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Saturday, October 3, 2020

This semester has been incredibly hard for me. Between the pandemic, wildfires, mental health issues, and other personal things I did learn how resilient I am. Even on a professional level, I began to second guess my prospective career choice. I thought there is no way that there were other people out there who would support my ideas. I learned so much about social entrepreneurship and innovative design and thinking that it inspired me to stay committed to my goals. I learned that there are many organizations and universities providing prison education programs. These programs range from life skills, career and technical training, and higher education degrees.
In last week's learning material I learned that employers expressed the need to prioritize the parallel development of students’ soft skills and hard skills, ensuring graduates are not only properly trained in the unique skills of their chosen career path, but also prepared to adapt to professional environments (IDEO, 2016). Learning this really impacts how I view the changemakers within prison education reform. I truly believe that they are looking at students holistically in order to provide them with career and higher education experiences that will provide long-lasting benefits. I know there is a facet of education that focuses on initiatives to help bridge the gaps between incarceration, education, and gainful employment and I am excited to graduate and start networking with other like-minded professionals. I also learned the unique ways that technology is used to work towards solving a variety of social issues. Although I would consider myself to be proficient in multi-media technology, I realize that I am nearly skimming the surface.

The principles of the design process have really inspired me to think outside of the box and to be willing to fail. I realize that there are so many facets of an idea and so many people are impacted by it. Establishing a prison education program requires the commitment of hundreds of people from inmates, educators, prison administrators, and the community. But as we evolve as a society we must also realize that we are "quickly becoming a global network and the power of a correct idea will spread so quickly that scale can happen on a never-before-seen pace" (Skoll.org, 2013, 3:33-3:44). This whole idea of daring to imagine and human-centered design really inspires me to turn my passion project into a reality. However, learning all of this has helped me to realize that it is incumbent of me to be more involved with the community I hope to serve. Nise Corporation describes how important it is to involve the people that you are trying to solve a problem because their perspective is the best way to meet their needs and get everyone to embrace (2014, 0:12-0:20). Incarceration does not just impact the individual, it touches their families and the community. Therefore, I must holistically look at everyone who's lives have been transformed by incarceration in order to create a collective impact initiative centered around human design.

References:

IDEO. (2016). Reimagining Career Colleges for the 21st Century. IDEO Expertise: Education. Retrieved from https://www.ideo.com/expertise/education/

Nisecorporation. (2014, October 13). What is Human-Centered Design? YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBu1kkSCHfs&feature=youtu.be

Skoll.org. (2013, April 29). Dare To Imagine - Skoll World Forum. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYK_BCgxEK8&feature=youtuof me

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Lesson Six: Now consider how you will present and propose your innovation to end-users and funders.

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Lesson Six: Now consider how you will present and propose your innovation to end-users and funders.

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Sunday, September 27, 2020

During this week's lesson, we learned about prototyping our innovative idea and pitching it to investors, both small and large. With the rise of social entrepreneurship, there are also a variety of crowdfunding platforms. These platforms are designed to showcase new ideas and connect them with a large number of people who can contribute to raising capital towards a new business venture. I found different types of online crowdfunding websites. Some are well-known and have a lot of traffic which can provide social entrepreneurs with the type of financial support they need and others go one step further by offering partnerships and education for social entrepreneurs. For example, StartSomeGood (2020) offers users a crowdfunding academy with a variety of online resources such as:
* 10-week program to help you design a purpose-driven business.
* Work directly with experts to design the most compelling crowdfunding campaign.
* Gain inspiration, tips, and ideas from these inspiring case studies.

I think this company would be a great option and I would consider using them for future crowdfunding options. Innovative Prison Systems (IPS) and Virtual Rehab (VR) have established a business partnership leading to the integration of virtual reality-based learning programs that support inmates’ rehabilitation through formal education, vocational job training, and psychological rehabilitation (Innovative Prison Systems, 2019). David Kelley described, how prototypes were first designed as 3D models but as the idea of human-centered design came around, that these models began "coming to life" and focused on the viewer experiencing the prototype (TED, 2007, 2:57-3:32). The idea of showing how my idea will impact the student through testimonials, live demos, and video presentations is the best way that I foresee "selling" my idea to others.

