An enhanced child tax credit is expected to benefit roughly, 39 million Americans. If you are a part of this group you can expect to benefit financially from the credit this year, with eligible families set to see their first partial payment July 15. The tax credit will provide parents $3,000 total for each child aged 6 to 17 ($3,600 for children under 6), with the option of receiving half of the credit through advance monthly payments this year. To find out eligibility and to calculate your families estimated credit, visit CNETS’s child tax credit If you haven’t done so already. Also before next month two portals online will open, to help with the credit courtesy of the IRS. Families can choose through the portal, to have a lump sum or installment payments. I encourage you don’t miss your payments and to check eligibility. Have a great week!
Education
Froedtert Hospital Announces $11.5 Million Scholarship Fund In Partnership with Milwaukee Area Technical College and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Scholarship Fund Will Benefit Students Studying Health-Related Fields
Milwaukee, Wis., (June 3, 2021) – Froedtert Hospital announced today an agreement to establish an $11.5 million Froedtert Hospital Scholarship Program. In partnership with the Milwaukee Area Technical College (“MATC”) and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (“UWM”), the 20-year program will fund scholarships for underprivileged and deserving students with each institution receiving $5.75 million. More specifically, funds may be used toward full- and part-time certificate, undergrad, and post-graduate courses of study in health-related fields.
“The Milwaukee Area Technical College and the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee were chosen for their strong local presence and steadfast commitment to providing educational opportunities to those who live and work in the community,” said Eric Conley, executive vice president, Froedtert Health, and president, Froedtert Hospital. “Equally important was the opportunity each institution offers students who traditionally might not have access to post-secondary education, fundamental to the scholarship program. Foundationally, this gift also continues to honor our commitment to health equity across the region by helping eliminate health care disparities and addressing social determinants of health like education and employment.”
The scholarship program was developed to address multiple needs identified by Froedtert Health, such as: (1) to expand the pool of highly skilled and well-trained health
care workers in Southeast Wisconsin and (2) to meet the needs to the ever-changing and increasingly sophisticated medical field.
Portions of the scholarship funds will also be allocated to graduates of Milwaukee Public Schools and will also include a need-based component.
“This is the largest-ever donation to the Milwaukee Area Technical College Foundation and it represents the opportunity to transform hundreds of lives in our community,” MATC President Dr. Vicki J. Martin said. “We are grateful for this meaningful gift from Froedtert Hospital and together we will prepare Milwaukee’s diverse future health care workforce, reduce skills gaps and workforce shortages, and continue to break down the barriers that stand between students and an education that connects to a career with a family- supporting income. The support Froedtert Hospital is providing to our partners at UWM and the inclusion of opportunities specifically for MPS students will further strengthen the work of M3 to transform the future of Milwaukee through education.”
“We are extremely grateful to Froedtert Hospital for this gift, which will provide educational opportunities for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of students from Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin,” UWM Chancellor Mark Mone said. “It will support and enhance the work that UWM, MATC and the Milwaukee Public Schools are already doing through our M3 partnership to support families, improve graduation rates and better prepare students for college. Working together, we can support students in health care at all stages of their college career.”
The program will be funded through a charitable grant from the Kurtis Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital Trust and is pursuant to a Community Partnership Initiative Funding Agreement between Froedtert Hospital, the Kurtis Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital Trust, and the Wisconsin Attorney General. That agreement is subject to approval by the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
Additional details on the scholarships will be provided when the agreement is finalized.
About Froedtert Health
Froedtert Health is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based, integrated health care system providing a variety
of health-related services, including hospitals and health centers, home care, laboratory, health
insurance, employer health services and workplace clinics, and digital health solutions.
About Froedtert Hospital
Froedtert Hospital is a 607-bed academic medical center and a leading referral resource for advanced
medical care. Froedtert Hospital also operates the region’s only adult Level I Trauma Center. The
primary adult teaching affiliate of MCW, Froedtert Hospital is a major training facility for more than
1,000 medical, nursing and health technical students annually. It is also a respected research center,
participating in some 2,000 research studies, including clinical trials, every year. Froedtert Hospital is
located on the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center campus. Campus partners are: Children’s
Wisconsin, Curative Care Network, MCW, Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division and
Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin. For more information, visit froedtert.com.
