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    About the Course

    • Making Connections is an innovative, online learning tool designed to give mentors, teachers, counselors and volunteers the strategies and tools they need to build strong relationships with kids. For more information, click here.
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    • The Making Connections Blog is a place where mentors, teachers, counselors and volunteers who work with kids can come together to find support, resources and information that they can use to help them be even better at their jobs. It is a place to find answers, explore solutions, make connections, and share ideas, experiences, challenges and knowledge, all with the intent of finding more and better ways to build the kinds of relationships that help keep kids in school.
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    About Tobi Kibel Piatek

    Blogger, course developer, and instructor, Tobi Kibel Piatek, writes about education, designs curriculum, graphics and websites, and teaches teachers, online and in person. A long time mentor, parent and educator, her work combines a love for kids, learning and technology.
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  • Upcoming Events

    Upcoming Event: Special Screening “Sangre de mi Sangre” ~ Fund Raiser

    By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

    Special screening

    “Sangre de mi Sangre” (winner of the best film at the Sundance Film Festival)

    Thursday, August 14th @ 7:00 pm

    at the Living  Room Theaters (341 SW 10th) 

     $10.00-Admit One

    FUND RAISER
    Entire proceeds will go to producing “Papers”, a story about undocumented youth and the choices they must make as they become adults without legal status.

    Graham Street Productions, based in Portland, is producing this film. Please take a look at the following video to get an idea of the strong message they want to share with the community.

    Topics: Upcoming Events | No Comments »

    Friday, July 25, at 1:30 p.m. in Room 333, Smith Memorial Student Union, at Portland State University

    A Conversation with Alana is a one-act play performed by its author, Dr. Carlos E. Cortes, Professor Emeritus, Department of History, University of California, Riverside. This performance is one of a series of parallel sessions for a Core Commitments conference being held by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. For play description, see below. I had the opportunity to see this play while participating in Summer Institute for Intercultural Communication at Reed College. This annual conference is put on by the Intercultural Communication Institute, a private, non-profit foundation designed to foster an awareness and appreciation of cultural differences in both the international and domesitc arenas.

    The play is a unique opportunity to see the world through the eyes of a man who was part of many cultures but never quite fit any of them. It is well worth seeing for any of us who work with kids from multicultural backgrounds (or, for those of us who know this experience first hand.

    A CONVERSATION WITH ALANA: ONE BOY’S MULTICULTURAL RITE OF PASSAGE

    “A Conversation with Alana” is a one-hour, one-person autobiographical play written and performed by Carlos E. Cortés, Riverside. In his play, Cortés presents his story of growing up as a young man of mixed ancestry in racially segregated, religiously divided early post-World War II Kansas City, Missouri. The son of a Mexican Catholic immigrant father and an American-born Jewish mother, whose parents came from Austria and Ukraine, Cortés had to learn to navigate Kansas City’s rigid racial, ethnic, and religious fault lines, while simultaneously dealing with the internal conflicts of his own divided family.

    Topics: Upcoming Events, Culturally Competent | No Comments »

    Jazz for Peace

    By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Wednesday, June 11th, 2008

    Upcoming Event:  JUNE 20th
    A concert and small auction benefitting Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) and celebrating World Refugee Day. Reception starts at 6:30 pm and concert starts at 7:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now. Call for more information.

    The mission of the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) is to promote the integration of refugees, immigrants, and the community at large into a self-sufficient, healthy, and inclusive multiethnic society.

    Location: World Trade Center Auditorium - 121 SW Salmon ST., 3rd Floor Portland, Oregon - Map to this address

    Contact: (503) 234-1541 ext. 103 for more details. For tickets and other information JazzforPeace.org.

    Topics: Upcoming Events, Things to do | No Comments »

    Get Out and Play: Free and Fun

    By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008

    State Parks Day  Saturday, June 7, 2008

    Come celebrate State Parks Day with Tryon Creek State Natural Area. Get out and GO PLAY! Visit with the local pros to learn more about recreation in the great Northwest. The park will feature information and resources on hiking, disc golfi ng, biking, boating and camping of course. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. JR Beaver will make a special guest appearance so don’t forget your cameras!

