I've thought for some time about the issues facing East Cleveland, and thought deeply about the potential we have to uplift an underprivileged community by applying a concerted eco-development strategy. Here I outline some of my core thoughts as framed by our six-sphere model:
In essence, sustainability is a holistic process, not a static, environmentally-focused entity. To achieve sustainability - that is, the ability to meet the needs of the present generation in a way that does not compromise future generation's ability to meet their needs (bruntland) - I argue that we need to facilitate progress within each of the six spheres that holistically define quality of life and community development. In today's posting I discuss the first of these: Education.
Education
The need for educational reform in East Cleveland has long been necessary. While Shaw High School has demonstrated progress by shifting to a small-school model, there is still much room for improvement. We are talking about transformational opportunities, and such opportunties necessitate novel approaches and innovative implementations. I offer, via a micro-model of the six-sphere approach, that we need to implement innovations as they intersect with Health, Technology, Environment, Economy, and Arts and Culture. We need to bring aspects of these five pillars into school cirriculum at the earliest possible age. If possible, these implementations should embrace experiential (learning-by-doing) models that offer students hands-on, transformational episodes.
We should look to award winning charter schools like Peter Whitehouse's intergenerational school and the great opportunities these aspects can provide. Similarly Entrepreneurship training , with the aid of innovative nonprofits like E-City, needs to be introduced as a means of breaking the cycles of poverty that predominate for so many in East Cleveland.
In Health Education we clearly want to raise awareness, first and foremost, regarding the lead poisoning situation - with over 20 percent of East Cleveland's young people suffering from lead poisoning this is no simple issue. Smart lead abatement strategies such as those advocated by the Greater Cleveland Lead Advisory Council (GCLAC) and the Huron Hospital need to be implemented effectively. Other health education issues run the gamut from nutrition, to fitness, to epidemiology.
With Arts and Culture Education the opportunities are great to expose young people to arts appreciation and arts training. This way students can identify with a favorite medium and talent can be discovered at an early age. Programs like the Progressive Arts Alliance have proven very effective at implementing educational arts reform that makes art fun to learn and perform.
Environmental education initiatives are no less important than the rest. Exisitng groups working in this sphere include David Wright and the
Environmental Education Council of Ohio, (EECO). Interest has also been shared by the Earth Day Coalition, with their environmental education initiatives in High Schools. Again, exposing East Cleveland youth to critical issues of the environment and transformational experiences that incorporate environmental appreciation are critical.
Look for the next chapter of this dialog soon: Education, Part II.