Urban Tech News | February 2012 8 Urban Tech News | February 2012 1

Dear Friends,Urban Tech is quickly ap-proaching its 20 year anniversa-ry providing computer training in communities to prepare resi-dents for 21st century jobs and critical social and emotional skills for youth to develop deep insight into positive behavior that leads to success in life. With your help over the last several years, Urban Tech has developed effective programs that have engaged and moti-vated the nation’s poorest, most underserved community resi-dents to succeed. Low-achiev-ing students in our programs

have made significant academic and socio-emotional gains and Urban Tech’s computer centers have enabled the formerly un-employed to get jobs in technol-ogy-based industries. We have made these strides by addressing gaps that are barriers to success in low- income communities—gaps in access to technology, criti-cal in-demand skills, health education and tutors and men-tors for enrichment and reten-tion of learning. Our five-year plan will in-tensify our efforts to address these gaps and meet the de-mands of the new workforce by implementing adaptive learn-ing approaches for individual-ized learning and focusing on science, technology, engineer-ing and math (STEM) as nec-essary components for college and careers. We will also pro-vide access to online tutors and mentors and culturally relevant STEM role models that stu-dents in low-income communi-ties can relate to. Globalization and advances in technology are changing the

way we learn, communicate and gain access to resources. Most of these changes have happened in the last 10 years. When we began Urban Tech to close the “digital divide” in 1995, barely anyone used email or could perform basic computer tasks. Today, technol-ogy is prevalent among all age groups, and students in schools and homes with access to state-of-the-art tools and training are advancing academically and landing computer-related jobs and careers. However, there is a growing gap between these “haves” and “have-nots” in under-resourced communities who lack the skills required for new and “replacement” infor-mation technology jobs. Ac-cording to the Center for Edu-cation and the Workforce, the U.S. economy will create 46.8 million job openings—13.8 million new jobs and 33 mil-lion “replacement jobs” by 2018. Nearly two-thirds of these jobs—almost 63%—will require workers with at least some college education and higher levels of analytic, critical

thinking, technology and tele-communications skills—skills and abilities that are taught in Urban Tech programs. So our challenge in the next five years is to escalate and in-tensify our efforts to provide in-demand technology skills for survival and success in the glob-al economy. This means scal-ing up our effective and proven programs for easy replication so that vulnerable communities can adopt and productively use technology to improve educa-tion and increase competitive-ness for jobs. We appreciate the donations that we have received, large and small, to adopt schools, train teachers to use innovative educational curriculum that en-gages youth, and help schools install the necessary technology and high speed access to critical information and resources to gain social and economic equity in an information-driven world. This is an important and criti-cal investment in the nation’s economic future. We thank you for helping us help others to achieve.

NewsLetter From the President

In this issue:Derek Jeter Turn2 Foundation Sponsors YLA . . 2Save the Date for Urban Tech’s 2012 Gala . . . 3Adopt-a-School Provides Valuable Services . . . 4Thank you to our 2011 Donors . . . . . . . . . . . 6New Directions for YLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

February 2012

Ramón González is the found-ing principal of MS 223—The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology, a middle school in the South Bronx. Ramón started his school in one of the most dangerous middle schools in NYC at the time. Less than 10% of his students were at grade level in reading and

mathematics when the school was created. Seven years later, 65% of his students are on grade level in English and 85% in math. His school received na-tional recognition when it was named the 2010 Intel Schools of Distinction Award winner for middle school mathemat-ics. The school received further

national recognition from the Spanish Embassy when selected as the 2011 “colegio de año,” or School of the Year, for its dual language program. Passionate about education and a life-long educator, Ramón received the 2011 Urban Tech Education Leadership Award which was presented by New

Profile in Leadership: Ramón González

Pat Bransford

Cont’d on p. 7Ramón González

80 Maiden Lane, Suite 606New York, NY 10038

Urban Tech News | February 20122 Urban Tech News | February 2012 7

Wells Fargo and Urban Tech Build Community Wealth and Financial LiteracyThe results are in from the 2011 Urban Tech and Wells Fargo-sponsored VITA/FinancialLiteracy Program partnerships in Bridgeport, CT, and New-burgh, NY. The Financial Literacy/VITA (Voluntary Income Tax Assis-tance)/ Community Development Program in Newburgh, NY saw the installation of a fully-op-erational SeedTech Computer Training Center (CTC) lab to support its Youth Leadership Academy® (YLA) and Digi-tal literacy training efforts for youth. Newburgh processed over 100 federal tax returns, generating over $100,000 in tax refunds and $66,000 in

EITC. To help the recipients keep the money in the commu-nity and to be good stewardsof their wealth, adult com-munity members were able to take part in Hands on Banking® (HOB) and fi rst-time home buy-er workshops. Ten youth were trained as YLA youth lead-ers and certifi ed to train other youth, and 50 middle/high school students participated in YLA and received fi nancial lit-eracy training. The Bridgeport, CT It’s Your Net Worth! Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA)/Finan-cial Literacy Program saw its VITA services prepare tax re-turns for 150 people, generat-

ing almost $70,000 in EITC refunds for the community. As with Newburgh, Bridgeport provided HOB workshops for over 95 families and individuals, and 35 students received fi nan-cial literacy training through the YMCA after-school program. The training also focused on computer instruction, commu-nication skills, decision-making skills, violence prevention, drug and alcohol prevention, and job readiness skills. Success requires cultivation. “We know that these services to help individuals are vital to helping maintain and expand a community’s fi nancial capac-ity,” said Gena Davis Watkins,

Urban Tech’s Executive Di-rector. “Our partnership with Wells Fargo has been outstand-

ing, and our local partners in Bridgeport and Newburgh have been so helpful. We look forward to another vibrant col-laboration among our partners to expand the programs in both locations over the coming year.”

