Here’s the first video from a new project I’m working on, http://www.seattleprogressiveschools.org. To give you an idea of the website’s purpose, here’s the text from the “About” section:
“[F]ind leaders (the heretics who are doing things differently and making change), and then amplify their work, give them a platform, and help them find followers—and things get better. They always get better.”
— Seth Godin, from his book Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us
This website is intended to serve as a gathering place for those who believe that the old ways of thinking about schools—the ideas born in the 19th century to serve a factory economy—need to be quietly laid to rest, so a new set of ideas can emerge in their place.
We’re telling the stories of leaders in Seattle who are making change, who are doing the inspiring work of forging a new path. These are the people who are going to make Seattle the birthplace of the new paradigm in education.
We’re not talking about reform; we’re in the business of transformation. We’re listening to the scientists whose data over the last 40 years tells an extraordinary story: happiness is best achieved by building on your strengths rather than trying to improve your weaknesses; success comes most easily from following your intrinsic motivation to learn and grow rather than responding to the extrinsic motivators of punishments and rewards.
We need you. We need you to join a community of people who are excited about building something new and beautiful. We’re going to do it together, and it’s going to be awesome.
To get in touch, email seattleprogressiveschools@yahoo.com.
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The first video interview features Lisa Fitzhugh, talking about why the work of psychologist Abraham Maslow is so important. Lisa is the co-founder of ArtsCorps, which provides awesome arts classes for young people in Seattle. Her latest venture is Creative Ground, a Seattle-based consulting group bringing creative practice into all aspects of the personal and professional realm through in-person facilitation, workshops and retreats.
