In past years Athletes were “THE” role models for both schools & the community. They were seen as leaders often praised for their ability to inspire both on and off the field or court. However, we have watered down the expectations for today’s athletes, often creating division and false hierarchy. Many teams are not holding their athletes to a consistent standard of excellence and it shows in their performance both in the classroom & on the court. It even shows up in their display of sportsmanship.

When we think about academics and sports, we often just focus on whether or not the players going to play, but there are some unintended benefits that players, parents, coaches & community needs to understand and take an active role in increasing youth in sports.

However we really need to look beyond the superficial perks and look at the lasting impact and opportunities being in sports can have on the students but the school as well.  For the school, when you have more students involved in sports, you have less atudents with attendance issues. More students are focused on their health and academic performance, which in turns means more learning is taking place.

The direct benefit for students being in sports is, academically it’s helping improve their cognitive functions, like memory and concentration. It helps with learning discipline and time management skills. It also is fundamental in building individual & even team resilience as they work to persevere and accomplish set goals. And typically students involved in sports benefit health wise from the regular physical activity and typically encouraged to work on learning how to balance commitments.

All of these have a direct correlation on better academic performance and improved behavior outcomes. And if modeled and supported correctly, by the various adults shaping or influencing their lives, would likely increase a students chances of carrying those same attributes into adulthood and careers.

At the end of the day, we want youth to be prepared for the future, so let’s focus on creating shared expectations and standards for academic excellence in athletics.

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Join us as we continue the conversation & discuss how we can Take Action Together to prepare our Academic Athletes now and better their foundation to be the best leaders in the future. 

Every family has a struggle. No matter how much a community wishes for things to be better for every family. Sadly, the unfortunate reality is there will always be some family challenge making life a bit uncomfortable or unbearable for every family. However, we can work together and reduce the stress & struggle for youth from the start. We can create a better foundation for youth to stand on as they learn & move towards adulthood.  

We can be effective & improve the overall quality of the school environment. To do so, we often would focus on the availability of & access to academic & social emotional resources when looking for the more prominent challenges impacting student achievement.  And while supportive parents and teachers are essential and access, resource accommodation is valuable, there are several other factors that also influence a student’s overall academic performance and personal success. Those factors include the school’s cleanliness and environment quality, access to food regardless of the quality, family challenges & needs and the overall hygiene standards students have themselves. 

Students aren’t academically successful just because it’s fun or the school is pleasant to their eyes, nose & ears. Students are academically successful because they have supportive parents & teachers and community collaboratively working together.  A cohesive system rather community that ensures the entire overall educational experience and environment for students includes essential access to resources, learning accommodations are available and that there are less distracted by personal and external factors.

Now we have to be the community for schools and help them all be environmentally health conscious schools first…that are willing to focus on more than our physical appearance and latest technology & gadgets. We have to be a functioning structural system that takes into consideration the overall impact on learning for all students as it relates to the air & water quality, clutter management, recycling & maintenance efficiencies. We have to prioritize evaluating the impact of all that has been listed above and work together to improve the nutritional, health & wellbeing and hygiene conditions of its students.

This doesn’t absolve the role supportive parents and teachers play in building a sustainable learning experience for youth.  We just have to remember attendance improves, overall performance increases  and a student’s confidence grows when they are less distracted by their own health, hygiene & nutritional concerns. We can create a be the foundation for youth.

Consider being part of the school team & our Community in Action ~where time, talent and treasures converge.

If you’re lucky enough to remember playing after dark without fear, having an overabundance of people interfering in your life choices, and helping guide you on your next steps in life, then consider yourself extremely lucky…because sadly those days seemed to be long gone. Now don’t get me wrong – we still have versions of that today, but it’s far less visible and impactful. Somehow, as the world continues to evolve, everyone seems to be more preoccupied within their own bubble and it’s causing the foundation of community to weaken, impacting our greatest resource and legacy: our children. This is one of the reasons why the Carter Education and Community Foundation was created – to bring us back to community and focus on improving the accessibility to necessary resources for our youth. We want to empower them and create positive opportunities so each one can feel competent on their path to succeeding. As we begin to rebuild a version of community, we need to look at some of the areas impacting the work most needed:

• The long term effects of the growing financial wealth achievement gap
• The need for diversity of perspective and students
• The benefits of extracurricular activity participation
• The improvement of graduation rates
• Qualified workforce in the USA versus other countries

Financial Wealth Achievement Gap

There is distinct divide when it comes to the academic outcomes between communities with higher disparities and those in more affluent neighbors. Even more prevalent is the gap in academic achievements among minority students and their white counterparts. This causes irrevocable challenges for communities and individuals to thrive. Therefore, closing the financial wealth achievement gap becomes essential for everyone.