About The Kurtis Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital Trust
The Kurtis Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital Trust was established by the Last Will and Testament of Kurtis Froedtert in 1951 for the purpose of establishing, maintaining, and operating a hospital in Milwaukee. Since inception, the Trust has made charitable grants of almost $100 million in support of Froedtert Hospital.
The Class of 2021
Prepared by Joshua Jackson
What is the difference between eighth grade and ninth grade? First of all, one grade is higher and one grade is lower than the other. Well, the difference is in eighth grade you’re in middle school, and in ninth grade you’re in high school. In the eighth grade it is your last year of middle school, and in ninth grade you’re beginning high school. In ninth grade you start a new chapter in your life. In the ninth grade you really have to step up and take life more seriously and start taking responsibility for your actions.
Things I kind of know about high school are that there will be advanced classes and I know I will have new teachers. The things I don’t know about high school are just what to expect when I get there. Things I’m kind of worried about while going into high school are getting into school fights, making new friends, making sure I get good grades, and taking things more seriously. I think the most important part about high school is your grades because your grades affect your GPA which stands for Grade Point Average. Your grades are really important because, when you get older, you’re going to want a job and your boss is going to look at your resume to determine if you are worthy or capable of the job.
Also, another important part about high school is your friends because it helps with socialization, and can develop some great friendships. Friendships help children like me develop important life skills like getting along with other people and sorting out issues and problems. The main thing I’m really going to miss about middle school is my friends. In high school, I’m going to meet lots of new people and that’s the scary part. Even if I don’t see my friends, I see this as a new beginning and a fresh start.
As sad as it is to say goodbye to my friends that I have known for a long time. The thing is life is tough and it doesn’t get any easier. As of March 2020, this was when a lot of people around the world were working online. The classes who graduated last year Class of 2020 had the worst graduation because, of the pandemic. When I had to go back to school it was really different, and we had to wear face masks, we had to start social distancing, and we had to get our temperatures taken before we could even go inside of the building.
I’m not going to lie home school was fun for a while because, I didn’t have to wake up in the morning but, sadly my mom still made me get up early just like normal school. After it was a month of online school, I started to get depressed. I really missed my friends, and I even missed the people at the school who really annoyed me at school. Last year taught me that we have to stick together.
1.5 Billion Taken Away?
Quality of education and overall education needs, has been a topic and issue in Milwaukee for some time . The recently passed corona virus bill sent money billions to many states for issues like, health and education. In Wisconsin, we were allotted 1.5 billion for education. Recently the U.S. Department of Education had a warning to Wisconsin, that if the funds were not spent on education we would lose it. superintendent of schools that the state could be in jeopardy of losing $1.5 billion in federal funding if a Republican education plan becomes law.
The Republican-controlled budget committee on Thursday approved spending roughly 128 million on education, and putting aside $350 million into a fund that could be used later for education expenses or anything else.
But the DOE warns that unless that money is spent on education, it could jeopardize the $1.5 billion sent to Wisconsin under the federal coronavirus aid bill.
I personally hope to see the entire funds issues on bettering the quality and environment of schools in under severed communities.
Congratulations Class of 2021
Congratulations Class of 2021! You did it! You did what no other generation has had to do. You beat the odds. You committed yourself to you education, making it a priority in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. There was nothing easy about the many adjustments you and your family were forced to deal with. You graduating just proved your dedication to your success.
Many students, whether in high school or college, were forced to adapt to every obstacle. Switching between virtual and physical course learning is a challenge. Pat yourself on the back because that takes work! Outside side of school, life has had its share of mountains and bumpy roads but you didn’t let that stop you!
As you move into this next season in your life, here’s a few things to remember:
Keep your ambition high!
Know that you can do whatever you put your mind to. There’s nothing and nobody that can stop you but you. Keep your energy and momentum high. Keep things interesting and fun.
