Durham University Business and Partnerships’ Post

#TodayInFocus we're sharing the inspiring story of the Asbury family for honoring their parents' love of education by creating the Asbury Scholarship! The scholarship, held at FFTC, is a way for the Asbury family to provide an opportunity to someone who needs it, because their belief is, “Education is so important, and it can never be taken away from you.” It's inspiring to see how their legacy will live on for generations to come. Learn more about how you can leave your own legacy: https://ow.ly/15lN50Rv0br

My phone blew up today with news of Junior State of America (JSA) winding down after 90 years. For a '90s high school student, JSA was formative (I was a Mayor, a Lt. Governor, and went to Georgetown & Montezuma). What made JSA special? 1️⃣ 👫 💡 Diversity of people & ideas. NJ high school was ... beige, racially and intellectually. At JSA, kids (and their parents) came from all over the place, with ideas which were all over the place. The most diverse environment I experienced until - a decade later - HBS. 2️⃣ 🛩 Travel. 🏛 DC, 🗽 NYC, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco. Without parents, and cell phones! Opened up new worlds for me. 3️⃣ 🗣 Speaking and Conflict. Once upon a time I didn't like public speaking (I know, hard to believe). JSA's approach to debate taught not just public speaking & opposing ideas in public, but also building friendships & leaving public conflict behind when the debate was done. Unique in today's world. 4️⃣ 📜 Paperwork. Hear me out. JSA had a lot of paperwork -- Resolutions. Agendas. Membership rolls, all with minimal computers. Effectively navigating bureaucracy is perhaps the defining skill of adulting. Without even realizing it, I learned to do that in JSA. 5️⃣ 🤗 Friends & 🤝 Leaders. JSA alums of that era became lawyers, business leaders, political leaders, social justice activists, and even rabbis. Several married each other. People like Israel "Izzy" Klein, Cindy Chen, Rachel Derkits-Gelman, and Abby Gordon still influence how I think about friendship, politics, and even parenting today. JSA's moment may have passed. No doubt other groups will fill these roles for the post-COVID high school generation. But it will be missed.

This is truly heartbreaking news, given that American democracy is in dire need of organizations like the Junior State of America (JSA). JSA not only gave me a transformative sense of purpose and community but also taught me about true statesmanship and the pillars of a healthy democracy— that is, civil and free discourse, civic engagement and representation that is inclusive of all swaths of society, and civic education for future generations of leaders, both in the US and abroad. From attending the 2012 Moctezuma Leadership Summit and the summer programs at Stanford (2011), Princeton (2012), Davis (2012), and Georgetown (2013) to serving as NorCal JSA's Expansion Director and Chapter President of American Indian Public High School's JSA chapter (among other roles), I was heavily involved in JSA. And, naturally, JSA had a significant impact on the trajectory of my own life. It was at a JSA year-round conference that I learned about the existence of my alma mater, Claremont McKenna College, and was encouraged to apply. It was through JSA that I developed my passion for public service and intercultural exchange, leading me to intern for Congresswoman Barbara Lee and become a Top 2 Finalist for Oakland's Public Ethics Commission last December. And, just as important, it was at these countless JSA programs and conferences that I gained cherished memories and forged invaluable friendships (some of whom I still stay in touch with today). It is my hope that the JSA Governors' efforts to reinvent the organization succeed. As the U.S.A. marches forward in the face of polarization, I pray that this vacuum in youth civic education is filled by the leadership and example of those of us who benefitted immensely from programs like JSA. #JSA #bethepeople #statesmenship #democracy #youth #civicengagement #juniorstateofamerica

Continuing Education (CE) units play a key roll in helping universities respond to the rapidly evolving educational and lifelong learning needs of the 21st century. Follow CAUCE to keep up with the latest information, trends and innovations.

Be the change.

Meet Rich Schaefer of Core & Main, part of WASDA's Board of Directors and Chair of the Membership Committee. He spearheads encouraging eligible companies to join WASDA and to implement an Ambassador Program to help new members feel engaged. The Committee makes suggestions, observations and recommendations about Membership activities to the Board of Directors. It maintains contact with eligible prospective members through correspondence and personal solicitation. We sat down to Rich to learn why he decided to #MakeWavesWithWASDA. Q. What made you decided to volunteer and join the WASDA board? A. I enjoy developing strategy to solve challenges. I felt my financial background and nationwide perspective could be a value to the board in setting the direction and allocating the correct resources to drive the largest value. Additionally, The WASDA board and a scholarship initiative for children entering college. My daughter was lucky enough to be selected for the prestigious scholarship. I was looking for a way to say thank you and show my appreciation. I decided giving back personally was the best example of appreciation. Q. What are you hoping to contribute as your time as a board member? A. As a board member I want to help communicate the importance of the WASDA message and grow engagement within our industry. Q. Why do you think being part of WASDA is important for your industry? A. I have always felt this industry is so important since entering it. I believe it is one of the hidden resources that we take for granted and deserves more funding and attention. You see news stories about failing bridges, roads, etc. because they are visual and can be an eye sore. Because most of our infrastructure is below the ground and out of sight it often gets overlooked or deprioritized. Q. What is your favorite item in the house that uses water? A. Nothing beats the shower. A hot shower can wake you up and get you clean and ready to take on the day or warm you up after working out in the cold. Conversely, a cold shower can also invigorate you and cool you off in the summer. We are lucky to have this luxury in the United States. We have the infrastructure and access to inexpensive water that enjoy a shower whenever and however we like it. Stay tuned for future features! Eddie Morrison Theresa Jaime David Shaw Nathaniel Peirce Rory Budds JB Butler Troy Dressler Anne Forrest Tim Hallmark Doug K. Rich Schaefer Marty Mazzella Greg Davis Emma Wiegers Perry Kevin King Claire Morley Sam Peirce Greg Velz Jason Fraser

CSOs, before our first consultation on the AU Theme of the Year: #Education tomorrow, take a moment to explore the African Union Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16-25). This strategy is our blueprint for transforming education and training systems continent-wide, and your role as a CSO is vital! The CESA 16-25 is a call to action for civil society to drive reform, ensuring education is accessible, equitable, and innovative. From advocating for safe learning environments to championing #genderequity in #education, your efforts make the pillars of CESA 16-25 a reality. Explore the strategy, understand your part, and prepare to bring your insights to our discussion tomorrow: https://bit.ly/CTOTY2024

...and if you were in the opening keynote and subsequent panel discussion...please come and chat to me about local cases for local students and how we recognise the #impact you can have with your #casewriting and #caseteaching activities. #aacsb #impact #vitalemployabilityskills #casemethod #futureofbusinessschools

Well done all founders and startups for putting in the work on your business pitches and sharing your journey in the sessions today. Really enjoyed the discussions and remember nobody knows your business as well as you do. All the best for tomorrows pitches and great visions and go do some great stuff! #innovation #socialenterprise #femalefounders #startups ✌