Week 7 Communication
Announcements:
Week 7 Calendar: HERE
360 Feedback: As part of the ULF fellowship, we seek to ensure that all of our fellows walk away with evidence of their areas of strength as well as concrete areas to grow. To make that happen, each fellow will be presented with feedback from their PO supervisor, a policy team peer, a cohort peer, and from Juan.
You will receive an email from me tonight which includes the name of the person whom you’re providing feedback for as well as instructions to do so. We will have 30 minutes of work time to do this as a team on Friday, however, you may complete it in advance if you’d prefer.
Electronic copies of the feedback will be presented to fellows in the weeks following the fellowship.
Sharing our Personal Theories of Change: Remember, your personal theory of change can take any form you’d like. All that I ask is that takes less than 5 minutes to deliver and that it somehow includes the 4 elements of the Liberatory Conciousness framework: Awareness, analysis, action, and accountability/allyship. Here is a link to our Mod. 9 folder with more info.
Toasting to the summer: I’m excited to revive this tradition juan last time. On Friday, just before we close for the summer, we’ll take a moment to share a few words that commemorate our time together. The theme will be unity and solidarity.
A good toast is honest, it comes from the heart, and lifts up the best that a moment has to offer. In the interest of time, energy, and momentum, I’m going to ask that we keep our remarks under 250 words. When it’s time, we’ll raise our glasses together and toast to memories made and memories to come.
RD Office Hours: I’ve got a ton of them this week and their there to make sure you all feel supported. Please make good use of them if you or your team would benefit from it.
Summary of action items:
Share names/titles/and contact information of guests with me that will be joining us for final presentations. Remember, you’re inviting them. I’m just sending the calendar invite.
Alumni Induction Pre-work:
Bring a personal artifact to share with the group during our close-out ceremony on Friday. The item you bring can be anything that represents you, your experience this summer, or anything otherwise special to you in anyway.
Be ready to share your Personal Theory of Change with the group.
Bring an actual drink and prepare your remarks for our end of fellowship, celebratory toast.
Submit your final presentation materials to your team’s folder below by COB CST on Tuesday, July 21st.
Submit your 360 Peer Evaluation Form by 3PM on Friday, July 24th.
Complete your ULF NOLA Virtual Closeout form by 3PM CST on Friday, July 24th.
Please complete your post-fellowship survey by 5 PM CST on Friday, July 24th.
Week 6 Communication
Announcements:
Week 6 Calendar:HERE
Week 7 Calendar: HERE
Policy Memo Collaborative Feedback: Please use this form provide feedback (glows and grows) to the other 2 policy groups’ memos. Key elements to look for include content, structure, organization, word choice, clarity (Here’s a guide), and opportunities to align policy projects. Let’s remember that these are living documents, so lean towards asking questions more than prescribing solutions. Feedback doesn’t have to be long but it should be clear enough for the group to understand the point. Each team will have access to the results and should follow up individually if there are any questions. All feedback is requested by Policy Team Collaborative Time on Wednesday.
School Evaluation and Accountability:
Covid-19 School Health Safety Codes:
Internet Access:
Summary of action items:
Policy Memo Collaborative Feedback due to all groups by 3 PM CST on Wednesday.
Share names of guests you’d like to invite to our Final policy presentations with Juan by 3 PM CST on Wednesday.
Week 5 Communication
Announcements:
Week 5 Calendar: HERE
Week 5 Policy Team RD Check-ins: I’d like to check-in with each group to A) follow up on last Thursday’s policy checkpoint meetings and B) align on the path forward. Calendar invites were shared with groups individually. Order of check-ins goes as follows:
[3:30 - 4 PM CST] School Evaluation and Accountability
[4 - 4:30 PM CST] Covid-19 School Health Safety Codes
[4:30 - 5 PM CST] Student Internet Access
Dallas Love: We’re getting a ton of Dallas love this week - lucky us! We’ll be training with them this Tuesday and we’ll have a virtual happy hour this Thursday! For the happy hour, we’ll be enjoying drinks and a few ice breakers to get the conversations flowing.
