Last week, we learnt that, for guidance and entering into well-being, the people of the Lord need to keep following in His steps and avoiding all distractions. The subject today is that God also gives warning to all people, keeping them from destruction. They, therefore, need to be sensitive to the signs, which God gives and avoid evil. If only we can read in between lines, we can see that the writing on the wall is there, even now. The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.(Rom. 1:18-19).

In Nigeria, and the world at large, today, God has been giving us some signs of impending dangers if we do not change our ways.

Reflections on the Bible Readings for Day (Mattins)The OT (Dan. 5) passage is an example of the arrogance of world rulers and their confrontation with God Who is the controller of history. Belshazzar obviously knew how God had humbled Nebuchadnezzar (cf. Dan. 4) and so acted out of spite (cf. v. 22) in ordering the wining with the holy vessels from Jerusalem. The bringing in of wives, particularly concubines, was the peak of the desecration saga. It was a deliberate act of additional provocation and insult to God and the Jews, especially as most ancient Eastern states, e.g. the Medes and Persians (cf Esther 1) were not allowing women at state banquets. Men and women were mostly segregated in the ancient Near East, except if the Babylonians had a different culture (which had not been established).

The writing on the wall at the climax of the insolence became the open declaration of Gods verdict. It brought Belshazzar to his senses, although too late. However, Daniels interpretation shows that the sign/writing had actually always been there, only that Belshazzar choose to ignore it. The lesson of King Nebuchadnezzar was very clear and, in itself, a writing on the wall that would not need the interpretation of the magicians or prophets. The blindness and negligence of Belshazzar made history to repeat itself.

The NT reading (Acts 25:1-12) is about the trial of Paul before Festus. The Jews plotted to kill him on the way and so demanded that he be taken to Jerusalem. But God led Paul to appeal to Caesar. This is another dimension of divine signification and human discernment by which we are prevented from destruction.The Venerable Dr Princewill Onyinyechukwu Ireoba, FIMC, CMC, is the Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State.princewillireoba@gmail.com, trinityfoundationibrucentre@gmail.com

Read the rest here:

The writing on the wall: Meditation for the fourteenth sunday after trinity - Guardian

Mindful Living

We all need a healthy balance between being and doing in our lives. The pace of modern life draws us into cycles of excessive doing and when that happens, the quality of our doing suffers. Of course, if we allow the pendulum to swing too far in the other direction nothing gets done! So we need to find a healthy balance between being and doing. The practice of meditation provides a bridge between being and doing. It helps us to discover our true-self and to live life more deeply and with greater authenticity.

Because we have so little experience of simply being, when we deliberately choose to enter that realm through meditation or mindful activities, it can at first appear to be passive, lifeless and boring. But soon we discover that its not so much that we are doing nothing as that we are doing nothing else we are taking care to simply be. The key question is what is the relationship between our doing our activities of thinking and acting and our state of being? Meditation changes our understanding of the relationship between them so that we discover that in fact being mode is a nourishing and uplifting state that is always available to you, and can be accessed even in the midst of busy daily activity.

The wisdom traditions and religions of the world tell us that we are healthiest when being is primary over doing, when our being informs and guides our doing; in other words, when all our thinking and actions are fully rooted in a state of being. We spend so much time in doing mode that we can lose track of our essential being. When this occurs we can easily become overwhelmed by continual thinking and activity. We become less aware, less integrated, less mindful. Our focus becomes fixed on satisfying our perceived personal needs and maintaining our conditioned lifestyle.

We cannot arrive at this experience of being through doing, through thinking or reading; we arrive there through silence and stillness.

So, what must we do to experience our being? We must enter into stillness and silence. In moments of stillness and silence we experience something deeper within ourselves we might call this our true self. But the silence also mysteriously awakens us to our connectedness to others, to the world around us and the creative energy of the universe. We discover that in stillness and silence we can become free of the bonds of attachment, anxieties, and the desires of the ego. My research into the childs experience of meditation has taught me that young children discover this for themselves when they meditate. In silence we can learn to let go of the constant distractions of the mind, even if only fleetingly when we first begin to meditate. However once we taste it, even for a moment, we recognise there is more to being human than the thinking mind allows. We come to a heart-felt understanding that meditation brings us mysteriously into communion with pure being. And, as our doing becomes more grounded in that understanding of our essential nature, we find we are becoming more peaceful, more fully aware and more fully connected with ourselves and others.

We cannot arrive at this experience of being through doing, through thinking or reading; we arrive there through silence and stillness. All of the wisdom traditions of the world tell us that stillness represents our path back to being. Meditation may appear to be about pressing the pause button, putting life on hold as it were for a short period. But it is much more than that. It is deeply transformative but the change takes place at a level of consciousness deeper than ordinary self-consciousness. It is only over time that we realise our awareness of who we are has become transfigured. Meditation teaches us that we are not our thoughts, not our emotions. It gives rise to another way of knowing, to an awareness that transcends thinking unclouded by your thoughts, feelings and emotions. It is only by meditating that you will appreciate that you can simply be yourself, outside of all the labels of mother, father, son, daughter, partner, teacher, colleague, friend. You discover that none of those things defines who you are; nor does our doing define us. Our doing is not who we are.

Being comes before doing. The full richness of the mode of being is best appreciated through direct experience of meditation. As we remain faithful to our meditation we discover that the quality of our being mysteriously determines the quality of our doing. But it is important to appreciate that we cannot enter being mode from a doing mind-set. We have to let go of all expectation of achievement through meditation. Being mode is not devoted to achieving particular goals. In being mode, the focus is on accepting and allowing what is, without any immediate effort to change it.

Related

Continued here:

Finding a balance between being and doing - The Irish Catholic

Though everyone may try to locate an area in the house where he/she feels like meditating, vastu may make ones efforts, accurate, fruitful, easy and feasible

Vastu is concerned with human factors which remain the same, in terms of preferences related to mans needs, psychology, socio-cultural identities, family and other life supporting concerns. And though the shape and significance of those concerns have altered with the changing times, but as a social creature, human beings cannot change all the aspects and turn them upside down. Therefore, the tenets of vast u still hold relevance and are followed by almost all classes of society in a rational manner, because when a subject is defined scientifically, it becomes logical.

Meditation

People describe life according to their own philosophy, but most people appreciate competition, struggle, work-speed and future growth targets. And though there is nothing wrong in accepting challenges, balancing the energies amongst the body, mind and soul is also essential. At the same time, one aims for mental peace, sound health and balanced temperaments.

Meditation is one of the best tools to de-stress and streamline human energies. And though meditation is gradually obtaining prominence in modern society and in most of the parts on the globe, defining the perfect method and the real benefit of meditation is still a tricky question. Vastu is a science of directions and vibrations and studies, analyses and defines the proper direction for each activity.

Meditation And Its Positive Effects On The Brain

Vastu Helps

According to vastu, there is a proper direction and location for every deed. Meditation cannot be categorised as an ordinary human action like sleeping. playing, eating. working, driving or doing exercise. It is something which is similar to creating a very sensitive thread by way of synchronising the outer-self and inner-self. Initially, anchoring the uncontrollable mind to concentrate on a given holy task, needs deliberate efforts.

And as per vastu, every activity needs a perfect mix of physical and occult peripherals like proper light, sound, echo, temperature, colours, humidity and auric sphere. In short, these may be defined factors for a conducive situation or condition required for meditation. Peace, sound, breath, concentration, calming ambience and a happy mood are the primary requirements for starting meditation. So, though everyone may try to locate such an area in the house, where he/she feels like getting all or few of the above, vastu may make ones efforts, accurate, fruitful, easy and feasible.