    SATURDAY, June 7, 2008 9:00 – noon free event for all ages - no preregistration necessary

    Check this site for location and details http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_144.php

    For more information, and ideas for things to do -  check out the summer catalog - there are lots of events and ideas for kids, families, volunteers and parents. Also, lots of ways to volunteer your time and knowledge.  http://www.tryonfriends.org/education/ExploreGuide.pdf

    Learn more about all that this great park has to offer http://www.tryonfriends.org/

    Topics: Upcoming Events, Quality Time, Things to do | No Comments »

    Museum Family Sundays (at the Art Museum)

    By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Monday, June 2nd, 2008

    Mentors looking for inexpensive and free ways to bring art into your lives, and experience one of Portland’s great resources will love Museum Family Sundays. On “select Sunday afternoons ” throughout the year, the Portland Art Museum offers adult and kid combinations hands-on activities, demonstrations and performances designed to “lead you on a journey of discovery as you explore our galleries filled with art from around the world.” 

    On June 22, 2008: Explore art of the Northwest through art–making, family tours of the Contemporary Northwest Art Awards and the Center for Northwest Art, artist demonstrations, and more family fun.

    sunday
    jun 22, 2008

    1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

    Price: Free with museum admission (kids under 17 are free)

    Topics: Upcoming Events, Quality Time, Things to do | No Comments »

    Conference Deadline Extended

    By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Thursday, April 3rd, 2008

    Please share information about this terrific conference with co-workers and colleagues. By the way, I will be presenting a workshop - see details below

    Celebrating Educational Opportunities For Diverse Students
    2008 Northwest Conference
    April 25-27, 2008
    Embassy Suites, Downtown
    [Map/Directions]
    Portland, Oregon

    Registration Deadline Extended!

    Learn new strategies for driving educational achievement

    Come to the fifth Celebrating Educational Opportunities for Diverse Students conference this year in Portland and be inspired by three outstanding keynote speakers, choose from 24 workshops highlighting successful programs from around the Northwest, and network with peers who share the same challenges.

    The conference is for school board members, superintendents and district staff responsible for the education of English Language Learners, migrant students, Hispanic/Latino, African American and Native American students, homeless, incarcerated youth and all diverse student populations. 

    This conference is a collaborative effort of the school boards associations of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Nevada, and we are pleased to have participation in developing the conference program from Oregon Commission on Children and Families, Portland State University, Oregon Department of Education, Oregon Migrant Education Service Center (WESD), Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, and the Portland Schools Foundation.

    The Northwest Conference is a Collaborative Project of:

    Oregon School Boards Association
    Idaho School Boards Association
    Nevada Association of School Boards
    Washington State School Directors’ Association

    For more information http://www.osba.org/leadrshp/ceo/#Registration

    Strong Relationships Help Keep Kids in School
    Tobi Kibel Piatek, Portland State University
    This session explores ways that school districts can reduce the dropout rate through relationships with young people formed by trained K-12 educators and mentors. Strategies are drawn from three years of research collected by a 30-person panel of community leaders and professionals from education, business and government. Their research overwhelmingly shows that rigor, relevance and relationships are crucial to educational success. Although more time and dollars are invested in the first two, a one-on-one relationship with an adult who truly cares is every bit as critical. Session addresses research, processes and best practices that school districts can adapt to help them to achieve this essential competency.

    Topics: Upcoming Events | No Comments »

    YWCA 16th Annual Leadership Luncheon

    By Tobi Kibel Piatek | Tuesday, April 1st, 2008

    April 23rd, 2008
    11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    Oregon Convention Center

    Keynote Speaker:  
    Jeannette Walls
    The YWCA of Greater Portland is thrilled to be featuring best-selling author, MSNBC correspondent and columnist, Jeannette Walls as the keynote speaker at our 16th Annual Leadership Luncheon. Her novel, *The Glass Castle has catapulted her from reporting on celebrities to being the subject of celebrity reporting! After 80 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, Ms. Walls recently riffed with Stephen Colbert on the popular Colbert Report, and The Glass Castle has been  optioned into a feature length film.

    Ms. Walls is witty and engaging, embodying the kind of story that we often see in those seeking services at the YWCA. An afternoon with Jeanette Walls will drive our major yearly fundraiser and is sure to be a memorable event.To register and purchase tickets click: HERE
    *Ms. Walls will be signing her book in the lobby after the Luncheon.

    Topics: Upcoming Events | No Comments »