Derek Jeter Turn2 Foundation Recognizesthe Importance of YLA for After School Programs

In 2010-2011, Derek Jeter’s Turn2 Foundation granted Urban Tech funding to imple-ment a Youth Leadership Acad-emy® (YLA) life skills program to reduce negative behaviors and health-compromising ac-tivities among youth, ages 6-13,enrolled in Turn2 Afterschool Programs in New York City, by proving positive life-changing experiences during after school hours. Studies show that chil-dren who do not receive rein-forced learning and enrichment activities during summer and after school hours are less likely to retain academic skills as com-

pared to their peers who are af-forded such opportunities. A total of fi fty-eight (58) chil-dren participated in a thirty-fi ve (35) week YLA after school pro-gram at Sorrentino and Jackie Robinson Recreation Centers. Urban Tech’s implementation of the Youth Leadership Acad-emy® has proven to be extreme-ly effective among this student population. The actual results gathered from the 2010-2011 year’s evaluation show signifi cant progress in several areas. Table 1 provides a sample of the results. YLA’s research-based cur-riculum is organized around

11 modules or “themes” includ-ing goal-setting, se l f -d i scovery, teamwork and confl ict resolution targeted to in-crease academic profi ciency, stu-dent leadership, healthy habits, and fi nancial lit-

eracy. The curriculum is deliv-ered through animation, interac-tive exercises, online journaling and internet-based research cre-ating a stimulating learning envi-ronment and promoting an im-age that “it’s cool to be smart.” “I have seen positive changes in my students as we have gone through YLA…the children not

only learned something new about themselves but about each other,” said Danielle Gold-farb, Sorrentino Recreation Center CRC.“It is truly a posi-tive program that has positive after-effects.” Ms. Goldfarb’s sentiments were echoed by all instructors as displayed in the following chart:

Urban Tech’s fl agship programs have had signifi cant impact over the last 17 years in providing equal access to technology and unlocking the door in vulner-able communities to critical resources for competitive skills and economic gain. Students who participate in Urban Tech’s programs become motivated and inspired to im-prove their ability to learn, im-prove their retention rates, and get top grades in their classes. They are interested in acceler-ating the process and position-ing themselves to achieve their American dreams; and Urban Tech has been in the forefront of education technology for the last several years providing the resources to help students achieve these goals. Urban Tech’s Youth Leader-ship Academy® (YLA) was es-tablished in 1995 to demonstrate potential implications of innova-tive uses of technology to teach youth with differing levels of

educational attainment. It was also designed to reach student populations who perform poorly in traditional classroom environ-ments allowing them to master core curriculum at their own pace and literacy levels. YLA en-gages students through technol-ogy-rich curriculum including hundreds of interactive games and activities using contempo-rary music, colorful graphics and animation that broaden their critical thinking, enhance their writing skills and promote the belief that “it’s cool to be smart.” YLA is especially important because of the current lack of rich interactive curriculum dealing specifi cally with life/leadership and academic skills in under-served communities. Young people today face tre-mendous obstacles to success; and without the tools to ad-dress these challenges, our kids don’t have a fi ghting chance. Our plan envisions growing vi-rally with exponential growth

in the next fi ve years, reaching millions of users by 2017. This means scaling up YLA for easy replication, building and de-signing intuitive interfaces and imbedding virtual training for quick adoption. We also need to reach kids where they are spending their time, getting in-formation, communicating with friends and accessing media. Almost one in three chil-dren between the ages of 8 and 10 own their own cell phone, and the 13–17 age bracket is the fastest growing segment on smartphone adoption. The rise in popularity of smartphones has brought on a cultural shift in how children access and inter-act with information. On aver-age, children between the ages of 8 and 18 who own their own smartphone use it daily for 33 minutes of talk and 49 minutes of media consumption. It has become the preferred method for consuming media and also extends to learning, with 62% of students reporting that they would rather use a smartphone than a laptop as a learning tool. To remain in the forefront of education technology and to scale up for growth, Urban Tech has begun to work with Dr. Ni-shikant Sonwalker, (Sc.D., MIT) to transform YLA’s rich content into mobile applications that can be delivered to iPads in the classroom and reach students on their smartphones. Urban Tech is adding greater customiza-tion to its current content using Sonwalter’s “Adaptive Learning Technologies” to address the multiple learning preferences, paces and performance goals of a broad spectrum of learn-ers in inner-city communities; and include on-line personal tutoring (e.g. Khan Academy, etc.), social media and blogs to engage students and transform the one-size fi ts all classroom to

individualization and a 24/7, always accessible learning envi-ronment. With funding, Urban Tech will begin this exciting devel-opment of mobile applica-tions and continue to leverage technology for adaptability across a broad range of learn-ing styles. Urban Tech believes that America is fi nally at the nexus of successfully extending the walls of today’s classroom to connect formal and informal learning modalities that address the needs of diverse learners. With this new partnership and development, Urban Tech will continue to provide tools to the nation’s under-resourced com-munities for life skills, academic achievement and workforce de-velopment using Dr. Sonnwalk-er’s revolutionary technology that provides a highly effective, effi cient, and engaging pathway to improving delivery of educa-tion to millions of students. Over time, the body of data from this network will be fed back into the system for track-ing, evaluation, upgrade and re-fi nement, and its ultimate goal, adaptive “collaborative fi lter-ing”—wherein the accumulat-ed, anonymous data from tens of thousands of users begins to predict accurately the needs of any single user from the fi rst click of a mouse, and then di-rects the single user’s learning accordingly, adjusting all along the way. As one public school teacher told the YLA design team, “My job is to continu-ously assess where every student is in relation to the 29 other kids in the class and then give them exactly what they need. But as a practical matter it’s just im-possible to do the job I want to do. I need more me’s.” That customization and just-in-time assessment is something “smart software” can be very good at.

York City Department of Education Chancellor Den-nis M. Walcott. Urban Tech honored Ramón for his exem-plary educational leadership and services to his community and school. Ramón’s community activ-ism has deeply infl uenced his school community. Students take courses in fi nancial litera-cy and participate in a school-wide economy where they can earn, save, and spend “school bucks.” Ramón was named a 2007-2008 Cahn Fellow for Distinguished Principals at Teachers College, Columbia University. He was admitted in 2009 to the Teachers College Urban Education Leadership

Doctoral Program. In 2010, he was named a Principal’s fel-low for the Center for Arts Ed-ucation. In 2011, he won the Sloan Public Service Award for New York Government and was named a “Champi-on of Change” by the White House. He currently serves as a mentor for aspiring school leader interns from City Uni-versity, Barauch College, Mercy College and Teachers College. He holds a BA from Cornell University, an MS from City College, and an MA and Ed.M. from Teachers College, Columbia University. He is a published author who has written about adolescent issues and urban gangs.

