Bold & Audacious: Sarah Elizabeth Ippel

As the creator of the Academy for Global Citizenship, a Chicago Public Charter School under Mayor Richard Daley's Renaissance 2010 initiative, Sarah Elizabeth Ippel walked a bold and audacious path to secure the Chicago Board of Education approval.  The school's mission is to empower students to positively impact the community and world beyond. In pursuit of this mission, AGC is committed to:

• serving the whole child
• modeling academic excellence
• developing inquirers
• cultivating international awareness
• fostering environmental stewardship
• facilitating collaboration within the community

While studying philosophy in Cambridge, England, Sarah Elizabeth began her sojourn to understand global educational philosophies and world languages that took her to 77 countries across six continents.  It became apparent our nation's school system is broken and in need of a major overhaul to a program that teaches students to thrive, rather than survive. 

At 23 years old, Sarah Elizabeth submitted her first proposal to the Chicago Board of Education for AGC to a firm NO along with some laughs from board members.  The third proposal was the charm and AGC received the big YES on October 24, 2007.  AGC welcomed their inaugural kindergarten and first grade students in August, 2008.  One grade per year will be added until 8th grade is reached in  2015 -2016.

With 80% of the students from impoverished households, AGC serves 100% organic breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack each day.  In addition to nurturing the body with healthy food and the  mind with innovative education, the spirit is energized at 4:00 p.m. with a yoga practice.  AGC curriculum is rigorous and students receive 36% more educational time annually including biliteracy development for all students.  Each graduating student will experience an international field trip.

Sarah Elizabeth's makes no little plans, aims high and embraces audacious thinking.  The time is NOW to address our nation's and world's urgent demand for change.  It takes courage and tenacity to bring visions to reality - Sarah Elizabeth Ippel is Bold, Audacious, Courageous and an Amazing individual.  To learn first hand about this incredible woman, watch her TED Video, This is Ann.

Elemental Impact is honored to name Sarah Elizabeth Ippel the March, 2011 IMPACTOR.

Ei | ZWZ Make it Easy for the Press

The media is enthusiastic about Elemental Impact's initiatives, especially the Zero Waste Zones!  To make it easy for the press to access pertinent information 24/7, the Ei Team created the Press Info page.

On the page, press releases, past media, quotes, milestones and Ei|ZWZ Leadership profiles are organized in simple to navigate and download format.

With major announcements planned for the early summer, Ei|ZWZ is preparing for the anticipated media inquiries.


Stay tuned as blog posts will feature prominent articles, stories and other media outlets.

Ei Owns Intellectual Property!

Thanks to John Harris and Greg Chafee with Morris, Manning & Martin, Elemental Impact received the official Certificate of Registration from the United States Patent and Trademark Office on March 10 for the Ei logo and name. In addition to the website, Ei now owns intellectual property!


It is the vision and generosity of individuals like John and Greg and firms like MM&M that make it possible for non-profits like Ei to achieve milestones such as trademark status.  


THANK YOU JOHN & GREG!

Ei Hiring Program Assistant

With the National Restaurant Association''s announcement of their Ei | ZWZ collaboration (read ZWZ Blog post, ZWZ Garners National Support for details), Elemental Impact is ready to take projects and initiatives into the next ACTION stage.  A part-time program assistant position is open that has strong potential to develop into a full-time position with incredible career opportunities.


Click here for the Ei Program Assistant profile.  The goal is for the position to be filled with a dynamic individual by early April.


Please spread the word so the perfect person learns about the opportunity.

The Media Attempts to Dim the CFL

CBS Atlanta ran the following news story on March 01:

Consumers Forced to Buy Dangerous Light Bulbs End Of Incandescent Bulbs Forcing Consumers To Buy Bulbs With Mercury

Recent regulations will make incandescent light bulbs a part of our history and replace the standard household light bulb with Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs.  Due to the mercury content in the CFL bulbs, CBS Atlanta reporter Adam Murphy attempts to sensationalize the danger of the minuscule amount of mercury.


Chuck Boelkins, industrial ecologist with the Sustainability Division of the GA Department of Natural Resources, came to the rescue with practical advice when a CFL is broken:  1> get children out of the room 2> open windows to air out the area 3> turn off the heating/air conditioning system 4> do NOT use a vacuum cleaner, instead sweep up with a broom and dispose of the broken bulb in a sealed plastic bag.


With CFL bulbs 75% more energy efficient and lasting longer, the facts stated in the report include it takes the mercury in 100 CFL bulbs to equal the mercury in one fever thermometer. 


Consumer Margaret Brackett sums up the scenario with simple truth, "It's one of those things we're just aware of and it's just a small caution when there's such a great benefit," 


There is one sad death that comes along with the farewell to the incandescent light bulb:  Good-bye to the Easy-Bake Oven, in its current incarnation.  Let's hope Hasbro research & development scientists are well on their way to introducing an Easy-Bake Oven for the young bakers growing up in the new CFL bulb world..