Thursday, Dow Jones Teacher of the Year, Scott Westerfeld, and more!

Posted on April 5, 2015 by Harry Brake

Thursday morning did arrive faster than I believed in New York, however I was ready for it!  I was somehow able to get up way before 7:00 AM, around 6:30 AM, spent a good hour perfecting some details for this morning’s workshop, Moving Up, and was able to get out of the hostel, stop at Oren’s for the usual morning fix, and into Hamilton Room 517 with plenty of time to spare.  In today’s case, we were using the medium of     since we have already used Trello as a medium for presentation, then used Google docs as a tool, then moved onto today using a blog to further explain how various different tools can be used to get the information out and across to many!   I thought it was great to see familiar faces in the audience form previous workshops, and I realized, tomorrow’s workshop would have last year’s magian staffer, Nina here for our workshop – YEAH!   it had been a year since I had seen her!

The workshop breezed through without a hitch, and again, this time we had close to 55+ attendees, and tons of emails left behind for further info to be shared from the various presentations – so it seems by choosing the topic of PR this was a great choice for our magazine at this year’s workshops!

Looking for the next workshop and returning as an attendee, I spied Magazine Mania March 19 2015, Room 417 of the International Affairs Building.  Yep – across the street from the main campus and I was there!  Many cool tips of what to do start the year but also, the comparison between yearbooks and magazines helped put into perspective what we are trying to do as a magazine.  Having been a yearbook advisor, I realized always has helped to differentiate goals and attempts at what to do between two different publications.

Looking at the time leading to the 11:00, it was great to see this workshop, The Art Of Suggestion:  Visual and Literary Metaphors Working Together, which featured a student magazine, Agape, from Oyster Bay High School, and how they made decisions on the art that went into their magazine!  I think it is important that we go to as many other magazines that do workshops to get perspectives outside of ourselves, and this was truly the case and helpful.  One of the interactive workshops here (yes!) they handed out art and asked attendees to write about the picture using a choice of various forms, (Haiku or other forms) and then read aloud, having the audience decide which art piece it was about.  I was thinking this was a good exercise to do with the staff as well, in order to have the decisions be more constructive and a win win on both side, the art department gets to write their own pieces while judging a piece – I love this approach to maybe deciding on art going into the magazine!

At noon was one of my favorite parts of Columbia, the Adviser’s Luncheon.  Despite getting some great food as an advisor, the Dow Jones National Journalism Teacher of the Year is always recognized, and this year it was Chris Waugaman, whose topic was “Telling Great Stories.”  The notes from his questions, (March 19 12-00 Edmund Sullivan and Chris Dow Jones of the Year) answers, Screen Shot 2015-04-05 at 3.54.41 PMand insights do let you see how much journalism, the arts, expression, and working and encouraging students towards a common goal can cover so many areas needed for students to go on and face the world and the possibilities that exist behind the classroom.

Moving into the 1:30 – 2:15 time slot, I need a small break to take in all this information, collect my notes from sessions, and just organize my thoughts!  However, at the 2:30 time slot, I did want to see the CSPA Crown Award and Overview for Magazines and Yearbooks.  I had a hunch, since we had submitted spreads for this DVD, we would be in there.  I have to say, there is something exhilarating seeing our Repentino. put up on the big screen

Screen Shot 2015-04-05 at 3.54.52 PMin front of so many magazines, and yes, the thrill was there for me seeing them!  Seeing the trends of the magazines as well as the things we can improve upon as well as what others do, this is everything in learning what there are doing in publication!

After quite a complete day of workshops and information, wow.  We still had one big day tomorrow, the Awards Ceremony, a morning workshop where Nina from last year’s staff in Mexico would be coming in! – and a denouement to the week experience.  As I walked off campus I just wanted to walk and see some of the local places in and around Broadway.  Also, I happened to flip through my papers and in fact did see that Friday, at Barnes & Noble, no less that SCOTT WESTERFELD would be at the Union Square Barnes & Noble – (it still amazes me how often authors come to New York and it seems so natural to just appear at bookstores).  Scott Westerfeld and more in New YorkWhat was even great was Mr. Westerfeld would be coming to ASF on March 20th!  In doing so, I thought, I HAVE TO GO SEE HIM, coincidences abound!  I would not be disappointed, and either will you when you read what occurred.  🙂

I was able to spend a great rest of the day wrapping up items for the workshop tomorrow, titled, Powerful PR – and ate at a Great Diner known as the Metro Diner.  It was perfect for a getting colder evening, with the Matzoh Ball soup, hot chocolate, and the Hot Open Turkey Sandwich – whoa.  It was G R E A T.  As I was back at the hostel and knocked of another 150 pages of Afterworlds – I felt the pace, the amount of activity, the people, the overall connections that were being made – this was one heck of a New York experience!

