Mesa County Valley School District 51 is hosting GJHS Alum and founding member of The Brilliance Project, Jamie Utt, for a revolutionary, interactive experience that will have the students and educators thinking critically about how they use their influence to build inclusive communities.
“We all have a creative expression within that makes us unique and of value to our communities,†says Jamie Utt, Diversity and Inclusion Director for The Brilliance Project – a supplemental curriculum that fosters critical, creative, and divergent thinking skills through collaboration and innovation. ( http://www.BrillianceProject.org ). “Grand Junction is my home, and I am so honored to be returning to my Alma Mater in this capacity. These kids have such a tremendous amount of power and influence, when they properly channel it, everybody wins.â€
The Brilliance Project has been on the forefront of teaching young adults how powerful and influential their voice is, especially when technology is factored into the equation. Understanding precedes clarity, students exposed to The Brilliance Project become fully aware of their influence. They are challenged to fully develop into the community members that they are meant to become.
“Jamie is straightforward and passionate about celebrating diversity; his curriculum inspired our student leaders to continue the mission of creating a culture of inclusion and combating intolerance on our campus,†noted Diane Fitz, Counselor, Richmond-Burton Community High School in Richmond, IL.
Jamie Utt kicks off his tour of the Western Region at Grand Junction High School on Monday, October 17th, 2011 at 9:00 AM, followed with programming at Fruita 8/9 School on Tuesday, then culminating at First Baptist Church for R-5 high school on Wednesday the 19th. Jamie’s program has had deep and meaningful impacts on campuses all across the country due to his ability to engage both students and educators through strategic and creative collaborations.
Jamie is an expert at hosting difficult conversations with teenagers to identify the story below the story while simultaneously equipping them with the necessary perspective to be an agent of change.
Kids who have been exposed to Jamie’s work respond well to being empowered. Technology has compounded people’s influence. Statistics support the need for innovative and creative approaches to combating issues related to bullying. Bullying is so pervasive that socially-conscious businesses have approached The Brilliance Project team to offer support for their mission.
Reshoevn8r (an Arizona based sneaker rejuvenation system designed to sanitize and lengthen the life span of shoes) is currently running an Anti-Bully campaign where a percentage of each unit sold throughout the month of October will be donated to diversity education and programming. “We believe wholeheartedly in the message that Jamie Utt and The Brilliance Project so passionately represent that we had to offer our support. You can hardly turn on the news without hearing about a young person taking their own life because of issues related to bullying. Reshoven8r had to step up and align with this initiative,†states Stephen Grear, President and CEO at Sneakerhead LLC. ( http://www.reshoevn8r.com )
Creating innovative education has always been Jamie Utt’s calling, and as a former teacher himself, he knows ï¬rst hand that education is truly the key civil rights issue of the 21st century. He spent years teaching social studies on Chicago’s west side, helping empower young people to unleash their brilliance on the world that often overlooks them. Jamie teaches that this nation’s knowledge-based economy demands that we provide young people from all backgrounds and circumstances with the education and skills necessary to become groundbreaking advocates for change. If we fail to help all young people to discover, develop and deliver their brilliance to the world, the United States runs the risk of creating an even larger gap between the rich and the poor, which in turn threatens every effort toward justice in this country.
Learn more about Jamie Utt at http://www.JamieUtt.com
About The Brilliance Project:
Jamie and his team host a conversation on real-life obstacles and the tactics they have developed to succeed in a competitive daily environment. Their enthusiastic personalities and candid, charismatic style will keep attendees engaged and help them unlock the path to Brilliant Living through collaboration, technology, and advanced learning methods.
Schedule an interview with Jamie Utt:
http://www.JamieUtt.com
Press Contact
Eric Thompson
Global Ascension Productions
Oro Valley, AZ
520-837-9837 or via their web site at http://www.BrillianceProject.org
Book the Brilliance Project by e-mailing Eric Thompson at: Eric@BrillianceProject.org
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