Positive Vibrations

The east direction is known to be the direction of the lord Sun, the God of knowledge, holiness, wisdom and positive thinking. North-east is defined as the sub-direction for innovation and creativity. North is the coolest direction and related with powerful magnetic flux, meant for concentration and cool temperaments. It means that these directions are best suited for doing any such activity that needs concentration, a calming environment and holiness of the lord Sun. It is filled with positive vibes which are necessary for meditation beneficial directions.

If a place is filled with positive vibes, after meditation one may feel charged with positivity and rejuvenated. Therefore. try to choose the area of east, north-east and north for any spiritual activity. However, other directions are also good, but avoid choosing the south-west direction for tranquil endeavours such as meditation.

Supportive Elements

Small plants, flowers, open areas, green grass, light shadows, morning hours, light colours, light apparels, quiet environment and accurate light are the factors which are easily and naturally available in the north-east direction and one can easily harness this positive energy to add to the fulfilment of practicing meditation. On the contrary, heavy noise, dark colours, sharp light, noon or afternoon hours, stressed areas, harsh music and cluttering etc. are hindrances to meditation and may not be helpful.

For quick concentration while doing meditation, one should try to face the east or north-east and keep away all electronic and electric gadgets. Mobile phone, computers, TV sets, electric stabilisers and other such objects should either be put oft or put away while concentrating.

Flow Of Energy

The full body should be tree of bonds and bindings like leather belt, wrist watch and other such objects because at the time of channelizing the energy in kundalini (seven energy centres the seven glands) from moladhara (base chakra) to crown chakra, such blockages may block the proper flow of energy and the purpose of meditation may remain unaccomplished. Therefore, all possible measures should be initiated while meditating, since it is also a means to achieve spiritual self- actualisation.

The rest is here:

Beneficial Directions For Meditation - Version Weekly

Robots vs Meat-Based Competition

How many of you believe robots and artificial intelligence will take jobs?

*Everyone's hands go up.

How many of you believe machines will take yourjob?

*No one moves.

Robots, AI and other disruptive new technologies are expected to displace a significant number of office and manual labor jobs that pay $20 to $40 an hour, according to a 2014 Pew Research Center report. It wont happen all at once, and thats a blessing and a challenge. Slowly, then quickly, machines will replace certain human jobs. We might not hear about most of them because theyll happen in pockets of geographies and industries. But in the not too distant future, well see the great extent that robots are among us, and that people will no longer be able to applyfor the jobs that some humans work at today.

How robotics and AI will change jobs has been top of my mind since the national elections emphasis on bringing back jobs to the USA. While the current administration focuses on the past, AI and automation overall is already tackling jobsthat we once believed only humans can do. According to new research from the National Bureau of Economic Research, when one or more industrial robots were introduced into the workplace, 6.2 jobs were eliminatedfrom a local area where people commute for work.

Technology always displaces jobs. There are those who believe Well be fine. simply because humans endure. The current state of U.S. politics underscores a great divide between those with and without wealth, and how those extremes affect perspectives and, ultimately, policies. Realists know the jobs that vanished arent returning. Furthermore, if the existing wealth divide continues to source new profits fromautomation as the "employee" of choice, more human aka meat-based workers will be displaced. Boston Consulting Group, for example, estimates that the number of industrial robots around the world will quadruple by 2025. It doesnt stop there. If you believe office jobs are safe, think again.

Tech also creates jobs including jobs to build, maintain, program robots. Do you want to add a line about tech also creates jobs? The first theme of the Pew report is: Advances in technology may displace certain types of work, but historically they have been a net creator of jobs.

From the rust belt to the coming brain wash, we are on the cusp of witnessing busy cubicles and offices becoming ghost towns.

The Robots are Coming!The Robots are Here!

Do not pay attention to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnunchin when he says robots arent anything we workers need to think about right now. At an Axios eventin March 2017, he claimed that AI supplanting peoples jobs is not even on our radar screen....50 to 100 more years away. I'm not worried at all. In fact, I'm optimistic."

Yet in 2016, economists under the Obama administration told Congress there is an 83% chance that workers earning less than $20 an hour will lose their jobs to robots. Those who receive up to $40 an hour face a 31% chance of losing their jobs to automation. Starting immediately and expanding over time, these economists worried that middle-skilled Americans are standing in the path of automation, including clerks, bookkeepers and assembly-line workers. (I would share the report with you but the current administration doesnt believe the public needs to read it because its no longer available online.)

The 2014 Pew Research Center report forecasts by 2025 robots and so-called digital agents will displace more jobs than they create.

Artificial intelligence is already competent enough to perform some jobs of humans who felt safe at their desks. In one instance Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance in January 2017 reportedlyreplaced 34 human insurance-claim workers in Japan with the IBM Watson Explorer.

A 2015Fortunerobotics article, 5 white-collar jobs robots already have taken, deserves to be revisited. Author Erik Sherman discovered instances where machines are performing, in limited instances, the jobs of trained professionals:

At South-by-Southwest 2017, I spent time with the CEO of one of the most recognized luxury, auto brands. Privately, he shared that he proactively communicates with his factory workers about automation displacement, and is developing plans to move affected workers into new roles. But he was honest noting that not everyone displaced will have a new job at this factory. He also shared with me a personal story. His daughter, today a successful radiologist, is already studying for a new medical career because radiology is expected to be automated.

To the extent we can take control of what's to come to the future workforce as leaders and individuals cannot be overstated. MIT researcher Matt Beane told Fortune: I don't think we have a good handle on this. The end-game scenarios seem kind of severe. From here on in, it's really, really, really going to change and it's going to change faster than we can handle."

We Need to Reframe the Problem. Its Not Us vs. Them, Its Us vs. Ourselves

Technology reporter and good friend J.D. Sartain, who writes for CIO,Network Worldand Computerworld, and I recently were talking about AI and the future of jobs. During our discussion, she asked a brief, but foreboding, question that I initially underestimated: What are the human jobs of the future in an era AI?

After all, there is no shortage of possibilities. I didnt care to repeat what others already said. At the same time, I took her question to task. After initial thought and research, I struggled to offer specific titles and descriptions. Sartains question was the impetus for me. Not only did I need to answer her question, but also doing so would help me help others raise awarenessand pursue productive solutions.

We do live in interesting times. The entire premise of normality is being pushed further from the comforts of yesterdays reality. Disruptive technologies threaten a wide range of todays jobs. Whats also threatening is the lack of awareness and productive discussions around this threat. The future doesnt have to be bleak.

Our future is rooted in a matter of perspective. Do you see the glass half empty or half full? Ive always believed that this question assumed an inanimate state where a glass is just sitting there. But the nature of the discussion changes if theres context and activity. Are you pouring into or out of the glass?

This is true for the jobs of the future. We stand at a crossroads. Do we continue on our current path or do we begin to learn and unlearn what we need to evolve and progress? If youre waiting for someone to tell you what to do, youre on the wrong side of innovation.

Whether its AI, robots or change in general, what we do about disruption is often a choice early in the cycle of evolution. For example, in 1999, an analyst shared with Blockbuster executives his take how new tech might change their video-rental business: Investor concern over the threat of new technologies is overstated. These famous last words helped place Blockbuster on a direct path to irrelevance. We always face disruption. Whats old eventually gives way to whats new. Its what we do about change and when we act that matters. While the world fights for the jobs of the past, innovation quickly eats jobs of the present. Every day, more and more jobs are at risk of becoming automated or displaced by emerging technologies. And, it comes at a frightening cost the widespread elimination of jobs and displaced workers around the globe. Sooner rather than later, there will be sweeping job reform in the name of progress and it wont stop. Technology will continue to advance. It always has. The massive efforts to bring jobs back, in hindsight, will be for naught.

