Rural Revitalization - Farm to TableRDP used New Markets Tax Credits to help Bongards, a Minnesota Dairy Farmer Co-op, invest in a cheese slicing facility in Humboldt, TN. Wins for dairy farmers, the Humboldt community, and the schools & food banks that receive the cheese!
Explore! Community School to open Fall 2015The mission of Explore! Community School is to develop the love for learning, critical thinking, and communication skills of a diverse community of students as they master the academic and social emotional building blocks necessary for college and career success.
Drawing upon sponsor agency Martha O'Bryan Center's extensive experience in the community and the success of East End Preparatory School, Explore! Community School will become one of Nashville's highest achieving schools, a hallmark of what a school can be in terms of providing an excellent, joyful education for all children, regardless of socioeconomic, racial, and cultural background. The educational program of Explore! will be built upon the following key components:
- A culture of excellence and joy. We believe that when students are held to high standards and create works of excellence that they take pride in and ownership of, they realize their true potential, unlocking that capacity for excellence in every area of their loves. Children are born with a love for learning and we will cultivate that love by providing a joyful educational experience that encourages each student to explore their creativity and passions in a supportive and rigorous environment.
- Project-Based Learning. Daily, students will engage in hands on, real-life learning activities that reinforce taught skills and concepts while developing the critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity skills necessary for success in the 21st Century.
- Integrated character development. In order for students to be truly prepared for success, character traits such as self-control, perseverance, responsibility, empathy, and hope must be purposefully taught and encouraged. Explore! students will benefit from integrated character development that ensures they are equipped with the academic and developmental foundations to create excellence in every aspect of their life.
- K-8 school community. Explore! will create a supportive community of teachers and learners in which students at every grade level feel safe to take risks, express themselves, and strive towards excellence. This community will enable students in early adolescence to focus on developing the academic and character foundation necessary for success in high school in a familiar and supportive environment.
- Family engagement. At Explore! we enroll families, not just students, and will be responsive to families' needs and interests. Recognizing that caregivers are children's primary teachers, we will work purposefully to engage families and empower them to participate meaningfully in their child's education.
- Celebration of diversity. Our school community will reflect the diversity of Nashville and each student and family's unique background will be celebrated and utilized as an opportunity for learning. Our school depends upon approaching diversity as a strength-based model, learning from our differences as well as our shared experiences.
- Community programming. It is a high priority to engage with families and the community in which Explore! is located and to make them a significant part of the Explore! learning community. We will make it clear, through our school philosophy, design, policies, and practices, that we believe that children learn everywhere, all the time and that partnering with our families and the community is a critical element in student learning.
Flyover of the Tag Truck CenterGet a bird's eye view of the new building going up on the old Mall of Memphis site.
Tennessee Originals: Williams Sausage CompanyThis is ECD's first installment of "Tennessee Originals," a video series highlighting business and entrepreneurial success stories in Tennessee. Williams Sausage Company began under the entrepreneurial spirit of Harlod L. Williams in 1958. Since then, and still under the guidance and management of Williams' family, Williams Sausage Company has grown from one employee to 414 by expanding its distribution and adding new products. Most recently, Williams Sausage Company announced an expansion at their headquarters in Union City. Williams Sausage Company will invest $3 million to add additional manufacturing capabilities at its Obion County facility, creating 148 new jobs.
Plaza MariachiGretchen Bates discovers a Nashville hot spot with a Latin flair.
Five years ago, an improbable journey to restore and redevelop the Sears Crosstown building began.
Many doubted that one of the largest abandoned buildings in Tennessee could be transformed from debilitating blight into a community asset. But as of February 21st, doing the improbable becomes history.
Please plan to join us on Saturday, February 21st, from 11:00am - 2:00pm as we commemorate the redevelopment of the Sears Crosstown building, 88 years to the day after its initial groundbreaking in 1927.
The celebration will include a formal ceremony, presentations, the launch of our new branding, exhibitions (including new renderings), an iron pour using old radiators from the building, live music, food, and much more.
Video Shot & Edited by Justin Elliott Thompson
Additional Video & Video Assistance by Edward Valibus Phillips & Melissa Anderson Sweazy
Music "The Time To Run"
Available on the Free Music Archive http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dexter_Britain/Creative_Commons_Selection/The_Time_To_Run
Under CC By license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/legalcode
Music "Shooting Star"
Available on the Free Music Archive http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dexter_Britain/Zenith/Dexter_Britain_-_Zenith_-_03_Shooting_Star
Under CC By license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/legalcode