Mod 7. Lay It On the Line Identity Map Pre-Work: As pre-work for Tuesday’s training, you’ll read “The Complexity of Identity: Who Am I?” by Beverly D. Tatum and you’ll complete an Identity Map exercise. I’m sure we would all agree that we are not just any one part of our identities. For example, I am not just a man. I’m not just a POC. I’m not just a fill-in-the-blank. We are - in fact - all of our various identities wrapped in one and their unique combinations often determine our proximity to power. Still, there is value in unpacking singular lines of who we are. That’s what you’ll be doing when you complete your personal identity map. Take a look at mine if you’d like to see an example.
HOLD for potential Guest Speaker this Friday: I’m still confirming this time works for one of our guest speakers. If it does not happen, I will notify the group via group me and by cancelling the invite with at least 24 hours in advance. In the event of a cancellation, I will move up our Weekly Step Back Meeting Time to begin at 3:30 PM CST. Stay tuned.
Summary of action items:
Mod 7. Lay It On the Line Pre-Work: Read “The Complexity of Identity: Who Am I?” by Beverly D. Tatum and complete your “Personal Identity Map” by 3 PM on Tuesday. See announcement above for help with your map.
Please complete the Week 4 Survey by 8 AM on Tuesday.
Week 4 Communication
Announcements:
Week 4 Calendar: HERE - Heads up! We’re meeting earlier than usual this week!
Getting you paid: Fellows should expect to receive a notification of payment of half of your summer stipends in the next few days. We are expecting payments to hit all fellows’ inboxes by the end of the week. Reach out to Juan if you have not received yours by Friday, July 3rd.
Monday Panels: We’re going to be hearing from 2 panels tomorrow - one for school leaders and another for students. For the school leader panel, we’ll be joined by Jamar Mckneely (CEO, Inspire NOLA Schools), Jerel Bryant (Principal, George Washington Carver High School) Christina Fontenot (Director of College Counseling, Abramson Sci Academy High School).
Tuesday PD with Dallas: I’m super excited to announce we’ll be training with Dallas this Tuesday! I’ve been coordinating with the Dallas RD, Tamira Samual, to co-host a really special conversation about strategies to develop our personal theory of change. Be prepared to introduce yourself to the group and to engage around conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion (Pre-work below).
Week 4 Policy Checkpoint Meetings: Our Checkpoint Meetings are happening this Thursday, July 2nd from 2:30 - 4:30 PM CST. Each group will have 30 minutes to present where they currently stand in their research/writing and to ask questions of Ethan and Juan for the appropriate path forward. The order of presentations is as follows:
[2:30 - 3 PM CST] School Evaluation and Accountability
[3 - 3:30 PM CST] Covid-19 School Health Safety Codes
[3:30 - 4 PM CST] Student Internet Access
When they are not presenting, each group is expected to meet to prepare/debrief the meeting. Agendas for the meeting are due by COB on July 1st (see below).
Virtual Game Night: Join us after policy checkpoint meetings for a virtual game night! We’re definitely playing Settlers of Catan! Maybe some trivia, checkers (Monica has been talking smack saying she hasn’t been beat in a really long time * eye rolling emoji *), and other games too. More details to follow for those that accept the calendar invite. Also, I’m bringing multiple drinks to the party so feel free to do the same if you’d like.
Summary of action items:
Mod 9. Developing a Personal Theory of Change - Part I: Read “Developing a Liberatory Conciousness” By Barbara J. Love and “Preaching to the Choir” by Joe Brandt by 1:30 PM CST on Tuesday, June 30th.
Bring your pet to our policy collaborative time on Tuesday: We’ll introduce them to the group for our ice breaker :)
Week 4 Policy Checkpoint Meeting Agenda: Share your meeting agenda with Ethan and Juan by Wednesday, July 1st at 5 PM PM CST. Sample agendas and more info can be found HERE.
Week 3 Communication
Announcements:
Week 3 Calendar: HERE
“What the Black Panther Party Can Teach Us Today”Event: Join the ULF National network on Thursday, June 25, at 3 PM EST for What the Black Panther Party Can Teach Us Today featuring Saturu Ned (CEO and founder of Black Panther Power and former member of the original Black Panther Party) interviewed by Yarkenda Payne (ULF Alumna). Fellows should have received an email with zoom information. Reach out to Juan if you have not.
