Dear RAFO Members,

We still have room for attendees to the Writing on the Edge 2018 conference taking place at the College of DuPage on Saturday, October 20.

We will reimburse the $35 conference fee for ten attendees. All you need to do is email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to let us know that you intend to attend the conference and, after attending, submit a one paragraph summary and response about your conference experience. Because we are funding a limited number of participants, it is essential that you email us to reserve your space as soon as possible.

Feel free to contact us with questions. You can also visit the Writing on the Edge 2018 website for more information: http://www.writingontheedge.org/.

In solidarity,
The Executive Committee

By Joseph Fedorko

Southern leaves, southern trees we hung from
Barren souls, heroic songs unsung
Forgive them father they know this knot is undone
Tied with the rope that my grandmother died
Pride of the pilgrims affect lives of millions
Since slave days separating, fathers from children
Institution ain't just a building
But a method, of having black and brown bodies fill them
We ain't seen as human beings with feelings
Will the U.S. Ever be us? Lord willing!
 

A few people at the Auditorium may have been wondering if Common wouldn’t do some rhyming. Speaking at the final event of the 2018 American Dream Reconsidered conference, Common spent a lot of time talking about his background as the son of an accomplished educator, the risk he took ending his college career to try to create a hip-hop career (he promised he’d return to school if in a year he didn’t have a recording contract), and how that career helped him create other careers as an actor, winning an Oscar for the song “Glory” (from the movie Selma), and creating the Common Ground Foundation, a Chicago-based organization that brings a variety of mentorship programs to underserved Chicago kids. It was a warm story of giving back and paying his good fortune forward.

And then he busted out the rhyme you see above. The song is “Land of the Free,” and he wrote it for 13th, the Ava Duvernay-directed documentary about mass incarceration of African-American men that Netflix produced. The rap opened up the conversation and brought Common into his element of art and music and social justice, merging his love of 1970s R&B with the socially conscious rap of the late 1980s, as well as issues raised by Duvernay and Ta Nehesi Coates. Whether talking about his fear of leaping into a music career or his awe at being the first rapper who actually rapped at the White House, Common talked with a sense of humor and a true modesty about his career.

The talk ended with two other guests: new Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson, and After School Matters CEO Mary Ellen Canon. Together, the trio (moderated by Tom Phylion of RU) talked with idealistic hope about the power of education, the need to bring the best services to students who needed them most, and how artists like Common can inspire kids to keep striving and, well, achieve their dreams. The students in the Auditorium Theatre were enthusiastic about it all, which was as good a way to end the American Dream conference as any song could.

Dear RAFO Members,

During my first informal sit down with President Ali, he asked me to solicit ideas from the union membership of aspects that will improve their teaching experience at Roosevelt University. Everything from office supplies to communication with specific departments to professional development opportunities can be requested. In response to President Ali's inquiry, I held several Zoom conference to request ideas from the union membership. Many union members have provided us with feedback and their ideas for improving the working conditions at RU. The final opportunity to respond with your requests will be Thursday, September 20 at either 5:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. 

If anyone wishes to meet with me in person, please email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to schedule a conference for next week.

Here to serve,

Jen Wilson, President

RAFO

Dear RAFO Members,

During my first informal sit down with President Ali, he asked me to solicit ideas from the union membership of aspects that will improve their teaching experience at Roosevelt University. Everything from office supplies to communication with specific departments to professional development opportunities can be requested. In response to President Ali's inquiry, I am holding four Zoom conferences during the month of September to gather specific ideas for improving the working conditions of our adjunct faculty.  Members of the Executive Committee and I will bring these ideas to President Ali, Provost Lois Becker, HR and members of the administration at the fall Presidents' Meeting with the goal of achieving some of these items outside of the confines of traditional union bargaining. 

Please join our conversation about the working conditions and issues at RU with me and other members on Monday, September 10 (6 p.m. CST) or Wednesday, September 12 (7 p.m. CST). Other dates and Zoom links will follow this announcement.

To join the Monday, September 10 (6 p.m.) Zoom meeting, please use this link: https://roosevelt.zoom.us/j/272959264

To join the Wednesday, September 12 (7 p.m.) Zoom meeting, please use this link: https://roosevelt.zoom.us/j/772800895

Here to serve.

Jen Wilson, President 

RAFO

By Virginia McHugh-Kurtz

I want to give a huge “Thank You!” to RAFO for allowing be to attend the Science Education for New Civic Engagement and Responsibilities 2018 SENCER Summer Institute at Santa Clara University. SENCER links science and civic engagement by connecting public issues and science. The SENCER Summer Institute consists of four days focused on many pathways of education, with tracks focused on practices that have be shown to be successful and have a profound impact. I gained insight on innovative techniques to engage students in learning about STEM in my classroom and to increase student success.

I spent a large portion of the conference attending a three-part workshop titled, “‘Thinking Like Leaders’: A Systems Approach to Improving Introductory Level Courses.” This workshop was led by many leaders in the scientific education community and aimed to improve student learning by helping them understand the components of the higher education system, the barriers within that system, and how to create change.

One session I attended was titled, “Real News of Fake News? Developing Scientific Literacy through Analysis of Media Reports.” In this session, different ways of verifying whether news is “real” or “fake” were presented, along with methods to help students identify and analyze scientific news. Identifying fake news and being scientifically literate are two important objectives in my courses, so this session inspired me to implement similar news analysis tools in my curricula.

Another session I attended was titled, “Building an Inclusive Classroom.” This session focused on the critical need to recruit and retain underrepresented minorities and women in STEM programs. The session also identified extrinsic factors on campus and in the classroom that present roadblocks for these groups and provided techniques to build a more inclusive classroom. It is important to highlight diverse scientists in the classroom and not ignore their struggles. STEM faculty needs to understand that not everyone has access to the same resources.

I am passionate about increasing diversity in STEM and creating an inclusive learning environment. Attending the SENCER Summer Institute motivates me to continue the work that I love and empowers me to make change. Thank you again to RAFO for this opportunity.