This article is in honor and the memory of one of my all time heroes Muhammad Ali 2.
Artist: Yousuf Karsh – 1970
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Estrellita Karsh in memory of Yousuf Karsh.
The recently released report from the U. S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights reveals discouraging data about which our children have been screaming at us for years. The 2013-14 Civil Rights Data Collection is a survey of all public schools and school districts in the United States. The study included 50,035,744 students from 95,507 schools. It is not good news for everyone in a country that calls itself the “United States.” The data reveals that we are not a nation united in our support of education and youth development for all of our children.
Take a look. (more…)
Posted in ROPE
January 27, 2016 Rite Way blog & Relevant Disruption
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This year marks the 50th anniversary of work, joy and blessings fulfilling the destiny of my ancestor’s edict “Tikkun Olam” – repair of the world/universe. What began in 1962 as my ascendance from childhood to adolescence as a camper and from 1966 counselor-in-training/waiter, junior counselor in the woodlore program, senior counselor, and finally assistant camp director – on my way to adulthood, I unwittingly learned fundamental values and skills that served as a foundation for later lessons and practice in education, youth and community development. (more…)
Posted in ROPEA unity of opposites is present in the universe as difference and sameness (Heraclitus ca. 535-475 BC)
Since the beginning of time, opposing forces have helped sustain balance in the universe. The tension of opposite forces demonstrated by the myth of Eros and Thanatos: love and hate, life & death, compassion and intolerance - provides for order and dynamism in the universe. Wisdom in many faith traditions and spiritual paths teaches that love is the most powerful force in the universe.
A driving force behind community-oriented rites of passage is to help us as a group remember that love is the most powerful force in the universe. Through these rites of passage, we can guide our children to navigate around the opposing forces of hate, incivility and intolerance so prevalent today and help them choose to direct love out into the universe through compassion and caring. (more…)
Empowering Adaptable Communities the Rite Way!
AWARD FINALIST
The Center for Youth & Community, Inc. is a finalist for the 2015 Innovative Idea Awards for their youth & community development through rites of passage community organizing process.
On October 21-22, I will be presenting our work about community-oriented rites of passage at the Empowering Adaptable Communities Summit as part of the Innovative Idea Award process. (more…)
Posted in ROPE
A one ton roving robotic laboratory landed on Mars August 6, 2012. It’s name: Curiosity. We continue to make amazing advances through technology. Curiously, can we say the same thing about advances in helping to educate and raise our children? (more…)
Youth & community development through rites of passage recognizes that children come of age within several interconnected environments that require them to acquire different attitudes, skills and competencies for them to thrive in each setting. Schools are one of these environments. Schools offer opportunities for the initiatory process to unfold within a community-oriented rite of passage.
“We teach students not subjects.” (more…)
Posted in ROPEThe Conversations Continue
Florence, Italy
September 8, 2015
David G. Blumenkrantz, Ph.D., with Laura Remaschi, Ph.D.,
Ilana Bahbout, & Diego Galli
Children entering puberty is nature’s way of saying that something needs to happen. It needs to happen in ways that help children understand the normal physical changes that go along with entering adolescence. Children also need guidance and support to understand the psychological and emotional challenges, opportunities and social responsibilities. Parents too are confronted with the changes in their children during adolescence that impacts the entire family. (more…)
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Read more about Youth & Community Development through Rites of Passage in the new and highly acclaimed book by Dr. David Blumenkranz.
Support bringing the Rite of Passage Experience™ initiative to today’s youth, families and communities.
David Blumenkrantz, Ph.D., Ed.M., Founder & Executive Director, the Center for Youth & Community
It’t time for a Paradigm Shift – a fundamental change in beliefs, theory and approach – in developing community-centered responses to the challenges faced by today’s Youth & Community. More here>>