Profi le in Leadership from p. 1

New Directions for YLA

Urban Tech News | February 20126 Urban Tech News | February 2012 3

FOUNDER’S CIRCLEPat & Tom BransfordBTIG Val CarlottiGoldman SachsNational Black United Fund/Robert “Bob” Williams

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLEIntel CorporationLatham & Watkins LLP/ Sharon BowenThe Nielsen Company/ Don LoweryDavid PerlinPfi zer, IncTurn2 FoundationThe Williams Capital Group/Christopher J. Williams

BENEFACTORSBloomberg EmblemHealthExecutive Leadership CouncilMarco FrigeriAlia Jones HarveyJPMorgan Chase FoundationBettina KlingerLazard/Vernon E. Jordan, Jr.MikeDP Ventures/ Michael DePaolaRubenstein Public Relations, Inc./ Richard RubensteinThe Starker Family Foundation/Farrel & Steven StarkerJohn StarksDr. Elgin & Gena Davis WatkinsWells Fargo FoundationEric Woods/Harlem Vintage & Nectar Wine BarKathy & Jeff Zukerman

PATRONSJames AnielloMr. & Mrs. G. Leonard BakerVanessa Baylor JohnsonValerie Lancaster BealRichard BilelloMichelle BouchardMichael BowerCarole F. BrowneStephen ByrdJ.T. (Ted) Childs, Jr.Amanda & Don ClarkeBobbie (Mrs. J. Player) CrosbyJennifer De RosaSandy EnuhaAlicia G. EverettHilary & Joseph FeshbachPamela M. FrederickGodfrey R. GillPeter GormanDawn Hankin-Cliette & Eric A. ClietteCarla HarrisChristopher HeinPhyllis HollisMr. & Mrs. Stephen HoloweskoJessica & Alan IsaacsMarsh Inc/Jessica IsaacsLorrie KingTracey E. LaFranoLoida Nicolas LewisMr. & Mrs. James LippmanJodi MalcomHon. H. Carl & Dr. Joyce Brown McCallMrs. Hassell McClureMark MilesThe Morrison & Foerster FoundationPaula J. NailorJean Marie PosterMarilyn and Hugh B. PriceRori & Steven ShafferMarcia SiperLisa M. SquibbLena SurilovCara Wallace

Ty WilliamsMargaret (Dolly) Williams

FRIENDSAlvin BowlesKimberly Duckett CoaxumRaluca GoldCurtis HarrisJennifer Temps/ Jennifer SingletonBarney Karpfi nger/ Red House FundEve McGrathMr. & Mrs. Kevin NickelberryHon. Barrington ParkerGerald L. Shargel/ Law offi ces of Gerald L. ShargelMr. & Mrs. Brian SklarVirginia Treherne- ThomasAmy & Justin Zises

SUPPORTERSSusan BrancheBrett CarlsonAlanna DuffyMonica DukeHazel DukesThelma Dye-HolmesIone D. EdwardsJill B. FastenbergToni G. FayPeter E. FeinbergJoseph GodwinShannon J. HalesJoyce K. HauptLouis HochmanJohn G. HopkinsDerek JosephsDaniel KanamoriKyle Kuchera

Jason KudelkaJessica LaMottaLisa Kelly MaikCynthia L. & Walter MorrisValentina PelinelE. Denise PerryMarquita Pool-EckertVikki PryorArden SheltonJ. Cecil Simpson, Jr.Claire SteinglassKimberly StolzCarol & Raymond S. StolzPaul Wasserman/ AM PropertyShelly WimpfheimerDoris WithersJanet Wright

CONTRIBUTORSDiane AshleyMark BarattaAllison ChrismanKaren DeinzerMichael DillonRoxanne FeblesFrancine FogartyJuliet Nicole GilliamDavid J. GoldsteinJohanne Holmes GreerFredrika & Dulany HillJohn W. IckeSarah E. InksterFern KhanLinda & Joseph LillardCharlotte McKinesRhoda MyersEllena & John O’TooleMichael RichardDavid K. StorrRandolph SturrupGeorge L. Van AmsonSteven W. Wolfe

Urban Tech Would Like to Thank the Following Individuals,Foundations, and Corporations for Their Support in 2011:

Visit our website for the latestnews and information

www.urbantech.org

Upcoming 2012 Gala at Capitale

We are excited to announce this year’s Gala on June 11 at the historic Capitale. Attracting approximately 300 philanthropists every year from New York City and the surrounding areas, the Gala is establishing itself as one of the City’s premiere fundraisers, honoring those who are invested in improving the education, health, and career readiness of disadvantaged youth in underserved communities. This year’s Gala will proudly honor actor and philanthropist Blair Underwood, renowned philanthropist and corporate and community leader Dr. Reatha Clark King and award-winning journalist and CBS2 News Anchor Maurice DuBois. With the help of our generous sponsors and donors, we hope to reach our goal of $500,000 to sustain and grow Urban Tech’s programs that provide crucial life skills support to students and one-on-one mentoring of teachers in communities that have suffered the most in this economy. Save the date and tell your friends—attend the Gala in support of Urban Tech’s fl agship program, the Youth Leadership Academy® (YLA) designed to prepare students to graduate from high school and achieve success in college and career.

Maurice DuBois

Monday, June 11, 2012 Capitale | New York City

Save the Date!

11

Blair Underwood Reatha Clark King

Purchase a 2012 Urban Tech Gala table/ticket by Thursday, April 19 and receive reserved

seating to the Thursday, April 26 Broadway Opening Week Premiere of “A Streetcar Named Desire” starring 2012 Urban Tech Gala Honoree Blair Underwood at The Broadhurst Theater. This offer includes the play and VIP access to

the post performance reception with the Broadway cast and producers depending on the level of

2012 Urban Tech Gala contribution.

Tickets are limited so order today! For more information on this very special offer and to

purchase 2012 Urban Tech Gala tickets, pleasevisit our website, www.urbantech.org or give

us a call at (212) 528-7350.

