Preconceived Notions written by Bryan Babcock
Bryan is a first year student in the MA in Urban Studies program with a concentration in Community Development. Read more of his thoughts at his blog, Bryan and Christin, at http://loverochester.blogspot.com/. The scene: A dark alleyway near a run down drug store in what many consider to be “the hood.” Large amounts of traffic pass by as drivers work their way towards the interstate and back to the suburbs. A driver glances through the window of his car at a stop light and sees a man standing in the alleyway next to a fancy car with expensive rims. The unidentified man is handing cash through the tinted car window and, apparently, receiving something in return. The traffic light turns green and the driver on his way home from work wonders why...
How to Prep for a Behavioral Interview
(Originally posted Feb. 2, 2010) Don’t miss our upcoming Interviewing Webinar on Thursday, February 16, 2012 6:00-7:00 pm (EST)! To register, go to “Career Events” at www.eastern.edu/career. Behavior-based interviewing is becoming increasingly popular among employers today. Although it is not a new method of interviewing, it is currently being utilized more and more frequently because employers have found it to be highly predictive of a candidate’s future success on the job. As stated in Job Interviews for Dummies by Joyce Lain Kennedy, “Hard proof of this claim is hard to come by. But, for you as a job seeker, it doesn’t matter the least bit whether the claim is true or false. The behavioral style is such a big deal with employers today...
The Arts in Transformation: Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement
TEDxPhilly has a video demonstrating the power of the arts and spoken word to transform people’s lives. In the Arts in Transformation concentration of the MA in Urban Studies program, we seek to train artists to transform communities through their art form. The Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement is one example of how this can be implemented. Learn more about their work and the power of art by watching the following...
Class Warfare or Inequality?
When I typed in “Class Warfare” into Google today, it resulted in a flood of newspaper articles written within the last couple of days. This proves the topic is indeed a hot one. While I am hesitant to weigh in on the upcoming Presidential elections, as the subject holds such emotion for so many people, I will address the issue of class warfare. On one side of the spectrum, you have individuals such as Warren Buffet, stating that there is undoubtedly a problem with the current economic situation of our country. However, on the other side, you have well know leaders and many of the Republican presidential candidates asserting that talk of economic inequality is creating unneeded conflict. What are the facts? Looking to social research over the...
Dr. John Perkins Visits Eastern
For anyone involved in Christian Community Development, the name John Perkins is well known. John Perkins has been a mover and shaker in justice issues throughout the United States, addressing issues including racial reconciliation, civil rights, biblical views of justice, discipleship, and christian community development practices. He established the John M. Perkins Foundation for Reconciliation and Development, Voice of Calvary Ministries, Harambee Christian Center, Mendenhall Ministries, and was instrumental in the development of the Christian Community Development Association. Some of his publications include: Let Justice Roll Down (1976), With Justice for All (1982), Beyond Charity (1993), and Love is the Final Fight (2010). Hear more about his...
Apple and the Wave of the Future
It seems that Apple is trying to rebuild education through use of the iPad and its newest applications. The textbook industry may be turned on its head when Apple is able to offer electronic textbooks to students for as little as $14.99. To read more about how the industry may change and what Apple proposes to offer, check out this ARTICLE, posted today by CNN.
Paying the Price. How Long is Too Long?
Recent articles from the New York Times discussed re-entry for those often labeled as “ex-offenders.” The first of the two articles from this past December focused a new study that found by the age of 23, almost a third of Americans have been arrested for a crime (Goode). To think 1 in 3 individuals will have been tried by a family court or criminal court of law and found guilty before they have even reached full development is alarming. In looking at brain development, many suggest that the brain’s prefrontal cortex is not fully developed in most individuals until that age of 24 or 25 (Taylor). This especially affects the ability of youth and young adults to make well thought out decisions. What is a just punishment for individuals making such...
