There are not enough resources in the world to overcome poverty head-on. Thus, available resources should primarily be used to empower people to create their own success. This will result in lower levels of poverty over time. We are making hard-won progress in this regard in...
Blended-learning approach fuels student success in the classroom and beyond. Math. Or, rather, math!!! For generations the concepts of math have struck terror in those not gifted with the “math gene.” But what if we were exposed to math in ways that included visual concepts, fit every type of...
A grandchild’s diagnosis results in a world-class care center for our community When Dick and Mary Allen’s granddaughter, Hannah, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 2, it altered the course of their lives. Knowing the gravity of the condition, the Allens committed...
Educators find, and share, new strategies to inspire students and make learning more exciting. Sunday was World Teachers’ Day, a time to honor individuals who devote themselves to creating life-long learners and preparing our next generation for success in school and life. And, these days, they have a...
A brave 12-year old girl teaches children to never ever give up. In March 2011, Jessie Joy Rees and her family received a devastating diagnosis—she had brain cancer and the prognosis was not good. But the Rancho Santa Margarita girl, who lost her battle less than...
Nearly half of O.C. 3rd graders are at risk of falling behind. Literacy is crucial to an individual’s ability to achieve his or her full potential. But grim statistics show that the ability to read proficiently can be defined as early as third grade, when functional literacy...
After-school programs have shown powerful results in keeping at-risk youth out of trouble in the afternoon. It’s known as the "witching hour," the school-is-out-but-parents-aren't-home-yet time between 3 p.m. and about 6 p.m. every weekday, when children as young as elementary-school age, may be unsupervised. A lot of...
Nearly half of Orange County’s students may head back to school with empty backpacks and unmet needs. We all remember—or experience with our children—the mixture of nerves and excitement that accompany the start of a new school year. First -day-of-school outfit? Carefully-chosen backpack? Pristine packages of school...
With an older-adult population explosion on the horizon, Orange County needs to be prepared to address a new set of challenges and needs. There is no denying it, as baby boomers age, they bring with them a population explosion previously unseen in modern times. The numbers...
Groups encourage responsibility in keeping the county's waters free of runoff. An ideal climate, 42 miles of coastline, hills, canyons, beaches -- these are just some of Orange County’s natural allure. But these characteristics aren’t just great real estate selling points; they are integral to the...