Urban Tech News | February 20124 Urban Tech News | February 2012 5

Adopt-a-School Provides Valuable Services to Schools andAfter School Programs as Budgets Are Cut Across the CountryUrban Tech’s Adopt-a-School Program provides an opportu-nity for donors to earmark their contributions to specifi c educa-tional programs in schools and after school programs and see immediate results from their in-vestment,” says Pat Bransford, Urban Tech’s President. With the help of our Adopt-a-School donors, Urban Tech has been able to offer school-based work-shops, technology enrichment and professional development of teachers to ensure that stu-dents receive the technological training needed for college and careers in the 21st century. Our fl agship programs—the Youth Leadership Academy® (YLA) and the Get Healthy, Get Smart! (GHGS) initiative have dem-onstrated huge benefi ts in the

areas of social skills, improved academic scores, healthier liv-ing and a focus on learning and school completion. “We realize the urgent need to engage those students now, who have tuned out and are in danger of dropping out of school; your donations have an immediate and lasting impact on their staying power and fu-ture success,” says Bransford. “Urban Tech has seen a trend among friends, neighbors and civic groups who wish to sup-port a particular educational program and track the perfor-mance of each student in the program. The individual dona-tion is manageable and the col-lective impact is huge.” Studies of the effectiveness of YLA and GHGS have in-

dicated that students made im-pressive progress in social com-petence—they learned how to work together and solve prob-lems cooperatively and, most importantly, are able to ar-ticulate their ideas clearly both orally and in writing. Thanks to the varied instructional ap-proaches YLA uses, including culturally sensitive animated scenarios, role-play simula-tions, and e-journals, teachers are able to successfully engage their students in core academic subjects while also strength-ening social and emotional skills and computer literacy. YLA’s APOLLO system tracks each student’s performance over time and allows donors to see fi rst-hand the benefi t oftheir investment.

Lab School of Finance and Technology Joins Adopt-A-Schooland Scores Big with Parents and Teachers Last year, Intel Corpora-tion earmarked MS223, the Lab School of Finance andTechnology in the Bronx,New York, for its Adopt-a-School donation to promote health and wellness, fi nancial literacy, and student leader-ship using Urban Tech’s Youth Leadership Academy® (YLA) and Get Healthy, Get Smart! (GHGS) initiative.

From the beginning, this middle school embraced the YLA curriculum and training to provide critical social and emo-tional skills and in a short pe-riod of time, teachers began to see noticeable changes among their students, and even fellow staff members. Nicole Lentino, mathematics teacher, said of YLA: “It has brought me closer to my students. Growing up, I missed the boat on some of these life lessons. YLA actually helped me learn some things along the way about myself.” In June 2011, students led a parent workshop in both Eng-lish and Spanish supporting both teachers and parents in resolving confl ict and commu-nicating their feelings openly and honestly. By enabling stu-dents to play an active role in the learning experience as train-ers, schools can activate creativ-ity, critical thinking skills for real-world success and student

leadership. Michelle Roy, social studies teacher, said, “I saw my kids, some of whom were mod-erately interested in my class, at best, sort of “turn on.” They are now participating in the discus-sion; they want to share, they want to be there. They are a lot more excited to participate be-cause it’s much more “real” to them and immediately relevant to their lives.”

“Urban Tech’s support for this program has been out-standing,” said Lab School As-sistant Principal Tyneka Har-rington. “They are right there to help our teachers through any questions; they are there to help our students; they are supporting parent interaction. This should be a model for how to have a partnership with a school.” Principal Ramón González was also quick to notice a change not only among his students but also among his staff. “There are not many programs that you can say have transformed peo-ple.” As a school selected for the Adopt-a-School program, Ur-ban Tech and its donors share the same goals with teachers and administrators at MS 233: reaching and teaching middle school students, providing pas-sionate advocates for lifelong learning, and critical skills to compete in the 21st century.

Urban Tech could not continue to provide access to these best-in-class educational resources without the generous support of its donors. Since 2006, Adopt-a-School donations have supported over

50 schools and after school pro-grams in low-income and vul-nerable communities across the country. To learn more about Adopt-a-School, please call us at 212-528-7350 or email us at info@urbantech.org.

Beginning in 2012, Urban Tech plans to launch the Adopt-a-School Support Network (ASN). By creat-ing an online community of schools and donors, we can target the specifi c needs of each institution—whether it be equipment, profes-sional development, or par-ent workshops—and be immediately responsive. This platform will provide a means of ongoing inter-action and communication between Urban Tech, the schools, and donors, and de-liver actionable and relevant feedback and fulfi llment.

Online Auction

Help Urban Tech continue its support for Adopt-a-School partners, and assist Urban Tech in meeting its additional challenges and critical needs. Browse and bid on excit-ing travel getaways and oth-er fi ne items! Auction items range from exotic vacation getaways to donated items guaranteed to delight and surprise. Proceeds from the online auction help to sup-port Urban Tech’s mission, including added program support for its Adopt-a-School partners.

DONATE TO URBAN TECH!Transform Lives Through the Power of Technology

Urban Tech, a not-for-profi t 501(c)(3) education technology corporation, was founded in 1995 to provide access to technology and training to address the widening achievement gap in low-income communities. Today, we are transforming lives through the power of technology.

Our primary focus is to provide at-risk youth with social and emotional skills for improved health and academic performance, and provide adults with the resources necessary for long-term employability and economic security.

Please consider adding us to your list of tax-deductible contributions to support our programs in 2012.

q I would like to support Urban Tech’s work. Enclosed is a check for _________.

I am interested in programs for:

q Academic Performance q Leadership Developmentq Healthy Habits q Financial Literacy

Please complete the following information and send with your tax-deductible contribution to: The National Urban Technology Center, 80 Maiden Lane, Suite 606, New York, New York 10038 or visit www.urbantech.org/contribute to make an online contribution.Thank you for your support!

