Mighty Writers

Our friends at the Kennett Library are asking their friends and followers to vote YES to the Kennett Library question on the ballot in November. Voting YES will provide the library with consistent operating funds and provide support for many programs, including their literacy program - which has enabled more than 8,000 local folks originally from other countries learn to speak English, pass their GED, become American citizens, find jobs and become tax-paying citizens in our community. The Kennett Library provides a safe place for everyone. It’s a place to learn and escape into books. Consider your local library when heading to the polls on November 5 and vote YES on your Pennsylvania ballot. #getoutandvote #votingismighty

Today, the Caritas Construction and Rendell Associates team had an incredible time volunteering with?Mighty Writers?in West Philadelphia! We spent the day packing and organizing food donations that support the community. ???? Mighty Writers?is a fantastic nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching over 3,500 children annually to think clearly and write with clarity.?They offer a range of programs, including after-school academies and writing workshops, and they also collect and distribute essential supplies and food for the community. Our team truly enjoys contributing to such a meaningful cause and seeing Mighty Writers' positive impact on the community. We look forward to more opportunities to support their mission! ???? #CommunitySupport #Volunteering #MightyWriters #CaritasConstruction #GivingBack

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was enacted by former president Barack Obama in 2012. It gave the children of immigrants brought to the U.S. by their parents legal status in the country. Daniela, who is a vital part of our MW El Futuro South Philly site, tells her own story about immigrating to the U.S. when she was just two years old. Because of DACA, she has been able call Philadelphia her home for most of her life. But, could DACA recipients be at risk? Every election cycle since DACA’s inception, depending on who wins, DACA recipients have faced the threat of their status being provoked if the program is eliminated. The only long-term protection is for legislation to grant citizenship. This is why voting is so crucial, now more than ever. For more information about DACA, watch Daniela’s story below. November is right around the corner. #votingismighty https://bit.ly/3BG7l3i

Last week, our #Mighty friends from Campbell's came to volunteer at our MW Camden food distribution. They brought great energy and we’re so thankful to have their support! #CampbellsCares By joining forces with corporate partners like this, MW is able to expand our reach and impact within the communities we serve. Whether our volunteers work directly with our students, or help distribute food, they have a lasting effect. Want to learn more about how you or your company can get involved? Reach out to our Volunteer Manager Christina: ??: 484-226-9065 ??: [email protected] #corporatepartners #mightywriters #campbells

Mighty Writers is currently hiring for a Program Operations Manager at our newest site in El Paso, Texas. The person hired for this position will provide support in all matters related to operations, facilities, ordering supplies and technology. Job type: Part-time Rate of pay: $25 per hour Work hours: Up to 25 hours per week Schedule: 4 hour shifts, Monday-Friday and weekends as needed. There are two ways to apply: email a resume and cover letter to ??[email protected], or you can apply directly at the link below. ?? https://lnkd.in/eRJ8D4mm #joinourteam #nowhiring #mightywriters

September came and went, which means we’re already headed into the second full month of the school year. Maybe you have students who need community service hours to graduate. Or, maybe you’re interested in a volunteer role yourself. Either way, we know it’s hard to find the perfect fit when you’re looking to volunteer, but we make it easy! We have a VIRTUAL volunteer orientation this Wednesday, October 2 where people can learn about their volunteer options and our mission. It’s a great way to get acclimated to Mighty Writers and your potential new volunteer role before actually starting or committing to anything. All you have to do is RSVP to Christina and she will send you the Zoom link: ?? [email protected]