The real investment with the greatest return is helping employees learn new skills and gain valuable expertise that apply to the jobs of the future. To do this takes great care and empathy. No one wants to hear that theyre replaceable. No one wants to see that his or her experience and worth are eroding. No one wants to believe that change will target him or her. The late author and futurist Alvin Toffler first referred to this situation in 1965 as Future Shock.Simply stated, its a personal perception of "too much change in too short a period of time." This anxiety disorients and disconnects people, who react as if frozen in place as the technology society evolves.

Ignorance is bliss until its not. But what if we reframe the automation-eliminates-jobs problem as an opportunity? In theory, everyone can support a plan that increases personal value and net worth. It switches this dilemma from a have toto a want tolearn and unlearn new skills to survive and thrive in the future. The question is, whos responsible for teaching students and training the workforce of the future today? We are. While its in the best interest of institutions and organizations everywhere to invest in human development, we cannot solely rely on others to shape our future. At the end of the day, the only person responsible for my path is me.

Change Starts with You

Search on Google, "jobs that no longer exist"and read a list of jobs outmoded by innovations. Its reality. As technology advances in intelligence and capabilities that approach human, the number of jobs threatened will dramatically accelerate. Whats scary is that were too busy in the present to see that we, individually and collectively, are displaceable and replaceable. I often say that I tried to be innovative once, but I got stuck in meetings all day.

I see the world changing, but I cant personally see it ever affecting me.

Automation isnt evil. Every day, management teams consciously make decisions to automate systems and processes for profitability and scale. The challenge is whether or not employees choose to consider how their job might be affected. Ask a room of employees how many of them believe technology will take over human jobs, everyone will agree its unavoidable. But if you ask them to raise their hands if they believe their job will be directly affected, most likely the response will be much different. People usually assume change will happen to the other person, not to us. As Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy once said: Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.

Your career is in your hands. This is not only business, its personal. Each worker, every single human being must take responsibility for his or her personal development. Dont wait for someone to push you forward or miraculously save you from the future (or yourself). I am 100% in support of employers, educational institutions and government doing their part to future-proof the workforce. But no one should wait idly following the same routines day in and day out, or assume their current career trajectory will stay constant. Change is constant. Everyone must broaden and modernize their skills. What we know and what we need to know are separated by what we choose to see around us. Yes, its scary. But it can also be empowering if you let it.

Move in a New Direction by Choice

Disruption either happens to you or because of you. Start by exploring the jobs of the future and those that are continually expected to jump into the dead pool. Then put yourself on a path that seeks input, education and experience that closes the gap between you and tomorrows jobs.

We should:

As someone who studies digital Darwinism, digital transformation and business evolution, I cannot emphasize enough, how important it is for business, education and political leaders to invest in technology and human capital. To invest in tomorrows workforce and move people into the jobs of the future starts with learning from modern-day politics. Yet as counter-intuitive as it might seem, empathy and the ability to understand and share the feeling of another helps us build bridges between where we are and where we need to be without challenging ones belief system.

Modernizing human capital is not a choice or a cost-center. It is an investment in the future. Its imperative that we bring people to the future instead of leaving them behind. Doing so promotes unity. Otherwise we create division. Nows the time for action. If AI systems and robots are going to get hired, we need to prepare for worker displacement and not replacement. Nows the time for education and HR reform to teach skills and disciplines for tomorrows jobs and train/re-train employees to stay on the value-added side of automation.

Now Hiring: Humans for the Future Apply Within

Sartain also asked me to think through job titles and descriptions for the jobs that dont exist today. Heres my initial high-level list to move the conversation forward. What new jobs would you add to this list?

Drone engineer:Design, build and repair drones and drone flight sequences. Also engineer drone applications, performance and choreography, i.e. Intels Super Bowl halftime show.

Robotics engineer:Design, build and support robotic equipment for use in everyday industrial, consumer, and vertical scenarios.

Organ Designer/Farmer: Proactively grow human organs for immediate readiness by all types of patients. Experiment with future organ design and development.

Robot Services:Expert who matches technology with need/applications and either designs or sources custom robot development or implementation. Then services the unit over time.

Robot Programmer and QC Inspector: Programs robots to perform specific functions and manages and optimizes performance.

Robot/AI Behavioral Specialist:Observes human and robot interaction, counsels engineers on behavioral programming and robot mannerisms and demeanor.

Robot/AI Animator/Narrative Specialist: Like Hollywood or gaming scriptwriters and character developers, AI and robots will need personalities for human engagement. This role will develop characters based on psychological and anthropological input to interact with purpose to complement specific personalities and applications.

Robot Dating Coach/counselor:As we saw in Her, people will eventually date and fall in love with technology. This role will serve as a matchmaker and counselor to cultivating successful, productive relationships.

Robot Whisperer/Therapist:Robots/AI will need training and therapy to ensure their development matches the expectations of their owners/partners.

Digital Currency Advisor:Beyond traditional financial products, digital currency advisors will help investors build wealth by investing, trading and selling emerging digital currencies.

Cyber Security/Digital Investigator: With cyber-crimes on the rise in professional and personal settings, these specialists will help individuals and companies investigate threats, solve crimes, and advise on security protocol for protection.

HR Innovator:This role will focus on identifying the jobs of the future within the organization, establishing hiring protocol and establishing training programs to transition existing employees away from eroding job functions toward new needs.

Resource Auditor aka The Skim Reaper:Assesses roles for viability and scale, identifies those that are out of date, those that can be automated, and scores individuals that can or cannot migrate to new roles.

Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Experience Architect:Designs new worlds and experiences for work, gaming or exploration and advises on supporting technologies to bring the desired experience at every level to life.

Data Whisperers:Data is only as useful as the questions asked, the data points collected, its analysis and how insights become actionable and executed. Data whisperers see whats missing in data expertise, programs, operations and use across the organization to develop progressive narratives, data architecture and growth strategies.

What comes next is surprisingly (and unsurprisingly) up to you. Make choices about your future not based on what you feel entitled to, but instead what you can do to learn, grow and provide. The future is in your hands.

I'll leave you with this...

Imagine a pair of horses in the early 1900s talking about technology. One worries all these new mechanical muscles will make horses unnecessary.

The other reminds him that everything so far has made their lives easier -- remember all that farm work? Remember running coast-to-coast delivering mail? Remember riding into battle? All terrible. These city jobs are pretty cushy -- and with so many humans in the cities there are more jobs for horses than ever.

Even if this car thingy takes off you might say, there will be new jobs for horses we can't imagine.

But you, dear viewer, from beyond 2000 know what happened -- there are still working horses, but nothing like before. The horse population peaked in 1915 -- from that point on it was nothing but down.

There isnt a rule of economics that says better technology makes more, better jobs for horses. It sounds shockingly dumb to even say that out loud, but swap horses for humans and suddenly people think it sounds about right.

As mechanical muscles pushed horses out of the economy, mechanical minds will do the same to humans. Not immediately, not everywhere, but in large enough numbers and soon enough that it's going to be a huge problem if we are not prepared. And we are not prepared.

You, like the second horse, may look at the state of technology now and think it cant possibly replace your job. But technology gets better, cheaper, and faster at a rate biology cant match.

Just as the car was the beginning of the end for the horse so now does the car show us the shape of things to come.

