|
$$PLAIN_TEXT_PREVIEW$$
A Message from Our Founders, Sheryl and James Tewksbury
|
|
What a year for Global Campuses! Its 20th year since its founding. That in itself is a magnificent achievement. Founded in 2001 as a small, grassroots nonprofit with a seminal educational concept offering the potential of a paradigm shift in the worlds of post-secondary education and disability culture. Simply put, GC proffered that adults across the continuum of disabilities could create, manage and sustain their advanced educational experiences as the teaching faculty, students, and staff of their Global Campus. They could be the owners, stewards, creators, and producers. GC conveyed that it all starts with “Teaching as Sharing;” that tapping into one’s passions and interests brings forth the desire and self-confidence to become a peer-teacher. For many years now, the campus participants have been dedicating their lives to their Global Campus and teaching well over 1,000 courses. A significant number have been involved for as long as 16 plus years. All of the campuses have even thrived through the immediate shift to online distance learning caused by the COVID-19 lockdown, now prolonged into 2021. Since its founding, Love and Joy have been the basis for GC’s vision and mission. This year, more than ever, it has proven to be the lifeline for us all while in the midst of enduring fear and isolation with losses and extreme challenges. Having meaning and purpose in our lives each week through the GC classes, community service projects, and social events online have kept us connected, saving our sanity and overall physical well-being. As the founders, we are so inspired to experience the where, how, and what that the campus participants have created and sustained. From its inception, they accepted the opportunity and went far beyond our original imagining. We have learned so much on this journey. Most of all, we know that Love and Joy emanate from their work and GC as a whole. Truly something to celebrate! In gratitude, Sheryl and Jim Tewksbury
|
GC Participants Share About Meaningful Connection While in IsolationAs we all know, the effects of social distancing and feelings of isolation have been difficult for everyone for well over a year. Fortunately, the campus participants have continued to offer an online version of their self-designed curriculum, community service projects, and other educational activities. Below, some participants share how participation at their weekly Global Campus sessions has impacted their lives during the Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, all of the campus members are excited that they can still see each other to teach and learn every week. These testimonials communicate a sense of how Global Campuses has expanded its mission to provide meaningful connection so imperative to one’s overall mental and physical well-being and quality of life.
|
Anna from GC Bradford uses facilitated communication to participate in Global Campuses each week. Her mom, Suzy, shared: "One thing about Global Campus that is so great for Anna is when her peers arrive via zoom in her own living room each week, she lights up. During the campus time, she may move around a lot but I know she's learning. GC provides a schedule during a time when each day can seem the same." ~for Anna, GC Bradford |
|
|
|
|
" Global Campuses helps me to be able to talk to people each week. I'm able to see Pam" [Global Campus Academic Coordinator] .."and my peers and still teach and learn from them. It's different teaching on Zoom but I still taught this fall online. My class was about enjoying retirement after retiring from the snack business."
~Deb, GC Lamoille |
|
|
|
|
“I have been using my iPad which I got from Global Campus, I take pictures with it which I love to do. I will be teaching about dogs this spring and will take lots of pictures with the ipad to use for my class."
~Amber, GC Lamoille. Amber is taking part in the Global Campus Laptop/iPad Loaner program where participants can borrow a device so he/she can engage online during Global Campus in weekly Global Campus sessions. GC was very fortunate to be awarded grants from Mascoma Bank, VT Mutual Insurance Group, and Agnes M. Lindsay Trust to make this possible. |
|
|
|
|
|
Anyone who wishes to join one of the weekly campus sessions, contact Patti Gannon at psg@globalcampuses.org.
|
|
As part of our three-year strategic planning process, 2020-2023, the Global Campuses recently launched a new website thanks to generous funding from The Oakland Foundation and individual donors. With this new site, we aim to enhance the public messaging of our vision and mission, tell a compelling story of our transformative educational approach more clearly, enable visitors to easily find pertinent information, offer a space to thank our supporters, ensure greater accessibility for those who experience visual and auditory challenges, support manageability of content additions and modifications, and improve functionality in the areas of user interface, searchability, page ranking, and load time. We invite feedback from our readers with your suggestions. Would you like to help refine content, navigation, and technical aspects? For 15-30 minutes of your time, we will say ‘thank you’ by giving you a free digital download of our Global Campuses Cookbook! Please send a short email to Patti Gannon at psg@globalcampuses.org stating your interest in providing feedback on our website. She will provide you with instructions and a link to a 10-question survey (less than 5 minutes of your time) you will be asked to complete when you are done browsing through our site. Upon completing the survey and notifying Patti by email, she will send you the Global Campuses cookbook featuring dozens of recipes from participants, the team, and board directors. It's full of scrumptious main dishes, soups, salads, desserts, and even Thai specialties from our Thailand participants and team. Yum!
|
Seeking New Board Members!Would you like to help make a difference in the lives of hundreds of Global Campus participants in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Thailand? We seek new board members who share our commitment to GC’s inclusive, innovative education model for adults who experience disability. To find out more, email Steve Tavella, Executive Director. His email is executivedirector@globalcampuses.org, or call him directly at 802-424-7717. Previous board experience is not required.
|
|
Thanks for signing up for the Global Campuses newsletter! Global Campuses provides an innovative post-secondary education opportunity
|
|
|
|
|