Stay focused on your focus!
Eliminate distractions. This can be bad habits. It could be a lack of discipline. It could even be some relationships. Do what you have to do to create a great mind space for yourself.
Stay around the right people.
Who you hang around matters. Whether you hang around hard working people or people who want the easy way out, you will pick up their habits. Make sure the people around you are focused driven people. Find study partners. Find mentors. Those people can push you to achieve your goals.
Get in a routine!
Developing a routing is critical to your success. You need to know and plan out how you’re going to achieve your goal and stick to it. Start your mornings off right and end the day strong. Know what you need to do ahead of time and execute.
Take breaks!
Work hard but don’t overwork yourself. Take each day one day at a time. If you need help, reach out to others. Have days where you do nothing. Remember to rest!
Alverno College’s Thea Bowman Institute Honored With Promising Practices 2021 Award
The Wisconsin Character Education Partnership (WCEP) has awarded the Thea Bowman Institute for Excellence and Leadership at Alverno College a 2021 Promising Practice Award for the program’s racial identity development seminar.
Alverno’s Thea Bowman Institute is a cohort-model, full-tuition scholarship program for Black undergraduates who have a strong desire to serve as leaders, which is supported by a group of Alverno faculty and staff who identify as Black women. This group of “Inspi-A-Neers” hosts monthly racial identity development seminars that give the Bowman Scholars a “safe space to facilitate identity awareness, develop critical thinking skills, and experience joy, healing and hope for the future,” says Dr. Vanessa Hintz, a licensed clinical psychologist, an Alverno assistant professor, and a diversity, equity and inclusion consultant.
“I’m thankful to be recognized for the amazing work we’re doing and to be able to continue this work with our scholars,” said Hintz, who is also a Bowman Scholar Inspi-A-Neer. “It’s so important to develop a social-emotional connection with students to create a safe space for learning, to have these conversations so they feel valued and free to be their authentic selves, and to empower them.”
WCEP annually presents Promising Practice Awards to schools or districts that have developed and successfully implemented a unique character education practice. Promising practices are activities or programs that have had a significant impact with measurable results on the development of character education in a school or organization. They should be unique, specific and easily duplicated by other schools and districts.
This is the first time WCEP has awarded a Promising Practice Award to a Wisconsin non-K-12 school.
WCEP promotes the intentional proactive effort by educators to instill in all Wisconsin students core universal ethical values such as integrity, honesty, fairness, responsibility, and respect for themselves and others through character education. To learn more about WCEP, visit wicharacter.org.
For more information about the Bowman Institute, visit alverno.edu/bowman.
About Alverno College
Founded in 1887 by the School Sisters of St. Francis, Alverno College promotes the academic, personal and professional development of its students in a collaborative and inclusive environment. Undergraduate programs for women are offered in more than 60 areas of study, and graduate programs in education, nursing, community psychology, school psychology, music therapy, music and liturgy, and business are open to women and men.
A leader in higher education innovation, Alverno has earned international accolades for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, which emphasizes hands-on experience and develops in-demand skills. The college, Wisconsin’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution, ranks among the top schools in the Midwest for its commitment to undergraduate teaching and innovation by U.S. News & World Report. For two years, The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education named Alverno the country’s most inspiring college.
Based in Milwaukee, Wis., Alverno College is a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college.
Howard University’s College of Fine Arts Is Now Named After Chadwick Boseman – The Root
Howard University has announced an amazing tribute to one of its most notable alumni—the late beloved actor Chadwick Boseman.
According to the Washington Post, Howard University announced on Wednesday that it will be naming its newly established College of Fine Arts after Boseman, who graduated from the HBCU in 2000. Boseman died in August 2020 at the age of 43 after suffering from colon cancer.
“We are very excited. This is the right thing to do,” Howard President Wayne A. I. Frederick said in a statement. “Chadwick’s love for Howard University was sincere, and although he did not live to see those plans through to fruition, it is my honor to ensure his legacy lives on.” Frederick also confirmed that Boseman had served on the college’s board prior to his death and had planned to implement a Master’s Class series for HU students.