Name ______________________________________________________________

Street ______________________________________________________________

City _____________________________ State ______ Zip ___________________

Phone ________________________ Email _______________________________

Urban Tech Helps Students Strengthen Skills for College and Careers Urban Tech’s Youth Leader-ship Academy® (YLA) focuses on developing skills that in-clude recognizing and man-aging emotions, developing empathy for others, estab-lishing positive relationships, making responsible decisions, and handling challenging situ-ations constructively and ethi-cally. They are the skills that allow youth to calm themselves when angry, create friendships, resolve confl icts, and make ethical and safe choices. Many of the programs that embrace social and emotional learning (SEL) have been rig-orously evaluated and found to have positive impact, not only on lowering the risk of various problems youth face, but also in improving academic learning. A recently published landmark review found that students who re-ceive SEL instruction had more positive attitudes about school and improve an aver-age of 11 percentile points on standardized achievement tests compared to students who did not receive such in-struction (http://casel.org/why-it-matters/benefits-of-sel/meta-analysis/). YLA is a shining example of a research-based, engaging,

pro-social youth development program that can be accessed via the Internet to provide the critical SEL skills for address-ing the achievement gap and getting kids ready for college and careers. A technology-rich program, YLA uses multiple modes of learning (instructor-led and self-paced), a carefully designed mix of group activi-ties to inspire teamwork, con-temporary music and games, relevant exercises that provide real-life experiences, and ac-cess to a well-selected online resource library for broader frame of reference to improve life and literacy skills. To build in-demand skills for careers, YLA uses deduc-tive, inductive and exploratory learning styles that are impor-tant for the advancement in science, technology, engineer-ing and mathematics. With help from its school partners and donors, Urban Tech pro-vides in-depth teacher train-ing, parent workshops and can get computers to low-in-come families for access after school as well as in the class-room. For more information on YLA and the case studies which prove the effectiveness of SEL, please visit: http://www.urbantech.org.

St. Barts vacation

Go to www.urbantech.org for more information.

Urban Tech News | February 20124 Urban Tech News | February 2012 5

Adopt-a-School Provides Valuable Services to Schools andAfter School Programs as Budgets Are Cut Across the CountryUrban Tech’s Adopt-a-School Program provides an opportu-nity for donors to earmark their contributions to specifi c educa-tional programs in schools and after school programs and see immediate results from their in-vestment,” says Pat Bransford, Urban Tech’s President. With the help of our Adopt-a-School donors, Urban Tech has been able to offer school-based work-shops, technology enrichment and professional development of teachers to ensure that stu-dents receive the technological training needed for college and careers in the 21st century. Our fl agship programs—the Youth Leadership Academy® (YLA) and the Get Healthy, Get Smart! (GHGS) initiative have dem-onstrated huge benefi ts in the

areas of social skills, improved academic scores, healthier liv-ing and a focus on learning and school completion. “We realize the urgent need to engage those students now, who have tuned out and are in danger of dropping out of school; your donations have an immediate and lasting impact on their staying power and fu-ture success,” says Bransford. “Urban Tech has seen a trend among friends, neighbors and civic groups who wish to sup-port a particular educational program and track the perfor-mance of each student in the program. The individual dona-tion is manageable and the col-lective impact is huge.” Studies of the effectiveness of YLA and GHGS have in-

dicated that students made im-pressive progress in social com-petence—they learned how to work together and solve prob-lems cooperatively and, most importantly, are able to ar-ticulate their ideas clearly both orally and in writing. Thanks to the varied instructional ap-proaches YLA uses, including culturally sensitive animated scenarios, role-play simula-tions, and e-journals, teachers are able to successfully engage their students in core academic subjects while also strength-ening social and emotional skills and computer literacy. YLA’s APOLLO system tracks each student’s performance over time and allows donors to see fi rst-hand the benefi t oftheir investment.

Lab School of Finance and Technology Joins Adopt-A-Schooland Scores Big with Parents and Teachers Last year, Intel Corpora-tion earmarked MS223, the Lab School of Finance andTechnology in the Bronx,New York, for its Adopt-a-School donation to promote health and wellness, fi nancial literacy, and student leader-ship using Urban Tech’s Youth Leadership Academy® (YLA) and Get Healthy, Get Smart! (GHGS) initiative.

From the beginning, this middle school embraced the YLA curriculum and training to provide critical social and emo-tional skills and in a short pe-riod of time, teachers began to see noticeable changes among their students, and even fellow staff members. Nicole Lentino, mathematics teacher, said of YLA: “It has brought me closer to my students. Growing up, I missed the boat on some of these life lessons. YLA actually helped me learn some things along the way about myself.” In June 2011, students led a parent workshop in both Eng-lish and Spanish supporting both teachers and parents in resolving confl ict and commu-nicating their feelings openly and honestly. By enabling stu-dents to play an active role in the learning experience as train-ers, schools can activate creativ-ity, critical thinking skills for real-world success and student

leadership. Michelle Roy, social studies teacher, said, “I saw my kids, some of whom were mod-erately interested in my class, at best, sort of “turn on.” They are now participating in the discus-sion; they want to share, they want to be there. They are a lot more excited to participate be-cause it’s much more “real” to them and immediately relevant to their lives.”

“Urban Tech’s support for this program has been out-standing,” said Lab School As-sistant Principal Tyneka Har-rington. “They are right there to help our teachers through any questions; they are there to help our students; they are supporting parent interaction. This should be a model for how to have a partnership with a school.” Principal Ramón González was also quick to notice a change not only among his students but also among his staff. “There are not many programs that you can say have transformed peo-ple.” As a school selected for the Adopt-a-School program, Ur-ban Tech and its donors share the same goals with teachers and administrators at MS 233: reaching and teaching middle school students, providing pas-sionate advocates for lifelong learning, and critical skills to compete in the 21st century.

Urban Tech could not continue to provide access to these best-in-class educational resources without the generous support of its donors. Since 2006, Adopt-a-School donations have supported over

50 schools and after school pro-grams in low-income and vul-nerable communities across the country. To learn more about Adopt-a-School, please call us at 212-528-7350 or email us at info@urbantech.org.

