Echo Montgomery Garrett's Blog, page 3

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ...

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” -Albert Einstein

When asked about school, Bruce Springsteen, who dropped out of college said: “I wasn’t quite suited for the educational system. One problem with the way the educational system is set up is that it only recognizes a certain type of intelligence, and it’s incredibly restrictive — very, very restrictive. There are so many types of intelligence, and people who would be at their best outside of that structure [get lost].”

I’m with Bruce on this one. When our son Connor was in kindergarten, his teacher dropped by for an unexpected visit over the winter break. She had been Cobb County’s Teacher of the Year, and I’ve long treasured her words: “Your son is the most remarkable child I’ve ever had in my classroom. I can’t wait to see who he will grow up to become. He’s got a unique way of looking in the world.” She’d kept his artwork and gave it to me. Then she gave a warning, “Because he thinks differently, he’s liable to run into teachers who don’t necessarily value that. School may be rough for him at times, but I hope you’ll find a way to nurture his quest for learning.”

Connor was fascinated with the world. He loved maps and knew all the names of the famous explorers by age four. When he turned six, he woke us up one scorching morning in August to ask his dad if we could get on a plane and go to Argentina. “Dad, we could be skiing by this afternoon,” he said, his eyes shining. What six-year-old knows that there is snow in South America in August? When we went through the Picasso exhibit at the High Museum, Connor practically skated through. We didn’t think he’d paid attention at all. Then weeks later when we were discussing what our favorites were from the exhibit, he piped up, “I liked ‘Night Fishing’ and then told us in detail why.

He had good grades, but by fifth grade he was getting some negative reports about his inability to sit still, forgetting to raise his hand, and the like.  I found a book that year that changed everything for us. It’s called “Dreamers, Discoverers and Dynamos: Helping the Child Who is Bright but Bored in School” by Lucy J. Palladino, Ph.D. The gist of Dr. Palladino’s work reveals that one in five children are divergent thinkers – brimming with ideas and imagination – while our education system only rewards convergent thinkers, those who focus on one idea at a time.

 I literally wept as I read the book, because I saw Connor all through those pages. Sadly, our educational system is built on a system devised in Prussia in the 18th century, which was designed for the early Industrial Age. It emphasized a broad education in core subjects, discipline and obedience, and all children had to take a national test. Although that system educated children for free – rather than limiting school only to the wealthy – its basic structure is outdated and created for a world that no longer exists. The point of the book is that we are losing the kids who would be our entrepreneurs, our inventors, our doctors, and our scientists. A child who is singularly focused and passionate about something is punished in our current system.

By the middle of eighth grade, I grew weary of fighting the system, and Connor transferred to a small, private school called Chrysalis Experiential Academy in Roswell, Georgia, that specializes in hands-on learning. The name of the school says it all. Most kids are visual, kinetic learners. They aren’t built to sit in rows for hours on end, filling in bubbles with No. 2 pencils. At Chrysalis, the emphasis is on each student’s individual brilliance, rather than rote memorization and constant test taking. Connor blossomed in that environment and graduated as Valedictorian of his class.

Rather than be so quick with labels and drugs to “manage” our children, why don’t we take a look at a faulty educational system that teaches to the test and rewards those who know how to sit in their seats and be quiet for hours on end?

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Our Broken Education System

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” -Albert Einstein

When asked about school, Bruce Springsteen, who dropped out of college said: “I wasn’t quite suited for the educational system. One problem with the way the educational system is set up is that it only recognizes a certain type of intelligence, and it’s incredibly restrictive — very, very restrictive. There are so many types of intelligence, and people who would be at their best outside of that structure [get lost].”

I’m with Bruce on this one. When our son Connor was in kindergarten, his teacher dropped by for an unexpected visit over the winter break. She had been Cobb County’s Teacher of the Year, and I’ve long treasured her words: “Your son is the most remarkable child I’ve ever had in my classroom. I can’t wait to see who he will grow up to become. He’s got a unique way of looking in the world.” She’d kept his artwork and gave it to me. Then she gave a warning, “Because he thinks differently, he’s liable to run into teachers who don’t necessarily value that. School may be rough for him at times, but I hope you’ll find a way to nurture his quest for learning.”