PA Humanities is excited to announce the selection of 22 public libraries and out-of-school time (OST) organizations to participate in the 2024-2026 Youth-Led Humanities Cohort. These sites, representing both rural and urban communities across the state, have demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering youth leadership and engagement through the humanities. Each selected site has access to $5,000 to support projects and activities that reflect the interests and needs of young people. Participants will also gain access to professional development opportunities, including individualized coaching, community of practice meetings, and workshops led by library leaders and humanities professionals. Youth-Led Humanities is a program of PA Humanities developed and supported in part by federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds administered by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries with additional support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, individual donors and other funders. Abington Community Library BF Jones Memorial Library Bloomsburg Public Library Brandywine Community Library Cambria County Library System Cleve J. Fredricksen Library Erie Center for Arts and Technology Free Library of Philadelphia - Greater Olney Branch Free Library of Philadelphia GREENSBURG HEMPFIELD AREA LIBRARY Indiana Free Library Lower Macungie Library Mighty Writers MONTGOMERY COUNTY-NORRISTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY New Castle Public Library PRIESTLEY FORSYTH MEMORIAL LIBRARY Erie County Public Library Fleisher Art Memorial Sayre Public Library Theatre Horizon Tredyffrin Township Libraries

I'm excited to share my latest article. Key points: 1. A cancelled school visit due to test prep highlights how our narrow definition of educational equity can limit opportunities for students. 2. We need to shift our focus from closing the "achievement gap" to addressing the "opportunity gap" in education. 3. Technology in education should be used to create transformative experiences, not just to improve test scores. 4. We must address systemic issues of racism, poverty, and lack of access before technology can be effectively leveraged for change. 5. The article introduces the concept of "Bad Tech" (BT) as an extension of "Bad Stats" (BS), exploring how biases can lead to misguided technological solutions in education. I invite my network to read the full article and share your thoughts on how we can reimagine educational equity and the role of technology in creating meaningful opportunities for all students. Thank you to Michele Cober, Esq. and Verizon for inviting me to share these remarks at the 2024 Annual Legislative Conference. #EducationalEquity #EdTech #HBCUs #DigitalDivide #OpportunityGap

The number one book on the?NYT?nonfiction bestseller list for the last 23 weeks is titled "The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness." Bottom-line thesis of author Jonathan Haidt's runaway hit book? Digital?life — particularly the use of smartphones — is making kids deeply, intensely unhappy. The addiction to smartphones — along with the obsession with Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and all their cybernated brethren — is leading to sleep deprivation, compulsive disorders and mental illness in general. All familiar, especially if you have a young person in your life and have witnessed obsessive?digital?use up close and personal. Digital?obsession is something we think a lot about at?Mighty Writers. We see firsthand how cell phones pull kids away from their instructors, mentors and peers; how a buzzing alert in a pocket can distract a student from caring about what they're thinking or writing. This month, at the start of the school year, we banned the use of cell phones in our after-school program. It's a small step, one adopted by the Los Angeles school district, but we think a necessary one. Still, there's a part of us that can grow defensive on behalf of our young Mighty writers: Why pick on the kids? How many times have we grown-ups had an in-person conversation interrupted by a friend who feels it necessary to answer their cell phone — "Excuse me, this will only take a minute"? Or how many of us have picked up our phone to take a quick run through TikTok or Instagram and 45 minutes later find ourselves still scrolling through images and messages that are mostly instantly forgettable? Digital?life has affected us all, kids the most, fair to say, because their minds and viewpoints are still evolving. They need smart, insistent and kind guidance, none of which they're going to find on a screen. Author Haidt calls for societal and policy changes, including delaying smartphone use until high school. So much to think about. What goes unsaid is the double whammy of the times we're living in — where threats and assassination attempts are becoming commonplace, where schools have active shooter drills, where immigrants are demonized and unsupervised play for kids has been scrapped in many communities out of generalized fear. It's a lot. For kids, especially, for sure. We're in uncharted territory. It's why we desperately look to change the subject with words that could bring a smile. Speaking of, how 'bout them Phils?

Mighty Writers is joining the movement to #getoutandvote. Most of our students are not eligible to vote yet, but that’s not stopping them from #usingtheirvoice. If you’re not registered yet— get on it! It’s easy and only takes a few minutes. And, as the kids would agree, voting is #Mighty. PA register here ??: https://bit.ly/4cLk812 NJ register here ??: https://bit.ly/3B7H91i See you at the polls in a few short months! ??