Archive for May, 2012
Augusta Savage: Social Change Sculptor
May 2012
June 2012
“How am I to compete with other American artists if I am not given the same opportunity?”
– Augusta Savage
Augusta Savage was a determined sculptor who refused to let her race and gender stop her from pursuing her artistic passion. She became a leader of the Harlem Renaissance and relentless advocate for equal rights in the art world.
Born in 1892 in Florida, Savage knew at a young age that she wanted to be a sculptor, but her father felt that sculpting was not in line with the family’s religious beliefs. Despite her father’s objections, Savage continued her efforts, but prejudice made it difficult for her to become established.
In the 1920s, Savage moved to New York City to study at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. While there, she applied to a summer art program in France, but was rejected because of her race. Outraged, Savage sent letters about the discrimination to media on both sides of the Atlantic. This event proved to be formative, and much of Savage’s following work featured African-Americans. Her early busts of W.E.B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey led to her 16-foot tall masterpiece, “The Harp,” which reimagined the musical instrument with singing African-American faces.
Savage spent the rest of her life supporting the artistic pursuits of African-Americans. She established the Savage Studio of Arts and Crafts in the 1930s and opened it to anyone who wanted to paint, draw or sculpt. Later, when Harlem was feeling the worst of the Great Depression, Savage lobbied the Works Projects Administration (WPA) to help African-American artists find work.
Augusta Savage died of cancer in 1962.
Mundo Verde Celebra el Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente Con una Mirada a la Cultura y la Sostenibilidad
May 2012
WASHINGTON (May 30, 2012) — La Escuela Pública Chárter Bilingüe Mundo Verde es la primera escuela de Washington dedicada a la alfabetización bilingüe y a la educación para la sostenibilidad. Como parte de las celebraciones del Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente del Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Medio Ambiente, los 121 estudiantes de la Escuela Mundo Verde (pre-kíndergarten a kíndergarten) inaugurarán la Auditoría Anual Medioambiental de su escuela para medir el impacto de la institución sobre el medioambiente a lo largo del tiempo y trabajar para reducirlo. Los estudiantes de kindergarten de Mundo Verde también presentarán el fruto de su trabajo escolar en español en el Instituto Cultural Mexicano, incluyendo un vídeo producido por los estudiantes. La presentación mostrará el enfoque en el aprendizaje expedicionario basado en proyectos que ha logrado que los estudiantes de kindergarten de Washington hagan suyas las preocupaciones internacionales de sostenibilidad en Michoacán, México mientras aprenden sobre los patrones migratorios de la mariposa monarca.
Mundo Verde se fundó como una escuela culturalmente diversa e integradora que pudiera llevar a los estudiantes a alcanzar su potencial pleno y a brindarles las destrezas necesarias para superar los retos de la sostenibilidad a través del trabajo en equipo. Las actividades que se han programado para el Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente demuestran el énfasis que la escuela pone en estos valores y su compromiso con el medio ambiente, el aprendizaje expedicionario y la participación estudiantil. El enfoque dual de la escuela ha resultado ser de gran atractivo para los padres: Mundo Verde ha recibido 900 solicitudes de admisión para un número limitado de plazas para el año escolar 2012-2013, a penas el segundo año desde su fundación.
Oportunidades para la prensa durante el Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente de Mundo Verde, 5 de junio de 2012.
8:30 a.m. a 9: 30 a.m. – Asamblea estudiantil del Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente
[8:45 asamblea de 10 minutos de duración, seguida de una reunión matutina en 4 a 6 aulas; espacio para entrevistas: 1 hora]
Oportunidad para entrevistas (en español e inglés): Profesores, padres, miembros de la junta escolar, estudiantes.
Oportunidades para tomas visuales: Los estudiantes y profesores se reunirán para inaugurar el Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente; los estudiantes aprenderán sobre el impacto de la transportación sobre el medio ambiente mientras realizan una presentación gráfica sobre los hábitos de transportación de los estudiantes como parte de la Auditoría Medioambiental de Mundo Verde; productos de temática ambiental creados por los estudiantes: guías de campo, tarjetas de felicitación, postales, libros y representaciones artísticas de los estudiantes en vídeo.
