WAVE Blog

Effective youth development programs give young people opportunities to learn and practice leadership. Good educators and youth professionals know that leadership is not reserved for the captain of the high school cheerleading squad or the debate team. Just think about the leadership skills required to run a gang. Read the rest of this entry »

By Larry Brown — President - -WAVE, Inc.

It seems to be inherent in human nature that when things go wrong, we look for people to blame. Yet, everyone desires to do a good job, have a fulfilling family and social life, be respected, and make a meaningful contribution to the world around them. The problem is almost always the system, rather than the people. Read the rest of this entry »

WAVE has just released its newly revised WAVE In Schools - Level 1 curriculum, aimed at preventing students from dropping out and preparing them for success in school, careers, and life.

The 132 lessons in WAVE In Schools - Level 1 are designed to be delivered in a group setting of up to 25 students. Each lesson was written and reviewed by experts, including classroom teachers, and focuses on Read the rest of this entry »

Most statistics show that I am destined to become a gang member, a high school drop out, or a criminal. But I am not any of those things. I am a great student, a leader in my community, a NAVY ROTC cadet, a son who provides financially for his family, a great employee, an intern, and a future educator.

I represent the small group of Latino students who will NOT be dropping out of school. Read the rest of this entry »

By Larry Brown — President - -WAVE, Inc.

At sixteen, Temo, from a migrant farm working family and a gang member,decided to drop out of school. Instead, he was encouraged to join a leadership program at his high school. At seventeen, Janice, a single mother from New Orleans, did drop out of school. Like Temo, she found a program, but this one for out of school youth. With adult support, respect, and an opportunity to put skills acquired on the street to work in a positive venue, they excelled. Twelve years later Temo is an elementary school principal and advisor to educators on how increase graduation rates and Janice and is a teacher. They could be the rule rather than the exception in schools across the nation.

Tuesday’s report by America’s Promise Alliance about the hemorrhaging of students from schools before achieving a diploma is

Read the rest of this entry »

By J. Tyler — Senior Vice President — WAVE, Inc.

Sound research from the fields of education and youth development demonstrates that helping students transition from middle school to high school makes a big difference in whether a student eventually graduates. America’s Promise Alliance’s 15 in 5 Campaign, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s publication of The Silent Epidemic, hoist the issue and stoke national outrage. But we must turn that outrage into action – and thankfully, effective innovations are available that more schools can begin today.

One way a middle school can make a difference immediately is to Read the rest of this entry »

A new strategic campaign called Invest In Opportunity is setting WAVE’s course for serving more students at risk of dropping out of school.

The Honorable John E. “Buck” Chapoton chairs the initiative with a committee of business, education, and government leaders. Corporate partners AIG, Capital One, Schering-Plough, General Dynamics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and the Entertainment Software Association have already made lead investments. Read the rest of this entry »

WAVE is honored to partner with Midtown Community Court in New York City, which is part of The Center for Court Innovation.

The Court works with local residents, businesses, social service providers and other government agencies to forge creative, collaborative solutions to neighborhood problems. It houses an array of non-traditional programs, including Read the rest of this entry »

Jose Rivera, an elementary school Principal, spoke to the Positive Deviants Network at an event in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Rivera was asked to talk about his experience as an educator and how schools should change to be more effective at educating students at risk of failing to graduate. His story and ideas should be required reading for anyone looking for answers to the nationwide education crisis, or for ideas about how to save just one young person from the harsh results of dropping out.

My Name is Jose Rivera and I’m the principal at Clarence McClure Elementary School in Grandview, Washington. McClure is a PreK-5th grade school with 600 students and 60 staff members. Our students are 88% Hispanic, 12% Caucasian, and most are from families living in poverty.

This is my eleventh year as an educator. I started as a Read the rest of this entry »