More info about the renamed school for performing and visual arts via WaPo:
The renaming unites Howard and Walt Disney Co.’s executive chairman Bob Iger who will spearhead fundraising for an endowment named after Boseman, as well as help raise money for the construction of a state-of-the-art building on Howard’s campus. The new building will house the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts, the Cathy Hughes School of Communications, the school’s TV station, WHUT, and radio station, WHUR 96.3 FM.
This news comes about two weeks after it was announced that Phylicia Rashad would be the new dean of Howard’s newly established fine arts college. The connection is emotionally significant as Rashad served as a mentor to Boseman when he was an acting student at the HBCU.
Rashad, along with Denzel Washington, notably raised funds for Boseman and other students to attend the Oxford Summer Program of the British American Drama Academy at Balliol College, located in Oxford, England. Following Boseman’s death, Rashad reflected on Boseman via Rolling Stone, describing him as “one of the greatest actors ever.”
As Boseman was a proud alumnus of HU, this is the perfect way to honor him and assure his legacy lives on.
ReStart Debt Scholarship Program Helps Students With Past MATC Balances Return to College; Application Deadline is Aug. 2
Students who were forced to stop out of their studies at Milwaukee Area Technical College between December 2004 and May 2019 due to debt owed to the college have an opportunity to return, thanks to a scholarship program called MATC ReStart. In its second year, MATC ReStart helps eligible returning students repay up to $1,500 of past-due balances owed the college for expenses such as tuition, books and other fees.
They must apply by Aug. 2 and fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or create a payment plan at program orientation. Eligible students must have completed six MATC credits but not have earned an associate degree, and enroll in at least six credits in the Fall 2021 semester. Eligible returning students should already have been contacted by the college if up-to-date contact information is available.
“Our research showed that many students were unable to finish their academic programs due to relatively modest debt owed to the college,” said Dr. Vicki J. Martin, MATC president. “MATC degrees and diplomas help individuals gain jobs that earn family-sustaining wages. We want to remove the barriers blocking our students from finishing college. So far, we have served 239 students with the MATC ReStart Program, and 38 students have retired their debt while continuing their studies successfully. Along with programs like our tuition-free MATC Promise, we believe MATC ReStart makes a crucial difference in changing lives for the better, especially in this time of economic distress caused by the pandemic.”
Students who have an existing account balance of $1,500 or less can earn up to $500 in scholarships to repay their debt each semester they are successfully enrolled at MATC for up to three semesters. It does not apply to debt owed on government student loans.
To continue in the program, students must do the following each semester: enroll in six college level credits, earn a grade point average of 2.0 or better, successfully complete 67 percent of credits attempted, attend at least one meeting with a member of their Pathway team or at least one student resource workshop hosted by MATC during the semester, develop an academic plan with an advisor and attend the orientation.
The seed funding to begin the MATC ReStart program came from proceeds from MATC’s participation in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) broadcast incentive auction in which the MATC Board of Directors sold a portion of the airwaves used by Milwaukee PBS’s Channel 36. Some of the funds were designated for making college education more accessible and affordable.
For more information, visit matc.edu/restart or email [email protected].
Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. More than 30,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 150 academic programs; and transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 40 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
5 Surprising Ways The Pandemic Could Change Your Child’s Education For The Better
The shift to remote learning during the pandemic caused angst for parents, but it also led to unexpected benefits that they may find hard to let go of as their children return to school.
While pandemic-era schooling has been difficult, parents’ have come to appreciate the unexpected benefits of distance learning, says Emily Greene (www.emilygreene.com), the author of School, Disrupted: Rediscovering the Joy of Learning in a Pandemic-Stricken World.
Some benefits are so positive, she says, that parents are reluctant to slide back into the pre-pandemic status quo of in-person schooling without making some improvements.
“The dialogue has shifted as parents and students reflect on the last year and think carefully about what they hope to carry forward to improve the school experience,” Greene says.