Source

Link:
Now Hiring: Robots, Please Apply Within - Forbes

For New Teachers Thriving, the program Hester started, Operation Impact and its fellows helped the team organize their resource allocation, develop their growth strategy, and prepare for meetings with funders and pitch competitions. In fact, Hester said participation in HILT helped the team which includes Crystel Harris, Ed.L.D. 21, and Akash Wasil 19 become finalists in two other Harvard funding competitions that support student entrepreneurs: the Presidents Innovation Challenge and the Harvard Business School New Venture Competition. But what helped most of all was the confidence Operation Impact instilled in the group, Hester said.

It was a big wind in our sails to have someone say, This idea is not crazy. We think theres something here and we think you should pursue it, Hester said. It was just really encouraging to get their support.

With funding this past year, the team was able to purchase food and supplies for the personal-development training they delivered to more than 50 Boston Public School teachers. This year, because of their early success, theyre reaching even more educators. Teachers in Boston are currently applying for the second version of the program and nearly 200 district teachers and administrators in Stockton, Calif., are taking part. In the future, New Teachers Thriving hopes to offer their training online so they can reach thousands of teachers across the country.

While Hesters group did well, others got even more traction. Brown Art Ink has been lifting up artists of color for the past five years in cities such as Baltimore, Cleveland, Washington, D.C., Toronto, and Mexico City by offering training and creating paid opportunities for them to show their work in museums, galleries, and other public spaces. Co-founders Amanda Figueroa, whos earning her Ph.D. in American studies from the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and Ravon Ruffin turned their $200 grant from Operation Impact into $8,000 in annual revenue.

This year, Operation Impact will invite students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to collaborate, making it open not only to all Harvard students in degree-granting programs but to all MIT students, too.

The move is in line with the programs stance on collaboration. Teams must include more than one person and preferably feature members who represent different disciplines across both campuses.

You dont solve a complicated problem like education with one field alone, Goldstein said. You need a business mind. You need a technology mind. You need a marketing, sales mind. You need a pedagogy mind. You need all these different skill sets.

Teams last year featured a mix of students from Harvard College, Harvard Business School, Harvard Divinity School, Harvard Extension School, GSAS, Harvard Graduate School of Design, HGSE, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Law School, and Harvard School of Public Health. There were also many non-Harvard affiliated members.

Operation Impact was designed in collaboration with HGSE, the Social Innovation and Change Initiative at HKS, the iLabs, and the HBS Social Enterprise Initiative. It works with SMART Technologies, Wix.com, Amazon Web Services (AWS) Educate, AWS EdStart, and RallyCry Ventures, which provide funding and access to software and experts.

One of the driving factors for its creation was the need for increased funding in education innovation. According to research from HILT, 97 percent of students looking for funding in education innovation at Harvard werent getting it.

To me that was just not the message that I think we wanted to be giving students across Harvard, Goldstein said. In my mind, we need more students and not less students working in this problem space. We should be giving as many of them as possible the experiences to learn what it actually takes to take an idea and do something in the real world with it.

Operation Impacts University-wide kickoff event for students seeking funding this year is Oct. 3 at the Smith Campus Center from 5 to 8 p.m. Interested students can RSVP here.

See the rest here:
Harvard program for entrepreneurs in education innovation - Harvard Gazette

So much of what I have learned in my life and who I have become is derived from my rigorous surgical training. This has had such a monumental impact on shaping the person I am, that it is hard to over-emphasize. I have found that many of these lessons are applicable far beyond the hospital wards and the operating room. Many of these philosophical doctrines can be of value to virtually any human being and in numerous areas of their lives.

When I became the Chief Resident in general surgery at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center many years ago, I had a wonderful opportunity to work with a man of great intellect, skill, and renown. His name was Dr. Donald Brief, and he was the Chairman of the Department of Surgery. He was not only brilliant intellectually but also gifted in his manual dexterity and surgical judgment. He had risen to the top of his profession for a good reason. As the Chief Resident, it was my responsibility to work with Dr. Brief on all of his surgical cases for 4 months. This was an extraordinary and immersive experience.

Just before our dedicated time together, Dr. Brief asked me to meet him for breakfast very early one morning to chat. We sat in a small caf in the main lobby of the medical center, and he gave me a reasonably thorough orientation to our imminent experience together. He laid out the general outline of the 4-month apprenticeship and made it clear that he had high expectations of me.

After finishing our breakfast, it was time to walk up to the operating room together and get to work. But before getting up to leave, the old sage had one salient point of wisdom he wished to share with me. He said, John, in the next few months Im going to show you how to stay out of trouble in the operating room. Im going to leave it up to all the other surgeons to show you how to get out of trouble in the operating room.

I understood what he meant immediately. It was a phenomenal point of view and personal philosophy which he shared with me that day. It reveals a perspective which emphasizes the importance of being careful in how you do things, not just in the operating room, but in life in general.

As we went forward during this extraordinary surgical experience, Dr. Brief would remind me of this every morning at the scrub sink before the first surgery of the day. He wanted his message to stick. He wanted this way of thinking to take root deep in my subconscious mind, and thats what I want to share with you.

Its too easy to be lazy or irresponsible in life. Then, from those actions, you might find yourself in trouble, and then have to find a way to struggle your way out if thats at all possible.

For example, it would be far better not to find yourself 25 or, worse yet, 75 pounds overweight. Thats big trouble, and most of us know that getting out of that kind of problem is very difficult. It will take a lot of hard work and a long time. Similarly, its preferable not to get into significant financial debt with your credit cards. Unraveling a mess like that can be a very steep uphill climb. Also, it would be desirable to brush and floss all your teeth twice a day, not just the ones you wish to keep. Replacing missing teeth is a much more significant challenge than maintaining the ones you were born with.

One of the most common places this philosophy can be of great help is in school. There is nothing worse academically than falling behind early in the semester. Trying to lift a 75 average to a 95 average is very difficult and at some point becomes impossible. The serious student understands how critically important it is to get off to a strong start and then maintain an A average throughout the marking period.

Yes, Dr. Brief was a wise and experienced man, but you dont have to be a surgeon to learn from him. I hope you can take this message and apply it to the areas of your life where you feel it will be helpful. Now, sometimes even the greatest surgeon gets into unwanted and troublesome bleeding in the operating room. And, sometimes even world-class athletes put on an extra ten pounds.

We all have to deal with such problems for time to time. Thats simply the reality of life as a human being. That being said, the more we can avoid lifes pitfalls, the less energy we will need to expend on corrective measures and the less energy we will have available to put into building a truly exceptional life.

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Why Always Giving 100% Saves Time - Thrive Global

There is a company in in Ferndale, Washington that offers team members time in their workday to flyfish, rock-climb, and participate in a variety of other outdoor activities.

In Barcelona, the entire city has worked to rebrand itself as the city for business, talent and innovation.

Vermont has started the Remote Workers Program which offers $10,000 to those who want to keep their existing remote jobs and relocate to the Green Mountain State.

Even North Dakota has found itself among the top of the top in terms of recruitment. According to a recent MoneyRates.com survey North Dakota ranks #1 among all states in the best states for young adults due to the many opportunities for young adults in their diverse business community.

But what exactly does attraction, development and retention mean? Why is the Great Lakes Bay Region focusing many of their efforts on these initiatives?

The Great Lakes Bay Region provides numerous opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.

Attracting and retaining talentSimply put, attraction, development and retention of talent is the focus of communities and businesses to bring talent into the area in order to help build a thriving economy and community. Being a place where people want to live makes it much easier for employers to find the right fit when they have job openings, allowing them to flourish, says Tony Stamas, President and CEO of the Midland Business Alliance. This in turn leads to a vibrant community where people want to work and live. A win for everyone.

