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I'd like to begin communicating my message by writing a letter to Larry Farnese and inviting him to discuss education policy in Philadelphia. I think he'll be able to answer some of my questions about the state of the public education system. In particular, I'll ask him about the success of the Imagine 2014 plan. Larry Farnese is involved with education funding, and helps decide which programs get the most money, but he's not directly involved with designing the curriculum. Hopefully, conversation with him will lead me to other people in power who have more to do with my particular cause.  I'd eventually like to pinpoint a specific piece of legislation that I can petition to have changed. If I'm successful, I may also write a letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer. I'll probably draw on anecdotal experience based on my time at SLA to encourage people to get involved with education reform.

Detail your plan for communicating and report in on the steps you conducted, reflect on the process, effectiveness, etc.

I planned to communicate with my state rep and then I had to honor of meeting him through my church. State Rep Ronald Waters was highly interested in my plan and asked me to draft a doc to explain the details I wanted to focus on for my lobbying assignment. 

Attached are screen shoots of a e-mail I've sent Mr. Waters and I am a waiting a response from him momentarily. Mr. Waters expressed interest in helping a young man of my stature and hopefully including multiple other state reps and senators in my lobbing assignment to contest to my change.  

We do not have any specific elected officials that support this cause. But their is a ton of public support from people who report it and the SPCA. For every animal in danger, there is a news story on it. The people who are pretty much opposed to this are thous who could care less about a animals life. The was an act made for animals it was the AWA (Animal welfare act). We need an official who will listen but also for the SPCA to try hard in the animals defense. The biggest allies we have in this are the SPCA who have been helping animals for a while now. We can coordinate with the SPCA to help us talk to officials so we get animals better treatment. Everyone has the potential to be influenced since this is such a big topic the easiest to influence would be people who are willing to listen or people who are already trying to protect animals from such cruelty.

We need to protect animals like this dog from being abused, this is what influence us to notify the public and volunteer to help care and fight from there freedom and their love. These animals want to be love and we want them to love us.

It difficult to volunteer under the age of 18 but we are determine to find a location. There are many locations that people can choose to help like Morris Animal Refugee, SPCA, PAWS, Pet-smart, and some many others. Their are a number of points in which we could try to rally people with us. For example we could try “writing letters to the editor”. See what we mean is a person could write to a news firm and ask them to help spread the word.They might just put a post in the paper if a person bugs them to death with it they may even us this blog it self.

But a person cloud also write straight to the top at the government and they could be nice enough to give what they are writing a chance and actually state it at a meeting. “Phones and Faxes to the top” are basically just like.And are even more alike the letters because their all doing the same thing. They are asking to get to someone who has the power to help them get their point across. Same with an e-mail they have the same point making plan just go straight to the top and evade all the boring parts like the waiting. “Personal visits with the targeted decision maker.” that help because person good straight to the head, state his case, make it convincing, and see what the head person thinks.

NO ANIMAL SOULD BE HANDLE LIKE THIS!!

I figured that for this portion of my lobbying process, a direct contact would be most useful.

I went online and looked up the contact information for my representative, Chaka Fattah. 

I called his office and left a message with my contact information, hoping that I would get a reply.

I also looked up his email and sent an email introducing the issue I'm lobbying for.

"Hello,My name is Alexandra McGrorty, I am a Philadelphia high school student attending Science Leadership Academy and a constituent of Pennsylvania’s Second Congressional District. I am contacting you because in my American Government class, I am lobbying an issue that I feel is important. I am trying to garner more support and political backing for my topic, and since you are my Congressional Representative, it seemed logical to contact you.

In the media recently, there has been a lot of attention about the Corn Grower's Association petitioning to have the name "Corn Syrup" changed to "Corn Sugar". While this is seen, by many, as not being much of an issue at all, I find it incredibly wrong. I am lobbying for transparency in food labels. I believe that, as consumers, every citizen should be informed of exactly what they are ingesting, and all products should be clearly labeled. Nothing should be changed, especially not for aesthetic's sake, like in the case of corn syrup. Making products sound healthier without attempting to actually make them healthier just sounds like a lie to me. And I believe that we should be concerned with the health of this city, especially.

According to Temple University's Head Chair of Podiatric Medicine and Orthopedics Kathya Zinszer, “Philadelphia’s rate of diabetes is five times higher than the national average,yet diabetes is one of the least understood chronic diseases." This, along with the obesity rate, are reaching epidemic proportions. If consumers are more well informed as to what exactly they are ingesting, it could act as a preventative measure to stop this serious issue. It could also help reversal efforts. However, if consumers are blindsided and uninformed, it will only make issues even worse. This is why I would like to have your support with this issue.