Connor was fascinated with the world. He loved maps and knew all the names of the famous explorers by age four. When he turned six, he woke us up one scorching morning in August to ask his dad if we could get on a plane and go to Argentina. “Dad, we could be skiing by this afternoon,” he said, his eyes shining. What six-year-old knows that there is snow in South America in August? When we went through the Picasso exhibit at the High Museum, Connor practically skated through. We didn’t think he’d paid attention at all. Then weeks later when we were discussing what our favorites were from the exhibit, he piped up, “I liked ‘Night Fishing’ and then told us in detail why.

He had good grades, but by fifth grade he was getting some negative reports about his inability to sit still, forgetting to raise his hand, and the like.  I found a book that year that changed everything for us. It’s called “Dreamers, Discoverers and Dynamos: Helping the Child Who is Bright but Bored in School” by Lucy J. Palladino, Ph.D. The gist of Dr. Palladino’s work reveals that one in five children are divergent thinkers – brimming with ideas and imagination – while our education system only rewards convergent thinkers, those who focus on one idea at a time.

 I literally wept as I read the book, because I saw Connor all through those pages. Sadly, our educational system is built on a system devised in Prussia in the 18th century, which was designed for the early Industrial Age. It emphasized a broad education in core subjects, discipline and obedience, and all children had to take a national test. Although that system educated children for free – rather than limiting school only to the wealthy – its basic structure is outdated and created for a world that no longer exists. The point of the book is that we are losing the kids who would be our entrepreneurs, our inventors, our doctors, and our scientists. A child who is singularly focused and passionate about something is punished in our current system.

By the middle of eighth grade, I grew weary of fighting the system, and Connor transferred to a small, private school called Chrysalis Experiential Academy in Roswell, Georgia, that specializes in hands-on learning. The name of the school says it all. Most kids are visual, kinetic learners. They aren’t built to sit in rows for hours on end, filling in bubbles with No. 2 pencils. At Chrysalis, the emphasis is on each student’s individual brilliance, rather than rote memorization and constant test taking. Connor blossomed in that environment and graduated as Valedictorian of his class.

Rather than be so quick with labels and drugs to “manage” our children, why don’t we take a look at a faulty educational system that teaches to the test and rewards those who know how to sit in their seats and be quiet for hours on end?

The post Our Broken Education System appeared first on A Resounding Echo Blog.

Forgiveness is one of the most difficult topics we broach...

Forgiveness is one of the most difficult topics we broach in our Orange Duffel Bag Foundation coaching classes with teens aging out of foster care and homeless youth. Some of the kids are amazed that Sam Bracken could forgive his mom for abandoning him to homelessness. They are even more amazed that he decided to walk away from confronting his biological father when pure chance gave him the home phone number of the man who had raped his mother. (Those stories and much more are in “My Orange Duffel Bag: A Journey to Radical Change,” the book our life plan coaching is based upon.) Yet, I’ve seen that both of those decisions have brought Sam great peace. The last years of his mother’s life, they enjoyed a tender relationship. Sam was filled with compassion for her. As for his biological father, that man will never know the great man that his violent act produced — and if you ask me, that’s a tremendous loss.

How do you forgive the unforgivable? Understand that forgiveness allows you to move on from the hurt and brings you peace. Forgiveness does NOT mean allowing the person back in your life to hurt you again. It doesn’t even require that the other person asks forgiveness. It’s an act of letting go of your anger. Sometimes bad memories may still come back in your mind and stir up your pain and hatred again. Allow yourself time and space to process those feelings, and then, when you’re ready, surrender those negative thoughts and focus on the people who love you and the good things in your life. Do not allow the hurtful person to take up residence and occupy space in your mind and heart. Let go, forgive and find freedom.
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Forgiveness is a Gift that Brings Peace