Attract, develop and retain talent meanslooking at talent at every stage of development, says Emily Lyons, Midland Business Alliance Director of Talent Attraction & Development. The hottest topic in this space right now is definitely attracting qualified talent but what do companies do once they have a great hire? Its just as important for businesses to think about how they can help their employees grow and stay satisfied in their jobs as it is to find them in the first place.

Emily Lyons, Midland Business Alliance Director of Talent Attraction & Development

Veronica Horn, President and CEO of the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce, sees it as a huge opportunity.

This effort is a way to help young talent develop skills and find their passion for this region. We encourage networking with their peers and connect them with top business and community leaders throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region. People need to feel that they belong to a community, she says. They want to get to know others that they will work with, attend church with or socialize with. We are helping to facilitate that.

Why it is importantWhen we ask businesses, What keeps you up at night? the number one response is talent. Therefore, the MBA is currently working to survey local businesses and find out what their biggest concerns are in this space, as well as partnering with local entities who focus on specific pieces of attraction, development and retention such as Great Lakes Bay Michigan WORKS! to make sure we are connecting opportunities and local ideas with those already working in that space, says Stamas.

Tony Stamas, President and CEO of the Midland Business Alliance

No business can thrive without reliable, strong employees. Every city in the country is struggling with having enough qualified workers, so the region has to find a way to stand out. This means not only making our community an attractive place to do business, but also making sure the workers who already live here are productive, happy employees.

Efforts of local Chambers of Commerce and business go hand-in-hand with the efforts at the municipal level.

Public art has been an effort in attachment to place in Downtown Mount Pleasant.

The Great Lakes Bay Region must be an area of choice today and into the future. We need to be a place where businesses continue to thrive and grow. Having the right people, the right talent, to do this is key in our globally-connected economy, says Director of Planning & Community Development, Grant Murschel.

From the citys perspective, making investments in amenities and elements that are desired by todays workforce is important to retaining and extracting talent. Bikability, walkability, and close neighborhood connectivity are some of these elements that contribute to livability and making an area more attractive to newcomers as well as those who already reside, Murschel says.

Taking actionSeveral area organizations have been leading the charge in regard to attracting and retaining talent.

Robin Zang (Trinseo), Tim Lacey (DuPont), Heather Gallegos (Dow), Diane Postler-Slattery (MidMichigan Health), Dave Midkiff (Corteva) and Dan Kaczynski (SK Saran) discuss the diverse business climate.

With a passion for community development, the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance set forth to encourage, support and celebrate regional collaboration and initiatives that will improve the economic vitality and quality of life in the Great Lakes Bay Region. They are focused on developing leaders that create awareness of products, services and lifestyle opportunities throughout the region and promote interest and desire in businesses.

In Saginaw, the Chamber has a robust Young Professionals Networks, providing networking, volunteer and career/personal development opportunities, says Horn. We also encourage them to join the Leadership Saginaw County Program to expand even further, their depth of knowledge of our community.

Tony Stamas speaking at a recent Chamber of Commerce event.

The Midland Business Alliance is working on several initiatives including a thriving MyPros (Midland Young Professionals) group, the Alliance Awards scholarships, POWER UP Womens Leadership Conference, job shadowing opportunities with Northwood Universitys international students, Talent Talks videos interviewing local businesses about their struggles and solutions and a video showcasing all Midland has to offer. We are also in the planning stages of offering support to businesses with things like onboarding, diversity and inclusion, supporting the Marshall Plan for Talent, and relocation support, says Lyons.

Those efforts are matched with hard investment dollars as well. In Downtown Midland alone, over $61 million has been dedicated to new investments since 2014 helping drive new businesses, placemaking efforts, connectivity and much more.

Echoing that sentiment are the Bay City Area Chamber of Commerce and the Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce that offer programming specifically geared toward the up-and-comers, focusing on developing and retaining their talents.

Ryan Tarrant and the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce at the ribbon cutting for Costela Brazilian Steakhouse.

We are taking action to invest in transformative projects for the community to attract and retain a skilled workforce who want to live, work, play and grow in the Great Lakes Bay Region, says Ryan Tarrant president and CEO of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. For example, we have added vibrant and walkable residential space in the Mill End Lofts, Times Lofts, Legacy Building and, most recently, the announcement of the next phase of Uptown.

When you combine those with the additions with the ones we have made in the past year of MI Table, Bay Citys new farm to table restaurant, Costela Brazilian Steakhouse, Sushi Remix, Dry Dock Beer Garden and others, the city has become a destination for food and festivals, Tarrant adds. Leveraging the benefits of living in a vibrant, affordable community enables our employers to promote a quality of life that is competitive with anyone in the state.

The Mill End Lofts in Bay City.

The effort is paying dividends for the region, with over $487 million in investments spread over 26 development expansion and attraction projects in Bay County alone.

Bay Future, Inc., along with the Prosperity Region 5 Economic Development Partners are in the second year of hosting Coming Home, a regional effort to attract young professionals back to the area. With that a website with resources branded and marketed as DiscoverGreatLakesBay.com, has been created to provide information to those individuals and serve as a platform for that initiative.

The Uptown District in Bay City is one of the regions recent investments, supporting business, services and nightlife.

We know that talent and workforce development, attraction, and retention will be vital to the regions talent retention and attraction efforts throughout our community, says Trevor Keyes, President and CEO of Bay Future, Inc. Between currently available jobs and the coming workforce needs with an aging population, we are deeply focused on skill building, attracting, and growing the workforce of tomorrow, today.

In that spirit, the partnership with Great Lakes Bay MI Works! continues to produce dividends for the community workforce shareholders and companies, specifically the Going PRO Talent Fund Grant,and the upcoming first annual, MiCareerQuest Middle Michigan experiential career exploration event, aimed at creating a more robust talent pipeline in growing industries such as: Advanced Manufacturing, Agri-Business, Construction, Health Sciences and Information Technology.

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State of attraction: The focus on attraction, developing and retaining talent in the Great Lakes Bay - Concentrate

The Commentator is pleased to introduce a new column that highlights happenings in different YU Academic departments. Our first piece highlights the Stern College for Women (SCW) Political Science department. We analyzed data, spoke to the Department Chair, a Professor, an alumnae and current students to gain a better insight into the department.

We would love to hear from you which department we should highlight next and if you have a more creative name for the column. Click here to let us know!

Department Overview with Dr. Joseph Luders

Dr. Luders is the Chair of the Political Science Departments at Stern College for Women and Yeshiva College and David and Ruth Gottesman Associate Professor of Political Science

What is the relationship between the YC and SCW political science departments?

The SCW and YC political departments are simultaneously independent and interdependent. Both departments share the same curricular requirements and they often share faculty In short, we do our best to create opportunities for collaboration across campuses to offer a wide array of exciting courses. As chair of both departments, I seek to promote both coherence and cohesion between the two campuses. Depending on the leadership of the respective political science societies, students may have additional opportunities to participate in a number of joint events.

What are some exciting developments students can look forward to?

Students sometimes ask for there to be more offerings in Political Science, but, in fact, there are actually more course offerings now than ever before. When I started at Stern College some years ago, there were semesters with only six or seven courses. Now, we offer ten or more Political Science or cross-listed courses, which allow students to learn about a wide variety of topics from Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction to the US Presidency or Latin American Politics.

How is the department assisting students in terms of internships and career opportunities?

