive Director, City Year LA). We’ll then dig into further detail with other thought leaders during workshops around these defined variables in the month of September.

Be sure to RSVP by August 13th: GOODeducationevents@gmail.com.

Jordan Henry has taught elementary school, middle school, high school, music, and violin in bilingual and English-only classrooms of Los Angeles since 1994. He has assumed numerous leadership roles in his school, union, district, and city, including as member of UTLA’s House of Representatives, LAUSD’s Teacher Effective Task Force, staff to LAUSD Board Member Marlene Canter, and Interim Executive Director of The Harmony Project.  Jordan is an  alumnus of Yale University, Teach For America, Americorps, the Henry Mancini Institute, and Coro Southern California, and resides in South Los Angeles with his family of four.

John Deasy is Deputy Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Previously, Dr. Deasy served as deputy director of education for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Prior to joining the foundation, Dr. Deasy served as superintendent of the Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland, where he earned a national reputation for his leadership in significantly narrowing the achievement gap between low-income and minority students and their peers. He also served as superintendent of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District in California, and Coventry Public Schools in Rhode Island. He has been an Aspen Fellow, a Broad Fellow, and an Annenberg Fellow. He has also spoken and written extensively on education and serves on numerous boards.

Allison Graff-Weisner, a Southern California native, serves as the Founding Executive Director of City Year Los Angeles. In 2006, she moved to Los Angeles to launch CYLA, leading the organization’s eighteenth site. Starting with 75 corps members in its founding year, CYLA has quickly grown to meet the needs of the region, expanding to 200 corps members in its fourth year. Prior to launching CYLA, Allison served as the national Alumni Director for City Year, Inc. Allison has worked at numerous community development and education organizations in the U.S. and abroad. After running parent involvement programs at 20 schools in the Bronx with Learning Leaders, an organization that engages 10,000 volunteers in New York City schools, Allison became a leader of the program department. Prior to Learning Leaders, she taught and ran an after-school program in Washington, D.C. during her year of national service with Public Allies. She currently serves on the Board of Advisors at the Drucker Institute and is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.


 

]]> Amanda M. Fairbanks Wed, 4 Aug 2010 12:00:00 PDT <![CDATA[Event: City R+D: San Francisco Is Tonight]]> http://www.good.is/post/event-city-r-d-san-francisco-is-tonight/ http://www.good.is/post/event-city-r-d-san-francisco-is-tonight/ The City R+D: San Francisco event, which we're helping with, is going on tonight. Information below.



 

]]> The City R+D: San Francisco event, which we're helping with, is going on tonight. Information below.



 

]]> GOOD Tue, 3 Aug 2010 18:20:00 PDT