Forgiveness is one of the most difficult topics we broach in our Orange Duffel Bag Foundation coaching classes with teens aging out of foster care and homeless youth. Some of the kids are amazed that Sam Bracken could forgive his mom for abandoning him to homelessness. They are even more amazed that he decided to walk away from confronting his biological father when pure chance gave him the home phone number of the man who had raped his mother. (Those stories and much more are in “My Orange Duffel Bag: A Journey to Radical Change,” the book our life plan coaching is based upon.) Yet, I’ve seen that both of those decisions have brought Sam great peace. The last years of his mother’s life, they enjoyed a tender relationship. Sam was filled with compassion for her. As for his biological father, that man will never know the great man that his violent act produced — and if you ask me, that’s a tremendous loss.

How do you forgive the unforgivable? Understand that forgiveness allows you to move on from the hurt and brings you peace. Forgiveness does NOT mean allowing the person back in your life to hurt you again. It doesn’t even require that the other person asks forgiveness. It’s an act of letting go of your anger. Sometimes bad memories may still come back in your mind and stir up your pain and hatred again. Allow yourself time and space to process those feelings, and then, when you’re ready, surrender those negative thoughts and focus on the people who love you and the good things in your life. Do not allow the hurtful person to take up residence and occupy space in your mind and heart. Let go, forgive and find freedom.

The post Forgiveness is a Gift that Brings Peace appeared first on A Resounding Echo Blog.

Through our relationship with Columbia University’s gradu...

Through our relationship with Columbia University’s graduate level film class, led by Lance Weiler and Atley Loughridge, I was asked to be a blogger for “GOOD Magazine,” which is all about bringing together thinkers and ideas to make the world a better place. From the time Sam Bracken and I co-founded the Orange Duffel Bag Foundation (www.ODBF.org) in 2010, we dreamed of helping homeless youth and teens aging out of foster care make all kinds of connections that would help them on their journeys to self-sufficiency. We’ve been so heartened by the response. Many volunteers have joined hands with us to advocate for our kids. More than 100 teens have graduated our full 12-week life plan coaching program, and more than 2,000 have been introduced to a sampling of our coaching. We’ve created collaborative relationships with the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Clark Atlanta University, Macon State University, and Atlanta Tech, and we now serve on the leadership committee of the Georgia Board of Regents. We have six more classes slated in the state of Georgia this year. We are fielding calls from other states who want us to bring our life plan coaching to their young people. That is our dream, and we have faith that communities all over the country will rise up and embrace what we do, understanding that it helps young people find purpose and meaning and, most importantly, hope for their futures. Thank you for all of you who have joined TEAM ORANGE! Here’s my first blog for “ GOOD “: http://www.good.is/posts/foster-care-doesn-t-end-at-age-18
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My Wish: That No Young Person Would Leave Foster Care as a Legal Orphan

Through our relationship with Columbia University’s graduate level film class, led by Lance Weiler and Atley Loughridge, I was asked to be a blogger for “GOOD Magazine,” which is all about bringing together thinkers and ideas to make the world a better place. From the time Sam Bracken and I co-founded the Orange Duffel Bag Foundation (www.ODBF.org) in 2010, we dreamed of helping homeless youth and teens aging out of foster care make all kinds of connections that would help them on their journeys to self-sufficiency. We’ve been so heartened by the response. Many volunteers have joined hands with us to advocate for our kids. More than 100 teens have graduated our full 12-week life plan coaching program, and more than 2,000 have been introduced to a sampling of our coaching. We’ve created collaborative relationships with the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Clark Atlanta University, Macon State University, and Atlanta Tech, and we now serve on the leadership committee of the Georgia Board of Regents. We have six more classes slated in the state of Georgia this year. We are fielding calls from other states who want us to bring our life plan coaching to their young people. That is our dream, and we have faith that communities all over the country will rise up and embrace what we do, understanding that it helps young people find purpose and meaning and, most importantly, hope for their futures. Thank you for all of you who have joined TEAM ORANGE! Here’s my first blog for “GOOD“: http://www.good.is/posts/foster-care-doesn-t-end-at-age-18

The post My Wish: That No Young Person Would Leave Foster Care as a Legal Orphan appeared first on A Resounding Echo Blog.

