Rock the Schools with Citizen Stewart

Rock The Schools had the opportunity to take the show to Access Minnesota’s public affairs programming airing on 50 radio stations throughout Minnesota. Click here for schedule: http://www.accessminnesotaonline.com/schedule/ It is our goal to continue to educate the public on critical issues that matter to students, parents and educators. In Minnesota: 1) 62% of African Americans graduate from high school in Minnesota compared to 87% of white students. 2)This disparity continues in higher education: Only 45% of African American students graduate from college in the state. This week, a discussion on how to better prepare students of color for college and ways Minnesota can help close one of the nation’s largest achievement gaps. Guests: Terry Henry, Executive Director for the Department of Career and College Readiness, Minneapolis Public Schools; Chris Stewart, Host of Rock the Schools with Citizen Stewart and Director of External Affairs, Education Post; Nekima Levy-Pounds, Civil Rights Att

In another great best of episode of Rock The Schools host Chris Stewart engages Arne Duncan, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, in a conversation about the importance of valuing every child and seeing all children as assets. Chris Stewart will return next week with more great guests discussing ways to achieve success in educating students of colors.

What Would Jesus do? This episode is about leaning on faith and serving the poor with special guests: Dr. Charles Morgan, CEO of Union Gospel Mission and Minneapolis Candidate for Mayor, Reverend Dr. Nekima Levy-Pounds. Chris Stewart and the Rock The Schools production team wishes everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday. We will return next week with more great guests discussing ways to achieve success in educating students of colors.

Tomorrow, Minneapolis voters will have the opportunity to cast their vote for 8 Minneapolis school board candidates running for four seats. All candidates were invited to share their voice with Rock The Schools parents, students and educators. Dr. Tracine Asberry showed up for a 30-minute conversation with host, Chris Stewart.

Meet Shed G, as one of the hottest and blessed entertainers to hail from Denver Colorado, Shedrick Garrett (Shed G) is a well renowned comedian, actor and radio personality known for his clean faith based comedy. Shed G brings a style of comedy that universally captivates audiences of all ages and races. In 2000, Shed G gained momentum by taking his talents to Atlanta where he earned his credits on the big screen. He worked alongside Tyler Perry in hit movies like Madea's Family Reunion, A Madea's Christmas and Meet the Browns. Shortly thereafter he was featured on hit TV shows like House Of Payne, Meet The Browns and The Rickey Smiley TV Show. Shed G’s comedic genius will engage listeners in thought-provoking conversation about how we can transform the lives of youth with guidance and mentoring.

Van Jones, hosting Rock The Schools episode 74 with Dr. Michael L. Lomax, UNCF President/CEO, covering the historical importance of HBCUs by telling his families' experience from his father’s journey that started with entering the military, followed by acceptance to a Historically Black College and University that shaped the value placed on education in his family. The education discussion with Dr. Lomax covers how UNCF provides resources to parents and students that help them navigate racial disparities, reduces high-school and college drop-out rates and provides financial support for students of color. Van Jones and Dr. Lomax talk about how a recent report titled “Building Better Narratives in Black Education” serves as a solution and action plan for empowering parents and students to take control of their education narrative. This report was published in collaboration with UNCF, National Urban League and Education Post. Download here: https://www.uncf.org/blog/entry/uncf-national-urban-league-educati

Monique Linder, Executive Producer of Rock the Schools filling in for Chris Stewart on assignment, talks to college student Shanell McCoy about her perspective on what students need from parents, teachers and mentors to help them chart their path to growing and living out their dreams using her personal experience. Hear Shanell sing “Amazing Grace” at the end of the podcast to further illustrate how important it is to encourage, uplift and support youth innovation, talent and dreams.

Host of Rock The Schools, Chris Stewart discusses Sheila E.’s love for youth and how her charity, Elevate Hope, provides hope and love by using music to engage students in their education.

In this special segment of Rock The Schools, producer Monique Linder discusses the impact of the Empower Me Tour with President/CEO of UNCF, Dr. Michael L. Lomax. Find out more information at EmpowerMeTour.org

Chris Stewarts interviews Rashad Turner about why he decided to leave Black Lives Matter Saint Paul. He made the decision based on not compromising his integrity around his Education Reform activism. He was extremely disappointed that the NAACP and BLM called for a moratorium new charters when he sees how these schools benefit students of color in his community of Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Chris Stewart speaks to Valeria Silva, who recently exited the job of Superintendent of the largest school district in the State of Minnesota, about her equity work and her belief that Education is a mindset of seeing potential in the eyes of every child and the belief that children look to their teacher to make a difference in their lives. Guest Bio: http://citizenstewart.org/podcast/episode-69-valeria-silva/

Rock the Schools with Citizen Stewart is live from the great Minnesota Get-Together with a powerful show that challenges people of faith to live out their faith in a way that mirrors the foundation of Jesus, in the way He radically served the poor and least of those in our society, with special guests Dr. Nekima Levy-Pounds and Dr. Charles Morgan.