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Wednesday – leading to Thursday – Three days in New York Fly Like Madness…

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Harry Brake

Upon successfully presenting two workshops back to back at Columbia on Wednesday -(previous post)  it was LUNCH!   YES!   LUNCH!  Knowing there would be masses of people “exodusing” out of Columbia on Broadway to lunch always poses a challenge – so I didn’t have much optimism and yet, – there is was optimism as  clear open window! – Amir’s Grill – yes it was busy but – SEATS!  – I wandered in and it was jut the right kind of busy – just the feel felt right so – Amir’s it was and a great choice -I ordered the # 2- Shawarma Chicken Pita + 1 sm side (Fries please!) + Boylans Soda $8.75 – DELICIOUS!  I liked watching the crowd come in and out as I nestled in the corner and took in the frenzy of many at lunch in New York City, it was nice to see the city alive and humming around me.

1:30.  One particular workshop caught my attention.  March 18 1:30 No repeat Staff No Problem  seemed to call out to me as I realized for the first time, in a long time, we would be in fact losing alot of our staff this year due to graduation and certainly ideas couldn’t hurt.  Some really great ideas came out of this, despite it being geared towards yearbooks, may, many of the ideas and processes they implemented could word for any publication, and the energy these teachers infused into the presentation and their publications, despite one being at high school and one being at middle school, was contagious.

As the 2:30 hour came, I scanned the CSPA program booklet as an attending member to see what there was – and sadly I didn’t see much remaining for today.  A workshop on celebrating our staff achievements, but we did that pretty well I thought? Ah, A Student Swap Shop WOULD be great if we hadn’t had our magazines taken in the first session  😦   but alas, literally nothing in this remaining afternoon round.  I headed back to Lerner Hall and talked to individuals from PlayOn Sports, showing new innovations in streaming sports online for schools.  Just a hunch that maybe in the future, students could have an outlet for producing highlights related to sports, etc.. You never know…

I headed back to eat at Mama’s Pizzeria – ordered a Stromboli and took in the students out of school for the day.  It still seemed surreal to me seeing the young children in the morning and their routes is traversing blocks of New York City to their school and seeing students have as their favorite hangout restaurants in New York City that we visit as tourists, it seems there always is a flip side to where you go – 🙂    I enjoyed the family atmosphere and accents that pervade a meal in New York and wonder what my accent is like as well from someone else’s ears?

I was able to drop items off at a nearby Cleaners to get ironed for tomorrow’s workshop, as well as mended, and this happened to be Carlton Cleaners, but the one on 2766 Broadway, right beside 106th Street – the owner, the service great.  It felt just different being able to drop my clothes off, as I never do, and then the owner asking me questions about Mexico, and each time I went in, (about 3 times while there this week) – we talked like we always knew each other.  This was a great service mainly due to the owner and his personality – memorable for sure and welcoming !

As I went back to the hostel, and again napping to catch up on the nervousness I had going into the day – I remember tonight was the night of the Nuyorican Cafe!  YES!  I napped, then woke up a little later than I wanted, but after some more planning for tomorrow’s workshop, I headed out to East Village of New York.  After several stops along the way to make sure I was on the right path – I received a text from Charlotte, the Swedish visitor I met and she said was in front!  I was like, agh!  I am a few blocks away!  I passed all the familiar places, (Two Boots Pizza) and got there and what?  NO LINE?  There ALWAYS is a line, and there was no line !!!  then I saw Charlotte and we decided since no line, lets find a close place to get a warm drink then we could head beck as the line began to form – great idea as I noticed the temperature was dropping – (now becoming typical New York-like weather).  We ended up at Cafe Cortadito – turns out this was the best place for Cuban food but, we weren’t there to eat!  LOL – we got hot coffee and tea, but the smallness of the places was just, well downright cool.  It felt like we ran into a corner, that opened into a hidden hideaway that was a treasure of atmosphere.  It wasn’t anything posh by any means but yet, it had a class all of its own and was ideal!

After we warmed back up we headed out and YEAH!  LINES!  We ended up being about 15th in line, and yes, I felt justified in seeing an actual line or wondering why I decided to be there 2 hours early based on knowing there USUALLY is a line, and wouldn’t be this time?  (Whew!)  lol. As always it seems it takes forever to be let in with the cold now dropping but we were finally IN! – and seat on the ground floor, and here we go!  Judges were asked for, and before we knew it surrounded by people – and people sitting on the stage as well!  The same MC, that hosted appeared as was there last year (YEAH!) and the show began, with roughly 15 presenters.  WHOA.  I mean, every time I come I think W H O A due to the deep references, the allusions, the absolute soul that goes into the pieces and the JAMMED  J A M M E D number of people here.  If you ever wanted an inspirational event to highlight an event, this has always been the place!  This write up does it justice, but being there is just truly beyond words based on the emotions, issues, and side of life you experience by being there.  VERY few times have I been there when we actually stayed and got through the whole list of performers but we did!  TONIGHT!  The champion would have a chance this Friday to compete to go to California for the championships – and the usual booing and applauding of the judges around us, and just EVERYTHING – it was dynamite.  🙂

As we taxied home, I KNEW I still had work to do on tomorrow’s workshop before presentation but also, knew, I needed to gal into my bed and sleep knowing, so far?  This was the New York I hoped it to be and riding out the excitement of an amazing week so far.

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Into the Thick…

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Harry Brake

Ever start reading a novel and find yourself total overcome? Hence that is what occurred when I cracked open Scott Westerfeld’s Afterworlds.  Several times now the books I have chosen take place in locations where I am currently reading them, and yes – New York references seemed to grab me on top of the complexity of the action and characters.

