Daily Archives: 05/04/2008

(Community Matters) Reviewing Cities in Crisis, a report by Dr. Christopher Swanson, Director of the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center. Far fewer students are graduating high school than we’ve realized, especially racial & ethnic minorities and males. The connection between place and performance is real for students, schools and school systems.

Surprised to learn graduation rates are 15% lower in urban than suburban schools. For 2003 – 2004, 70% overall student graduation rate.

(Community Matters) Directly from The Page: Hillary Clinton enthusiastically picked a filly named Eight Belles to win the Kentucky Derby and compared herself to the horse. Eight Belles finished second. The winner was the favorite, Big Brown.

Eight Belles collapsed immediately after crossing the finish line, and was euthanized shortly thereafter.

(Community Matters) Tom Hank’s endorses Barack Obama: ” . . . . because of his character and vision and the high road he has taken during this campaign . . . . He has the integrity & inspiration to unify us as did FDR & Harry Truman & John F. Kennedy and even Ronald Reagan. . . . [Obama] embody[ies] the America I have been waiting for, one where leaders address challenges with candor, and truth is their basis for policy.”

(Community Matters) Though many friends in common, I’ve never gotten to know Stephen any better than friendly mutual recognition. Michael Barnes’ article here in today’s AAS leads me to regret this.

(Community Matters) Attended The Debate Society’s workshop performance of Cape Disappointment at the Blue Theater last night.

Brooklyn’s Debate Society at Blue Theater

Margo Weisz, Gregory Brooks & Barbara Engel joined us for the evening. And we joined a full house at the theater including playwright Steve Moore, director Katie Pearl, Thinkwellians Jaquim and Emily, Millenium Bug/Curb Appeal/American Fiesta stage manager Natalie George, performer Reggie Watts, Fuse Box producer Ron Berry and actor/playwright Katherine Catmull. Hmm, interesting talk with Katie about possible production of a dear friend’s work this fall. Also, Katie is directing Sherry Kramer’s When Something Wonderful Ends starring Barbara Chisholm May 15 – June 1, 2009 at The Off Center. More info here

Immediately after Cape Disappointment, jetted over to Bolm Studios to catch the tail end of the Collaboration Project. Unfortunately, we were too late to see anything but the remnants of what must have been a good party – four police patrol cars, beer cans, trash, platters of brie and sardines (Madrianos?) and the visual art components of the project. Evidently the police called by less enthusiastic neighbors. All had been resolved by the time we arrived; in fact, I overhead the police chatting amiably and inquiring about the art. Paired artists included our house guest/Chilango Armando Miguelez with Austinite Lauren Tietz as well as Rude Mech’s Kirk Lynn with Houstonians Mary Magsamen & Stephen Hillerbrand.