I spent last week in Brazil, and came away with a feeling of immense possibility for that nation and its people. Part of my trip took me to the rain forest where my colleague, Lisa Flick Wilson, and I visited one of them most innovative schools I have ever seen.  And where there are lessons for all of us.
After a 40-minute helicopter ride, our party arrived at the rural family house – Casa Familiar, a technical school for young people in the state of Bahia, in the north of Brazil, and the heart of the Atlantic Rain Forest.  About 35 students greeted us.
These students come from the larger region, many of them once destined to destitute poverty, lost hope, and a feeling of being invisible to the rest of Brazilian society. But, one by one, the students told us of how the school had enabled them to feel accomplished and competent, see their value to society, and want to give back to others.

This last point – the desire to give back – was profoundly expressed, all without any notion of required “service learning” hours or programs we might hear about here in the U.S. Instead, this ethos permeated everything at the school and how it operated. Indeed, this school was producing not only good students, but is fast becoming a force for positive change in the larger region. For instance:

• The school created a lab to teach students about soil conversation and other agriculture issues. Now, anyone in the region can come to the lab, use it, and learn. It’s a community resource.
• There is a room filled with computers at the school, donated in part by various companies. Beyond students using these computers, anyone in the region can too. Even more, the school realized that many people in the region cannot get to the school, and so the school takes computers into the community for people to learn how to use.
• When they return home every two weeks, the students serve as community teachers, where they share with others the skills, insights and lessons they are learning at the rural family house so others can benefit. (Think about the power of these students, once forgotten, now standing before their community.)
• What’s more is that both the soil and computer labs are run by student graduates. In fact, all of the staff graduated from the school – from the principal to the director of education programming.

Here in the States I have been urging many schools to think about their role as more than educators of students in classrooms, but as a larger force for change in their community. Such suggestions often are met by resistance – “We don’t have the time” – or by turning the idea into highly complex endeavors riddled by endless plans, detailed strategies, boring PowerPoint presentations, and laundry lists of activities.

But, in Bahia, they have created an approach driven by elegant simplicity, in which the school produces students who excel and builds community at the same time. One can imagine how the graduating students can form into a network of new, young leaders from throughout the region, who bring a clear commitment to their culture and heritage, and who know how to bring others together to create the kind of communities people there seek to have. This is exactly their plan.

After the students spoke, I was asked to say a few words. Among a number of points, I said that I had heard many Brazilians during my trip express concern about how such a fast-growing, diverse nation could ever come together to produce positive change. Well, as I looked into the eyes of these students, I told them that I could see the future of Brazil, right there, in Bahia, a place no one would ever dream could produce such innovation and leadership. And to me the future looked quite bright.

My second point was that I wanted their permission to tell their story back here in the U.S. To me, this is a story of hope and change – real, not imagined; results-driven, not rhetorical; and one developed through discipline, not long lists of disparate activities. It is true and genuine social innovation.
I also told them that I would love to have each of them come back to the States with me to tell their own story. I hope that day, too, will come.

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A dynamic public speaker, Rich Harwood is a frequent keynote for foundations and national organizations. He is an expert contributor on national and syndicated media outlets including MSNBC, NPR, The Christian Science Monitor, CNN’s Inside Politics, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, Special Report with Brit Hume, C-SPAN, and many others. He is also the author of Hope Unraveled: The people’s retreat and our way back (2005), Make Hope Real: How we can accelerate change for the public goodtwitter @RichHarwood and facebook.com/richharwood.

(2008) and numerous studies, articles and essays chronicling vital issues of our time. His most recent written work, Why We’re Here: The Powerful Impact of Public Broadcasters When They Turn Outward, is being published and distributed in Spring 2011. You can follow him on

You can read Rich’s posts every Tuesday on State of the Re:Union’s website.

Often comprised of a simple portrait, along with a name, birth and death year, and sometimes a message, memorial murals began to sprout up all over NYC in the 90s.  Today, it might be safe to say that there’s at least one memorial mural in every neighborhood in the city.

Using audio from a larger segment in our radio episode Brooklyn – Change Happens, this video explores the culture of memorial murals and the mourning, memories and art that comprise these tributes. Discover this unique part of the famed borough’s culture through the vantage point of family members and admirers.

