California Partnership Initiative – California GEAR UP blog

GEAR UP Leadership Day in North State is a Hit

(original article appears in the Red Bluff Daily News)

Corning, CA. Nearly 800 Tehama County eighth-graders were invited Thursday to join the third annual Leadership Day at the Rolling Hills Casino event center, with five local schools participating.

This seven-day college preparation workshop event, put on by the Tehama County Department of Education, California GEAR UP — Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs — Tehama County high schools and College Options, has continued to engage students with workshops to help guide them through the next four years and beyond.

The Rolling Hills Casino Foundation and Expect More Tehama were two groups that made the Leadership Day a possibility, said Karissa Morehouse, who is Education Talent Search director of Tehama County and with College Options

The schools that participated Thursday were Richfield School, Tehama eLearning Academy, Lincoln Street Independent School, Reeds Creek School and Vina School.

A few Mercy High School students participated as well by talking with the eighth-graders and sharing their own insights and experiences to help the students with the transition to high school, Morehouse said.

One workshop, the true colors personality assessment, had students choosing a particular card with a picture and a photograph that best suits their personality traits. The students were able to share what makes them unique and discuss that with a group of other students, Morehouse said.

Learning all the classes needed to prepare for college was another workshop that provide the students with a beaded key chain to remind the students of the core A-G classes needed.

Another workshop helped students identify what they are doing now to prepare for college with a bingo game.

The goal of the workshop was to show how the items on the bingo sheet can be attributes the students can continue to strengthen for the preparation of college.

One student said he gained a better understanding of what to expect in high school and how to prepare for college, his adulthood and his future careers. His favorite subject is math and he hopes to graduate high school near the top of his class.

At the end of Leadership Day the students got together and wrote their goals on a paper that was shaped in a thought bubble. The students will keep one with them to remind themselves of those goals and the other will be given to their teachers for them to understand the goals of their students, Morehouse said.

On the wall behind the workshop groups where quotes from celebrities showing how far you can go with positivity and urging that with the right resources you can be successful in anything you want.

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2015 California Partnership Initiative Conference

The California Partnership Initiative (CPI) is a project of the California State GEAR UP Program, and was formalized at the National GEAR UP conference in Washington, DC in July 2014. Since 1999, the California State program has worked in collaboration with GEAR UP partnership projects to increase college and career readiness for students and families and to improve the college going culture in schools and communities. This initiative brings together the active partnership projects and the state grant to strengthen efforts for ALL students throughout California. The CPI conference was held on November 18, 2015 in Irvine, CA for all California GEAR UP Staff.

The conference was kicked off by Ranjit Sidhu, President and CEO of the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships. His leadership and vision contributed to the organic nature of the conference and his presence set a positive tone for the day:

“The CPI conference embodied exactly the spirit and attitude that GEAR UP needs to have nationally. It was clear that the participants were there to learn, share, and ultimately improve their impact on student readiness and success and to tighten their collaborative bond as professionals within the state. Under the banner of Together We Rise, you could sense that unified momentum building amongst the participants at the event.”

Programming for the conference included ‘Hot Topics’ Workshops created from content provided by the feedback and requests of participants during the planning phase of the conference. These topics were identified as ‘of most interest’ through a survey that was distributed to all California partnership Project Directors: Data and Reporting; Sustainability; School Culture; and Family Engagement. Feedback from the workshops will be shared and other topics explored as the work of the Initiative continues.

“The on-going collaboration between GEAR UP partnerships under the direction of our California State GEAR UP grant continues to provide excellent resources, connections and networking to enhance significant successes with GEAR UP students, parents, and communities.”

Julie Johnson, Director Mira Costa College GEAR UP

Networking Sessions were another highlight of the conference and provided an opportunity for those who share similar job roles and responsibilities to describe their project, discuss their successes and challenges, exchange ideas and practices, and find support and counsel from colleagues. These groups (Directors and Co-Directors; Program Management; Direct Services Team; Program Support Team) will continue their collective conversations via the CPI online network, webinars, conference calls, social media and in-person meetings.

