MLAB Increases Community Involvement

Written October 22, 2008

An intricately decorated recreational vehicle, the Mobile Literacy Arts Bus, sat in an empty lot next to the Community Folk Art Center on East street with its door wide open to the public.

CFAC invited the MLAB to join them during Syracuse Exposed, 40Below's Summit that is geared toward encouraging the community to visit stops along Syracuse's Connective Corridor.

The MLAB, a Partnership for Better Education project, was renovated by ten Syracuse University students during the fall of 2007 Social Sculpture class taught by Marion WIlson said MLAB coordinator Jessica Posner.

"The space was designed to be a mobile literacy, digital photography, alternative class room but a the same time, also community space and also as sort of a gallery," Posner said.

Although participating in Syracuse Exposed is one of the MLAB's first community engagements, it travels to George W. Fowler High School every week to help creative writing students develop their writing and photography skills Posner said.

The MLAB has been operating since spring of 2008 and plans to expand its program to include other Syracuse high school and increase its community engagements Posner said.

"We're working on building momentum and building connections," Posner said, "and hopefully making this a larger program with larger impact on the community."

Partners for Better Education Picks Up Where the SCSD Budget Leaves Off

Written October 8, 2008

Syracuse City School District students are invited to 25 matinee performances at the Syracuse Stage this school year.  How much will the schools have to pay to allow their students to take advantage of these opportunities? Nothing.

A fairly new organizations housed at Syracuse University, Partnership for Better Education creates opportunities and offers Syracuse City School District funding to attend educational events.

 

The Partnership for Better Education coordinates projects between all schools in the SCSD amd the surrounding colleges and universities including SU, LeMoyne College, SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry, Onondaga Community College and SUNY Upstate Medical University.

"The real goal is to enhance the college going culture and hopefully through that significantly impact the graduation rate of students to go on and pursue college," said David Morgan, director of Partnership for Better Education.

The organization offers over education related experiences for students, Programs and grants for activities are based on proposals that some of the faculty members bring to the PBE, Morgan said.  The proposals are designed and are usually geared toward SCSD schools and teachers they already have established relationships with.

Although all SCSD schools may not consistently utilize PBE grants, most of the schools in the district are benefiting in some way by programs under the organization's umbrella like the MLab (Moblie Literacy Arts Bus, a rehabbed art gallery R.V. that travels to schools).

In order to measure the success and effectiveness of their programs, the PBE ask SCSD teachers and administrators to complete surveys.  The organization also encourages them to work with the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment to better coordinate the programs and partnerships in the future.

Morgan said the PBE has organized a variety of partnerships that he believes will change students' lives.  "Our hope is that through the variety of programs we offer througoht the district," Morgan said, "that each student will be touched in a way that allows them to see college as a real possibility."