I came back to the hostel with an urge to rest after the Tuesday St. Patty’s Day parade, and then crashed slept, woke, and begin drilling into the novel.  100 pages a day 5 days – that took of Tuesday night and I rested and prepared nervously for two workshops tomorrow at Columbia.  So let’s get into the thick of it immediately!

Tuesday! – Yes, very nervous, VERY.  Yet in a good way.  Here was the first day I had a chance to represent our school at Columbia and make sure the workshop gave something back to everyone attending.  What were the topics?  Great you asked!

But wait.  DEFINITELY worth mentioning.  Not because it is elaborate, NOT because it is crazy fancy, but BECAUSE the staff are CRAZY great, accommodating, warming, and friendly, HANDS DOWN, my favorite coffee shop every year, on the way to Columbia, Oren’s Daily Roast, on Broadway, EVERY YEAR since I have attended New York, whether from Mexico or from the states – yes THE BEST feeling and best Chai tea, best muffins, just everything, because it is their own style and own taste and awesome friendliness that IMG_0104comes out in waves – THE BEST.  I bought a replacement mug for the one that broke at my place and know as long as I came there every morn, no matter how nervous I was, things would be amazing.  Their commitment? – “To provide our customers with the finest specialty coffees in the world, perfectly roasted to order, at reasonable prices.”  They do, an are the reason why New York can feel like home so easily.

IMG_0096As I made my way to Columbia, I was greeted by the Annual Welcome to Columbia outside of Lerner Hall, excitedly was early, so waited outside for bit for the doors to open at 9:00 – enjoying the taste of Chair and an Oren’s blueberry muffin, then entered and grabbed my materials for the workshop, badges for Nina and her Dad arriving Friday (YEAH!), and thanked the awesome team at CSPA for getting this all together, Mr. Rodriguez and Ms. Castillo – who always make sure thanks to their planning and their support team of student tech, IMG_0080things run smoothly amid breakdowns, if they occur, in technology. I made my way to Hamilton Hall, room 702, say about an hour early, lol.

The first workshop  – from 10:00 – 10:45 –  Trello Super Tool – I felt at ease with because we use Trello to help organize our lives.  Last year – which I have to say made me feel good though it should have made me feel bad – my workshop – badly attended, a sprinkling, the staff that presented, PACKED – and that is the way it really is supposed to be – but this time i was solo and I water it to be crowded.  No kidding – crowded in the room of Lerner.  It IS worth mentioning, the tech student who was assigned my workshops, EXCELLENT.  She was cool, relaxed, an expert in figuring out everything, and was easily a model of what excellence in publications are at Columbia, she was part of the reason all went off without a hitch.   Having 11 people immediately add their name was comforting and a total of around 35 coming in made me feel much better by the end!  Overall, I was excited for how many came up to me afterwords and stated this was a tool that would save them countless posts, what a good start to the workshop, and that this was very helpful for them – which was the whole reason for having people attend, not to brag, but to assist, help, and share knowledge, it seemed to work GREAT!  Also, the six magazines I brought for display, yeah, that lasted 5 minutes, GONE!

Luckily, the next workshop – was at 11:00 – back to back, but in the same room – YES!  YES!  That was great!  Again, I had roughly 27 attendees leave their emails, and attending was about 45 minimum, trying to count while also getting set up.  This workshop, Social Media That Gets You There, purposely started on a Google form, thanks to the idea of Tracy Bryan at ASF, and this allows us to show the results of a google survey

Screen Shot 2015-04-03 at 8.51.54 AM that attendees were filling out as they waited in the workshop – allowing them to realize, the medium I am using in the workshop is a medium they can use to improve their publications, AND – we went on to show the various social medias we use, turning them from single use into multiple use and how – ultimately improving our publication and networking as a staff together.  Screen Shot 2015-04-05 at 8.51.29 AM

Using real life examples of how we use our social media with our publication accented just telling what media can be used for and this seemed to be an upbeat and effective workshop in that individuals were writing down tips and ways we have implemented social media not just in our publication, but how we use this as a library as well – which is a GREAT way of reshaping how people view librarians as a whole!

This was only half the day, and as my second workshop ended and I could finally play attendee, it was exciting to see that this second workshop ended in success, and I realized it was because the use of the tools I exhibited that we all used as a staff, 🙂

More to come on the second half of the CSPA Conference day!

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St. Patrick’s Day – New York 2015 – Bring on the Irish!

Posted on April 2, 2015 by Harry Brake

Of course I remember catching glimpses of the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade last year through museum windows – yet this year I was determined.  I wanted to throw myself into the thick of things and experience the jostling, bustling, impenetrable craziness of the people dragging themselves through the parade without, me actually feeling that way.  I wanted to SEE the impact but not FEEL the impact that apparently so many in the parade were experiencing!

It is definitely worth mentioning how awesome it is when you are in New York and you meet the people you meet – you never know.  Monday night as I was prepping for one of four workshops to present at Columbia University – I met a lady named Charlotte Kjellgren from Sweden.  She was looking through things to plan for New York, and I ended up sending her on Tuesday a list of events that we had done last year when we as a staff had visited New York.  In doing so – I hoped to provide her some inside tips that had been provided to me and that I came to love about New York.  In addition, I told her about the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and we made plans to see the Wednesday version of it – and I was STOKED.  I love the Cafe, and had purchased tickets online, but it is always better to share such a cool experience with someone and this worked out to be a great Wednesday revisiting some of the BEST comedy ever – and I was sure this would not be disappointing.

