Ensuring A Child's Academic Achievement in Math and Science for the 2009-10 Academic Year and Beyond

A component of SEM Link's mission is promote student achievement in math and science; therefore as the start of school is approaching I thought is was appropriate to talk about how student can do well in these subjects. I believe that any child has the ability to achieve academically in math and science, however at times their are many barriers to one's success.

One of the major barriers is a child's perception of math and science and their ability to achieve. Math and science are subjects that many students say is "hard" and once you determine in your mind that someone is hard, you automatically put a negative association with that thing. So the first step in changing students mindset about math and science is for them to believe they are capable of achieving well in math and science. It isn't hard, but you must work hard to excel in this subjects; so don't be afraid of hard work.

The next thing is to realize that in math and science, concepts usually build upon one another or are connected. Therefore it is important that students take good notes in class, read their textbook and devote plenty of study time at home to these subjects. Also if you are stuck on a concept don't be afraid to get help from a classmate, a teacher or a tutor. There is nothing wrong with asking for help because getting a little help will ensure that you achieve academically in challenging subjects. Everyone needs a little help from time to time.

Finally, if you interested in math and science find extra activities to develop your skills and explore your interests. There are plenty of websites where you can find hands on activities to practice your skills. You can do a math or science fair project, where you get an opportunity to study a topic in math or science that you are interested in. Join the math or science club or participate in math or science competitions such as quiz bowls and outreach programs at your local colleges or university or community organization. Their is so much to learn about math and science that you can't possibly learn it all in your classroom.

The first day of the 2009-10 Program Year is here- Whoo hoo

I am very excited because today is the start of the new program year. This is the year that we are going to create an SEM Link community of our that consists of our community partners, corporate sponsors, donors, supporters, volunteers and most importantly the students that we serve.

I just want to update you on a few new things that are coming up on the horizon in the month of August. We will launch our new interactive website that explains who we are and what we do, makes it easier for individuals to donate and volunteer, makes it easier for parents and students to gain access to our services. We also showcase our niche in the promotion of academic achievement and career exploration in Math and Science with our new resources and career exploration pages.

I know that is a recession, but everyone has a little lunch money they can spare. So if you haven't done so already make the 2009-10 the year you donate some of your lunch money to support SEM Link. You can donate through paypal our email address is donate@semsuccess.org. When our website launches you can easily donate them.

As far as programs, we are truly excited we will continue to serve as a Community Partner for Cool Girls. Through our Math and Science Career Academy we will provide hands on activities and academic support in math and science for the Cool Scholars portion of the Cool Club after-school program. Also as a part of the Math and Science Career Academy, we will expand our Science Cafe' to include a monthly science cafe our first cafe will take place on September 17th and the topic will be Alternative Energy Sources.

We are expanding our Experimental Design Program, we will continue to accept applications for our Experimental Design Mentoring Program and provide judges for math and science fair. However now math and science teachers can request a mentor to provide support for their entire classrooms.

In addition, we are expanded our web presence and communication with our stakeholders. We will send out a monthly e-newsletter as well as press releases to media outlets. Today is day one of "unveiling potential through exposure". I'm excited and ready and look forward to your support.

Building the SEM Link Team

I am a huge football fan and I'm awaiting for the season to start. As the 2009-10 fiscal year is approaching on August 1, I am thinking about all the goals we have set for the 2009-10 program year and how we will successfully accomplish it all. In thinking about football and the successful franchises, what makes them successful is everyone affiliated with the team not only knows their roles, but works hard to achieve common goals. The team is more than the coaches and players that you see on the fields, it includes the executives that run the operations, obtain resources and market the team, the physicians and other medical staff that ensure the players stay healthy.

My point in all of this is just because myself and my assistant Angela are the face of the organization and are the most visible we alone can't be responsible for nor have the ability for achieving all our goals as a organization just like those players on the field can't be responsible. We need all the other members of the team (the front office support and the medical staff), both boards, volunteers, individual donors, corporate partners and friends of the organization to do their part in making the organization a successful and sustainable organization that is able to touch the lives of children and create future scientist, engineers and mathematicians by "unveiling potential through exposure". So in the next 4 days before the next fiscal year starts, reflect about how you will play your part to make the organization a success and then get busy with doing it. Are you going to increase your financial contribution to the organization and encourage others in your network to do so, are you going to make more time in your schedule to volunteer are you doing to encourage your company and business owners in your network to become a corporate partner are you going to encourage people in your network to attend events. Come on team, let's get ready for the season and make it a winning one.

Making the Most of the Web to Promote Our Mission and Obtain Resources for SEM Link

One of the reasons that the world has become global is because the internet has removed the geographical divide that did not allow us to connect with one another. No matter what part of the world you live in, you can connect with people in other parts of your city, your state, your country and the world. But have we really made the best use of the internet to achieve both our personal and professional goals. I'll admit that I haven't truly tapped into all the web can provide for me as a social entrepreneur to promote the mission of SEM Link and obtain the resources that we need to achieve our mission.