Thank you for your consideration,

Alexandra McGrorty

Science Leadership Academy "

I'm still waiting for replies from both of these contacts, and I hope that I can get some much needed attention as far as labeling transparency and the FDA regulations, because they directly effect my life and the people in this city. 

In previous blog post, I mentioned the cuts in school safety because of the economy, which turned out to be completely detrimental for safe schools. When researching the safe schools union it took me about an hour and half to this site: http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/offices/s/safety/bullying-prevention/bullying-policy3. Which is the “The Office of School Safety” page. On this site they talk about the process we take in order to keep our schools safe. There was not much.

So for my next step I want to contact some of the leaders of the this part of the school district, and the try to share some of my ideas, and raise the awareness again.

Recruiting

Another main component of this campaign is to make it grow outside of SLA. So I have been looking for students from other schools to help spread awareness in their schools. It is still in the process of growing but I do have students who are willing to help.

The process is going slow and very difficult since Bob Casey and co. are very difficult to get in touch with. The educational board meetings do have some effectiveness to the process of hearing the problems from adults and students but I think it could go an extra step. I think the most effective way to try and change this NCLB act and lobby against it is to find a way to set up an appointment at a meeting with educational officials. Start off slow and show alternatives,surveys, statistics, etc to show that something has to be done and then while the lower ranked officials start to see in groups this effective campaign and presentation, the grass roots of word of mouth might take place where it becomes very public. Another good idea, off of this is to call news companies up to cover the story and hear more about the process and things being said in these town hall meetings for this act to be reformed. Hopefully overtime we can set up a meeting with the head official like Bob Casey jr.

First Step- Make a facebook page about standardized testing.

Second Step- Little video explaining why its bad, funny make it go viral. (hopefully)

Third Step- Start challenging officials to debate on NCLB.

My project for this period is culinary arts. I love to cook but have never really dabbled in the world of baking. Please bare with me through this experience because I am still learning all the skills required to be a successful baker. I will choose at least one recipe a week and post it on this blog. I hope you enjoy my baking and are inspired to bake yourself. 

So far the process of Lobbying for non standardized education has been okay. It is still a little difficult to find supporters and people in office who are strongly against it. I will now start looking closer to home for people instead of researching people in congress. 

"Mar Adentro", una película se trata la vida con el nombre Ramón Sampedro.  Ramón es un hombre tetrapléjico como quiere morir.  La problema es el no puede mata mismo porque sus condición.  En la película el tiene una abogada esta intentando regalar lo el derecho de muerte.  Ella esta no afortunado pero muchas personas visitó Ramón y una mujer con el nombre Rosá, ayudó Ramón morir porque ella quiere Ramón.  Mar Adentro es muy controversial porque la película esta preguntando después nosotros nacemos es vida una derecho, obligación o privilegio y el impacto eutanasia es con sus familia.  Para mi, yo estoy de acuerdo Ramón y Rosa deseo regalar Ramón muerte.  Vida es un derecho y no persona necesitan vivir cuando ellos no quieren.  Constantemente escucho personas hablan sobre el mundo no tiene recursos para la población y nosotros estamos intentando parar una persona como no quieren vida, ridículo. La película es muy conmovedora y cuando yo miro eso yo quiero llorar porque a Ramón todos días el esta viviendo con no dignidad.  En mi opinión todos personas como no apoyo eutanasia necesitan mirar.

La película "Mar Adentro" se trata de la vida de Ramón Sanpedro y su vida como untetrapléjico infeliz. Hace la pregunta: ¿Debe religión influye en los temas legales? No estoy de acuerdo con la decisión de Ramón pero yo respecto el decisión. No querría negar Ramón el derecho estar feliz, estoy en contra de mantiene vivo en un hombre que está sufriendo. Me gustó la película un poco pero era muy triste y no querría mirar a "Mar Adentro" otra vez. 

SLA Seniors Chris Cassise and Andre Serrano took first place in the citywide tournament out of 29 competing teams.

Seniors Dominque Miller and Rumman Haq and Juniors Dennis Mawson. Kabbour Rizq, Elisa Hyder and Michael Dea also advanced to the quarter-final round.

Hyder also won the tourney award for Best Overall Speaker.

Congratulations to Ms. Laufenberg and all the team members. Special thanks to Luke Van Meter for his help chaperoning.

Danielle Little