References:
Innovative Prison Systems. (2019). IPS_Innovative Prison Systems and Virtual Rehab establish partnership to support inmates’ rehabilitation through the use of virtual reality. Innovative Prison Systems. http://prisonsystems.eu/partnership-with-virtual-rehab/

StartSomeGood. 2020. Crowdfunding Academy. StartSomeGood. https://startsomegood.com/academy

TED. (2007, June 20). David Kelley: The future of design is human-centered. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXndL3TNCmo&feature=youtu.be

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Lesson Five: Find a social entrepreneur that impresses you.

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Lesson Five: Find a social entrepreneur that impresses you.

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Wednesday, September 23, 2020

LeBron James. Basketball giant. Super star. Family man. Social entrepreneur? I am not a sports fan but in 2018 LeBron James embarked on a new journey that inspired me to look differently about who he was.
In collaboration with the Akron Public School System, James open a free public school for underperforming students from low socioeconomic backgrounds in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. According to the school's master plan, a STEM-based curriculum allows for rigorous problem-based, inquiry-oriented learning. Those lessons are then combined with attendance incentives, mentorship programs, after-school tutoring, and encouragement from teachers and from James himself in written and video messages (White, 2020). His work speaks to me because I like seeing him break the mold of what most people consider to be who a basketball star is. LeBron was able to take something so personal to him and bring his idea to fruition. The other thing that I value about his work is that he incorporated the 4 key characteristics of the human centered design. "Students' families are also included in this educational vision. They are given access to a resource center, staffed by liaisons who connect them to everything from GED programs to child care, a food pantry, financial-literacy programming, and a barbershop and hair salon" (White, 2020). This is important to recognize and I hope to be able to emulate.
I believe the key to education is looking at and addressing the holistic needs of the student. If a child is hungry or their parent can't read, educators cannot expect homework to be a priority in the home. As I pursue a career in prison education, I strive to ground myself about my students, their families, and their communities, foster a collaborative work environment, create effective visual representation for our common goals, and have the willingness to be iterative and test new ideas often to improve our work (Grameen Foundation, 2013, 0:50-1:40). My suggestion for growth would be to allow individuals to intern at the Akron, I Promise School, with the intention of taking some key principles and practices and implement them into other school districts across the United States.

Reference:
Grameen Foundation. (2013, September 27). Human Centered Design. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mcZKWhjr9o&feature=youtu.be

White, A. (2020, July 1). The real reason LeBron James opened the I Promise School. The Looper. https://www.looper.com/222993/the-real-reason-lebron-james-opened-the-i-promise-school/

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Lesson Four: Consider the video about life purpose. Answer the presenter’s five questions.

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Lesson Four: Consider the video about life purpose. Answer the presenter’s five questions.

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Wednesday, September 16, 2020

My name is Robyn Ledesma. I know what it feels like to think college was not an option. To bear the weight of responsibility in the household. I was raised by a single mother who did not graduate from high school because she was pregnant at 17. We could barely afford to pay our bills and I was embarrassed to ask my mother if I could go to college. I know I am not alone but I hope to be able to help someone else see that college is still an option for them. I love helping students to develop a clear pathway to achieve their educational or professional goals. I am confident in my ability to teach others about hospitality and customer service, building a personal or professional brand, and fundamental marketing tips and tricks. Your skills, personality, and values are integral to your brand but it’s also vital to develop a strong, human, written voice to ensure that you present yourself in a positive light" (Ashton, 2010). I am passionate about working with first-generation college students or students who are or have been incarcerated. Providing them the necessary tools to start to develop their personal identity and professional purpose can provide them an opportunity to pursue gainful employment. In the article, Grit, Overemphasized Agency, Overlooked, by Dr. Pedro Noguero he mentioned that a student’s demographic profile continues to be one of the best predictors of academic success and college-readiness (2015). My goal is to break that mold. Through education, these individuals may have the tools to transform their lives and reintegrate back into their communities as positive and contributing members.