Virtual 1:1’s: Let’s get to know each other a little better! I’ve created the following groupings: [Jared and Caitlyn], [Maddie and Ella], [Monica and Lillian], [Tania, Cassandra, and Maddie]
The ask is for each of you to coordinate with your virtual buddy and answer the following questions:
What’s your funniest childhood memory?
What’s your guilty quarantine pleasure?
How do you deal with/handle stress?
And here’s what I’ll do just to sweeten the pot! If you have your call virtually and you take a screen shot, you’ll be entered into for a raffle for a special gift from NOLA! Share your screenshots in the groupme <3
Virtual Game Night Committee: I need some help setting up a virtual game night which will take place Thursday, July 2nd from 6 - 8 PM CST! I’m thinking Settlers of Catan, Checkers (I hear we have some checkers champs among us), etc.
Summary of action items:
Week 2 Policy Memo Feedback: Due to Ethan with incorporated feedback by Tuesday, June 23rd at 2:30 PM CST. Please CC Juan when you submit.
Week 2 Survey Due by Monday, June 22nd at 8 AM CST. Find the Survey HERE
Mod 6. The House We Live in Pre-work: Read “How Redlining Shaped New Orleans Neighborhoods - is it too late to be fixed?” and “Treme: How ‘Urban Renewal’ destroyed the cultural heart of New Orleans” by Tuesday, June 23rd. at 2:30 PM CST.d
Have your 1:1 calls by EOD Thursday, June 25th. Groupings listed above.
Week 2 Communication
Announcements:
Week 2 Calendar: HERE
Partner Organizations launch: I am so, so very excited for us to finally begin our work with partner organizations! Everyone should have scheduled a time to meet with their PO supervisor tomorrow or Tuesday. Remember, you will need to work with them to complete your PO Project Plan and your schedule for weeks 2-3. Please reach out to Juan if you need any support with addressing these items.
ULF PO End Date: Please note, that no one is expected to work after July 24th.
Week 2 Policy Checkpoint Meetings: Our Checkpoint Meetings are happening this Friday, Juneteenth from 2:30 - 4:30 PM CST. Each group will have 30 minutes to present where they currently stand in their research/writing and to ask questions of Ethan and Juan for the appropriate path forward. The order of presentations is as follows:
[2:30 - 3 PM CST] Covid-19 School Health Safety Codes
[3 - 3:30 PM CST] Student Internet Access
[3:30 - 4 PM CST]School Evaluation and Accountability
When they are not presenting, each group is expected to meet to prepare/debrief the meeting. Agendas for the meeting are due by COB on June 18th (see below).
Summary of action items:
Sign up to share your story of Self: Sign up for a time to share your story of self during our weeks 2-5 community meetings. Your story of self should be between 5-10 minutes long and can take any form you'd prefer. Please let Juan know what - if any - special requests you might have to deliver yours authentically, at least 24 hours in advance. Sign up for a time HERE.
Also, if you need some help putting yours together, take a look at the Resource Folder.
Mod 5. Levers of Change Pre-work: Read How to Understand the Differences Among Statutes, Regulations, Ordinances and Common Law by Tuesday @ 2:30 PM.
Mod 8. Building Teams / Leadership Compass Pre-Work: Read Tools for Team Effectiveness Program by Tuesday @ 2:30 PM
Sign up for a time to Walk-N-Talk: In an effort to get a sense of how you’re faring and how I might support you through the summer, we’re going to connect Juan:1. I’m calling these Walk-N-Talks to help get us in the spirit of to being active and away from our computers. Sign up for a 20 minute slot HERE.
Week 1 Policy Memo Feedback: Juan will be providing feedback to all policy memos tonight and tomorrow. Your team will be responsible for addressing the recommendations and sending it with Ethan by Tuesday at 2:30 PM CST. Please CC Juan when you do.
Week 2 Policy Checkpoint Meeting Agenda: Share your meeting agenda with Ethan and Juan by Thursday, June 18th at 5 PM PM CST. Sample agendas and more info can be found HERE.
Spring Cohort Blasts:
ULF NOLA Cohort Blast 6/3/20 [Shared via email subject re: ULF NOLA Cohort Blast #4]