This Week @ NewComm: DANKE

Dear NewComm Community,

I hope this letter finds you well and filled with the same excitement and gratitude that I have been experiencing recently. I wanted to take a moment to express my deep appreciation to Janic Kreutter and the entire team at MINTvernetzt for being such incredible hosts during our time in Germany. The conference was truly outstanding, and it was a dream come true to share my vision for NewComm across the Atlantic Ocean.

One of the highlights of the conference for me was witnessing the enthusiasm and energy of so many individuals who share our belief in a community-based approach to education. We envision a future where contextualized education can occur through connected experiences at local colleges, bodegas, and yes, even your grandmother's house. Our philosophy aligns with the work of organizations like Education Reimagined , which advocates for education that is "shaped, distributed, and networked throughout [community ecosystems]," rather than confined to singular school buildings. We firmly believe that community-based education is the key to empowering those most affected by our unequal education system to disrupt problematic structures and build more equitable ones.

In line with this vision, I'm thrilled to share that we are gearing up for our 12th-grade project, which kicks off with a two-week research trip to Rwanda. We call this program "FUTURES," and our goal is to redefine the way students experience Africa. While many student travel programs focus solely on the continent's wildlife, we dare to take a different path. We see ourselves not just as adventurers, but as seekers of knowledge, advocates of change, and believers in the extraordinary power and potential within the stories of African entrepreneurship.

Through a deep exploration of African stories and collaboration with African change agents, we aim to provide our learners with a holistic understanding of this diverse and vibrant continent. Our hope is that by doing so, we equip them with the necessary tools to return home and take on the important task of crafting a more promising future for all.

In the coming weeks, I will be sharing some exciting updates about this project, but in the meantime, check out more information below. Thank you for your continued support and belief in the transformative power of community-based education.

With gratitude,

Chidi

Founder and CEO, NewComm

RESOURCES THAT HAVE INFORMED OUR WORK THIS WEEK:

It's Not Career Readiness, it’s Opportunity Readiness

• "In a rapidly evolving job market, traditional career preparation methods may fall short as 85% of jobs in 2030 are yet to be defined. The need for innovative approaches is pressing, and this newsletter section proposes a solution: a program focusing on building options through transformational experiences and transferable skills. Our guiding principles include: Building Communities: Recognizing social capital as a crucial entry point to opportunity, the program aims to create communities with and for young people. By fostering relationships, connections, and resources, it aims to open doors for those lacking such vital support; Human Connections: Emphasizing the importance of warm connections, the program prioritizes human interactions to build advocacy, mentorship, and champions. Engaged supervisors or mentors are seen as essential, highlighting the significance of positive relationships in program design.Exploring Options: Shifting away from the traditional approach of asking young people about their future professions, the program advocates for opening pathways to learning about a myriad of opportunities. By prioritizing the journey over predefined career paths, it encourages a mindset of exploration and discovery. [...] In a world where careers are unpredictable, this forward-thinking approach seeks to prepare students not just for specific jobs but for a future filled with unforeseen opportunities." / School of Thought

Why Your Job Applications Aren't Getting Results: 15 Expert Tips for Success

• "Embarking on a job search journey can be challenging, filled with rejections and prolonged periods of silence. However, understanding that rejection is a natural part of the process is crucial. Successful professionals often share stories of persistence, with some applying over 100 times before achieving success. Dr. Phanuel Tawanda Gwinji from UNV and Claudia, a P5-level professional, stress the importance of persistence in a recent webinar and podcast. The key takeaway: success in this industry takes time. Rather than persistently sending applications without results, the newsletter suggests a strategic approach. Taking time to reflect on underlying issues can be a valuable step. The reality is that many organizations, particularly large INGOs, may not provide feedback if you're not shortlisted. The article presents 15 potential reasons for job search challenges, offering effective solutions categorized based on different stages of the application process. [...]" / Impact Pool

"Jochi: Enriching Academic Support Programming in Middle & High Schools"

• "Jochi was recently introduced as an operating system for academic support teams that is reimagining what student success & support looks like at middle & high schools. Seamlessly integrating with your school's LMS/SIS, Jochi empowers students to effortlessly manage their coursework, engage with dedicated learning specialists, and study effectively. Jochi streamlines specialists’ workflows by equipping them with actionable insights to supercharge their support. Crafted to support the diverse needs of students with learning differences, Jochi is the result of extensive collaboration with educators and students across the country. Together, we brought Jochi to life: a seamless yet effective tool to ensure no student is left behind. [...]" / Jochi

FEATURED CONTENT:

?? NewComm has just got back from travelling internationally to Cologne, Germany!

What an incredible opportunity it was to partner with MINTvernetzt - a nationwide STEM networking project that aims - through the exchange, advice, and practical tips - to help create better STEM education opportunities for children and young people. ??

Topics Discussed: Design-based learning; Inclusive Pedagogy & Didactics; Student Laboratories; Diversity Workshops & more ??

We feel extremely grateful to have been able to bring our vision, mission & hands-on experience abroad while learning from other leaders in this space. ??

A huge thank you to all those we were involved in the event: the organisers, the speakers, guests, moderators and the entire teams from Bauwerk and MINTvernetzt. ????

Stay on the lookout for more content (incl. a recording ??) of NewComm x STEM Action Days 2023.

INSIDE NEWCOMM:

Sitting under the FELLOWS Ecosystem, FUTURES is NewComm’s premier travel-based project that delves into the rich tapestry of the African Diaspora, viewed through the unique lens of oral African stories, literature and entrepreneurship.

FUTURES is designed to reimagine and disrupt traditional student travel, specifically for BIPOC students. The overarching question that will guide the entirely of our program is, "How can our experiences with non-Western approaches to justice create more inclusive and innovative communities back home?"

Find out more on how we are reimagining and disrupting traditional educational systems on our FUTURES-dedicated website. ??

*****

“What would our future look like if we all operated from a place of healing? It would be a world where we value wellness as liberation, appreciate our interdependence, are in tune with our inherent capacity to heal and honour the wisdom of all cultures and bodies [...]” - Nineequa Blanding, “What Is Healing Justice?”

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Thank you for reading! Feel free to reach out to us?HERE?if you have any questions. We would love to hear from you. We’ll see you again next week!