Greene, herself a working mother of three children, says the pandemic jostled parents into thinking differently about “traditional schooling.” “Distance learning in a pandemic has changed our expectations,” Greene says, “and parents want to apply what we’ve collectively learned to help our children thrive as they return to school.”
Here are five benefits that Greene says parents hope to carry forward:
- More free time. Before the pandemic, many families’ lives were overscheduled, Greene says. The lockdown helped families reconnect with the joys of free time, playtime, and downtime. This took the stress off children overwhelmed with homework, extracurriculars, and overly structured schedules and opened the door for natural curiosity to flourish. Scientists say free time is essential to the developing brain and is tied to curiosity, creativity, and imagination. “Looking back on the past year, many parents notice an increase in their children’s natural curiosity, creative expression, and imaginative thinking,” Greene says. “By pushing through the boredom that can come with free time, children learn to use their imaginations, think inventively, solve their problems, and express themselves.”
- More time outside. During lockdowns, people suffering from cabin fever longed to leave their houses, but indoor public places were problematic. So, families connected with the outdoors in new ways, such as walking, biking, or simply eating lunch outside. “Parents do not want their children to lose their newfound levels of outdoor activity. They understand now that one short recess per day is not enough,” Greene says. Before the pandemic, she notes, many children spent less time outdoors than prison inmates. One survey of 12,000 parents in 10 countries found that half of children ages 5 to 12 were outside less than an hour each day. In comparison, inmates at U.S. maximum-security prisons are guaranteed at least two hours of daily outside time.
- Less standardization, and more personalization. A traditional in-person classroom follows a standardized schedule, leaving little room for independent work or passion projects. However, distance learning offered gaps in the day for children to explore their passions and interests. Many parents saw their children expressing new interests, exploring and deepening existing hobbies, and making and building things. “Between the middle of March and the middle of April 2020, Google searches for ‘How to make’ doubled, as did searches for ‘DIY,’ “Greene says. “In a world that abruptly became more virtual than we were accustomed to, children wanted to be hands-on in new ways.”
- More connection with what their children are learning. With students working remotely, parents were privy to an up-close view of what their children are learning. “While at first many parents felt overwhelmed with supervising distance learning, they eventually came to value this connection,” Greene says. “Now, many parents have a deeper level of engagement that they do not want to lose.” In some cases, she adds, parents were impressed with what their children were learning. In other cases, parents were surprised to discover the details of their children’s school experience and began asking questions they never asked before, like “Is this relevant?” Or “How is this helping my child?” She predicts this new level of parent engagement will trigger long-overdue updates to the standardized curriculum, as well as more options for children.
- An increased focus on balance and wellbeing. Because of the disruption the pandemic caused, Greene says, children have been “wrung through the wringer,” with social, emotional, and mental impact. “Parents want balance and wellbeing at the forefront,” she says. “That means less menial homework, less time wasted on irrelevant standardized tests, and more focus on curiosity, creativity, and joy in the classroom.” For many parents, this means holding onto distance learning as an option and giving students the flexibility to attend in-person or distance learning to support wellbeing. “Now, as children are returning to school, we don’t want to be forced to choose between in-person learning or distance learning,” Greene says. “Both should be options. Learning should be blended.”
“When society lives through a disruption, it rarely returns to the way it was before,” Greene says. “The next few years will be an inspiring time in education as parents, students, and teachers begin to apply what we’ve learned.”
About Emily Greene
Emily Greene (www.emilygreene.com) is the author of School, Disrupted: Rediscovering the Joy of Learning in a Pandemic-Stricken World in which she shares her experience educating her children inside and outside of traditional schools. She inspires parents to think differently about the future of the school, offering practical strategies to help bring back balance and optimism as we reimagine a better way to learn—in the pandemic and beyond. She developed the Kiddovate program, working with hundreds of teachers and students to ignite curiosity and creativity in the classroom. She also is cofounder of VIVA Creative, where she and her team create live and digital events. In 2020, she received an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® award recognizing innovation during the pandemic.