Reference:
Ashton, R. (2010). Write your professional identity. Training Journal, 53-56. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/docview/202959916/fulltextPDF/52F86EAB28C54766PQ/1?accountid=4485

Noguera, P. (2015). Grit, overemphasized; agency, overlooked. Motion Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/er15/pn_15_grit_and_agency.html

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Lesson Three: Reflect on the definition of global citizenship and the policies you identified that impact the community you are researching.

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Lesson Three: Reflect on the definition of global citizenship and the policies you identified that impact the community you are researching.

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Tuesday, September 8, 2020

The first question in this week's prompt is "What moves you?". I sat here for a while, in my own thought, thinking about what ignites something in me. What makes me happy? What makes me sad? What gives me the call to action? So, "What moves me?", people move me. Every since I was a little girl, I have always been drawn to people who are in pain, who are sad, who are lonely, who are hungry. There have been many people in my life who have experienced significant hardship and I have worked hard to lend a helping and compassionate hand. However, I know that I am only one person and I cannot expect to change the world. But, I believe in the concept of Pay It Forward. The concept is simple, repay someone's kindness towards you by showing kindness to someone else. I truly believe that a simple act of kindness can transform a person's day and have a ripple effect on the interactions that they have with others. I also believe that education can have a positive impact on the lives of others. The average teacher has According to Ornstein, education is the link between excellence and equality. It is considered essential for promoting a person’s opportunity and mobility and for improving the productivity of society (2016, P.42). I believe that everyone is entitled to quality and free education because that is how we make the most influential and positive impact on someone's life. I believe that through education we can create an opportunity for someone to lift themself or their whole family out of poverty through gainful employment and move into a higher socioeconomic tier. The woman that I researched shared similar sentiments about the most disenfranchised people among us. She wanted to create a non-profit organization that provided her community members with a safe space to cared for, to feel heard, and to feel good about themselves. At the conception of her organization, the CEO assumed that lack of turn out meant the homeless population she was there to serve was uninterested in their health and wellbeing. But just like Gorski said, we must consider how our own class biases affect our interactions with and expectations of others. As we prepare ourselves for bigger changes, we must educate ourselves about class and poverty and continue reaching out to low-income families even when they appear unresponsive (2008).

Reference:
Gorski, P. (2008, April). The Myth of the Culture of Poverty. ASCD.org. http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/apr08/vol65/num07/The-Myth-of-the-Culture-of-Poverty.aspx

Ornstein, A. (2016). Excellence vs. equality can society achieve both goals? Routledge. https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/lib/asulib-ebooks/reader.action?docID=4185884

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Lesson Two: Consider the video you saw about gang violence. *Extended Assignment Submission*

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Lesson Two: Consider the video you saw about gang violence. *Extended Assignment Submission*

