Ryan Pederson

Recent Activity

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  Ryan signed the petition | over 2 years ago

  Tell the Department of Labor to release its list of goods tainted by slave labor
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  Ryan commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  When Society Expects Us to Fail, We Usually Do

  Nathaniel,

  
  

  Thank you for your post. I just spent the summer teaching in a church-based summer school on the west side of Chicago, and it gave me a slight glimpse of the courage, determination, and love that being a good teacher requires. I felt awful to have ever thought that someone was "just a teacher."

  
  

  One teacher I met articulated exactly what I imagine many teachers felt when she told my group that teaching takes "every ounce of her physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual strength day in and day out. It's the most challenging and rewarding job I could imagine." As I start my consulting job in one month, I look at my two teacher roommates with an immense amount of respect and admiration.

  
  

  I agree that our society needs a shift in our expectations, on multiple levels. I've recently been inspired by some of Jawanza Kunjufu's writings, in which he argues that the best thing we can do for an inner-city student is have high expectations for his/her success. Sounds like this applies to both students and teachers.

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  Ryan signed the petition | almost 3 years ago

  Urge Congress to Help Women Prevent HIV/AIDS
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  Ryan signed the petition | almost 3 years ago

  Tell Congress to Unleash the Potential of Energy Efficiency!
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  Ryan signed the petition | almost 3 years ago

  Afghanistan in Crisis: Tell Congress to Act Now
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  Ryan signed the petition | almost 3 years ago

  Stop Climate Change and Improve the Lives of the World's Poorest
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  Ryan commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

  Education Entrepreneur: Partnership Pitfalls

  Charlie,
  It was great to reconnect at the Global Engagement Summit and I appreciate your comments. We are going to do our best to open-source as much of what we have learned in GES and GESI as possible and I'm open to ideas as to how to best to so.
  All the best!Ryan

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  Ryan commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

  Education Entrepreneur: Partnership Pitfalls

  Saul and Zak,
  Thanks for your comments! I think they are dead on. We've found that helping students think through how their own interests/skill sets/critical thinking can support or add value to what our host organizations are already doing has been vital. We've also seen our students through catalyzing basic community organizing activities with a host NGO, though not to the same extent that Saul has probably seen happen with some of the most successful SMRC projects that have an even stronger organizing focus.
  Thanks guys!Ryan

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  Ryan commented on the article | about 3 years ago

  Education Entrepreneur: Partnership Pitfalls

  Hi Melissa,What school do you run your program from? Would love to learn more about it.Ryan