Fall at Rutgers Newark

Getting brisk out there and the leaves are turning! Ryan Lagansoa, who is studying Information Systems and plans to graduate in 2011, sent some wonderful photos of foliage around campus.

Aren't the colors on these gorgeous?

Thanks Ryan!

Why do so many students in urban areas drop out of high school?

Taimer Singleton, Program Coordinator for the Abbott Leadership Institute sent me this video.

It's a teaser to the documentary called Dropped created by the Youth Media Symposium under the Abbott Leadership Institute, which is under the leadership of Junius Williams. The documentary explores why students in urban areas drop out of high school in such disproportionate rates, compared to their suburban peers. In addition to documenting these causes, the students have pinpointed more effective ways to improve urban schools and keep students engaged to ensure a higher graduation rate.

The teaser below is about four minutes long, but you can also view the full 15 minute documentary at http://vimeo.com/15164113
 

Dropped... (teaser) from Abbott Leadership Institute on Vimeo.

The mission of the Abbott Leadership Institute, located on the first floor of Bradley Hall and directed by Junius Williams, is to empower parents, students, educators and community advocates of Newark Public Schools and surrounding urban communities with information and knowledge of effective methods for education advocacy and family engagement in schools. You can learn more by visiting www.abbottleadership.org

GlassRoots 10 Year Annniversary

As the only non-profit “hot shop” for young people in the greater New York metropolitan area, GlassRoots provides a nurturing environment in which otherwise underserved children can achieve self-esteem and creative expression while also learning basic business skills and valuable life lessons through the exploration of the unique art forms of glass making.

Working in the hotshop. Photo by Arthur Paxton

The program's founder, Patricia Kettenring, was honored Oct. 6, 2010 on the occasion of the 10th anniversary celebration for GlassRoots, which began at Rutgers, and which provides multiple opportunities for at-risk youth, ages 10-18, to realize their potential through the creation of glass art.

Kettenring is a long-time member of the Rutgers-Newark community, former director of Rutgers Business Schools' Business and the Arts program and currently teaching at Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration.

For more info. on GlassRoots, visit www.glassroots.org/

For a full gallery of photos from GlassRoots go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/rutgersnewark/sets/72157625115130704/