Part 3 of a 4 Part Series by the Ticonderoga Revitalization Alliance

In Part 1 – Rise to Greatness, the factors, spirit and people that made this small town such a celebrated location by so many were explored. Part 2, looked at the rather bleak picture of Ticonderoga Today and the many challenges the town faces. Birth of the Alliance, is Part 3 and presents not only a nice sentiment of hope, but the actual work, the innovative solutions that are being instituted by passionate residents with a vision that have come together as part of the Ticonderoga Revitalization Alliance.

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In mid-2010, the sheer unacceptability and burden of the town’s social costs enabled the Ticonderoga Revitalization Alliance to come into being on the back of an unprecedented grass roots citizens’ Alliance from all walks and interests. The new Alliance quickly secured, in turn, a sweeping Town mandate to facilitate a complete economic makeover and playbook for a new broader regional prosperity.

The principle operating tenants of the new Alliance would prove largely contrarian. They called for (i) an integrated economic makeover in place of a series of “one-up”, disconnected projects, (ii) exceeding municipal boundaries into regional networks of varying distances and complexities, (iii) emphasizing universal deployment of project-specific funding/operating partners, whereby (iv) the Alliance would focus on offering partner and funding outreach, integrated communications, transactional and project management as well as overall coordination of the economic development objectives for Ticonderoga. This, in turn, would necessitate (v) deployment of a full-time, accomplished, professional management team and (vi) an emphasis on private investment (over public financing).

Timing Is Right

There is tremendous potential in creating this first-ever citizen Alliance. This movement is not happening in a vacuum. A powerful new trend of middle class flight from the cities and suburbs back to small towns throughout the country, aided by new technologies and rapid development of regional education “nets”, is settling in for good. Small towns everywhere are taking up the revitalization mantle. Stories of successful programs are recorded monthly. There is little need any more for inventiveness- only proven programs need apply.

Singular Vision

The Alliance intends to leverage its Power of Place and private investments to lead its revitalization efforts. Initial projects will reaffirm Ticonderoga’s role as an important gateway to American history as well as its strength as a year-round outdoor paradise of parks, waterfalls, river walk, and lake access– all through a singular vision of a New Prosperity. These projects will attract fresh capital, ideas, people to a vibrant year-round tourist destination, stimulate small business/value-add jobs, and be anchored by expanded residential housing, resort facilities, and key academic and regional links.

A New Compact

The Town is pledging predictability, transparency and sustainability; the town citizenry pledges broad consensus and urgency; and Ticonderoga’s principal corporate citizens pledge founders capital and constructive input.

Armed with significant reaffirmations of its partnerships with its principle corporate citizens, the Alliance is not looking for handouts. It intends to provide meaningful returns on corporate investments – apart and aside from the substantial public relations value to any one of these companies to be gained for helping to revitalize and rebuild an entire town like Ticonderoga!

Accomplishments

• We have aligned under one, new, powerful, symbiotic framework all the interests and requisite resources to support most any project from a $50 million four star resort/streetscape bond issuance to $500,000 Main Street private investor distressed real estate Roll-up fund.
• We’ve launched the first stage of the roll-up fund and are securing control of our first Main Street building with private investors for less than five cents on the replacement dollar, intended to anchor all the downtown revitalization.
• We’re in the early process of setting up a trial arts & Artisans program with the planned construction of an 18^th century replica sawmill and academic partners helping to anchor an Institute of Adirondack Woodworking and a separate institute of Adirondack Arts, which will look to attract juried artists and artisans with bargain real estate and open arms to come live, create and sell their wares in Ticonderoga.
• We’re also in the early process of identifying and reaching out to potential employers that would benefit from deploying out of Ticonderoga as a “regional Hub”.
• We’re also in the early process of exploring prospective partnerships with business and retail incubation & entrepreneurial mentoring services.
• Also on the immediate horizon are first-time planning within the Alliance between Town and Fort and Town and Community College to set up appropriate learning centers and integrated business opportunities relating to locational strengths.