I headed out immediately to Fifth Avenue  and 42nd Street to actually catch the beginning of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  I knew enough to know – that it would be a MESS – however, even knowing it would be better to catch the parade further north to avoid the tangles of craziness, I decided to do it anyway right at the beginning of the parade.

I need up a little south right in Times Square, but figured all I had to do was go over a few streets and the hints were following the people some sober, some absolutely not, and sure enough it took me to St. Patrick’s Cathedral where what has been small trickles of green bearing parade individuals turned into hundreds, maybe thousands of St. Patrick’s Day parade fans.  I say St. Patrick’s Day parade fans instead of St. Patrick’s Day fans, since some I really am not sure they know what day it was.  In fact I am almost positive.  Perhaps the funniest was the group and one guy, that had a photo copy of someone that was his friend ( I hope it was his friend) and right beside him, was the guy that he was holding up a picture of, and he was asking everyone around him, “Have you see this man?!”  “Have you see this man?!” in his best voice as a police officer, and while yes strange, absolutely hysterical.  When I really got to the St. Patrick’s Cathedral, I could not move.  Really. So many people squished against each other, and we moved many one foot every 5 minutes.  I realized I had experienced in 30 minutes moving 5 feet all I cared to on the “experience.”  The police were amazing, they just rolled with it, trying constantly to move people in SOME direction, and the patience they had, seeing this every year and dealing with crazy, drunk, young, old, sane, not so sane, and every combination between of people, whoa.  Major Kudos.   I realized you could also see a live webcast of the parade – which is good to note, but being in the city, it would deb hard to recognize the advent of one of my favorite holidays and not be there to see it live.

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I slipped over two streets, keeping the parade path on 5th in sight and quickly kept pushing north, north, north, until reached the tip of Central Park and no kidding, air, space room, places to see – yep, 100% on the money and there I planted myself of the next two hours.  Amazingly, even after TWO HOURS – the parade was not even close to being finished, but after 60+ pictures and videos, I felt I had seen and felt the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day.  The people I had seen come by my path during that two hours, not including the impressive high school bands, the clans of Irish from in and all around New York, the bagpiping groups, the policeman from so many division, it was just – it totally was worth it even though I though, eh, maybe it will be cool.  IT was super great!  I love the fact this is the oldest parade for St. Patrick’s Day, since 1762 – and that made the experience all the more worth it amid the excitement and so many participants.

This is the difficult thing about writing afterwards a week an a half later – what else did I do that day?  I remember hitting up Barnes & Noble – grabbing copies of Scott Westerfeld’s newest novel Afterworlds preparing for his visit to ASF on April 20th – as well as making sure I grabbed an Shamrock Shake (YES!) – and heck – I am pretty sure I actually had to return to the hostel because my feet were NUMB- and I had some worry abut making sure I had all the loose ends for the first workshop for tomorrow ready – actually TWO workshops on the first day of Columbia, so you can imagine how uneasy I was – and I wanted to make sure it was enticing for everyone.

in fact, the whole reason I saved my receipts was to make sure I actually remembered what I couldn’t remember a week late day by day, so heck, let me check – be right back.

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Not an April Fool’s joke – Life is good…for over a thousand others that have made it that way. New York starting March 16, 2015.

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Harry Brake

As the fountains start in Plaza Cabrera in Roma Norte’s Mexico City, the dogs sidle up to my lap and enjoy the sun beginning to show itself, the restaurant owners slowly waking up the gates that guard their tiendas, and the book The Bone Clocks effortlessly revealing it’s intriguing twists and turns through the character Hershey’s life, I realize, life is SO good.

I look back on my past year, and look as a year full of criticisms of what I do with others. accomplishments that counter those very criticisms, the strength I have gain from both inside and outside, as well as developing a tough skin and seeing the results of sticking with my beliefs and transition as a librarian that tries to involve much more than a librarian normally has been stereotyped in doing, I find the links to education growing an growing, and love my choice as a librarian and to mold that position into the 21st Century needs of providing a model that students can use to further the world’s need for a diverse learner in all areas.

Yet, I digress, I realize more than anything, life is good because the countless friends and family that continue to lend me some of their wisdom, trust, and knowledge.  I have found who people say I am too humble in accepting thanks for various accomplishments, I continue to know 100% every accomplishment that others see is a result of all my friends and family that have allowed me to share their moments and expertise and morph that into acts and seeking out new accomplishments that simply thank the above-mentioned groups, I try to seek out as many accomplishments to thank those that have allowed me to grow, and the list is very long.

With that being said, on an amazing beautiful April 1st (and my Dad’s Birthday) – and no tricks here – I will attempt to go back and point out how magical a trek to New York was on March 16th, 2015, yes as always, my birthday.

