Quick 4 minute read from Treehouse Founder and CEO Ryan Carson (he/him) on diversify within your teams

Interested in reading some more on US Apprenticeship ? One resource mentioned in this article thats full of blogs, data and country comparisons can be found here https://lnkd.in/dQ9auQn site by Robert Lerman

A nice update to share: @JerseyFamilyFun has recognized my children's book "Are You a Giraffe" as a must read book. Check out their 25+ Books White Kids Should Read About Racism for more details. https://lnkd.in/duzJMiP.

Some of the aphorisms we repeat are oft-times not true. And, it's important to recognize that reality and we need to stop repeating certain phrases as if they represented the truth. Take this phrase: Time heals all wounds. That's just false. It heals some wounds and ameliorates others. But there are some wounds from which we don't recover fully; we navigate forward; we learn work-arounds. But time doesn't eliminate the trauma we've experienced. Try this phrase: Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me. How false is this? Imagine racial slurs and other affronts. We need to take abusive language seriously; words do hurt and do harm. Goodness, how can we treat verbal abuse as non-hurtful? My point is this: we easily repeat phrases without truly reflecting on their meaning. What better time than now, in the midst of a pandemic, racial tensions and uncertainty, to reflect on these referenced phrases and eliminate them from our lexicon. And, these are not the only two phrases that deserve to be set aside. Let's help our children by recognizing that traumatic events are not erased and words can do harm. If we recognize this, we can be in a position to help others in schools and workplaces and communities. P.S. Diamonds are not a girl's best friend. …see more

I was just asked by an online pub. to predict what will happen in higher education in the coming years. I had to fight the question. At best, predictions are based on facts and data and science and studies and experience in the trenches. Even then, predictions are fraught with uncertainty. Gamblers know that. So, after pointing out the non-homogenous nature of higher ed and the absence of consistent change, I suggested that it was vastly better to provide conjectures rather than predictions. The world is changing so fast; we’re in unknown territory. I suspect we don’t have all the data and what data we have may be flawed. It is for these very reasons that we feel anxious and stressed and a tad (or more) out of sorts. We have no control; we have no gold at the end of the rainbow; we have an absence of certainty. And it’s not like the messaging from our governments is consistent. The inability to predict is actually our problem. We can’t and therein lies the disquiet. So, in response to the editor’s questions, I won’t make predictions. Instead, I’ll conjecture. Watch for a later post where I conjecture about higher ed. One caveat: I can predict that most elite schools will not be on the frontline of innovation/change. They can afford to do neither. That’s sad. …see more

Today is el dia del libro. At the request of the Spanish Embassy in DC, I prepared this short video of me reading one of my children's books (which is in Spanish). Enjoy. Hasta luego. Reading matters. #eldiadelLibro #SpainEdOffice .

Not that long ago, although it seems like decades, Southern Vermont College closed. I believed and still believe its death was premature. But there was no stomach among new # #leadership and most trustees for innovative ideas, restructuring and change. Instead, to avoid lawsuits (they got them anyway) and Mt Ida like situations, they caved like a deck of cheap cards. Sorry to be harsh but the mirror reflection if people look isn’t complimentary. Now the VT State Colleges are facing closure on three campuses. I have read the reports. I think death is premature. Yes to change. Yes to innovation. Yes to hard choices. Yes to reallocation of spending. The chancellor is a financial dude — former State Treasurer as I recall from my time. I get the finances. If he were an educational innovator, I suspect he’d see some pathways forward. I have reached out. No response (yet). Folks, there are ways forward. Many moons ago, I was a restructuring lawyer. The principles from Title 11 served me well and with help, SVC started truly thriving. For real. Then I left and there were changes that made no sense, administrative bloat, low enrollment (they sought better students), low low fundraising and a gift that kept on taking. I want to help if people will listen. Time is now. …see more

So, I have been reading and talking to folks about the impending merger (closure) of Marlboro College with Emerson. Read recent article in Boston Globe. All this brought me to realize a strategy that would have worked for Southern Vermont College and some other colleges in distress. The idea: right size them. Could write more but for now: With impending and evident enrollment declines, shrink the spending side to match enrollment until new enrollment approaches are in place. Yes. Downsize in the near term. That would cost some jobs within faculty and staff. At SVC, I would have torn down old dorms which would cut costs and staffing. I would have doubled up in new dorm on two floors and rented space for overflow. I would have had a lean mean administrative team. (Another leader bloated it for several years with outsized salaries.) Right sizing is hard but smart. Look at Sterling College. If past growth isn’t sustainable, adjust and fast. Don’t bleed to death or ask trustees for repeated end of year shortfall bailouts. Goodness knows, Higher Ed needs to get smarter. Right sizing is smart and doable. Otherwise, hearts will be broken with unnecessary closures. …see more

As I leave Japan, having spent 5 days in Okinawa, I am struck by so many things. Here are a few worth, I hope, sharing. 1. In Okinawa, Americans are not welcomed still in many ways. And except when on a US military base, there is a sense of American imperialism, where we have overtaken an island not our own. As Americans we are used to being seen as “top dog”, so it is important I think to recognize that other peoples are not always fond of us — for good and bad reasons. 2. I have traveled near and far but few places feel as foreign and with so little English as Okinawa. Were I stationed there, I would learn their language — not only to navigate but to show respect. Not just hello and goodbye. 3. The local Okinawa crafts, found in hidden places on the island, represent amazing artisans, many of whom are not frequented by Americans. Americans tend to go to “touristy” places, theme parks with fake crafts. It is different to see weavers weaving and smell the wet clay and see the glass blowers blowing. And buying that art, whether or not objectively valuable, has enormous value in terms of personal cultural artifacts and connection to people and place. Watch for installment two! …see more