Beginning in 2012, Urban Tech plans to launch the Adopt-a-School Support Network (ASN). By creat-ing an online community of schools and donors, we can target the specifi c needs of each institution—whether it be equipment, profes-sional development, or par-ent workshops—and be immediately responsive. This platform will provide a means of ongoing inter-action and communication between Urban Tech, the schools, and donors, and de-liver actionable and relevant feedback and fulfi llment.

Online Auction

Help Urban Tech continue its support for Adopt-a-School partners, and assist Urban Tech in meeting its additional challenges and critical needs. Browse and bid on excit-ing travel getaways and oth-er fi ne items! Auction items range from exotic vacation getaways to donated items guaranteed to delight and surprise. Proceeds from the online auction help to sup-port Urban Tech’s mission, including added program support for its Adopt-a-School partners.

DONATE TO URBAN TECH!Transform Lives Through the Power of Technology

Urban Tech, a not-for-profi t 501(c)(3) education technology corporation, was founded in 1995 to provide access to technology and training to address the widening achievement gap in low-income communities. Today, we are transforming lives through the power of technology.

Our primary focus is to provide at-risk youth with social and emotional skills for improved health and academic performance, and provide adults with the resources necessary for long-term employability and economic security.

Please consider adding us to your list of tax-deductible contributions to support our programs in 2012.

q I would like to support Urban Tech’s work. Enclosed is a check for _________.

I am interested in programs for:

q Academic Performance q Leadership Developmentq Healthy Habits q Financial Literacy

Please complete the following information and send with your tax-deductible contribution to: The National Urban Technology Center, 80 Maiden Lane, Suite 606, New York, New York 10038 or visit www.urbantech.org/contribute to make an online contribution.Thank you for your support!

Name ______________________________________________________________

Street ______________________________________________________________

City _____________________________ State ______ Zip ___________________

Phone ________________________ Email _______________________________

Urban Tech Helps Students Strengthen Skills for College and Careers Urban Tech’s Youth Leader-ship Academy® (YLA) focuses on developing skills that in-clude recognizing and man-aging emotions, developing empathy for others, estab-lishing positive relationships, making responsible decisions, and handling challenging situ-ations constructively and ethi-cally. They are the skills that allow youth to calm themselves when angry, create friendships, resolve confl icts, and make ethical and safe choices. Many of the programs that embrace social and emotional learning (SEL) have been rig-orously evaluated and found to have positive impact, not only on lowering the risk of various problems youth face, but also in improving academic learning. A recently published landmark review found that students who re-ceive SEL instruction had more positive attitudes about school and improve an aver-age of 11 percentile points on standardized achievement tests compared to students who did not receive such in-struction (http://casel.org/why-it-matters/benefits-of-sel/meta-analysis/). YLA is a shining example of a research-based, engaging,

pro-social youth development program that can be accessed via the Internet to provide the critical SEL skills for address-ing the achievement gap and getting kids ready for college and careers. A technology-rich program, YLA uses multiple modes of learning (instructor-led and self-paced), a carefully designed mix of group activi-ties to inspire teamwork, con-temporary music and games, relevant exercises that provide real-life experiences, and ac-cess to a well-selected online resource library for broader frame of reference to improve life and literacy skills. To build in-demand skills for careers, YLA uses deduc-tive, inductive and exploratory learning styles that are impor-tant for the advancement in science, technology, engineer-ing and mathematics. With help from its school partners and donors, Urban Tech pro-vides in-depth teacher train-ing, parent workshops and can get computers to low-in-come families for access after school as well as in the class-room. For more information on YLA and the case studies which prove the effectiveness of SEL, please visit: http://www.urbantech.org.

St. Barts vacation

Go to www.urbantech.org for more information.

Urban Tech News | February 20126 Urban Tech News | February 2012 3

FOUNDER’S CIRCLEPat & Tom BransfordBTIG Val CarlottiGoldman SachsNational Black United Fund/Robert “Bob” Williams

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLEIntel CorporationLatham & Watkins LLP/ Sharon BowenThe Nielsen Company/ Don LoweryDavid PerlinPfi zer, IncTurn2 FoundationThe Williams Capital Group/Christopher J. Williams

BENEFACTORSBloomberg EmblemHealthExecutive Leadership CouncilMarco FrigeriAlia Jones HarveyJPMorgan Chase FoundationBettina KlingerLazard/Vernon E. Jordan, Jr.MikeDP Ventures/ Michael DePaolaRubenstein Public Relations, Inc./ Richard RubensteinThe Starker Family Foundation/Farrel & Steven StarkerJohn StarksDr. Elgin & Gena Davis WatkinsWells Fargo FoundationEric Woods/Harlem Vintage & Nectar Wine BarKathy & Jeff Zukerman

PATRONSJames AnielloMr. & Mrs. G. Leonard BakerVanessa Baylor JohnsonValerie Lancaster BealRichard BilelloMichelle BouchardMichael BowerCarole F. BrowneStephen ByrdJ.T. (Ted) Childs, Jr.Amanda & Don ClarkeBobbie (Mrs. J. Player) CrosbyJennifer De RosaSandy EnuhaAlicia G. EverettHilary & Joseph FeshbachPamela M. FrederickGodfrey R. GillPeter GormanDawn Hankin-Cliette & Eric A. ClietteCarla HarrisChristopher HeinPhyllis HollisMr. & Mrs. Stephen HoloweskoJessica & Alan IsaacsMarsh Inc/Jessica IsaacsLorrie KingTracey E. LaFranoLoida Nicolas LewisMr. & Mrs. James LippmanJodi MalcomHon. H. Carl & Dr. Joyce Brown McCallMrs. Hassell McClureMark MilesThe Morrison & Foerster FoundationPaula J. NailorJean Marie PosterMarilyn and Hugh B. PriceRori & Steven ShafferMarcia SiperLisa M. SquibbLena SurilovCara Wallace

Ty WilliamsMargaret (Dolly) Williams

FRIENDSAlvin BowlesKimberly Duckett CoaxumRaluca GoldCurtis HarrisJennifer Temps/ Jennifer SingletonBarney Karpfi nger/ Red House FundEve McGrathMr. & Mrs. Kevin NickelberryHon. Barrington ParkerGerald L. Shargel/ Law offi ces of Gerald L. ShargelMr. & Mrs. Brian SklarVirginia Treherne- ThomasAmy & Justin Zises