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The alliance has produced video interviews with residents and alliance members alike so that you can hear about their experience and fascinating stories first hand. This is Bill Polihronakis, who grew up in Ticonderoga and was eventually brought back to live and take over the family logging business. Below is part one of a three part interview. Visit the Ticonderoga Revitalization Alliance website to watch the other part, the other interviews, and to see the incredible photographs and other inspiring features.

Interviews conducted and produced by Josh Clement. Contact Josh here.

Be sure to visit Monday, July 25th, for part 4, “What Sets Us Apart,” and don’t forget to visit their official website for other features, information and updates.

State of the Re:Union is committed to bringing our country back together, and our organization, No Labels, is working to make that goal a reality. No Labels is a national citizens’ movement of Independents, Democrats, and Republicans that urges bipartisan cooperation in the interest of common sense solutions. It is people like the readers of State of the Re: Union who will help change the culture of gridlock in Washington and move our country forward.

The political debate in Washington is at its most partisan in decades. No matter the topic – whether it is health care, the debt ceiling, or anything in between –politicians today are under the command of their political parties. This results in a government that is dominated by ideological extremes, which is both inefficient and unrepresentative of the average, moderate majority of Americans, 56% who believe that compromise yields the best solutions.

No Labels was formed in 2010 and represents these Americans, ensuring they do not get lost in the offensive politics of hyper-partisanship. The fiscal crisis is an issue that can affect all Americans, and a deal on the national debt should not fall victim to the myopic partisanship of lawmakers.

In our most recent No Labels national poll, 92% of Americans fear the fiscal crisis will negatively impact their financial future and 68% see the crisis as a threat to their job security. While this crisis keeps Americans up at night, Congress is scheduled to take more days off than working days before the August 2 deadline. Our latest campaign, No Deal, No Break, lets Congress know that inaction is unacceptable. No Deal, No Break calls on Congress to not take any vacations until a deal is reached on the national debt, with 83% of those surveyed agreeing with our campaign.

Both chambers of Congress have now heeded our call. Last week, the Senate decided to shorten their July 4th break, and today the House announced the cancellation of their upcoming mid-July recess.

At a time where politicians use toxic rhetoric to nurture pet projects and stall legislation, voters need to make a stand for bipartisanship. Americans acknowledge defaulting on our debt would be highly destructive to our already-fragile economy. A majority of polled Democrats, Republicans, and Independents said they were more likely to vote for a candidate who works with colleagues from across the aisle to reach a deal on the debt. The tide has turned in favor of bipartisanship across America. Now is the time to ensure Washington gets the message.

To learn more about No Labels, please visit our website at nolabels.org where you can sign our No Deal, No Break letter to congress. No Labels: Not Left. Not Right. Forward.

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State of the Re:Union is thrilled to be working with No Labels. Politics can feel so toxic at times and can be a source of division. So many of these political battles are played out on a national stage, but from spending time in so many wonderful communities throughout the country, we know how much the end result of this type of partisanship can hit locally. Although No Labels discusses D.C. a good deal, their reach, their message, their mission is permeating through communities small and large throughout the country. Be sure to look for their pieces, appearing regularly on the State of the Re:Union website.

Crawfish etouffee. A shrimp po boy. Crabcakes. Oysters on the half shell, like a mouthful of the sea… All things I ate during the last week, reporting for SOTRU on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. All of which I enjoyed, and all of which feel as if they speak to something essential about life in this region: the melding of the sea with ritual, the way the Gulf is so intertwined with culture here that they’re impossible to separate—nor would you want to. Except that I ate all of those meals with hesitation, a hesitation shared by many locals. Why? Because of something that happened months ago, which now only barely surfaces in the mainstream news media: the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Now, you may have heard that’s all over: the seafood’s safe, the beaches are open, all is back to normal. For those of us that don’t live on the Gulf Coast, that might be fairly true. But for locals, the reality is considerably more complicated.