I am against walls. Generally and with respect to keeping people out and in....But if we must have walls, why not look at history and recognize all the walls that displayed art? It can be art by individuals or groups. It can be community art. It can be protest art. It can art done by famous artists. Schools could bring classes. And we need art on all sides, seen from all angles. Think Agam. Reflect on schools having classes go to do art. Different styles. Multiperspectival art. Art that messages. If walls are required as a political reality, turn them into settings for creativity and imagination. Better than nothing except blank space with no color. …see more

My photo essay for today: The swamp is being drained but it's being refilled w/ equally difficult folk -- not drained of old line politics. Just new alligators. Won't be a better swamp. Still be a swamp. I'm struggling to realize that this is my America, my nation -- rude, disrespectful, misogynistic, isolationist and fear inducing. My hope -- pendulums swing back. And, in the meanwhile, protect our children please. Keep them from repeating the hate and the nastiness and bullying. Missing images (they are on Facebook) of flag and pendulum. …see more

Ark Republic editors started the #gentrification series with our experiences. Here's mine. Indeed the cityscape of LA, Atlanta & Newark develops, but at a high cost for those who kept inner cities alive when few dared to enter

To be chosen as one of Linkedin's Top Voices 2015 is still a dream. There are incredible folk on the list. Enjoy the features ...

Our team at @stratisiot is thrilled to be named #740 on the Inc. 5000 list. To learn more about one of the fastest-growing companies in America and about #iot #multifamily and #technology join our webinar this Aug 22 at 2 p.m. by registering at http://bit.ly/2Yl0QxG …see more

You Are On Your Own (YOYO): Many of us were otherwise occupied listening to other news of the day (or decade), so its easy to understand missing this: the Affordable Care Act was struck down by a federal court. ‘Who cares?’ you may say...You care—regardless of political party. And here’s why: Without this program and protection, anyone—and I mean 50 million of us—can and will be kicked off or denied health insurance if we have a pre-existing medical condition (and who doesn’t?). Also anyone over 26 is YOYO—You’re On Your Own’ to pay those hefty insurance premiums. And flat-out, a cool 17 million Americans will lose their coverage. And yes I know that if you have a job and your company happens to include healthcare insurance in your benefits, this does not affect you—yet. Higher premiums are coming to you. And if you believe the politicians who say to you that they ‘are committed to ensuring affordable, high quality healthcare is available,’ they are telling tall tales. And here’s why: healthcare insurance companies are not in business to make less profits and people with pre-existing conditions are a total money loser for these companies. I find it particularly ironic that many of us are receiving this ‘gag gift’ during the ‘season of giving.’ …see more

We Are What We Eat—And Don’t Eat... The Agriculture Department moved again this week to cut spending on food stamps. Who will be hardest hit? 1. 500,000 children will lose access to school meals and will go all day without food. 2. Almost 8,000 households would lose benefits entirely and struggled to put dinner on the table. 3. Those who live in cold northern states will be very cold this winter because of changes in the way heating costs will be calculated. How can we expect Americans to be healthy and engaged positively in our society if our neighbors are cold and hungry? If America wants to build a ‘Culture of Health,’ it needs to advance policies which support good health, nutrition and warm homes and safe streets... Selected Excerpt: ‘...millions of participants will have their benefits reduced or cut altogether — particularly seniors, people with disabilities and working families — and 500,000 children will lose access to school meals,” according to the non-profit group, Feeding America. …see more

Read This: "How Much Pristine Wilderness Will Ryan Zinke’s Secret Plan Destroy?" What makes a life worthwhile? Our family? Our pets? Our community? Yes, AND--our natural world like our national parks and wilderness areas... So I find this plan to carve up The American People's Lands to hand over to the private sector particularly loathsome. Our Wild Lands Make America Great Right Now--So Protect Them Now. An excerpt from the attached article: "After weeks of speculation, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke finally told President Trump which protected public lands he wants to open up to mining, logging, and drilling. But he won’t tell us. In a shock move that no one in the environmental or fossil-fuel sectors expected, Zinke declined to make his report public, releasing only a vague, two-page summary and leaving everyone guessing which lands, exactly, he wants to hand over ." …see more

2021 will be a battle between science and misinformation. The country where the willingness to get vaccinated is greater, ‘wins’. I’m discussing the future of healthcare along with vaccination willingness and the right way to proceed in order to leave COVID-19 behind with Ted Newill . Thank you Ted for having me on the Medical Device Success Podcast! You can tune in here: https://lnkd.in/ekSvR7Y #podcast #speaker #themedicalfuturist #digitalhealth #future #healthcare #medicine #technology #COVID19 #COVID_19 #coronavirus …see more

I think hope makes it harder for us to continue living the lockdown reality. Now that there’s hope thanks to the vaccine, we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. This also makes us all the more impatient and takes its toll on our mental health. I’m interested to see if you’ve also got similar thoughts on your mind. #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #selfcare #mentalhealthmatters #mindfulness #mindset #meditation #themedicalfuturist #digitalhealth #future #healthcare #technology …see more

Fast Company put together a list of informational ads and posters about COVID-19 that they found unique and useful! Look at these! #covid #healthcare #ads #creativity …see more