Rhode Island Foundation to host community conversations

PROVIDENCE – The Civic Leadership Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation is kicking off its “community conversations” series on Jan. 15 at Rhode Island College with Shael Polakow-Suransky, president of Bank Street College of Education.

The series will focus largely on education, health, economic security and philanthropy in 2015, according to the foundation.

The talk on Jan. 15 will be held at 5:30 p.m. Polakow-Suransky will talk about the state of the teaching profession, challenges educators face and opportunities for success in the years ahead.
Polakow-Suransky became the seventh president of Bank Street College of Education on July 1. Prior to this role, he was the second-in-command at the New York City Department of Education, serving as chief academic officer and senior deputy chancellor. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Bank Street.

On Jan. 28, Dr. Marshall Chin will speak at the Rhode Island Foundation at 5 p.m. At this session, a “road map” will be explored that can be used by organizations, policymakers and researchers to reduce disparities in health care. This session is co-sponsored by Brown University and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.

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Chin, of University of Chicago Medicine, is a general internist with experience in improving the care of patients with chronic disease. He has worked to advance diabetes care through the health care system and community intervention. He also leads initiatives to improve health strategies at a national level, as director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Finding Answers: Disparities Research for Change National Program Office.

Michael Bettersworth, vice chancellor of the Center for Employability Outcomes at Texas State Technical College, and Julian Alssid, chief workforce strategist of the College for America at Southern New Hampshire University, will speak at 5:30 p.m. at Roger Williams University on Feb. 11.

They will discuss what employers need, as well as the skills taught in classrooms and training programs.
For the last 15 years, Bettersworth has focused on improving links between education and industry. Alssid is a nationally recognized expert in workforce development innovation and policy.

To register for the events, visit rifoundation.kimbia.com/clf2015.

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