We provide active encouragement to seek out some of the amazing opportunities in New York, Washington DC, or Israel. On the Political Science website under Resources, there is actually a long list of internship opportunities that interested students should check out

To help defray the costs of these internships, I obtained grant funding from the Azrieli Foundation to provide fellowships for Women in Public and International Affairs I also oversee the fellowship funding for public service internships provided by the Silber family. Both fellowships (Azrieli and Silber) are not limited to political science majors but go to any student pursuing an eligible internship.

Faculty members routinely write letters of reference for our graduates and I am pleased to report that Political Science graduates have done extraordinarily well in getting placed in the top graduate and professional programs, including at Harvard, Penn, Columbia, and NYU, just to name a few. Since I am at the center of a vast network of former students, I often put current students in touch with successful alumnae to provide them with crucial information on their career paths, and simply to inspire them this is a great strength of our program you belong to a community that supports and cultivates your personal development and professional success.

What is your vision for YUs Political Science Department?

Political Science as a discipline asks what I regard as some of the most urgent questions of the day. We need to understand the forces that are intensifying partisan political polarization. This is deeply important because our democracy rests upon certain shared values, norms, and a degree of social cohesion, yet all of these elements have been increasingly stressed in the US as well as across Europe. The threat of backsliding away from democracy is real and needs serious, thoughtful consideration and action.

... My vision is that the department continues to grow and foster this sort of engagement. Students, like everyone else, are busy and it's difficult to care about politics, but it is my hope that students find Political Science courses to be personally meaningful and relevant, and that they might inspire students to be more thoughtful critics and active participants in the decisions that will determine where the country is ultimately headed.

Anything else you would like to share?

Students often assume that Political Science is just for people who are pre-law, but this really is a misconception. This discipline provides access to many more opportunities in business, management, consulting, research, risk analysis, public policy, education, journalism, advocacy, the non-profit sector, countless careers in government, and on and on. Rather than seeing Political Science as narrowly limited to law or government, students should know that there are vastly more careers out there for which this training is an excellent match.

Faculty Interview with Dr. Chuck Freilich, adjunct professor at Stern College for Women

Dr. Freilich is a senior fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard's Kennedy School. He has previously served as a deputy national security adviser in Israel.

How does the experience in YU differ from that in Harvard? Do students respond differently to your lectures on the Middle East?

For me the big difference, which makes teaching at YU so rewarding, is the students' deep emotional attachment to the issues, to what's happening in the Middle East and how it affects the US and Israel. Many have just come back from their year in Israel and its impact on them is very clear. They are thirsty for further knowledge.

Tell us about the career paths youve chosen in the past.

I spent the first half of my career, over 20 years, in Israels defense establishment, as an analyst and as a deputy national security advisor in my last position. For the last 14 years I have been an academic, spending most of the time in Israel, teaching in the US one semester each year. While in government, I loved being in the midst of things, the action, the constant challenge and adrenaline. As an academic, I have had the opportunity to address many of the same issues, going into far greater depth. It is a different, but equally rewarding challenge for me.

Any advice for students who are interested in the field?

Go with your passion. Weigh carefully the primary career paths in the field, whether in academia, the think tank world, or government. For the first two, a PhD is basically a prerequisite. For government, a Masters, preferably before starting ones career, but if not early on while working.

What is the most exciting research project you have ever worked on?

That is a tough one, there were lots. But if I have to pick one, it is the book I published last year, Israeli National Security: a New Strategy for an Era of Change. This was probably my lifes work. Having spent so many years in Israels defense establishment, I have long felt the need for such a book, which critics say is the most comprehensive ever written on the topic. More importantly, it is the first public proposal for an Israeli national security strategy since the state was founded. I hope it will make an important contribution to Israeli national security discourse.

Alumnae Interview with Mouchka Darmon Heller (SCW 11)

Mouchka Darmon Heller is a SCW Political Science graduate from Paris, France. She has worked in many political science related positions and also taught a course in Business Negotiations at the Sy Syms School of Business in Spring 2019.

Tell us a little about yourself and your YU experience.

I came to YU from Paris at 17, straight from high school, with $50, half a duffel bag, no family, not even a clue what 50 E. vs. 50 W. was. Adapting to YU's unique universe was of course tough at first, but I also still feel deeply grateful for the environment it provided. I chose my professors carefully, and they turned out to be true mentors, who would put in the time to correct my grammatical errors and discuss internship options. I even had a professor once notice how particularly blue I felt and told Dean Braun who got me a ticket to Paris to go see my family for Purim a joy I still remember. With time, I became heavily involved on campus, and YU became a true home.

Tell us about your career path and about the work youve done

After graduating from YU, I joined Georgetown's School of Foreign Service where I specialized in multilateral negotiations. My Master's took me to The Economist's advertising team, where I leveraged my political science training to design new business development strategies, which eventually took me to the newly created corporate data team. Data, at the time, was not a sexy term by any means. Yet, I was intrigued by the possibilities, for both business and society, in data collection and analysis, so I partnered with the Chief Data Officer to create the company's first data division from scratch. My interest in data, combined with my background led me to eventually accept a role as Canadian Trade Commissioner of Infrastructure in New York, a new industry for me with a lot of similar themes around use of technology for social benefit, international relations, and systemic change. I moved on to the World Economic Forum in October 2018 because I became so passionate about my work in infrastructure that I wanted the opportunity to take it to a global scale.

Do you feel like your career has given you the opportunity to apply the knowledge you learned in your political science courses?

I have had the rare opportunity to directly apply my academic training to my career. I was one of the few political science majors at YU who were not looking to become lawyers or work in Jewish non-profits. Instead, I viewed political science as the study of the larger mechanisms of power and influence in a given society. It made my academic interests a bit more malleable, inclusive of classes in economics, anthropology, history and languages, among others and a personal view on my field that helped motivate me to strive for excellence. My coursework at YU and at Georgetown taught me a methodology for design thinking, trained me in a series of soft skills, and gave me knowledge of core drivers of our modern society that I still use in my career.

Was there anyone at YU who was involved in helping you secure your career?

When I was at YU, I was an avid visitor of the career center, where I built foundational skills such as resume writing and interviewing. However, career advisors cant be anyones entire job search. My professors helped me understand who I was as a student and a professional and gave me precious information about the reality of different fields. My peers talked me through their internships, job search processes and, perhaps most importantly, failures and surprises. Last but not least, the NY ecosystem is a haven of opportunities and gave me my first professional experiences and networking opportunities.

Can you share any advice for political science students who would like to pursue a career in your field?

Find your own pathway to excellence and dont compromise once you get on it. We tend to select traditional careers because ambiguity is terrifying, but no fish can climb trees. If you have selected political science, take some time to understand why, where your interests truly lie, and what are your greatest strengths and shortcomings. This is actually a difficult field to navigate, with tough competition and world-shattering issues, so you need to be sure of yourself if you are to engage with it. Think about what will challenge you, force you to grow and leverage the best part of yourself. If it wont make you happy now, make sure it will make you better so you can be happy for longer later. Dont compromise on the opportunities you select for yourself and choose the thing that continues to feel right, in your gut, regardless of how others feel. Once that is done, be the absolute best you can be, and start planning for whats next.

What was your experience teaching at YU like?

Sy Syms gave me a level of trust and freedom that I am deeply grateful for in designing and leading my class. I found it to be an empowering environment, even as being an adjunct professor can be a little lonely because you have less opportunity to engage your colleagues. I think I lucked out with my class, and got an incredible group of students that went along with my experimental style with gusto, helping me make learning a crucial skill also fun.

If you could teach any course youd like, what would it be titled?