Dónde: Escuela Pública Chárter Mundo Verde, 2001 S Street NW, 2do piso
9:30 a.m. a 11:00 a.m. – Auditoría Medioambiental: reciclaje y energía
Oportunidad para entrevistas (en español e inglés): Coordinadora de Sostenibilidad (Molly Howard), estudiantes, portavoz de Mundo Verde (Kristin Scotchmer, Directora Ejecutiva), padres, miembros de la junta escolar.
Oportunidades para tomas visuales: Los estudiantes aprenderán sobre el reciclaje mientras llevan a cabo la Auditoría Medioambiental de Mundo Verde; productos de temática ambiental creados por los estudiantes: guías de campo, tarjetas de felicitación, postales, libros y representaciones artísticas de los estudiantes en vídeo.
Dónde: Escuela Pública Chárter Mundo Verde, 2001 S Street NW, 2do piso
10:30 a.m. a 11:30 a.m. – Presentación en el Instituto Cultural Mexicano
Oportunidad para entrevistas (en español e inglés): Profesora de kindergarten (Berenice Pernalete), estudiantes, personal del Instituto Cultural Mexicano (Claudia Keller, Subdirectora del Instituto Cultural Mexicano), portavoz de Mundo Verde.
Oportunidades para tomas visuales: Interacción de los estudiantes con diplomáticos internacionales, vídeo sobre la mariposa monarca producido por los estudiantes.
Dónde: Instituto Cultural Mexicano, 2829 16th Street NW
Para asistir a las actividades del Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente de Mundo Verde o para solicitar una entrevista, puede comunicarse con Rosemari Ochoa. Tel. 202-248-5446 (oficina) ó 202-341-8973 (móvil).
Acerca de Mundo Verde
La Escuela Pública Chárter Bilingüe Mundo Verde es la primera escuela chárter “verde” de Washington. La escuela se dedica a educar a los jóvenes que se convertirán en los futuros guardianes globales del medio ambiente en un mundo cada vez más complejo. Mundo Verde tiene como meta fomentar altos niveles de aprovechamiento académico en un grupo diverso de estudiantes y prepararlos para velar por el bienestar de sus comunidades. Nuestro inspirador currículo se centra en la sostenibilidad y la alfabetización bilingüe.
Acerca del Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente
A comienzos de este año, PNUMA designó Washington como la ciudad anfitriona en Norteamérica para el DMMA 2012. El tema regional de este año es Unidos por un Washington Sostenible. La Asamblea General de la ONU creó el Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente , que se ha venido celebrando todos los 5 de junio desde 1972. Este evento global tiene como propósito concienciar sobre el medio ambiente y es un esfuerzo para generar atención e impulsar la acción política. En el Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente se realizan miles de eventos en las seis regiones globales de la ONU. Éste se considera como uno de los eventos más grandes de su tipo. Conozca más sobre el DMMA en la página: http://www.pnuma.org/dmma/index.php o http://ddoe.dc.gov/worldenvironmentday.
Contact:
Rosemari Ochoa, 202–248–5446 (office), 760-586-7830 (cell), moc.mmocnavnull@aohcor
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Mundo Verde Celebrates World Environment Day With Focus on Culture and Sustainability
May 2012
WASHINGTON (May 30, 2012) — Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School is the District of Columbia’s first school dedicated to both biliteracy and education for sustainability. In celebration of the United Nation Environmental Programme’s World Environment Day, Mundo Verde’s 121 students (pre-K through kindergarten) will launch the school’s annual environmental audit to monitor its environmental impact over time and work to reduce it.
Purposefully diverse and culturally inclusive, Mundo Verde was founded to empower students to reach their full potential and give them the skills they need to work together to solve sustainability challenges. The activities planned for World Environment Day emphasize these values in activities that showcase the school’s dedication to the environment, expeditionary learning, and student engagement. The school’s dual focus is resonating with parents: For the 2012-2013 school year, only its second in operation, Mundo Verde received 900 applications for a limited number of student spots.