Part Two of Three from the Minnesota State Fair with special guest educators Lisa C. Ratliff, ForHands Mentoring and Titilayo Bediako, Founder of We-Win Institute discussing the importance of focusing on what needs to be done to make sure all students have access to a great education.

Rock the Schools live from the Minnesota State Fair with our friends from 105 The Vibe with award-winning Education journalist Beth Hawkins and Ed Post Blogger, Mike Spangenberg in a deep discussion with host Chris Stewart about what is happening today where Democracy, Race and Education intersects. Today's live show from the Great Minnesota Get-Together is supported by Youthprise, Citizen.Education, Education Post and produced by OMG Media.

Rock The Schools host Chris Stewart tells the story of high performing charter schools in Tennessee, RePublic Schools with its Founder, Ravi Gupta and the political threats to not exist, that accompany the outstanding performance that Mr. Gupta’s charter schools are Ravi Gupta is the Founder and CEO of RePublic Schools, which runs four charter schools in Tennessee and two in Mississippi. RePublic’s schools, which are populated by over ninety percent students of color and over eighty five percent economically disadvantaged students, routinely outperform the city and state in core subjects. It’s flagship schools — Liberty Collegiate and Nashville Prep — are the highest performing charter schools in Tennessee for three consecutive years and the first and only two charter schools in the state’s history to rank in the top five percent of public schools for growth and student achievement. Ravi previously served as Special Assistant and Speechwriter to Susan Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. He also s

National Education writer Pete Cook wrote an article that describes the how the power of school boards divides white folks, the "pro-charter reform" and the "anti-charter reform” are warring. The fight between the two sides has gotten nasty. Education consultant, Will Pinkston uses his power as a Nashville school board member to launch egregious warfare for pro-charter education reformist. Will Pinkston is a Nashville school board member consisting of members who have taken a side against charter schools. Host Chris Stewart tells the story about John Little and how he dealt with a Will Pinkston attack. Pete and Chris discuss the results of the fighting . . . African-American students are negatively affected by not giving parents options that ensure their child is getting a great education. Related Articles: The Tennessean: http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2015/07/27/pinkston-little-facebook-feud/30738059/ USA Today: http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2016/07/30/pinkston-ha

What happens when the NAACP and BLM agree on matters that serve to decrease the significance of building powerful education platforms? Rock The Schools host, Chris Stewart and Dr. Nekima Levy-Pounds discuss what parents and students need to understand about how dysfunctional the current public education system is, and what needs to happen now to reinvent an archaic system that is failing to give every student a great education.

Rock The School’s summer series “Education Beyond The Classroom” takes us into the community to discuss how community-led educators are making a difference in addressing academic achievement for students of color. WE WIN Institute, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the academic and social success of all children. WE WIN is helping children create achievements that are having the greatest difficulties being successful in school and in life. WE WIN’s programs are tailored to instill pride, confidence, academic as well as social skills in children by giving them knowledge and experiences, which honor and celebrate their cultural roots. We emphasize African history and culture, to create pride for children of African descent, yet; we celebrate and welcome children of all cultures into our programs.

"I Hear A Voice" is a song created by the summer school students at the Twin Cities Mobile Jazz Project after the tragic police shooting of Philando Castile and Anton Sterling. Executive Director, Andre Fischer and Producer Monique Linder, filling in for Chris Stewart, in a powerful discussion about the impact of the Twin Cities Mobile Jazz Project summer and after-school project and the success to date in addressing the critical needs of students in the Saint Paul public schools system.

Chris Stewart talks one-one with high school student, Amani, about what is going on inside her school, what schools are doing right, what needs to change immediately and what teachers can learn from students. In a powerful, heartfelt conversation with Chris Stewart, hear Amani articulate how schools must find a way to teach to the lives of the students, starting with listening to them and keeping them safe. The student walk-out on May 31, 2016, was in protest to harsh treatment of students by school resource officers (SRO)s, who are gun carrying police officers assigned to public schools. KSTP-TV news feature is available at: http://kstp.com/news/st-paul-central-chris-coleman-student-arrest-walkout/4156275/