Welfare may seem like a charitable measure for struggling families. But it's a self-perpetuating trap when it becomes the only way of life parents know how to teach their children, who then know nothing else to teach their own children, says Virgil Brannon, founder of the non-profit I Am Vision Inc.

"Living on entitlements becomes a way of life for recipients when it's handed down from one generation to the next because the family loses any tools it might have once had to forge a life based on self-discipline, achievement and challenging," says Brannon, author of Democratic Coma (www.DemocraticComa.com).

"It's no different from the child who grow up being given material thing he wants, along with excessive praise that's not deserved. One child may be from a poor family and the other from an affluent family, but both are at risk for growing up without the skills necessary for success."

Brannon's non-profit organization mentors disadvantaged children, helping them develop the values, understanding and knowledge they need to be motivated and equipped to succeed. He has found that coaching children to manage their lives as they would a business helps them not only develop good habits and skills, it also teaches them some essential business lessons:

•  Your life is your business: Our business is how we act, speak, the way we dress, how we treat ourselves and how we treat others. Like any other business, it is expected to grow and prosper and to do that, we must invest in it. Part of that is feeding the mind with the information needed to make good choices.

•  The people you meet and the friends you make are your clientele: Treat all people with the respect you would any customer or potential customer. Our relationships can elevate us if people feel their treated fairly, honestly and with respect.

•  The more you provide or produce, the more you advance: Business involves providing a service or product. Business people do not care about excuses; they care about what you have to offer them. It doesn't matter where you come from or what color you are, if you have something they need - and a reputation for integrity -- they will come to you for it.

• Your appearance means everything: You must look the part to get the part. The secret is to look as though you already have it to obtain what you want.

Parents should teach their children to be business-like and to think like a professional, Brannon says.

"That includes giving them the best education possible, including learning at home about history, civic duty and different cultures," Brannon says. "In business, people are expected to display good manners and to communicate with others, from a firm handshake to looking others in the eye and speaking clearly and correctly.

"That is the most important investment we can make."

About Virgil Brannon

Virgil Brannon is a private investigator and the founder of I Am Vision Inc., a non-profit program that embraces and empowers youth with academic and leadership challenges. His goal is to promote the personal growth of socio-economically disadvantaged youth and their families by encouraging their dreams and providing members with a roadmap for success. Brannon attended Shepherd's Care Bible College and received his master's and doctoral degrees in ministry religious counseling.

$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.

Barclays, Lehman Brothers, JP Morgan - it seems every time we turn around, another financial giant is accused of lying, cheating and stealing.

It's not your imagination, says Rakesh Malhotra, a longtime COO who has worked in Asia, East Europe and United States and led cross-cultural diverse teams.

"White-collar crime convictions in the United States alone have increased 17.8 percent in the last five years alone," he says. "Last year, the Securities Exchange Commission filed a record 735 enforcement actions."

And it's not just hedge fund operators and money traders. White-collar crimes include identity theft, cheating on taxes, health-care fraud - crimes as readily committed by employees at the local big-box store as suits in penthouse offices.

"The problem is one of values," says Malhotra, author of Adventures of Tornado Kid: Whirling Back Home Towards Timeless Values (www.FiveGlobalValues.com). "I have worked in several countries, recruiting, hiring, training and retaining employees. I found that in every culture, the same core values play a key role in the success of both employees and the corporation.

"Unfortunately, they are not taught in school - not in grade school or in most business schools. While we would benefit from having values taught at all age levels, for now they are learned mostly from parents, mentors, inspiring teachers and others who shape young lives."

It's as important for the business to have what Malhotra has identified as five essential global values as it is for the employees, he says.

"The business has to show that these ethics are implemented and acted upon. Otherwise, the employee with values, the one instructed to, say, lie about a product, will feel secure about reporting such conduct without being fired."

What are these values and how can they be taught?

• Responsibility: There is nothing more fundamental to being an adult in our society than accountability. Parents can create cause-and-effect circumstances, such as letting a teen borrow the car provided they put gas in it. Breaking such a pact though, because of a bad grade in school, creates a mixed message. When children learn responsibility, they know that happiness comes from doing the right thing.

• Compassion: It's not just a term for being nice; compassion is a form of intelligence - an empathetic ability to see a situation through another's eyes and to feel what another person feels. When adults are compassionate, they reach out to help others because they can feel others' pain - and the relief and gratitude of help, sympathy or encouragement.

• Integrity: Integrity is the glue that holds together all of the values. When given an option to stray from our values, such as lying for the sake of convenience, integrity is there to hold us accountable.

• Peace: Our ability to manage conflicts amicably is a direct result of a peaceful mind and attitude. Those who value peace view anger, jealousy and hostility as the barriers to communication that they are. In all settings, business and domestic, conflicts will arise - it is inevitable. We must work through these peacefully if we are to move forward.

• Love: You must love what you do, passionately. Do your work and your organization in some way contribute to the welfare of people? That is the reason for your passion. With love, you contribute to the greater good and feel gratified.

About Rakesh Malhotra

Rakesh Malhotra has worked in, lived in or traveled to more than 40 countries. During this time, he studied human behavior in relation to core values as a means hire, promote and manage effectively. He has focused on what influences performance and what makes some employees perform at a higher level than others. Malhotra holds a master's in Public Administration and several diplomas in business education.

Legislation would protect students and teachers from radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer 

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today introduced the End Radon in Schools Act, a bill that will protect students, teachers, and school employees from high levels of radon in schools. The bill has been endorsed by the American Cancer Society.  Braley worked with the American Cancer Society and the Radon Coalition, based in Iowa, to craft the legislation.

Radon is an invisible, tasteless, and odorless gas that is produced by the decay of naturally occurring uranium in soil and water. It is a form of ionizing radiation, proven carcinogen, and it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The gas will often leak through cracks or holes in foundations or walls of buildings if not properly controlled.

All of Iowa's 99 counties are considered at a "Zone 1" risk level by the government, which indicates they have the highest potential for radon exposure in schools, homes, and other buildings.  Iowa is one of only two states in the country that has a statewide "Zone 1" risk level.

"Today, I am very pleased to introduce the End Radon in Schools Act. We need to ensure that our schools are safe from unacceptable levels of this harmful gas," said Braley. "You cannot see, taste, or smell radon, but it poses a real risk to Iowans. Iowa has one of the highest levels of radon radiation in the country, and I introduced this legislation to ensure that Iowa kids, teachers and employees are safe from harmful levels of radon when they go to school."

The End Radon in Schools Act would give grants to states to work with school districts to test the radon levels in their school buildings. If the school building has an unhealthy radon level, the school would be given funding to mitigate or diminish the high radon levels. Schools awarded the grant funding would conduct the testing with the assistance of a licensed radon mitigation specialist.  The school would work with a specialist to determine the best way to mitigate the school building.

Today, Braley also met with Iowa members of the American Cancer Society, as well as University of Iowa Men's Basketball Coach Fran McCaffery, to discuss his bill and other issues related to cancer research, care and prevention.  A photo from today's meeting is below.

A link to the text of the End Radon in Schools Act can be found here: http://go.usa.gov/rAC9