When: Tuesday, June 5, 2012
8:30 a.m. to 9: 30 a.m. – World Environment Day Student Assembly
8:45 assembly (10 minutes), followed by morning meeting in classrooms
9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. – Environmental Audit in Action: Recycling and Energy
Where: Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School, 2001 S Street NW, 2nd floor
Interview opportunities (in English and Spanish): Executive director Kristin Scotchmer, Sustainability coordinator Molly Howard, students, parents, and board members
Visual opportunities: Students learn about the impact of transportation, recycling, and energy on the environment through hands on projects during the Mundo Verde Environmental Audit; visuals also include environmentally-themed, student-made products including: field guides, greeting cards, postcards, books, and student performance on film
Contact: To attend World Environment Day at Mundo Verde or request an interview in English or Spanish, please contact Rosemari Ochoa at 202-248-5446 (office) or 760-586-7830 (cell).
About Mundo Verde
Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School is Washington’s first “green” public charter school. The school is dedicated to educating young people to become global stewards in an increasingly complex world. Mundo Verde aims to foster high levels of academic achievement among a diverse group of students by preparing them to be successful and compassionate global stewards of their communities. The engaging curriculum focuses on sustainability and biliteracy.
About World Environment Day
Earlier this year, UNEP selected Washington, DC as the North American Host city for WED 2012 with the regional theme, Unite for a Sustainable DC. World Environment Day, established by the U.N. General Assembly in 1972 and celebrated annually on June 5, is a global event that raises awareness about the environment in an effort to galvanize political attention and action. With thousands of events in the UN’s six global regions, World Environment Day is considered one of the largest environmental events of its kind. To learn more, visit: http://ddoe.dc.gov/worldenvironmentday or http://www.unep.org/wed/.
Contact:
Rosemari Ochoa, 202–248–5446 (office), 760-586-7830 (cell), moc.mmocnavnull@aohcor
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American Academy of Physician Assistants to Honor Exemplary Healthcare Providers at IMPACT 2012 Conference
May 2012
Alexandria, VA (May 28, 2012) ― Today, the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) announced the distinguished recipients of the 2012 PAragon Awards which recognize PAs and collaborating healthcare providers for excellence in patient service, community outreach and overall advancement of the PA profession both domestically and around the world. The PAragon Awards will be presented on May 28 at AAPA’s Annual PA Conference which will be held in Toronto, Ontario.
“AAPA is proud to recognize these extraordinary healthcare professionals for their commitment to furthering our profession’s commitment to improving the quality, accessibility and cost-effectiveness of patient-centered healthcare,” said AAPA President Robert Wooten, PA-C. “Their work and care to patients and the larger community serve as inspirational models for current and future PAs who will lead our profession into the future.” It is my honor and privilege to present the 2012 PAragon Awards to such exceptional leaders in our profession.”
The 2012 PAragon Award recipients include the following:
- Federal Service PA of the Year Award: Over the course of her 20-year career, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Pamela Lucas, PA-C, of Alexandria, Va., has improved disaster and humanitarian response worldwide and streamlined the standards for medical care in the Air Force.
- Humanitarian PA of the Year Award: Jack Gardner, PA-C, of Portsmouth, N.H., left a successful business career 12 years ago to become a physician assistant, and has helped thousands of lives in his pursuit to provide medical care to those in need.
- Outstanding PA of the Year Award: Cynthia Lord, MHS, PA-C, of Cheshire, Conn., is driven by her passion for serving patients with the greatest need for care. As program director and professor at Quinnipiac University’s PA Program, Lord transfers her empathy for patients and her love of serving others to the next generation of PAs.
- Physician-PA Partnership Award: Dwight Deter, PA-C, and Wilbur J. Strader, MD, of El Paso, Texas, founded one of the most highly-regarded diabetes and endocrine practices in the Southwest to help care for the growing number of El Paso residents struggling with diabetes and other chronic endocrine disorders.
- PA Service to the Underserved Award: Thousands of women who were homeless or survivors of domestic abuse and their children could not afford much-needed health care. Inspired to take action, Vicki Chan-Padgett, PA-C, of Las Vegas, Nev., opened a first-of-its-kind clinic to promote free, high-quality health care to Las Vegas women and children who need it most.
- Eugene A. Stead, Jr. Award of Achievement: Ruth Ballweg, PA-C, of Seattle, Wash., will receive the profession’s highest honor for her commitment to education, advancing the PA profession, her dedication to veterans and creating paths to the PA profession for military servicemen and women.
