$10.3 million public-private partnership to boost careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) 

CHICAGO - September 14, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today unveiled a unique $10.3 million public-private partnership that will better prepare thousands of Illinois students for careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. Joined by Illinois business, high-tech and education leaders at the innovative "1871" digital start-up center in Chicago's Merchandise Mart, Governor Quinn announced that eight organizations will be awarded contracts to develop "STEM Learning Exchanges" that link educational opportunities with business resources to prepare students to compete in the global economy. The partnership is part the governor's commitment to improve education in Illinois.

"Our mission is to prepare our students for the 21^st Century workforce," Governor Quinn said. "These new Learning Exchanges will provide students with real-world experience and advanced educational opportunities to ensure they are ready to compete for the jobs of tomorrow."

The funding package is comprised of $2.3 million in federal Race to the Top (RTTT) funds, which leveraged another $8 million in business resources. The eight STEM Learning Exchanges, coordinated through multiple state agencies in partnership with the Illinois Business Roundtable, will be established through contracts with the Illinois State Board of Education. Applicants were required to commit cash or in-kind donations, bringing more than $10.3 million of business resources and cash to this unique public-private partnership.

The eight learning exchange organizations were selected by an expert review committee that considered each applicant's plan and experience in coordinating statewide public-private partnerships, and the matching or in-kind matching contribution. These statewide Learning Exchanges will work together with regional, educational and business networks to aggregate curricular resources, assessment tools, professional development systems, work-based learning opportunities and problem-based learning challenges. They will support performance evaluation across the P-20 education and workforce system, and result in better prepared students for a 21st century workforce. For the complete list, see attached document.

"This exemplifies a great public-private partnership as education and business forces work together to pave the way for a brighter future in Illinois,'' said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch. "Giving students access to professionals and showing them how knowledge can be applied on the job is a proven strategy for keeping students engaged in high school and mindful of their future."

A 2011 report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce shows that Illinois will have an estimated 319,000 STEM-related job openings by 2018. About 93 percent of those jobs will require post-secondary education or training.

"The true wealth of our nation is produced by manufacturing things that people throughout the world wish to purchase because of our advanced technology and reputation for quality. That technology and quality can only be sustained with a pipeline of young people who are stimulated by such innovative approaches as these learning exchanges," said Fred Young, CEO of Forest City Gears which made 75 gears for NASA's Curiosity Rover mission to Mars.

"STEM occupations are critical to bolstering our state's competitive edge and ability to be successful in the global economy," said Jeff Mays, President of the Illinois Business Roundtable. "We not only need more professional scientists and mathematicians, but also qualified technicians and skilled workers in manufacturing and other technology-driven industries. By participating in the STEM Learning Exchanges, business is stepping up to better coordinate programs and investments that connect students to careers."

The RTTT funds supporting the STEM Learning Exchanges are drawn from the nearly $43 million awarded to Illinois last year to implement education reform initiatives across the state.

Last year, Gov. Quinn launched Illinois Pathways, an education initiative to support college and career readiness. Coordinated through a partnership between the State's education and economic development agencies, Illinois Pathways supports local programs that empower youth and adults to explore academic and career interests in STEM fields while supporting Learning Exchanges that coordinate investments, resources and planning for those programs. To learn more about Illinois Pathways, please visit: www.illinoisworknet.com/ilpathways.

The FRIENDS of the Davenport Public Library's annual fall book sale will be Friday, September 21 and Saturday, September 22, at the Main Street Library (321 Main Street) between the hours of 10 AM - 3 PM.  Thousands of great deals are waiting for your arrival!

The FRIENDS also have great deals on books, magazines, puzzles, games, and more at the FRIENDS of the Davenport Public Library bookstores at the Fairmount Branch Library (3000 N. Fairmount Street) and the Eastern Avenue Branch Library (6000 Eastern Avenue), Monday - Saturday every week!  The Fairmount Bookstore is open M, W, F, Sa from 10 AM - 2 PM, and the Eastern Avenue Bookstore is open the same hours as the Eastern Avenue Branch Library.

Panel to Discuss Concepts that Define Black Beauty

Davenport, IOWA (September 2012) On Saturday, September 22 the 3-part symposium, "Is My Black Beautiful?" will be held at the Figge Art Museum. Inspired by the exhibition Posing Beauty in African American Culture, this symposium will begin at 1pm with a panel discussion moderated by community leader Bobbie Lastrapes and will include local African American women spanning sixty years in age. The panel participants will be Ashley Anderson, Jackie Foy-Baker, Earnice Hines, Johnnie Marie Woods, Mary Teague and LaDrina Wilson.