Teaching Kids to Embrace Diversity
Civil rights activist, poet, and award-winning author Maya Angelou once said, “It is time for parents to teach our child early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” She was a firm believer that the world would be a better place if we all learned to work together to achieve one goal. Over the past ten years, there has been an exponential increase in children’s books to bring awareness of various races and cultures. One such author who promotes this message is Isabel Cintra.
Reading is such a fun and informative way to expand a child’s mind regarding the world’s multifariousness. Incorporating reading into a child’s daily schedule, especially during bedtime, is a creative way to stimulates their senses. It facilitates their ability to learn, boosts their social and cognitive development, and also their emotional health. As parents, we are given the amazing opportunity to help shape young minds and create lifelong morals and values that will help them better themselves and the world.
Introducing books about diverse cultures and races is encouraged to educate our children about the importance of understanding and accepting others. Reading increases the child’s consciousness, appreciation, and inclusion of diverse beliefs and cultures. Our brain develops as we mature, so our ability to become critical thinkers can be primarily influenced by the amount of time spent reading as a child. According to a study conducted by the Fester Readers, children from birth to age five experience the most significant brain development. It was concluded that by age three, approximately 85% of the brain’s core structure is developed. With this information, it would be reasonable to argue that this period would be ideal for introducing children to the concept of diversity.
Recently there has been a growth in the number of books being published that illustrates diversity. In a survey conducted by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) that was released in 2019, Madeline Tyner stated that “Despite the sluggish growth, the number of books featuring BIPOC (black, ingenious and person of color) protagonists lags far behind the number of books with white main characters—or even those with animal or other characters. While there has been some progress, there is much more that needs to be done in diversity in children’s and young adult literature.” Books exemplifying diversity encourage children to be perceptive and acceptive that there will be people who don’t necessarily have the same socio-cultural or economic backgrounds as themselves.
The importance and benefits that can be derived from reading have diminished as the years go by. We seem to forget how reading, at a young age, can help to mold and shape children’s minds while giving them information and keeping their minds active. Jean M. Twenge, a renowned author and professor of psychology at San Diego State University stated that when compared with the previous generations, teenagers in the 2010s spent majority of their leisure time online and less time with conventional forms of media such as books, magazines, or even television. As with each generation of technology advances, we see where scrolling through social media has become the substitute for reading.
While scrolling through YouTube, you may observe that there are so many options to choose from. A child who is eager to learn is opened to discovering so much from random videos. How do we streamline the information that is being distributed to our children? How do we help expand their minds to new possibilities and new ideas that can broaden their imagination and thinking? To not limit their concept of what they are taught to believe? The answer is still books and diverse books is the bridge we truly need.
Inspired by how reading has influenced her throughout the years, Isabel Cintra, a published Brazilian author, has written two amazing fictional novels ‘The Great Little Tailor’ and ‘The Princess and the Mirror.’ These colorfully illustrated books highlight the importance of learning about different races and cultures and how precious and beautiful diversity can be. Isabel’s books are like the steel that pave the bridge our children need.
Isabel’s dream is to encourage children between the ages of six to twelve to read to have a more accurate view of the world around them. These books are intended to give a child of color the opportunity to see other children of the same race depicted in fairytales. They allow children to recognize and identify with the characters showcased in the book and connect to the text on another level. This is exactly what this world needs.
She illustrates her vision of an enchanted princess in her likeness centered around a beautiful fairy tale with kings and queens, princes and princesses within ‘The Princess and the Mirror.’ This book is the perfect way to encourage young girls of color to be beautiful and proud of their skin color and culture as well as open other children to embrace the diverse world we live in.
About:
Isabel Cintra grew up in the small town of Sao Joaquim de Barra, Brazil. At an early age, she entered the magical world of writing and literature. A shy girl with a head full of thoughts, her greatest desire was to share with the world, through her books, the vision of an enchanted princess who looked like her. Through her vibrant picture books, illustrated by her brother Zeka Cintra, Isabel strives to introduce kids to a world where diversity is valuable and beautiful. Fantasy, representativeness and diversity are common themes in her editorial production. She currently resides in Stockholm, Sweden with her husband and daughters. Her books are available on Amazon.