At the conference, projects shared resources, ideas and swag during a Resource Fair. Participants also registered for the online community Google Group, which can be accessed on the CPI webpage. This network will enable programs across the state to stay connected, learn from one another, share information and engage in meaningful work together.

“Professional learning communities go by many different names and for California GEAR UP it is CPI. This initiative is “By GEAR UP and For GEAR UP” and will build upon the knowledge and expertise of GEAR UP professionals throughout our great State.”

Shelley Davis, Director California State GEAR UP

For further information visit www.castategearup.org

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Attend 2016 ACT State Organization Conference

2016 California ACT State Organization Conference

The California Promise: Achieving Social Justice through College and Career Readiness

The 2016 California ACT State Organization Conference strives to bring education and career readiness professionals a broad range of topics that meet the diverse needs of preparing students for college and career success.

Learn about key education strategies that will foster positive change in your school, district, and throughout California
Learn about student success best practices used by other institutions
Network with other education and workforce professionals

View the agenda.

Early bird pricing is ending soon—save 25% by registering before Friday, December 18, 2016! The cost is $75 per person through Friday, December 18, 2016; $100 per person thereafter. Conference registration includes continental breakfast, breaks, lunch, and conference materials.

WHEN

Friday, February 26, 2016
7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Pacific Time

WHERE

California State University, Fullerton
Titan Student Union
800 N. State College Blvd.
Fullerton, California 92834-6828

Get Driving Directions

Lodging:
Fullerton Marriott at California State University
2701 Nutwood Avenue
Fullerton, California 92831
800.228.9290

Request the ACT group rate of $139 per night, plus tax. Please click on this link to make your reservation.

Hotel Rate Deadline:
Thursday, January 28, 2016; thereafter, reservations will be taken on a space-available basis.

WEBSITE

ACT State Organizations

If you need assistance participating in this meeting or event due to a disability as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please email shirley.antolik@act.org at least ten business days prior to the scheduled meeting or event to request an accommodation.

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California GEAR UP Announces Partnership Initiative

The California Partnership Initiative (CPI) is a project of the California State GEAR UP Program. Since 1999, the California State program has enjoyed working in collaboration with GEAR UP partnership projects to reach our mutual goals: increasing college and career readiness for low income students and improving the college going culture in schools. CPI was formalized at the National GEAR UP conference in Washington, DC in July 2014. This initiative brings together the 20 active partnership projects and the state grant to strengthen our efforts for ALL students throughout California. The target audience is all GEAR UP Staff in California.

Project Goals:

To advance, inform and improve our collective work

To leverage the energy, resources and expertise of GEAR UP in California

To support and sustain GEAR UP efforts statewide

Objectives:

Create an online information network

Foster sustainable regional efforts to promote systemic change for schools and students

Convene an annual Statewide GEAR UP conference

Create a professional learning community of GEAR UP Professionals.

November 18, 2015

CPI Statewide Convening

The Atrium Hotel – Irvine, CA Orange County, CA

“The on-going collaboration between the multiple GEAR UP partnerships under the direction of our California State GEAR UP grant continues to provide excellent resources, connections and networking to enhance significant successes with our GEAR UP students, parents, and communities throughout the state of California!”

Julie Johnson, Director Mira Costa College GEAR UP
www.ousdgearup.com

More to come on this exciting initiative, sign up for our newsletter or check our website often for updates and registration.

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California GEAR UP Announces 2015 Fall Events

Whole School Services Regional Events

Professional Development for GEAR UP Middle Schools throughout California

PURPOSE: To develop regional support networks to provide opportunities for GEAR UP schools to learn from each other and problem solve together about common concerns and issues. These events will be facilitated by Whole School Services Coaches with content based on advice from School Leadership Team members. Events are customized to meet the needs of participating schools within each region and in alignment with target areas of growth identified in the GEAR UP School Self Assessment Rubric.

