Center for Michigan to Launch a Series of “Community Conversations on Education”
Report by Mike Gallagher, CMF Editorial Consultant, from the Tuesday, October 10, 10am session
The answers to many of Michigan’s troubling educational issues today rest in the hands of citizens throughout the state who need to come together and share ideas, concerns and possible solutions, said John Bebow, executive director of The Center for Michigan.
“Education is the basic foundation of a good life, but that foundation is cracking,” warned Bebow. “We must all come together and share our voices to deal with this most vital of issues facing our state today.”
In a presentation at the recent Council of Michigan Foundations 39th Annual Conference held in Kalamazoo, Bebow shared the Center’s plans this fall to launch a “Community Conversation on the Future of Education” throughout the state through the end of 2012.
The aim of this initiative, noted Bebow is to:
- Expand the knowledge of students, parents, employers and educators about the education choices facing Michigan today.
- Gather citizen perspectives and preferences on major education policy and reform choices under debate in Michigan and around the country.
- Amplify those citizen voices and bring them to bear on the work of policymakers in Lansing.
- Provide participants with options on how to become more involved in improving educational opportunities for students in their own communities.
The Ann Arbor-based The Center for Michigan is a “think-and-do tank” founded in 2006, according to founder and president Phil Power, former owner of Hometown Communications Network Inc., that owned 62 newspapers serving Michigan and Ohio.
Through the Center, Power is focusing his passion for developing public policy initiatives for the improvement of civic leadership in Michigan and helping educate citizens in more effective approaches to creating and sustaining good governance models.
The center’s many initiatives, said Power, “are motivated by our deeply challenged state economy and a hyper-partisan political culture.”
Bebow said he hopes this latest effort will encourage thousands of people across Michigan to become engaged in meaningful discussions on the many issues facing education today.
“We want to ensure that citizen perspectives on education are fully considered in the 2012 elections and by the newly elected state legislators once they reach Lansing in January 2013,” he said.
The time is right for the center’s statewide effort to promote a “Community Conversation,” stated Bebow. “They offer a convenient way for students, parents, employers and educators to share knowledge about the issues and provide direction to elected leaders in this era of change in education.
He backed up his statements with state and national statistics reflecting the problems the Michigan educational system is dealing with.
For example, currently in Michigan there are more than 1.6 million K-12 students and the state ranks 27th in high school graduation rate with only 76.5% actually making it through the 12th grade. Michigan also ranks 37th in the nation in high school graduates who are academically ready for college (19%).
Employment and salary prospects in Michigan are also tied to educational success, noted Bebow.
For example, studies show that for high school dropouts in the state projected job openings from 2008-2018 are estimated to be only 103,000 with an average 2010 weekly pay of $444. For high school graduates, those numbers increase to 338,000 and $626. Those with degrees or advanced training can expect 836,000 job openings with a weekly pay average between $767 to $1,272.
“These are among the many key reasons we need to have these Conversations on Education,” said Bebow.
To help the Center in conducting these Community Conversations, Bebow said foundations, schools, businesses, governments, community leaders and others can take up the reins as conveners to help bring together 30 to 50 people within their respective communities.
“We need to hear from people and organizations interested in hosting a Community Conversation,” said Bebow. “All they have to do is send us an e-mail – at: info@thecenterformichigan.net – and one of our outreach coordinators will be in touch to get them on a schedule.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to let your voices be heard on what we can do together to address the educational issues facing us today in Michigan,” he said.
For more information, contact The Center for Michigan at its Ann Arbor office at: (734) 769-4625, or at its Lansing office at: (517) 708-3911.
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