The panel will discuss the ever-changing concepts that define black beauty in the context of fashion and time and will reflect on what it means and has meant to be beautiful in the traditional sense and also on a personal level. Audience members will be encouraged to contribute their thoughts and add to the conversation.

Following the panel discussion, participants will visit the exhibition Posing Beauty for an informal tour, led by Figge associate curator Rima Girnius, Ph.D. Following the tour there will be a reception with refreshments and performances by the Imani! Dancers & Studio for Cultural Arts, Inc. The Imani! Dancers is a non-profit Christian arts organization specializing in Afro-modern, lyrical, and creative dance.

Symposium Schedule

1-2 pm          Panel Discussion, Moderator: Bobbie Lastrapes

2-3 pm          Gallery Talk Led by Rima Girnius, PhD, Figge Art Museum associate curator

3-4:30 pm     Reception and informal performances by the Imani! Dancers & Studio for Cultural Arts, Inc

The symposium is free with paid admission or museum membership; museum admission will be reduced to $4 until 2pm on Saturday, September 22. No registration is required. To learn more call Melissa Hueting, director of education, at 563.326.7804x7895 or email mhueting@figgeartmuseum.org.

About Posing Beauty in African American Culture 

Posing Beauty in African American Culture explores the contested ways in which African and African American beauty have been represented in historical and contemporary contexts through diverse media including photography, film, video, fashion, advertising and other forms of popular culture such as music and the Internet. Throughout the Western history of art and image-making, the relationship between beauty and art has become increasingly complex within contemporary art and popular culture.

The images in this exhibition challenge idealized forms of beauty in art by examining their portrayal and exploring a variety of attitudes about race, class, gender, popular culture and politics as seen through the aesthetics of representation.

About the Figge Art Museum

The Figge Art Museum is located on the riverfront in downtown Davenport at 225 West Second Street. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and Sundays 12-5 p.m.  Thursdays the museum is open until 9pm. Admission to the museum and tour is $7. Admission is free to Figge members and institutional members. To contact the museum, please call 563.326.7804, or visit our website, www.figgeartmuseum.org.

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WASHINGTON, September 14, 2012–Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced new grants to support schools as they strive to serve healthy food, provide nutrition education, and create an environment focused on healthy eating and physical activity.

"When we serve our children healthy school meals, we're making a critical investment in their academic performance, their physical health, and their future," said Merrigan. "Today's announcement reflects our ongoing commitment to provide States with the tools they need to build a healthy school environment. Providing nutrition education resources, extending training and technical assistance to foodservice professionals, and building community support helps ensure that every child in America has a chance to succeed."

Funded in support of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, the Team Nutrition training grants will assist schools in meeting the new school meal requirements, encourage HealthierUS School Challenge participation, support students' nutritious choices by structuring the cafeteria environment in a way that encourages the selection of healthy foods, and promote healthier environments to align with the Local Wellness Policy requirements established in the Act.

USDA is awarding approximately $5.2 million in 18 States and one territory including:

• Alaska, $242,847.00
• Arizona, $319,772.00
• Florida, $311,500.00
• Guam, $330,344.00
• Hawaii, $233,016.00
• Idaho, $245,120.00
• Illinois, $50,000.00
• Iowa, $348,335.00
• Kansas, $349,715.00
• Michigan, $333,420.00
• Missouri, $342,609.00
• Montana, $349,924.00
• New Jersey, $324,151.00
• North Dakota, $247,580.00
• Ohio, $345,849.00
• Utah, $41,540.00
• Washington, $222,508.00
• Washington, $46,772.00
• West Virginia, $346,515.00
• Wisconsin, $203,056.00

Funding will be made available for the period of September 30, 2012 through September 30, 2014, to assist State agencies in achieving the Team Nutrition goals. States must apply Team Nutrition's three behavior-focused strategies:

• Provide training and technical assistance to child nutrition foodservice professionals to enable them to prepare and serve nutritious meals that appeal to children.
• Provide fun and interactive nutrition education for children, teachers, parents, and other caregivers.
• Build school and community support for creating healthy school environments that are conducive to healthy eating and physical activity.

This school year, 32 million students across the country are benefiting from new meal standards for the National School Lunch Program for the first time in more than fifteen years. The healthier school meals are a key component of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which was championed by the First Lady as part of her Let's Move! campaign and signed into law by President Obama. To learn about the new meal standards, go to www.fns.usda.gov/healthierschoolday.

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) oversees the administration of 15 nutrition assistance programs, including school meals programs, that touch the lives of one in four Americans over the course of a year. These programs work together to form a national safety net against hunger. Visit www.fns.usda.gov for information about FNS and nutrition assistance programs.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).