“Our nation is currently experiencing growing levels of income and wealth inequality, which are contributing to longstanding racial and ethnic gaps in education outcomes and other areas. These large gaps, in combination with the significant demographic changes already underway, are threatening the economic future of our country. Thus, closing racial and ethnic gaps is not only key to fulfilling the potential of people of color; it is also crucial to the well-being of our nation,” according to Robert Lynch and Patrick Oakford.¹

The Citi GPS: Global Perspectives & Solutions presented a report which included this statement: “Closing the wage, housing, education, and business investment racial gaps can help narrow the wealth gap, which is significant for facilitating homeownership, business, and job creation, plus establishing a pipeline for intergenerational wealth accumulation.”²

Diversity of Students

If we want to create the best leaders possible, we have to make sure we develop the foundation for all kids because we really never know where a leader will come from. Consider Maya Angelou (a world-famous author, poet, dancer, singer, activist, and scholar) and John Paul DeJoria (an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and co-founder of the Paul Mitchell line of hair products): both grew up in the foster care system. Both became well-known leaders and made a positive impact to many lives.

The long-term positive benefits for all youth when exposed to diverse people, perspectives, and experiences are endless. Competency and leadership skills are enhanced because they have been given natural opportunities to challenge their own status quo.  Diversity is the best of who we are and strengthens the very foundation the best leaders stand on.

Extracurricular Activity Participation

Inequality also affects opportunities for kids to experience getting involved in extracurricular activities. We are seeing a greater gap between and in communities where resources are scarce and/or tax dollars go to the wealthier schools in communities. Participation in extracurricular activities can instill important values, such as: life skills, teamwork, responsibility, confidence, discipline, and creativity.

The benefits of extracurricular activities give children an opportunity to be exposed to a variety of experiences. In some cases, they get to travel outside of their community which can enrich their lives. 

Graduation rates

At the most basic level, a high school diploma is needed for post-secondary education and most of the time to obtain a job. Nevertheless, graduation rates tell a different story as well as highlighting what matters most, because it is an indicator of a school’s ability to prepare youth for the future.

Unfortunately, as a community we don’t always see the benefit of our involvement in encouraging all youth to obtain this first goal. We also become busy and end up minimizing the positive social and emotional impact youth get from obtaining a high school diploma. However, for children who have spent their entire lives living in family chaos or wading through self-doubt and insecurity, this accomplishment can bring a boost of confidence and independence needed to succeed.  So for this reason, we have to work together to address the systemic issues having the greatest impact on our youth’s ability to achieve this major milestone.  Below are some stats to reflect on. Imagine if we hit at least 90% across the board.

According to the Kids Count Data Center⁴ for 2018-2019, the graduation rates in Illinois by race ethnicity were as follows:

• Black – 76.5%
• American Indian – 78.1%
• Latino – 82.2%
• Two or more races – 86.9%
• White – 90.8%
• Asian – 93.9%

A note with the statistics stated: “Illinois must do more to reduce the attainment gaps between groups.”

Qualified workforce in the USA versus other countries

We spend years working to get youth ready to be functioning and contributing members of society, so we have to make sure salaries are equal. Yes, there are a number of factors that go with addressing this inequality. Some of those factors include benefits, ongoing training, certifications, and raises. However, we have to be willing to see that Income inequality affects everyone in and out of the workforce in the United States.

“The United States has a higher level of income inequality and a larger share of low-income residents than almost any other advanced nation, according to an annual employment report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an economic organization with 36 member countries.”³  “American workers suffer from longer-lasting consequences when they lose a job, and the majority lack the type of labor protections that workers in other countries enjoy,” the OECD group said.³

Creating Community

The Carter Education and Community Foundation is here to help address some of the biggest problems facing our youth today. We want to provide a safe community and accessibility to resources that will empower and encourage our youth to find positive opportunities. We are here to share some of our own talent with any and all youth striving to give them skills to feel competent in meeting life’s challenges, because we want them to feel confident in their capabilities to succeed.

To contact the Carter Education and Community Foundation:

Website: https://thecartercommunity.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecartercommunity

Email: thecartercommunity@gmail.com

Sources:

¹ The Economic Benefits of Closing Educational Achievement Gaps by Robert Lynch and Patrick Oakford

https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/reports/2014/11/10/100577/the-economic-benefits-of-closing-educational-achievement-gaps/

² Closing the Racial Inequality Gaps: The Economic Cost of Black Inequality in the U.S. by Citi GPS: Global Perspectives & Solutions [page 8]

http://webmail.cpanel-host2023.hostmonster.com/cpsess8297245829/3rdparty/roundcube/?_task=mail&_frame=1&_mbox=INBOX.Butterfly%20Copywriting.Client%20-%20Carter%20Community%20Foundation&_uid=31&_part=2&_action=get&_extwin=1

³ For workers, U.S. falls short versus most developed nations by Kate Gibson (CBS News)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/for-workers-u-s-falls-short-versus-most-of-developed-world/

⁴ Kids Count Data Center by the Annie E Casey Foundation
https://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/9735-high-school-graduation-rates-by-race-ethnicity–illinois-and-chicago#detailed/2/any/false/1696,1648,1603,1539,1381,1246,1124/2160,4739,2159,2161,2757,3307/18997