As always my birthday was magical, receiving over 160 thanks on Facebook, I realize how lucky I was again, to have the best birthday thanks to the BEST friends and family due to an amazing visit to Delaware where I was able to truly visit and catch up with so many of them many of them sacrificing their time to do so with me ( more on that after the New York series’ posts).  Heading to the Amtrak station in Union Station, D.C., I was excited to see how the trip via Amtrak would be and just had vision of the romantic notions of riding the rails to New York.   The cool thing was I just nabbed the first day, March 16th, that all miles earned on Amtrak earned double miles, so it seems like a birthday gift of sorts 🙂

Departing at 3:02 PM on the 148 train, costing $86.00 took me one way – and the seats, whoa, similar to the Polar Express and so much I did not venture out to any other cars, I slept!  In less than 3 hours I found myself at Penn Station, I have to say, this was relaxing, smooth and was just pretty awesome!  It was surreal seeing myself pass through Delaware again, Pennsylvania, onto New Jersey, then Pennsylvania and voila!  Penn Station – LOVED it.

Glad I had packed a smaller suitcase – I found my way to the subway, grabbing the MTA card, and reliving the excitement of New York from last year’s experience with the staff of Repentino. yet determined to seek out some experiences in honor of our staff that enabled us to be here in the first place!

I made my way to the Jazz on the Park hostel, where I have stayed for the last 7+years and it was like home 🙂  I love staying at a place that does not have to be a four star hotel and yet, everyone you know, you feel the urge to maintain the cleanliness of the place when you can while there, and while not feeling obligated, you just like the place you stay – coming there I agreed to a room that shared with another and when I arrived, grabbed my room card, the bottom bunk had been taken but no sign of my roommate, but it was okay as I settle in with my belongings.

I found myself wandering over to Broadway and while it was chilly, it was not the winter I expected in New York – hands were cold, but not needing to bring out the terrible mohawk- blue and gold hat YET  🙂   I saw the familiar IMG_9945

WestSide Market that has the classic vegetables and fruits just like Mexico lined in front, Tom’s Restaurant, the familiar restaurants where I remember going into with amazing staff last year, and yes, while so missed them being here – I realized going to these same places was not boring, it was just celebrating their accomplishments!  I need up going into IMG_9946Chipotle no less and had a GREAT GREAT reception as you can tell fem the attached note I wrote to the company letting them know how great their service was (the company’s response in RED, and my original email in blue).  Chipotle of course

This is the thing, the very BAG IMG_9960of Chipotle was a tale and lesson in Spanglish!  I LOVED IT and a written portion from Julia Alavarez’s book!  Why do not all companies take this chance to promote literacy?  I had a PLATE, (with two tortilla’s used) to contain the BEST meal I had outside of Mexico, so this was totally a perfect pick!  The whole time I thought, I hear Monica in my ear ( A staff-crazed Chipotle believer and follower).  With the generosity and kindness of the employee at Chiptole, I realized, – funny, there are all sorts of good things you can do that can “fly under the radar” that help others out, wouldn’t it be great to do one of these a day, be it a secret recommendation for work done well, or just volunteering an hour every day to help someone?  🙂  I think it could change the world if everyone picked one thing a day to do 🙂 

By just simply enjoying a stroll through familiar places along Broadway, it felt soooo good to be in New York and I was anticipating what would be an amazing week of celebrating alot of things that occurred over the course of the past week – it looked to be an exciting week in New York  🙂   I was finding I was able to take with me the gifts of friendship students, friends, and my Dad had given me, this day, as I look back on what occurred in this first day of New York, on this day, today, of my Dad’s Birthday!

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Reverberations of Feeling and Solace

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Harry Brake

It is amazing to me that it is possible to walk the streets of Mexico, after midnight and be able to only hear the steps you make, and literally, seeing cars blocks away occasionally make their way through the night – and hear again, only your footsteps.  This is truly an amazing city full of sights, sounds, silence, peace, and conflict occurring but just the right moments for all.

Considering that Newgeography states, “Tokyo, with 37.6 million residents, continues its half century domination, though its margin over growing developing world cities is narrowing, especially Jakarta. Manila became the fifth largest urban area in the world, displacing Shanghai, while Mexico City moved up to 9th, displacing Sao Paulo…” and even being the 9th largest city in the world – you feel as the city is the most personal friend you could have – I of course have feelings in other cities and locations I have lived, worked, and visited, and yet, everything still pales to the feeling of opportunity, freedom, and art when in Mexico City and that is the very reason everything while here has in fact become so personal.

I realize my posts have been very sparse, but that certainly is not due to the lack of experiences.  In fact, there has been so much to process, it is very difficult to process and interpret it all without losing the deeper meaning behind so many events, so it seems the time has helped process some amazing experiences I am very excited to share.  I sit down and once the words seems to fit into place, out they come and finally, the next few days seems to allow that.  I don’t think you will be disappointed in the least.

It’s funny, you can go from a solitude at night Mexican streets offer to the steady hum of life as when Santana played last night at the Angel in Mexico City on Reforma.  I literally hung out of my kitchen window and could hear the reverberation of music that lead me straight to Santana’s live concert March 28th, only in Mexico City could you not only hear a musician like Santana having his music carried as far as Roma Norte from Reforma, but to also have the chance to have both worlds, a quiet that lets you sink into the evening comfortably and slip into the events that bring a liveliness to a city that can only be imagined.