Surviving in the real world. It would walk students through understanding key institutions and basic professional skills, teach them how to navigate through the first requests they will get after school from writing a memo to managing upwards, and it would include components like setting up a 401(k) and paying off student debt.

What book should every political science student be reading right now?

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance. The next presidential election is around the corner, and we have already forgotten all the great decisions we made and realizations we had in 2016. Instead, we have continued to become more divided and further polarized our society. This book came out then and I thought it was a gift of a window into the world of a disenfranchised population we, privileged urbanites, often ignore. I think this kind of book is a reminder of the broader mechanisms that shape our world, beyond the echo chambers we build for ourselves. To be a political scientist is to be able to detach from your own universe at times so you can actually see the rest of the world. We need more political scientists these days.

Anything else youd like to share?

Political science is a field of value to every student, regardless of professional aspirations. For better or worse, we are all actors in this occidental world, and therefore responsible for everything we see around us, accountable for the change we want to see. Know what your world is made of, understand your institutions, and contribute meaningfully and deliberately.

Student Spotlights with Noa Eliach (SCW 20) and Rachel Rosenberg (SCW 20)

Noa and Rachel are current SCW students majoring in Political Science

Noa Eliach

Tell us about your summer experience.

This summer I interned at the Beth Din of America which serves as the preeminent rabbinical court which adjudicates all matters relating to financial disputes, gittin, and questions of Jewish statutes. As an intern I sat in on cases, mediation, arbitration, and a chalitza. Additionally, I answered the phones, did some filing, typed up hazmanas (subpoenas), and seiruvs (orders of contempt) and worked on the Beth Dins new blog called JewishPrudience (check it out!).

What was the most interesting part of working for the Beit Din? Any lessons youd like to share?

Over all my 6 weeks at the Beit Din were extremely interesting and thought provoking. The cases that I sat in on were intricate and most of the time not clear cut. It was fascinating to watch the dayanim delve into a case and all issues pertaining to it, in order to reach a mutual halakhic understanding and issue a psak. However, the most striking thing I witnessed this summer was a Halitza; the ceremony done in order to break the zika, connection, between a childless sister in law with her brother in law. This ceremony is grounded in Yevamot- and it is one that is both rare and extremely detail oriented. First the brother in law does hatarat nedarim in case he had been coerced into giving the chalitza. Next, a kinyan hagba is done between the dayanim and the brother in law in which the brother in law acquires the special chalitza shoe. He then ties the shoe up his leg at which point the sister in law unties the shoe, removes it from her brother in laws foot, and then throws it. After that the two face each other and they exchange words found in the p'sukim, and then the sister in law spits towards her brother in law but not at him. Witnessing the chalitza was really a once in a lifetime experience that both astounded me and made me proud to see the strength of halacha and how it permeates time.

Have any specific courses at Stern prepared you for the position?

One course in particular that really gave me a background knowledge in so many of the monetary cases that came up, was Rabbi Saul Bermans Jewish Business Ethics class I recommend everyone take that course. In Rabbi Bermans class we learnt about issues relating to competition, g'neivat daat, product defectiveness, contracts and all sort of various issues that most certainly came up on a daily basis at the Beit Din.

Anything else youd like to share?

Something that I really enjoyed throughout my time at the Beit Din was seeing the intersection of Halacha and secular law. It is really interesting to see where Halacha and law line up exactly, and where the two differ. Additionally it was amazing to be apart of such a professional and well run organization that is truly shaping our community today.

Rachel Rosenberg

Tell us about your internship experience.

I work at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office in Trial Bureau 60. My Bureau prosecutes anything from misdemeanors to felonies, it just depends on the prosecutor and how long they have been working. I have worked for more senior members of the team on some of the bigger cases, like homicides or stabbings, and other days I work on petty theft or physical altercations. My roles consist of listening to inmate's phone calls, preparing discovery (aka papers you need to turn over to the defense before trial), watching videos from supposed crime scenes and trying to ID defendants and victims at or near the sight. Every day I get new projects and sometimes I spend my day in court, which is always a bonus.

What is the most interesting part of working for the DA? Any lessons youd like to share?

The cases I work on have been extremely interesting, but one of the most interesting parts of my internship, that I did not expect, is the office environment. I have interned at many private law practices, and in some courts, however I find the work environment at the DA's office extremely unique and enjoyable. The ADA's all give advise on the best way to try a case or show up to watch their co-workers in court. They take notes, and give feedback, or pop into each others offices to just talk things through. There are many emails that circulate about after work hang-outs or Bureau vs. Bureau softball games. I hope for myself to work in a legal environment that can maintain such a level of cordiality and friendship when I am an attorney.

Did YU help you get the position?

I learned about this position from YU's pre-law society, specifically the president Yitzchak Carroll. I'd highly recommend joining the group chat if you're looking for any good pre-law advice or work opportunities.

What's it like balancing school and work? Any tips?

It's been a huge adjustment from being in school for full days to squeezing school into two days and working the other days, but I have made my (kind of crazy) schedule work! I use my lunch break to study and am encouraged to get my work done efficiently when I have any bit of free time. I would recommend only taking on an internship that you are really passionate about because otherwise your schedule will just become overwhelming and draining.

Anything else youd like to share?

I would highly recommend any student looking into internships to pursue any opportunity that interests them. I thought a position at the DA's office was a long shot. I am used to using YU or familial connections to get positions, but I took the long shot and am so happy I did. When I got an email about a second interview, I was so shocked. I've never tried to apply for something where I didn't have any connection, but getting this position has propelled me to look into other opportunities that might seem difficult to attain for my next semester internship. Don't get lost in the narrow world we find ourselves in of interning for our parents' friends or friends parents, find what your passionate about and go for it!

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Department Highlights: SCW Political Science - The Commentator

Every year, a valuable Acorn Scholarship is awarded to make a career dream come true. If youve got drive, passion and clear goals, then the next Acorn Scholar could be you. Janie Manzoori-Stamford finds out more

The Acorn Scholarship is coming of age. This year the announcement of the 2020 Acorn Scholar will bring to 18 the number of winners since John Price was named the inaugural Acorn Scholar for 2003. In the intervening years, the judges have identified, celebrated and supported incredible talent from across the hospitality industry as they take the next exciting steps in their illustrious careers.

Jon Reed, the 2004 winner and now an Acorn Scholarship judge (above), went on to win an Acorn Award before joining the board of Purple Cubed and latterly burgeoning coffee brand Paddy & Scotts. The 2010 Acorn Scholar Will Torrent (below) also went on to win an Acorn Award, while further cementing his reputation as an award-winning chocolatier and ptissier, and cookbook author.

And Charlotte Horler (below), who was an operations manager for the Hotel Collection when she won in 2016, went on to work with Red Carnation Hotels before joining Hand Picked Hotels in her current role as operations manager at New Hall hotel and spa in Sutton Coldfield.

The scholarship has stayed true to its core values, supporting high achievers in hospitality to achieve their dreams and aspirations, says Sean Wheeler, Acorn Scholarship judge and director of people development at Kimpton UK & Regent Hotels.

The things that have changed are peoples aspirations and support needs. These vary every year, based on who the winner is, so a bespoke 12-month development plan worth 5,000 is put together with the judges soon after the winner is announced. Each year is unique.

According to fellow judge Jo Harley, managing director of Purple Cubed, the judges are looking most of all for untapped potential.

Its never the most polished, or the best presenter, or the person who has already achieved great success, she explains. The scholarship is about people who want to make a difference in the industry, through their own career trajectory for example, or have a great idea they need help to take to market.

We like people who have a story, are authentic, and love hospitality and its people.