SUPPORTERSSusan BrancheBrett CarlsonAlanna DuffyMonica DukeHazel DukesThelma Dye-HolmesIone D. EdwardsJill B. FastenbergToni G. FayPeter E. FeinbergJoseph GodwinShannon J. HalesJoyce K. HauptLouis HochmanJohn G. HopkinsDerek JosephsDaniel KanamoriKyle Kuchera

Jason KudelkaJessica LaMottaLisa Kelly MaikCynthia L. & Walter MorrisValentina PelinelE. Denise PerryMarquita Pool-EckertVikki PryorArden SheltonJ. Cecil Simpson, Jr.Claire SteinglassKimberly StolzCarol & Raymond S. StolzPaul Wasserman/ AM PropertyShelly WimpfheimerDoris WithersJanet Wright

CONTRIBUTORSDiane AshleyMark BarattaAllison ChrismanKaren DeinzerMichael DillonRoxanne FeblesFrancine FogartyJuliet Nicole GilliamDavid J. GoldsteinJohanne Holmes GreerFredrika & Dulany HillJohn W. IckeSarah E. InksterFern KhanLinda & Joseph LillardCharlotte McKinesRhoda MyersEllena & John O’TooleMichael RichardDavid K. StorrRandolph SturrupGeorge L. Van AmsonSteven W. Wolfe

Urban Tech Would Like to Thank the Following Individuals,Foundations, and Corporations for Their Support in 2011:

Visit our website for the latestnews and information

www.urbantech.org

Upcoming 2012 Gala at Capitale

We are excited to announce this year’s Gala on June 11 at the historic Capitale. Attracting approximately 300 philanthropists every year from New York City and the surrounding areas, the Gala is establishing itself as one of the City’s premiere fundraisers, honoring those who are invested in improving the education, health, and career readiness of disadvantaged youth in underserved communities. This year’s Gala will proudly honor actor and philanthropist Blair Underwood, renowned philanthropist and corporate and community leader Dr. Reatha Clark King and award-winning journalist and CBS2 News Anchor Maurice DuBois. With the help of our generous sponsors and donors, we hope to reach our goal of $500,000 to sustain and grow Urban Tech’s programs that provide crucial life skills support to students and one-on-one mentoring of teachers in communities that have suffered the most in this economy. Save the date and tell your friends—attend the Gala in support of Urban Tech’s fl agship program, the Youth Leadership Academy® (YLA) designed to prepare students to graduate from high school and achieve success in college and career.

Maurice DuBois

Monday, June 11, 2012 Capitale | New York City

Save the Date!

11

Blair Underwood Reatha Clark King

Purchase a 2012 Urban Tech Gala table/ticket by Thursday, April 19 and receive reserved

seating to the Thursday, April 26 Broadway Opening Week Premiere of “A Streetcar Named Desire” starring 2012 Urban Tech Gala Honoree Blair Underwood at The Broadhurst Theater. This offer includes the play and VIP access to

the post performance reception with the Broadway cast and producers depending on the level of

2012 Urban Tech Gala contribution.

Tickets are limited so order today! For more information on this very special offer and to

purchase 2012 Urban Tech Gala tickets, pleasevisit our website, www.urbantech.org or give

us a call at (212) 528-7350.

Urban Tech News | February 20122 Urban Tech News | February 2012 7

Wells Fargo and Urban Tech Build Community Wealth and Financial LiteracyThe results are in from the 2011 Urban Tech and Wells Fargo-sponsored VITA/FinancialLiteracy Program partnerships in Bridgeport, CT, and New-burgh, NY. The Financial Literacy/VITA (Voluntary Income Tax Assis-tance)/ Community Development Program in Newburgh, NY saw the installation of a fully-op-erational SeedTech Computer Training Center (CTC) lab to support its Youth Leadership Academy® (YLA) and Digi-tal literacy training efforts for youth. Newburgh processed over 100 federal tax returns, generating over $100,000 in tax refunds and $66,000 in

EITC. To help the recipients keep the money in the commu-nity and to be good stewardsof their wealth, adult com-munity members were able to take part in Hands on Banking® (HOB) and fi rst-time home buy-er workshops. Ten youth were trained as YLA youth lead-ers and certifi ed to train other youth, and 50 middle/high school students participated in YLA and received fi nancial lit-eracy training. The Bridgeport, CT It’s Your Net Worth! Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA)/Finan-cial Literacy Program saw its VITA services prepare tax re-turns for 150 people, generat-

ing almost $70,000 in EITC refunds for the community. As with Newburgh, Bridgeport provided HOB workshops for over 95 families and individuals, and 35 students received fi nan-cial literacy training through the YMCA after-school program. The training also focused on computer instruction, commu-nication skills, decision-making skills, violence prevention, drug and alcohol prevention, and job readiness skills. Success requires cultivation. “We know that these services to help individuals are vital to helping maintain and expand a community’s fi nancial capac-ity,” said Gena Davis Watkins,

Urban Tech’s Executive Di-rector. “Our partnership with Wells Fargo has been outstand-

ing, and our local partners in Bridgeport and Newburgh have been so helpful. We look forward to another vibrant col-laboration among our partners to expand the programs in both locations over the coming year.”