An advisory board member and I were discussing ways that we can increase our web presence as an organization. Our first steps were to reevaluate our website, which is our number one web tool for promoting the mission of the organization and obtaining resource, it is defining who we are as an organization and obtaining the resources that you need. In reevaluating our website, we discovered that it wasn't the best representation of our organization; therefore we have been on a website development project. Our new website will launch next month and I'm so excited because we have created a interactive website that not only describe who we are and what we do, but has a special tailored message for all of our target markets (K-12 students, parents and educators, volunteers, individual donors, corporate partners) as well as shows what our niche is as an organization in math and science education. The other part of our website was creating a facebook group for the organization. We have been posting pictures and events on this group and the size of our group is growing everyday. But we really do need to kick it up a notch and maximize how we utilize this free marketing and advertising tool to build an online community for the organization. Finally, this blog how to I get myself to blog on a more consistent and regular basis and increase the number of followers that we have.

So these next few months I am going to be on a mission to make the most of the use of the internet to promote the organization and obtain resources for the organization. My goal is to utilizing social networking and other online tools to increase the number of people that know who we are and what we do. Using a tool that a friend told me about www.prlog.com, which is a free online resource for distributing press releases online. Writing more articles on online magazines both in the educational field and outside of it. Promoting SEM Link more on the social networking groups that I am on through facebook.

I know that these last two blogs haven't necessarily been directly related to the mission of SEM Link. However, SEM Link is a business even though it is a non profit organization. Therefore I run it like business and divide my efforts to creating and developing quality programs that help us achieve our business; but we can't do that if we don't handle our business and do what we need to do to allow the SEM Link to become a sustainable organization "promotes student achievement and career in math and science for K-12 students" for years to come.

Creating A New Image and Defining a Brand for New Opportunities

At some point in order to get ensure its sustainability and growth as an organization, every business has to create a new image and define its brand. This goes for non profit organizations as well because your image and brand determines if you will obtain the resources needed to achieve your mission. SEM Link is currently in the process of creating a new image and defining our brand, doing that doesn't change who you are and what you do as an organization, but how you communicate the message of who you are and what you do.

We are creating a new image, by first creating a website that clearly communicates to all of our different audiences each having a crafting message based on their role or potential role within the organization. Secondly, we are showing that we are a green and an operational efficient organization by making all of our application and donation process online and automated. The use of automated online application not only reduces the waste from paper, but creates an automatic database for us to keep records of our clients, donors and volunteers.

Finally, the whole purpose and goal of creating a new image and defining our brand is to create new opportunities for SEM Link and the students that we serve. When you clearly communicate who you are and what you do, it provides new opportunities to attract donors, volunteers and partnerships. Which will ultimate lead to more resources to create new opportunities to impact more children and "unveil potential through exposure".

The importance of being a part of a child's village

This past few weeks, I have attended several college and high school graduation ceremonies. There was one in particular that made me realize how important it is for adults to be involved in children's lives that aren't your own. I was at a graduation and unfortunately because not everyone followed the proper etiquette and decorum for a graduation ceremony; several parents didn't get to see their child graduate because they were escorted out of the ceremony by the police for their inappropriate behavior. In addition, those of us who observed the etiquette and decorum for the ceremony, didn't fully get to enjoy the celebration of the huge milestone in the child's live we were there to celebrate because of those individuals.

This incident made me realize that although many of us where blessed to have wonderful parents that instilled in us for the lack of a better term good home training, so we don't act a fool in public; not everyone was blessed with that. So I know that I normally talk about preparing children for stem careers; but we can't always do that if we don't do some basic mentoring to the individual. We don't invest in a child's live because we assume that their parent's are doing something wrong, because just like every parent does when raising a child they are doing the best they know how. It is about exposing children to different experiences, different behaviors and mindsets and teaching them different skills sets that will give them an opportunity to be all they can be in life and do all that they want to do. That is truly "unveiling potential through exposure" at its most basic level.

Partnerships that create synergy and a win-win situation

Our career fair that took place on May 1st was the end of our 2008-09 program year and our 2009-10 program year begins again after Labor Day. During this time of transition as I reflect on the old and prepare for the new, I am always thinking about what went well, what needs to be improved and what we need to not do anymore. I'm always constantly trying to make sure that those thoughts are centered around the mission, vision and goals of the organization.

No organization can achieve its mission without partnerships; we are living in an interdependent world with limited resources. Partnerships allow us to share resources, so that we all can accomplish our organizational goals. However, how do we chose partnerships that are mutually beneficial and ensure that all parties involved stay authentic to who they are as an organization? Some of the lessons learned in the principles of leadership can be applied to selecting partners. Stephen Convey, has teaches the concepts of win-win and synergy; which I believe are great concepts and things that should be considered in selecting partners. Everyone organization has something to bring to the table that collaboration with another organization can help both organization's advance.

So as I look to the next few months, years and beyond for SEM Link to ensure our continued growth and sustainability, I'm going to have to put just as much effort into selecting our partners as I do in planning quality programs. As the saying goes, all that glitters isn't gold, not every organization is a good fit for a partnership. The exact criteria for what organizations are a best fit, that is something that my board and I, lead by our Strategic Partnership chair will have to determine. The most important thing for me to make sure if that I have the courage to stay committed to building partnerships that create synergy and are win-win for all parties involved and not be afraid to walk away from opportunities that don't. For me it is not important who we partner with, but that our partnership allow us to stay authentic to who we are and what we do as an organization, which is "unveil potential through exposure". We have to be associated with the "right" fit, not necessarily the "right" name.