Its never the most polished, or the best presenter, or the person who has already achieved great success. The scholarship is about people who want to make a difference in the industry

Hannah Horler, managing director of Cartwheel Recruitment and scholarship judge, agrees. She says the key to finding a worthy winner is all about someone with drive, passion and clear goals.

They may already be on their journey, and we can enhance that; or they may benefit from structure and guidance in order to achieve their goals, she says. We look for someone who is going to put in the effort in order to reap the rewards the scholarship can present.

Its clear that the judges are as intent on supporting their sector as they are about supporting each new Acorn Scholar, as Ruston Toms, Blue Apple founding director, judge and chair of sponsor the PM Trust, points out.He says: Nurturing young talent in our industry is so important.There are various market sectors out there that compete for the attention of great talent, and we have to ensure that we spot it and retain it in hospitality. The Acorn Scholarship raises the profile of hospitality and ensures we create a legacy for others to follow.

The Acorn Scholarship, developed by a group of former Acorn Award winners, is designed to seek out individuals in the catering and hospitality industry whose potential has yet to be realised.

Applicants are asked to fill in an entry form and, if shortlisted, present their submission to the panel of judges at the Kimpton Fitzroy hotel, London on the 25 November 2019.

The closing date for entries is 25 October 2019.

You will be in with a chance of winning a bursary of 2,000 that can be spent on career development, such as training, equipment or study tours.

The entry will consist of a business plan that can demonstrate to the Acorn Scholarship patrons an understanding of what the applicant needs to achieve in their scholarship year so that they can advance in their career.

The balance of the prize is allocated to one-to-one personal development sessions with Purple Cubed and the individual mentor(s) assigned to the winner.

For more advise on winning an Acorn Scholarship, check out the Facebook Page

Shortlisted finalists will be asked to present their submission to the panel of judges on 25 November 2019 at the Kimpton Fitzroy London hotel in Bloomsbury.

The 334-bedroom, five-AA-star hotel became the first UK property in the luxury, boutique Kimpton brand last year when it was rebranded from Principal London, following the groups acquisition by French investor Covivio from US-based Starwood Capital Group.

Adam Bateman, group operations and development chef, IHG

Jo Harley, managing director, Purple Cubed

Hannah Horler, managing director, Cartwheel Recruitment

James Horler, chief executive, Ego Restaurants

Lisa Jenkins, products and suppliers editor, The Caterer

Moira Laird, human resources director, Valor Hospitality Partners

Jon Reed, brand director, Paddy & Scotts

Ruston Toms, founding trustee, the PM Trust

Sean Wheeler, director of people development, Kimpton UK & Regent Hotels.

Kayleigh Wiltshire, global learning and development manager, Dorchester Collection

Shane Cooke, 2019 winner

Then Senior company executive chef, Vacherin

Now Senior company executive chef, Vacherin; company mental health first aider; founder, Jasper Workplace Wellbeing

Thoughts I wasnt seeking the scholarship for my own self-development; I was looking for training in mind health and the positive impact of food on wellbeing and mental health so that I could give back to the industry as a whole. The judges told me that my passion for my subject was evident.

With the support of Vacherin and the Acorn Scholarship team, I can now start to fulfil my ambition to help others. As I perform my day-to-day role, I am now more aware of peoples wellbeing needs, whether its Vacherin staff or customers within our clients teams. This awareness is a result of the training and mentoring Ive received. Longer term, winning has given me the skills and know-how to map out my future in which mental health and wellbeing plays a huge part its fuelled my ambition!

Sandra Preciado, 2018 winner

Then Events assistant manager, Rosewood London

Now Head of hospitality, Goldman Sachs, BaxterStorey

Career highlights 2018 promoted to events operations manager, Rosewood London

Thoughts I believe my story and my passion for hospitality made me stand out to the judges. Plus, I was told I was a very good storyteller. I got to know the judges Lisa [Jenkins], Hannah [Horler], Jon [Reed] and Jo [Harley] who were supporting me and giving me advice. They helped me to believe in myself and my personal growth. I won friends and connections in this world.

The Acorn Scholarship helps people with no support or those who have had a bad experience to find the way to overcome difficulties and make them stronger. The support you get is immense. Everyone can benefit from the value of having a mentor and if that mentor becomes a friend well, then its win-win.

Simon Houston, 2012 winner

Then Group manager Europe, BaxterStorey

Now Director, Houston & Hawkes

Career highlights 2013-19 sales director, Bartlett Mitchell; 2019 launched own business

Thoughts I actually applied for the Acorn Scholarship in 2010 and it went spectacularly wrong. I went to Borough Market before my presentation having prepared very little, and spent a small fortune on food, which I then presented to the judges. From blocks of cheese through to vanilla pods and vinegars, I have absolutely no idea what I was trying to achieve!

On a positive note, I felt like a complete idiot and never wanted to feel like that again. The judges gave me feedback and encouraged me to return, which I did in 2012, when I was well prepared and won the scholarship.

The judges were impressed I had taken on board their feedback from 2010. They were also excited by my long-term ambition to start my own business, as they felt they could really nurture me to achieve this goal. Needless to say, this support has been in abundance and has undoubtably encouraged me to take the plunge.

**John Price, 2003 winner

Then** Restaurant and bar manager, Courtyard by Marriott Lincoln

Now General manager, Mercure Darlington Kings hotel, Cairn Hotel Group

Career highlights 2005-11 managing and opening hotels for Bannatyne Hotels; 2011-18 launching and running Ginger Village Pubs (his own business)

Thoughts I probably didnt realise then how big a deal it was [to be the first winner]. I believe the reason I stood out was my passion for the hospitality industry. The other finalists were using the scholarship for what it was meant for to develop themselves and their careers; I wanted to help the image of the industry.

In the short term I met some amazing people, many of whom I am still in touch with. They were a huge help in my winning year and have continued to be. I am an honest and hardworking individual. Spending time with some of the sectors top performers, you realise they are honest and hardworking individuals too, which gave me huge confidence in my own abilities.

Continue reading here:
Passport to the future: the Acorn Scholarship 2020 - The Caterer.com

Bathobile Masilela. Photo: Supplied.

The NPO (non-profit organisation), Sisipho Sami Foundation (SSF), has brought its magic from Mpumalanga to Gauteng and is reaching out a helping hand to the community.

The organisation was established in 2015 by the owner, Bathobile Masilela, who was at that time residing in Mpumalanga. Bathobile launched the NPO in her hometown just after finishing her Bachelor of Arts in Public Management and Governance through the University of Johannesburg.

I went through a dark phase, especially after school, when I struggled to find employment. But during that period I had a chance to discover myself and through that I saw my gift to inspire and motivate others. I realised that there are so many people out there who have gone through the same thing as I did, or maybe worse, and I wanted to help them to find themselves again, or motivate them to not give up or let the bad things take control of their future. So I started the Sisipho Sami Foundation that also stands for my gift. The SSF will try to help others to find their gift in life, said Bathobile.

With her organisation, she has participated in a number of community upliftment projects, and also hosted her own. She also won the Woman of the Year award in 2018 at the I am a Woman, I have purpose Awards in Govan Mbeki, in recognition of her and her organisations work in the community.

The SSF aims to empower individuals through personal development and help them discover their purpose in life. This is executed through a series of events presented through their voluntary work, with a broad range of motivational and inspirational speakers who are keen to pass on their expertise.

I believe in personal development. If one is not emotionally stable or fine, then nothing is going to get better. I want to help others and give others the motivation or advice that they are seeking, Bathobile concluded.

Continued here:
Bring motivation back to the community - Roodepoort Record