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Saturday, October 3, 2020

Nelsa describes the young people, who are living on the fringes of society, as products of their environment and mirror back the things in our communities that we refuse to acknowledge (Global Oneness Project, 2009, 2:20-2:41). I believe that when Nelsa suggests the opposite of violence isn't non-violence, rather, it's empowerment she has dedicated her life's work to providing these young people with the tools to become positive and contributing members of society. And working towards changing society's perception of these young people. She describes "power" as one's ability to have morals, conviction, and the desire to do good rendering violence as obsolete (Global Oneness Project, 2009, 10:55).
Nelsa is a woman with strong ties to her community and is actively engaged with these young people. I believe that many young kids who join gangs long for acceptance, love, and loyalty because this is something that they may not have received at home. However, Nelsa's work is focused around breaking that cycle and providing them with the necessary skills to use their power for good. I believe that her empathy for the young people she works with allows her to incorporate human-centered thinking and design into her work. I agree with her methods of being engaged with young people, developing positive relationships with trust, teaching them leadership, and effective communication skills in order to create long-lasting and sustainable change. I think this mirrors what Martin & Osberg said about social entrepreneurs, "Once inspired by the opportunity and in possession of a creative solution, the entrepreneur takes direct action rather than waiting for someone else to intervene or trying to convince somebody else to solve the problem" (2007, p.33).
As I was growing up my mother always encouraged my sister and I to be independent, to be self-reliant, and to experience life on our own terms. When I graduated from high school I was in a relationship with someone who was very stagnant and undriven in their own life. I remember having a conversation with my mother about how I wanted to take some time off from school and move. My plans were not grandiose but I wanted a chance to experience life on my own and on my own terms. I ultimately broke up with my boyfriend and moved to California. I felt incredibly empowered by this experience. I drove up and down the Pacific Coast highway, spending the summer visiting family and friends. I met so many amazing people and learned some new skills.
I believe that I can empower others by helping them to see their own self-worth, encouraging their goals, providing them with the tools and resources to be change-makers, being as good as my word, and including them in the process of change. In the TEDTalk, Teaching Design for Change, Emily Pilloton did a great job explaining the importance of "Design with, not for" the community members in order to make positive and sustainable changes that they would appreciate, use, and support (TEDTalk, 2010, 10:52-11:13). I hope that I can have the opportunity to work with inmates, other social entrepreneurs, and educators in order to create programs that can help bridge the gap between incarceration and education; empowering those who I come across along the way.

References:
Global Oneness Project. (2009, February 26). Barrio De Paz. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct3JOmat-q4&feature=youtu.be

Martin, R.L. & Osberg, S. (2007, Spring). Social Entrepreneurship: The Case for Definition. Stanford Social Innovation Review. https://ssir.org/images/articles/2007SP_feature_martinosberg.pd

TEDTalk. (2010). Teaching Design for Change | Emily Pilloton. TEDTalk. https://www.ted.com/talks/emily_pilloton_teaching_design_for_change?language=en&utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

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Lesson One: What is your current vision of your future self? 

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Lesson One: What is your current vision of your future self? 

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Sunday, August 23, 2020

My educational journey has not been easy. I have been pursuing a degree for over 10 years and have changed my major three times. Five years ago I moved from Tucson, Arizona to the San Francisco bay area. I got a job at a local community college and immediately fell in love with education. As a licensed Cosmetologist and Esthetician around that same time, I stumbled across a YouTube video of an Oregon women’s correctional facility that had a cosmetology program. I began to research prison education programs and discovered that there are organizations, colleges, and universities all across the United States that promote higher education initiatives for incarcerated Americans. This one video and this degree transformed the vision of my future self. I am working towards becoming an education professional who works with juvenile and adult correctional facilities, colleges and universities, and other community partners to help reduce the rate of recidivism through initiatives that provide higher education opportunities to incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals. This degree has helped me to become a better leader by helping me to identify my personal and professional strengths and weaknesses. I believe that these tools will help me in my future endeavors and allow me to become a better advocate for prison education programs. While in the last semester of my Educational Studies degree I hope to continue to develop the skills to apply my knowledge into the workplace and one day start my own business and become a social entrepreneur. According to Charles Leadbeater, social entrepreneurs will be one of the most important sources of innovation. Social entrepreneurs identify resources – people, buildings, equipment – and find ways of putting them to use to satisfy unmet social needs. They innovate new welfare services and new ways of delivering existing services (Shaw & Carter, 2007, p.422). I hope that my future self accomplishes something great and leaves a legacy that brings people together and gives others a second chance.

Reference:
Shaw, E., & Carter, S. (2007). Social entrepreneurship: Theoretical antecedents and empirical analysis of entrepreneurial processes and outcomes. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 14(3), 418 – 434. https://www-emerald-com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/insight/content/doi/10.1108/14626000710773529/full/pdf

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My name is Robyn Ledesma. I am an Educational Studies major. My academic journey has not been easy. After 10 years of attending school on and off, I am finally graduating in December. I'm a life-long desert rat from Tucson, AZ but currently reside in the San Francisco bay area.