- Publishing Awards: Monica Furman, PA-C, first place; Danielle Kruger, PA-C, second place; Linda Sekhon, DHSc, PA-C, third place.
For video of these outstanding PAragon Award recipients, please visit http://www.youtube.com/aapavideo.
About the American Academy of Physician Assistants
Founded in 1968, the American Academy of Physician Assistants is the national professional society for physician assistants. It represents a profession of more than 84,000 certified PAs across all medical and surgical specialties in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the majority of the U.S. territories and within the uniformed services. AAPA advocates and educates on behalf of the profession and the patients PAs serve. It works to ensure the professional growth, personal excellence and recognition of physician assistants and to enhance their ability to improve the quality, accessibility and cost-effectiveness of patient-centered healthcare. Visit http://www.aapa.org to learn more.
Contact:
Patrick Dunne, AAPA, gro.apaanull@ennudp, 571-319-4394
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Community Choice Aggregation Yielding Dramatic Savings for Illinois Electricity Customers
May 2012
CHICAGO (May 23, 2012) — To date, more than 250 communities in Illinois have approved referendum measures that enable community choice aggregation (CCA). More than 90 have negotiated rates that offer customers the opportunity to save up to 30 percent on their electricity bills. “CCA programs give local governments the ability to pool their residential and small business electricity loads to secure reduced electricity rates,” said Illinois State Representative Mike Fortner (R), who sponsored the original CCA legislation.
The most recent procurement contracts between communities and their new power suppliers feature energy rates that range from approximately 4 cents to 5 cents per kilowatt-hour, with over half coming in at a low 4 cents. All are significantly less than the new default rate of about 8 cents. A 3-cent rate reduction per kWh could yield a total savings per household of about $300 annually, or $300 million over a one-year period for all Illinois electricity customers in the program. See the Illinois Commerce Commission website for a list of select CCA cities and their contracted energy rates: http://1.usa.gov/IU8PQV.
“Aggregation — a sort of Groupon for electricity purchasing — is a critical step toward putting power in the hands of the people,” said Perfect Power Institute ™ Executive Director John Kelly. “In negotiating with suppliers for better pricing plans, communities are simply adding electricity to the list of services they already manage, such as garbage and water. And because they choose their power supplier, communities can help address residents’ demands for cleaner power as well.” According to the Local Energy Aggregation Network, which promotes CCA nationwide, Illinois is the fastest-moving CCA state in the nation, with support for the program growing since enabling legislation was passed in 2009. In Illinois, when CCA is passed via referendum in a municipality, their customers are automatically enrolled, though they can opt out.
“This most recent surge of Illinois communities choosing to aggregate their power purchasing demonstrates a growing awareness around the benefits of CCA,” said Buffalo Grove Deputy Village Manager Ghida Neukirch. “Communities like ours are seeking more control over their relationship with electricity providers and want the ability to directly negotiate with utilities to procure lower, cheaper, cleaner and more efficient electricity on behalf of their residents.”
The CCA movement began in California, where it was passed into law in 2002. Marin County was the first U.S. community to take advantage of CCA. Today, CCA is enabled by law in Ohio, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, in addition to Illinois and California.
The Illinois Community Choice Aggregation Network (ICCAN) was formed to support Illinois municipalities pursuing CCA with best practice standards that favor communities, consumers and local businesses and that ensure key protections are included in energy supply contracts. ICCAN exists to provide member communities with access to independent, experienced and affordable resources that make local government and its residents and businesses a top priority in the municipal aggregation process. The ICCAN is led by former Illinois Power Agency Director Mark Pruitt and is a partnership between The Galvin Center, LEAN Energy U.S. and the Perfect Power Institute.
The Perfect Power Institute ™ is a new nonprofit that works with electricity industry leaders to dramatically improve power reliability, efficiency and environmental stewardship. As the next phase in the Galvin Electricity Initiative’s efforts to catalyze system transformation, the Institute evaluates system performance and promotes customer engagement as key to strengthening cities and businesses. For more information about the Perfect Power Institute and its groundbreaking program for assessing microgrid design and performance, please visit www.perfectpowerinstitute.org.
Contact:
Maria Enie, 202-248-5460, moc.mmocnavnull@einem
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