ODBF Class Reunion

On December 1 the Orange Duffel Bag Foundation celebrated a class reunion of the five classes of young people we’ve graduated thus far from our 12-week life plan coaching program. More than 40 of our youth who have been in foster care gathered at the Historic Academy of Medicine at Georgia Tech for a full day of inspiring speakers, follow ups to help our ODBF grads with their life plans and inspiring presentations by our youth. Our next reunion will be Saturday, April 27. Since our inception, more than 100 teens have graduated our program. Several of them are now in college. Additionally, we’ve introduced more than 2,000 young people to our life plan coaching, which is delivered by professionally-certified executive or life coaches. To my knowledge, we are the only nonprofit in the nation that delivers life plan coaching to young people aging out of foster care and homeless youth. After the 12-week program concludes, our youth have access to our family of advocates, who help them learn how to overcome the roadblocks in their lives. We have also been awarded a grant from the Georgia Board of Regents to work with three classes of youth and our TANF grant for three classes of youth in foster care was re-awarded for 2013 as well. We’re so grateful for all the collaborative partnerships we’ve forged. We always need more advocates for upcoming classes, and we need matching funding for the six classes scheduled. Please consider ODBF for your year-end donations. You can donate online or mail a check to 961 Bridgegate Dr. NE, Marietta, GA 30068.

The post ODBF Class Reunion appeared first on A Resounding Echo Blog.

The Power of Storytelling to Promote Social Change

Columbia University in the City of New York‘s graduate-level multi-media class’ Professor Lance Weiler discovered Orange Duffel Bag Foundation on Facebook,  through a mutual friend of my brother Kevin Montgomery, who did a second 50 States in 50 Days tour to bring attention to our cause. Lance chose us as the basis for this semester’s class on the power of storytelling to promote social change. I got to speak to the class in September. By the end of the semester, the students created a multi-media experience designed to help people understand what it’s like to age out of foster care at age 18. Weiler wrote about the project in a recent issue of “GOOD Magazine.” Here’s the link: http://www.good.is/posts/purposeful-storytelling-how-designing-with-instead-of-for-promotes-understanding.

This project marks only the second time Columbia has selected a nonprofit to highlight for a semester.

The post The Power of Storytelling to Promote Social Change appeared first on A Resounding Echo Blog.

Hitting Roadblocks to Higher Education

I recently hung out with Gi’Nia Stone, 20, who graduated from our first Orange Duffel Bag Foundation (www.ODBF.org) coaching class in August of 2010. With our encouragement, Gi’Nia, who graduated third in her high school class despite going through two failed adoptions and being shifted to several foster homes since entering foster care at age six, applied and was accepted to Agnes Scott College. When she turned age 18, Gi’Nia originally made the decision to sign herself back into care, which allowed her to continue with the Independent Living Program (ILP). However, like the majority of young people, who have been in foster care and make the decision to sign themselves back in, Gi’Nia is no longer enrolled in ILP. She’s given me permission to share some of her story in the hopes that it will help raise awareness of what it’s like to age out of foster care and become a legal orphan – the government’s term.

Gi’Nia, eloquent and beautiful, has been a straight A student throughout high school. She is now a junior at Agnes Scott and studying neuroscience. Since reading Ben Carson’s inspirational memoir “Healing Hands,” she has dreamed of becoming a pediatric neurosurgeon. But since she’s been at Agnes Scott, she has struggled to get enough money to buy her textbooks, and her grades suffered as a result. While she was still signed up with ILP, the MARTA card she was supposed to get for transportation from her case manager rarely made it to her each month. She couldn’t afford the dorm, so she got a small apartment off-campus.

Frugal and conscientious, Gi’Nia doesn’t complain. She takes responsibility and has only recently begun to share her story, largely to help other young people in the foster care system. She has a part-time job, but it’s commission-based. Like so many young people – Georgia has one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates among teens — she’s struggling to find a job that will help her pay her bills. And this weekend she got a letter notifying her that her scholarships and grants didn’t quite cover her tuition this semester, so she can’t return to school until that bill is paid.

