August 13-15, 2008
Arlington, VA
The YouthBuild USA Education Department is excited to announce its’ upcoming NSI National Gathering. Our commitment to the NSI network is to provide learning opportunities through trainings, presentations, working groups, site visits, and social gatherings. We look forward to engaging with all of you in this first NSI Gathering of 2008 to share best practices and leave inspired and ready to continue our collective work in the upcoming academic year. We ask you to join us and to learn and renew our commitment to NSI as we launch the second phase of the Initiative and deepen our work together.
Summer of 2008 NSI Gathering
This upcoming gathering will continue the exploration and examination of Literacy and Math curricula and practices using a lens of social and economic justice. We began this work during our Fall 2007 NSI convening in response to the desire by several programs to reflect social and economic justice concerns as part of the education that YouthBuild students engage in and receive.
The Gathering will also be an opportunity to assess our progress as an Initiative and determine a course of action for the next phase of the Network. All NSI sites are invited to send two attendees to this gathering, which should be comprised of an Executive Director or Principal and a Math or Literacy teacher. We are currently working diligently to prepare what we believe will be a rewarding conference that is stimulating and informative. Here are some snap shots to help build some excitement and energy for this forthcoming event:
Day One - NSI- Now and the Next Five Years:
We will kick off our gathering with an afternoon of NSI and Gates Foundation news and a conversation about where local programs and the Initiative stand at the five year mark. This will be an opportunity to talk about the accomplishments and challenges of the first phase of NSI and a chance to look ahead. We look forward to discussing this next level of work with you and hearing your ideas and strategies for achieving gains in student and school performance. As keynote speaker you’ll also have the opportunity to meet and listen to Dr. Crystal Kuykendall, respected author of “From Rage to Hope: Strategies for Reclaiming Black and Hispanic Students” Dr. Kuykendall is an inspiring speaker who can understand and address the essence of our work. Learn more about Dr. Crystal Kuykendall
Day Two - Site Visit to LAYC:
Visit the home of Latin American Youth Center Public Charter School (LAYC) and be ready to become inspired, share best practices, and offer rich feedback. The LAYC Site Visit will provide a living laboratory to:
• Hear math and literacy teachers talk about the integration of social and economic justice issues in the school’s curricula;
• Learn how LAYC is tackling its first year of dual programming – GED & HSD;
• Hear about the relationship between YouthBuild and Diploma Plus (another intermediary within the AHSI network);
• Observe how LAYC has implemented a place-based competency curriculum; and
• Enjoy a student panel and student lead tour of the LAYC facilities and learn of the program’s impact in DC; and much more.
Day Three: Participate in Roundtable Discussions and share and hear emerging practices related to the burning programmatic issues that you face. Also, help us design next steps in our training and technical assistance work.
We look forward to seeing you there and please know that we welcome at any time (pre, during, and post the conference) your need to seek our assistance. We are committed to every Network member having a great experience!
Also, don’t forget to read more about our upcoming 3rd Annual NSI Instructional Leadership Institute taking place during the same week in Arlington, VA, August 12th & 13th.
Event Location
Travel
Lodging
Special Requests
Registration Policies
Event Location
Holiday Inn National Airport @ Crystal City
2650 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA 22202
Tel: 1.703.684.7200
This full service Crystal City hotel is located minutes from Reagan National Airport, the Pentagon, and 23rd Street restaurant row. Take advantage of the free wireless high speed Internet and complimentary transportation to Metro and the Pentagon.
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Travel
Conference begins on: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 2:00PM
Conference concludes on: Friday, August 15, 2008 12:00 noon
Book your air travel to arrive into Reagan National Airport (DCA). To insure better rates, begin to arrange travel immediately. Attendees should arrive on August 13, 2008 (before 3pm) and depart on August 15 (after 1pm). Please note that YouthBuild USA does not cover or reimburse travel expenses to NSI sites for participation in this gathering. Travel may be covered with funds from your NSI grant and counted as travel for professional development.
Directions:
From Reagan National Airport (DCA)
• Distance: 1 MI / 1.61 KM East to Hotel
• Complimentary Airport Shuttle
• Taxi Charge (one way): $5.00 (USD)
• Time by taxi: 5 minutes
• Follow signs to exit airport Route 1 south. 1/4 mile on right Holiday Inn.
From other surrounding airports, train station, and/or driving directions – please go directly to hotel website.
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Lodging
As in our past conferences, YouthBuild USA will pay for the cost of lodging for one attendee per school/program. The second attendee’s cost will need to be paid for by the site. Funds from your NSI grant may be used to pay for the cost of lodging and counted as professional development. Our YouthBuild group rate is $169.00 single & double occupancy per night.
Attendees will not need to make their own reservations. The Education Department will provide the hotel with a rooming list of all attendees, which will specify attendees on the YouthBuild USA master account as well specify attendees responsible for their own room charges. All attendees will be responsible for all room incidentals and will need to provide the hotel with a credit card at check-in. All attendees should review their bill at check-out.
Check-in time: 4:00pm
Check-out time: 12:00pm
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Special Request
We do our best to serve foods that are acceptable to everyone. There will always be a vegetarian option for meals and pork will be limited to breakfast menus only. If your diet requires us to make special arrangements, please send an e-mail to sbostick@youthbuild.org .
If you have any physical limitations or require specific housing accommodations in order to make your stay more comfortable, please send an e-mail to sbostick@youthbuild.org .
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Education Department Registration policies
Early Departure Fee
In the event a guest who has reserved a room within our block checks out prior to the guest’s reserved check out date, the Hotel will add an early departure fee of $25.00 to that guest’s account. If that guest is on the YouthBuild USA master bill, YouthBuild USA will charge the school/program $25.00 post the conference. To avoid an early departure fee, guests should advise the Hotel before or upon check-in of any change of their departure date.
Late Check-In Fee
In the event a guest who has reserved a room within our block checks in after the guest’s reserved check in date, the hotel will still charge that guest the full room rate, which will be added to that guest’s account. The hotel may also cancel that guest’s entire registration if they are not advised before check-in. If that guest is on the YouthBuild USA master bill, YouthBuild USA will charge the school/program any additional charges post the conference.
Cancellation Policy
If you need to cancel your registration and attendance, you must notify the Education Department at sbostick@youthbuild.org and also contact the hotel within 24 hours of your scheduled arrival date.
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If you have any additional questions or concerns about your registration or this gathering, please contact Shurie W. Bostick
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