September 30, 2015

Southern California Fall Regional Institute

Downey, CA

October 7, 2015

Riverside Fall Regional Institute

Riverside, CA

October 21 & 22, 2015

Sacramento & Bay Area Collaborative Regional Institute

Sacramento, CA

October 27 & 28, 2015

North State Regional Institute

Redding, CA

California Partnership Initiative Conference

The California Partnership Initiative (CPI) is a project of the California State GEAR UP Program. Since 1999, the California State program has enjoyed working in collaboration with GEAR UP partnership projects to reach our mutual goals: increasing college and career readiness for low income students and improving the college going culture in schools. CPI was formalized at the National GEAR UP conference in Washington, DC in July 2014. This initiative brings together the 19 active partnership projects and the state grant to strengthen our efforts for ALL students throughout California. The target audience is CA GEAR UP Staff.

Project Goals:

To advance, inform and improve our collective work

To leverage the energy, resources and expertise of GEAR UP in California

To support and sustain GEAR UP efforts statewide

November 18, 2015

CPI Statewide Convening

Orange County, CA

*For more information and details go to castategearup.org

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GEAR UP 4 LA: Writing the City

As part of a new ongoing series and the newly formed California Partnership Initiative, a collaboration of GEA RUP Programs in California, we will be posting stories from other GEAR UP programs across the state.

From July 13th-17th, one of the amazing GEAR UP Partnership Projects in Los Angeles, GEAR UP 4 LA, sponsored a one week, field based writing workshop in partnership with Bard College Master of Arts in Teaching, with the goal to create better writers and prepare for the kind of writing valued in college.

Research shows that kids who graduate from HS and college participate in high impact practices one of which is participating in summer enrichment opportunities. This is what GEAR UP is all about. –Paula Crisostomo, Occidental College Assistant Dean of Students

Here is the breakdown:

Writing the City: Los Angeles

A one-week, field-based Writing Workshop in the dynamic city spaces of Los Angeles

“I’ve been all around the world and I haven’t found a city that I’d rather be from, or rather come back to, than Los Angeles.” –Ice Cube

What does exploring a city and writing have in common? How can you find your writing voice as you rediscover Los Angeles? Grab your notebook and come write with us.

This summer we are sending small teams out into Los Angeles–with pen, paper, and camera. The city will be our campus and inspiration. Together we will figure out makes writing so useful, important, and powerful. We will build on the writing you already do everyday—texts, posts, tweets, and email. We will help you expand your skills to communicate your ideas to others.

Our goal is to become better writers and prepare for the kind of writing valued in college. We will explore the place you call home with new perspectives. We will feed our curiosity through writing. We will discover how to use words to build out ideas and become more confident.

This five-day workshop is designed to get your moving through Los Angeles, energizing your summer, rewarding your creativity, making new friends, and kicking up your writing.

In preparation for college-level writing, you will be pursuing big questions:

What is real about Los Angeles and what is imagined?
How do Angelinos see this city differently than outsiders?
Can we see our city fairly?
How can writing about Los Angeles help others see our city more clearly?

Our week-long adventure begins at Heart of Los Angeles in the Rampart District; each day we explore different parts of the city and the arts–walking, observing, talking, and writing together:

Downtown L.A. • Mid-city & LACMA • Occidental College & East L.A. • Hollywood • Arts District

We will write on location–and along the way. We will write for fun–for ourselves and each other. We will write informally and we will write with purpose. We will write to discover our voice. We will write to have our voice heard. And together we will give L.A. a new song.

I wished it were longer. It opened my mind and that early on it was hard to write for even 10 minutes and now I write for 30 minutes. When I am done I say “I’m not done I have more to say “.

—-Writing in the City Participant.

For more pics and information about their experience check out the Writing the City LA Facebook page.

Students who participated in The Writing the City program this week were able to spend time walking around the city with the question “What is Los Angeles to you?”as their theme. They wrote in parks, on the train, at museums, and in public spaces such as Pershing Square and Olvera Street. The students got the chance to share their ideas and challenge themselves to think differently about the city they call home. At the end of the week they presented some of their work to their peers. They all agreed that it was a great week; several wanted to keep going for another week.

— Kristin Didrickson, GU4LA Program Coordinator.

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Check out the websites for more information on California GEAR UP and GEAR UP 4 LA.