Promising Kinah, Wriggley, and Amaya a day out on the town, we visited the brand new dog park in Parque Mexico, the newly restored plaza at Parque Mexico/Parque San Martin, and taking in the Sunday bike path through Reforma, as well as the amazing Jacaranda trees adding accents of purple all over Mexico City – like a gallery every few blocks we strolled Sunday – it is excellent to simple down on breaks – step outside of another treadmill of activity and count the ways that you are lucky based on the beauty around you.  You wouldn’t think that it would be possible to forget, but take one sunny day, one day full of freedom, fresh air, and positivity around you and – yes, a breath full of a great day occurs.  Things slow down, and an ease not realize during the rush of an average day becomes yours – there is nothing better and this is never more realized than in Mexico City.

Screen Shot 2015-03-30 at 5.55.29 AMLooking ahead there are some exciting events about to occur, that of the Spring Musical Into the Woods, which looks to be an amazing slice of vocal and looks into the very talent that shocked so many Les Miserables fans out of the community, Into the Woods looks to be an even bigger realization that art makes its way to stage in one of the biggest ways.

Add to that Repentino. brings authors Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier, and Alaya Johnson to campus April 20th and this looks to be a culminating experience and year.  Over the next few days you will be able to peer into the excursions that led back home, led to New York, and celebrating so many accomplishments that were made by so many, that it is hard to deny, life is good.  🙂   Welcome Spring Break 2015!

 

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Onslaught of Potential Starting, Middle and End and Much More….

Posted on March 22, 2015 by Harry Brake

Looking back on the past month – it has been a month of amazing creativity, learning, and inspiration, and best to pick apart one day at a time.

Leaving my cousins in Takoma Park, March 22nd, 2015,  12:30 – rerouting on the Washington D.C Transit system (WMTA) Yellow line since the Yellow line was being “maintenanced”,  I rerouted from the Red – not to Gallery Place but to Metro Center inseatd, China Town area, then hopping on the Yellow line to Reagan, knowing now it is 2:35, my flight leaves at 4:00 PM, boarding at 3:30 – arriving at the airport in the middle of the day, like this, – Reagan International – not bad, in the First Class line (yeah!)  approaching security and about 35 people in front of me, and it took roughly 30 minutes to get to security, get through, and I checked two bags (one 45 pounds, the other 35) –  for free (yeah again!).  If you think I am NOT using this info for next trip, um, you’re naive – I think as others have said First Class and Business Class might be a regular thing  🙂 – I have no idea how it happened, just that I booked for regular coach seating and boom, First Class, so seemingly it was a birthday present from the gods.

However, looking back – a great sunny day in Takoma Park, Maryland, I like leaving in the afternoon to allow some morning chores, morning tasks to be done, some slow-and-get-it done-type movements, and allowing some sleep in time – much better then cracking up at 4:00 to 5:00 AM and cracking out repacking, resorting, reorganizing, on time of a hundred other things:) There dis this calming that I always feel at my cousins, their easy-going, and relaxes style mass pretty much makes all the difference in the world.

Looking back, in the next few posts you will see the accomplishments of an organized, focused, talented young group such as Repentino. that fueled the ability to represent their school in Mexico City – to the highest degree – as well as meeting some extraordinary students and faculty from around the world, to local business owners, as well as employees that truly change the world in various ways, a birthday that was to be honest, one that might be the best so far.  Add to that friends, family that have created an inspiration for me around the world – be it at University of Delaware, the amazing experiences I was lucky enough to have at Seaford High School, as well as the amazing amazing students I found myself among students during a Week Without Walls trip from The American School Foundation A.C. in Mexico City – the past 45 days really, have been impossible to comprehend and appreciate in even this short amount of time, but it is worth the effort 🙂

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Sharper than Usual but Bringing into Focus the Idea of Moving Up!

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Harry Brake

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“Mr. Brake, it breaks my heart to know that you are also going to leave Repentino.  I understand why, but I just feel our little Repentino. family grew up too fast and flew out of the nest. A year ago seems to have happened yesturday, and yet it feels like a life time has gone by.

There is nothing else I can say but that I miss everything that high school was for me. I miss just walking into the library and have 5 life long conversations that would make me laugh so much that my stomach and cheeks would hurt.

Sorry for my emotional speech, but your news made me so!!!”

Of course a post like that gets you right here – and allows you to look back and realize – what we have done – yes, we are making a difference in many lives that go on before us, and individuals silently, and unexpectedly, become leaders in some way, shape or form.

In preparing for this workshop today titled Moving Up – I struggled like anyone struggled with what would be a dynamic way to start, as well to get across the idea that in order to get a PR to be successful, you need to have everyone involved, everyone on PR that is effective, feel it here (your heart).  If this is obtained, if this is not felt, then sure, you will have a mediocre PR and results from your PR – the opposite, life will be sensed through every tweet, post and publishing that occurs.  That is your goal.  How can you achieve everyone, from so many backgrounds, to feel the power of what is possible, mores than any other publication in your school?

I can only share with you some tricks and options that have worked with me and you add in your own mix of what works with you – and as we do this workshop today – we are also sending these tips out to the world.