Derek Jeter Turn2 Foundation Recognizesthe Importance of YLA for After School Programs

In 2010-2011, Derek Jeter’s Turn2 Foundation granted Urban Tech funding to imple-ment a Youth Leadership Acad-emy® (YLA) life skills program to reduce negative behaviors and health-compromising ac-tivities among youth, ages 6-13,enrolled in Turn2 Afterschool Programs in New York City, by proving positive life-changing experiences during after school hours. Studies show that chil-dren who do not receive rein-forced learning and enrichment activities during summer and after school hours are less likely to retain academic skills as com-

pared to their peers who are af-forded such opportunities. A total of fi fty-eight (58) chil-dren participated in a thirty-fi ve (35) week YLA after school pro-gram at Sorrentino and Jackie Robinson Recreation Centers. Urban Tech’s implementation of the Youth Leadership Acad-emy® has proven to be extreme-ly effective among this student population. The actual results gathered from the 2010-2011 year’s evaluation show signifi cant progress in several areas. Table 1 provides a sample of the results. YLA’s research-based cur-riculum is organized around

11 modules or “themes” includ-ing goal-setting, se l f -d i scovery, teamwork and confl ict resolution targeted to in-crease academic profi ciency, stu-dent leadership, healthy habits, and fi nancial lit-

eracy. The curriculum is deliv-ered through animation, interac-tive exercises, online journaling and internet-based research cre-ating a stimulating learning envi-ronment and promoting an im-age that “it’s cool to be smart.” “I have seen positive changes in my students as we have gone through YLA…the children not

only learned something new about themselves but about each other,” said Danielle Gold-farb, Sorrentino Recreation Center CRC.“It is truly a posi-tive program that has positive after-effects.” Ms. Goldfarb’s sentiments were echoed by all instructors as displayed in the following chart:

Urban Tech’s fl agship programs have had signifi cant impact over the last 17 years in providing equal access to technology and unlocking the door in vulner-able communities to critical resources for competitive skills and economic gain. Students who participate in Urban Tech’s programs become motivated and inspired to im-prove their ability to learn, im-prove their retention rates, and get top grades in their classes. They are interested in acceler-ating the process and position-ing themselves to achieve their American dreams; and Urban Tech has been in the forefront of education technology for the last several years providing the resources to help students achieve these goals. Urban Tech’s Youth Leader-ship Academy® (YLA) was es-tablished in 1995 to demonstrate potential implications of innova-tive uses of technology to teach youth with differing levels of

educational attainment. It was also designed to reach student populations who perform poorly in traditional classroom environ-ments allowing them to master core curriculum at their own pace and literacy levels. YLA en-gages students through technol-ogy-rich curriculum including hundreds of interactive games and activities using contempo-rary music, colorful graphics and animation that broaden their critical thinking, enhance their writing skills and promote the belief that “it’s cool to be smart.” YLA is especially important because of the current lack of rich interactive curriculum dealing specifi cally with life/leadership and academic skills in under-served communities. Young people today face tre-mendous obstacles to success; and without the tools to ad-dress these challenges, our kids don’t have a fi ghting chance. Our plan envisions growing vi-rally with exponential growth

in the next fi ve years, reaching millions of users by 2017. This means scaling up YLA for easy replication, building and de-signing intuitive interfaces and imbedding virtual training for quick adoption. We also need to reach kids where they are spending their time, getting in-formation, communicating with friends and accessing media. Almost one in three chil-dren between the ages of 8 and 10 own their own cell phone, and the 13–17 age bracket is the fastest growing segment on smartphone adoption. The rise in popularity of smartphones has brought on a cultural shift in how children access and inter-act with information. On aver-age, children between the ages of 8 and 18 who own their own smartphone use it daily for 33 minutes of talk and 49 minutes of media consumption. It has become the preferred method for consuming media and also extends to learning, with 62% of students reporting that they would rather use a smartphone than a laptop as a learning tool. To remain in the forefront of education technology and to scale up for growth, Urban Tech has begun to work with Dr. Ni-shikant Sonwalker, (Sc.D., MIT) to transform YLA’s rich content into mobile applications that can be delivered to iPads in the classroom and reach students on their smartphones. Urban Tech is adding greater customiza-tion to its current content using Sonwalter’s “Adaptive Learning Technologies” to address the multiple learning preferences, paces and performance goals of a broad spectrum of learn-ers in inner-city communities; and include on-line personal tutoring (e.g. Khan Academy, etc.), social media and blogs to engage students and transform the one-size fi ts all classroom to

individualization and a 24/7, always accessible learning envi-ronment. With funding, Urban Tech will begin this exciting devel-opment of mobile applica-tions and continue to leverage technology for adaptability across a broad range of learn-ing styles. Urban Tech believes that America is fi nally at the nexus of successfully extending the walls of today’s classroom to connect formal and informal learning modalities that address the needs of diverse learners. With this new partnership and development, Urban Tech will continue to provide tools to the nation’s under-resourced com-munities for life skills, academic achievement and workforce de-velopment using Dr. Sonnwalk-er’s revolutionary technology that provides a highly effective, effi cient, and engaging pathway to improving delivery of educa-tion to millions of students. Over time, the body of data from this network will be fed back into the system for track-ing, evaluation, upgrade and re-fi nement, and its ultimate goal, adaptive “collaborative fi lter-ing”—wherein the accumulat-ed, anonymous data from tens of thousands of users begins to predict accurately the needs of any single user from the fi rst click of a mouse, and then di-rects the single user’s learning accordingly, adjusting all along the way. As one public school teacher told the YLA design team, “My job is to continu-ously assess where every student is in relation to the 29 other kids in the class and then give them exactly what they need. But as a practical matter it’s just im-possible to do the job I want to do. I need more me’s.” That customization and just-in-time assessment is something “smart software” can be very good at.

York City Department of Education Chancellor Den-nis M. Walcott. Urban Tech honored Ramón for his exem-plary educational leadership and services to his community and school. Ramón’s community activ-ism has deeply infl uenced his school community. Students take courses in fi nancial litera-cy and participate in a school-wide economy where they can earn, save, and spend “school bucks.” Ramón was named a 2007-2008 Cahn Fellow for Distinguished Principals at Teachers College, Columbia University. He was admitted in 2009 to the Teachers College Urban Education Leadership

Doctoral Program. In 2010, he was named a Principal’s fel-low for the Center for Arts Ed-ucation. In 2011, he won the Sloan Public Service Award for New York Government and was named a “Champi-on of Change” by the White House. He currently serves as a mentor for aspiring school leader interns from City Uni-versity, Barauch College, Mercy College and Teachers College. He holds a BA from Cornell University, an MS from City College, and an MA and Ed.M. from Teachers College, Columbia University. He is a published author who has written about adolescent issues and urban gangs.

Profi le in Leadership from p. 1

New Directions for YLA