It comes down to who you believe: the federal government or the watchdog groups, the small restaurant owner or the woman daily taking pictures of dead fish and turtles she finds on the beach. The FDA has proclaimed Gulf shrimp and its ilk safe to eat, pointing to their rigorous and ongoing testing. But for some who live on the coast, the FDA’s statements offer no reassurance. Independent chemist (and McArthur Genius Award winner) Wilma Subra– along with environmental advocates, the Louisiana Bucket Brigade– have been doing their own testing of seafood. They come up with similar data to the FDA; where they differ is how to interpret it. What the FDA thinks is a reasonable amount of trace oil and dispersants in the seafood, Subra, the Bucket Brigade and others don’t buy. They’re skeptical of the samples taken, of the release of FDA data in complicated tables that most members of the public would be hard-pressed to decode, and of the math that claims the average Gulf Coast resident would be fine eating multiple meals of seafood, every day, month after month.

So: who do you believe? For many in this region, it boils down to a trust of the official word—or the complete lack thereof. For some who feel that their government failed them in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, a government they see as having partnered with the culprit, BP, in the clean-up of the oil spill—why would you believe what you were being told by Washington D.C.? For others, the desire to get back to normal, to resume a life enriched by daily plates of shrimp and oysters, to see businesses dependent upon seafood flourish once again—that is enough to take the official word as truth. It comes down to an individual decision: to eat or not to eat? For communities all along the Gulf Coast, that is the question.

I have a fondness for old business routes, motel rows, kitschy gift shops, Western-themed diners and gas stations that sell Jackalope post cards.

Lakewood, Colorado’s section of Route 40 (also known as West Colfax) was once known as “Gateway to the Rockies.” If you were a traveler in the 1950s and you were looking for a tourist motel, an authentic Russian steam bath or a prefabricated diner built in New Jersey and shipped out West by rail, Route 40 was your bet.

Route 40’s heyday ended with the completion of the federal Interstate Highway System, one of the most expensive and consequential public works programs in the history of the world. Business districts dried up overnight, along with many a Main Street, USA. It’s what used to be called progress.

Today the prefabricated diner is now a historic landmark. There are still motels on West Colfax, but some of them have gone to seed. Service stations have been turned into used car lots or vacant buildings where sumac plants grow in the cracks of sidewalks.

I was driving Route 40 recently, stopping along the way to take pictures of old motel signs. West Colfax is about to be transformed again by transportation. In this case it is the Denver RTD Light Rail system, which is slated to sprout a westward line, connecting downtown Denver to Golden, Colorado, following partway the path of fabled Route 40.

When the light rail expansion initiative passed, Lakewood began to plan for the future, with an ambitious list of projects to coincide with light rail expansion. The goal was to encourage “transit-oriented, mixed use development” around the soon to be built light rail stations, four in all. This would include medium density housing, shops and office buildings.

Planning development around rail systems makes a lot of sense. It prevents sprawl and infrastructure inefficiencies. It encourages transit use and pedestrian activity and “eyes on the street,” which makes neighborhoods safer, more civically alive and, frankly more fun.

The city plans to locate a Head Start facility near one of the stations so parents can drop off kids on their way to the work commute. A company that specializes in developing polluted building sites will be building its new headquarters on a “brownfield” on the corridor.

Fittingly, the city plans to locate a historic transit museum at one of the stations, sporting a restored, 100-year-old interurban rail car, which once ran along the West Colfax route, before the interurban rail system were dismantled throughout the west. (Interurban rail systems in the Western U.S. were another victim of the interstate highway system.)

I live near a mixed use, commercial-residential district built around a light rail stop in nearby Denver, and I am a firm believer. There is something liberating about being able to talk to a light rail station and not having to park, maybe not as liberating as driving a 59 Ford on old Route 40, but an environmentally responsible close second.

Lakewood’s Light Rail Corridor planning project was one of the three community betterment efforts Lakewood touted when it won an All-America City Award last month. The other projects were an effort to “green” old office buildings (make them more energy efficient) and a successful effort to save an old middle school from being closed by building a new Boys and Girls Club on site. Link here to see a steam of their presentation of the three projects.

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Mike McGrath is senior editor and chief information officer for the National Civic League. A former newspaper reporter and magazine writer, he is editor of the quarterly National Civic Review, which will be beginning its centennial year of publishing this spring.

Mike’s posts will appear every Thursday on the State of the Re:Union website.