Gi’Nia is determined to find a decent job, so she can take care of that bill and return to her studies. “School is what I’ve always been good at,” she says, acknowledging that she’s struggled the last few semesters, due to the stress of having to get her own place, buying her first car to get her back and forth to work, juggling work and school and trying to budget to buy the books she needs.

Many of our ODBF graduates are now in college. Virtually all of them have hit similar roadblocks. Their classes get dropped because a bill went unpaid. They cannot afford books. They are required to work to pay for a portion of their housing, but also required to take a full load to maintain scholarships. They don’t have anywhere to live during college breaks when the dorms and cafeterias close. They don’t have transportation to get to their jobs and schools, because the budget to purchase MARTA cards has been slashed and they cannot afford cars.

All through high school, Gi’Nia received assurances that college would be taken care of for her. A law was passed a few years ago that was supposed to guarantee funding for any college student who had been in foster care, but it’s something called an unfunded mandate. What’s the point of having a law on the books without providing any funding for it? Only 3% of all teens who have been in foster care go on to college. Only 2% of those who manage to beat the odds and go to college graduate in four years with a college degree. Yet a recent report released here in Georgia states that 70% of all jobs in our state will require a four-year degree at a minimum by 2020.

When a young person who has overcome so much cannot get the support he or she needs to achieve a powerful life plan, we all lose. So how can you help?

• Talk to your government officials about reforming foster care for those 18-21 year olds, who want to sign themselves back into care. A handful of states have extended care to age 21, rather than ending it at age 18, which is the current age when foster care ends in the state of Georgia.

• Donate to an emergency fund earmarked for our ODBF college students. Give gift cards for Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other retailers where our students can get needed books, supplies, clothes, and toiletries.

• Consider making a year-end donation to ODBF.

• Sign up on our website to be an advocate. We have six classes partially funded for next year, and we need advocates for each of them.

Your gift and volunteerism can help a young person achieve a life beyond her or his wildest dreams.

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Desert Renewal: Finding Our Way Back After My Husband’s Brain Injury

“The Atlanta Journal Constitution” just published my essay that I wrote a few years after Kevin’s car accident in November 2004. I’d originally sold it to AARP in 2008 — I couldn’t write about what we were going through before then, because it was too painful and fresh. We finally settled with the insurance companies that year, then AARP stopped running experiential travel essays and kept it in inventory for a year, releasing the rights to me in 2009. It won Travel Classics West for Best Article. With my husband Kevin Garrett’s blessing — he’s doing well now though still has some short-term memory issues and pain — I pitched it to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution a few weeks ago, and the editors moved things around to run it.

We were fortunate that we found a phenomenal neuro-psychologist, who was ahead of his time and told us that the brain — although the slowest organ to heal — also had a greater capacity to heal than most scientists and doctors at the time believed. Dr. Stephen Johnson had multiple sclerosis and was in a wheelchair, yet he was the most positive, kind doctor. He gave us a lot of hope and great advice.

Sure enough, we’ve seen a tremendous amount of progress over the past eight years. Most people who meet Kevin now have no idea he ever went through an accident, and his photography career is thriving. (You can see his beautiful work at www.KevinGarrett.com) In the past few years, he has started writing again, and his same sense of humor and slightly skewed way of looking at the world shines through in his work. We used to write guidebooks together, and I’m so thrilled be able to read his funny, intriguing writing again.

We decided to share our story, because so many families — military, athletes and car accident victims — are dealing with head injuries. When we were going through it eight years ago, I could find very little encouraging written. It’s been a long journey, but we are closer and more in love than ever. I’m one of those few people who has been blessed to fall in love with her husband twice. Here’s a link to the story: http://www.ajc.com/news/news/desert-renewal/nTCRP/

If you know anyone who has suffered a brain injury, please share our story with that person and his or her loved ones. Anyone who has been through this situation needs all the encouragement available.

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