In being able to transition from a yearbook advisor for at least five years, then mooing into a position of literary arts magazine editor – you can take all the tips of the trade that so many advisors and staffs have put into place before you, and if you forget the heart of the matter, you still will fall short.

I like this video about yearbooks but it easily transgresses across to many other publications and activities that staffs should feel to reach their potential.

Some great ideas to help contributing members move up into positions of influence ?

  • Moving UP is a misnomer – actually if you are encouraged to move horizontally – all things will be revealed regarding strengths, etc.. and so will your publication: Bookmarks for Literacy, helping other clubs even when you can use the help, Open up venues for expression outside of the print – (this also opens op new positions) – International Acquisitions – contribute to where your magazine has been without words and tap into video talents of your staff, let your school see you are involved with creative initiatives like NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month) and more …
  • Creating an application process for new staff
  • Creating an application process for editor wishes to editor want to be’s
  • A GREAT idea for evaluating new staff and considering positions, taken from yesterday’s workshop titled, No Repeat Staff, No Problem! by the following two staff members – Allie Straub – stauba@wws.k12.in.us and Laura Zhu lauramzhu@gmail.com:
  • 1) Tic Tac Toe Board – 60 minutes – 3 tasks
  • 2) clipboard – soon to be leaving staff and monitor snack bar buffet

Put out the work ahead of time into the process – such as:

create contracts for approval of pieces, as well as applications to add justification to members being on staff,

create Bylaws of standards to remain in the group,

add some teeth to awards that are not just freely given by EARNED,

add job descriptions that will help add validity to the job someone will do, but have exiting staff edit these for the incoming staff!

Find places for training – some ideas:

Yearbooks – We always attended a retreat as Advisors and staff in Gettysburg College for Jostens and Yearbooks – it made a difference when it came to creating the theme, creating the ladder and then reinforcing that with conferences for yes, both advisors and staff such as CSPA!

Better yet – have YOUR staff veterans and newcomers CREATE their own summer camp – add sections of photo, layout, writing, and more this WORKS!

Never, ever be afraid to promote what you do in being an extension of preparation for post-gaff involvement:

Why be involved ?

Can you remind me again?

Why be an advisor?  Justify in front of the staff?

Common Core Ties?

Why be part of a literary staff?

It is vital to not be afraid to create new interpretations every year of what your publications aim to do – how to do this?

Create new positions – and have them appear in new places:

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Go the extra mile but show your staff how to do that (Secretary is also your chief correspondent) – thank you’s sent personally for everything from allowing you to be part of a concessions to earn funds – allowing you to do an interview, acknowledgement of the freedom and spaces for creativity, this comes from administration, faculty, colleagues, and staff members that normally are not thanked during the process (editors, layout designers, etc.).

A good analogy is that of the Open Mic versus the Slam Poetry.  The difference between entertaining an idea and slamming the idea into motion around you.

Celebrations are necessary to celebrate the actions that go unseen, however, add more than a party celebration to define a thanks.  Christmas – Polar Express with Hot chocolate and cookies spread everywhere, Secret Santa among staff, create your own leadership Awards for the group at the end of the year – have a set essay that goes out to the staff when they graduate that becomes a custom, create a custom of excellent to a “mecca” that they obtain new ideas, skills for the next year or current year, create a gala to orient new students to what your publication has to offer reach out to younger staff in Middle School, reach out to alumni, reach out to parents –

One crucial aspect is always, ALWAYS keep alumni form your staff included, their job does not have to be over when they depart, not at all- it could be just beginning!  Check out Erick Gordon from right here in Columbia.  It is vital the staffs realize these coincidences as they occur in your publication.

If you allow yourself, your staff to dig deep and find elements of moving forward that will result in ultimately Moving Up, but your staff has to feel it.

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Deeper than the Symbolism, Worlds Away but Close to the Future, and the Oscars.

Posted on February 22, 2015 by Harry Brake

In looking at the Oscars, you can also interpret how we live our lived based on our selections/choices and favorites in films.

Right before I boarded the plane headed back to the states, I caught the film Selma.  I LOVE the fact that this comes in the middle of Black History Month.  While it seems distant for anyone in Mexico to recognize Black History Month, I think it is vital to remember, and this was brought to my attention ever so clearly, thanks to Brad’s Pitt’s help in an amazing film titled Selma.  I realized, as I am lucky enough to have people, events, and experiences to remind me, that universality is the idea that – if you allow it – can influence people, what we do in this world, how we treat others, and where we choose to go in life.  What I have found is that does not come to our doorstep.  Not at all.  We have to be on the move for such things, always looking for something that gives us that new information that inspires us motivates us, and opens our mind to the view that yes, the world is a larger place than we think.

Every time I get ready to jump on a plane to the states, I get nervous like I did when i was at the starting line for a 5k, 10k or a marathon – and that lets me know there is still exhilaration in a location that personalized with you in some way, shape, or form and means so much.  That lets me know this it is important.  The same thing occurred in Selma, and I thought of how we packaged books for Screen Shot 2015-02-22 at 7.31.23 AMBlind Date with a Book this year, how patrons delved into books such as The Invisible Man, Home, and more, and it matters.  You hear the age old complaint of when are we going to celebrate White American day?  Don’t be stupid.   We have so many American Days, where we celebrate every race as a whole, and as a bonus, choose specific cultures and races to celebrate again, that is the beauty of America as well multiple awarenesses and multiple chances to celebrate the diversity that makes American , America.  It is the duty of citizens of America to respect that fact that diversity can reinforce the very values that keep American America, not what others try to do to change that.  Being able to celebrate many cultural and racial backgrounds multiple times and if in the right mindset – be grateful to have reasons to celebrate those around is and with us, is a true America.

Selma brings to life the sacrifices and demands for freedoms often denied so may people around the world, and connecting what we do in our library, what we do among people around us, what we strive to do in MUN, and so much more?  That is the beauty of opening your eyes to the world around us.

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What Would Your Soundtrack Be?

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Harry Brake

It’s funny how particular comments stick with you and linger.  Ever since I started a blog, I have found so many avenues of thought, experiences, and moments that linger behind me, and urge me to bring them out.  Many times I do not even realize how important they are and I just find myself putting them down in a blog, and from somewhere, I  have not figured out where yet, a story comes.  That to me is inspiring and everything I would want to happen with writing that has been denied to me due to a lack of allowing time previously for events around me to soak in – and allowing myself to write about it and contemplate.  Writing is powerful and should be allowed to envelope people, and in a world that is so fast-paced, a lot of the simpler things in life slip away so easily – and that has been the gift I have received in coming to Mexico – learning to allow those moments to seep in and shape my writing.

One particular comment still haunts me as as have moved past seeing an amazing film, Unbroken, comments from two individuals in the theatre.  As we were halfway through the movie and the amazing and yes, horrible conditions that Louis Zamperini survived  – the comment of two movie-watchers beside me was, “This is why Americans have such a hate for the Japanese.”  Honestly, I was flabbergasted.  This was the OPPOSITE of what Unbroken, and so many other life lessons have taught us.  Holding a grudge despite the gift of being alive, everyone, including these commentators on the movie theatre, realized that the lesson of forgiveness allowed many to become stronger – and move past, simply the past.  There are so many people that keep blinders on and fail to truly welcome and embrace a life that has much room and time to teach us amazing lessons every day, and those not being able to move past prejudices of all kinds, simply limits their ability to live life to the fullest.

As I poured over papers from my specific advocacies’ Model United Nations position papers, I realized how lucky (they do not see this now) but how much opportunity experiences like MUN give students to infuse their own philosophies and experiences in possibilities like MUN.  Yes, I have heard my share of complaining about particular requirements, but the talented individuals that can see past the now, in fact created their papers with a part of why they believe and see in life everyday, and that was refreshing to see the connection to something I overheard, was disappointed about, and could also see how events like MUN could and can be used to extend how someone sees the world around us, and how we can make jot better.  Sure, Model United Nations seems forced but in reality, doesn’t going to school?  Don’t assignments feel that way?  I have found when you combine what is asked of you with what you believe and see and have experienced, education as a whole begins to also change shape, and for the better.  While I a highly disappointed in the comments and way those two movie-goers wrote off the conclusions they had halfway through Unbroken, I can only hope they realized at some point they misjudged too early the overall importance of what they were seeing.

The word accomplishment comes to mind when I look over the past few weeks.  Initially, the ASOMEX Soccer tournament was crazy with the planning, full of activity, mascots, sharks, leopards, fans, players and our girls placing second overall and the boys fighting back and holding their own – I realized how talented our soccer platers truly are.  They make things look so easy once on the field, and then magic just occurs and whole many of us as fans and mascots want to yell, WHAT??  Why did that happen!!!! We all also realized how much sweat time, and practice it took to be even slightly competitive on the field, and how the discrepancy appears from the stands.

In the backdrop you also had the ASF Debate Team going on to do great things at Tecnológico de Monterrey during the 2015 Debate Tournament.  Don’t forget the ASF Jazz Band being featured in the Reforma, Screen Shot 2015-02-20 at 10.43.00 AMand so many other accomplishments from groups such as Repentino. staff receiving accolades in Columbia and NCTE with the Repentino 2014 award, and more groups that truly have made today, Founder’s Day at ASF – worthy of the spirit of achievement, learning, and accomplishment the founders could only hope for.  The upcoming Week Without Walls trips that 9th graders will embark on, will only contain the possibilities of learning, experiencing and changing the perspectives we think are us, and realize that different experiences mold us into people we formally didn’t know before.

As the week came to a close, I found myself preparing for meeting individuals that were so important to me as a growing experience before I left Mexico, attending a wedding of a student that went on to take her aspirations through the Naval Academy and became one of many exciting students that put her dreams to a realistic test in life.  As I four myself boarding a plane to the states to come back into the world that had once been mine, I would find many exciting visits to aspects of myself that I quickly had forgotten.

So what soundtrack would I be?  That remains to be elaborated on, as there are so many pieces of classic, upbeat, and new age selections that have become my life thanks to the people around me.  Yet, the very reactions to the world around us that do result in taking steps backward help me decide on what pieces of a soundtrack I do not want to become, in order to actually become a selection that mass a difference.  I would be curious to find out what soundtrack would others around me wish to be based on their experiences.

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