PASADENA, CA – 09/26/2023 – The Institute for Educational Advancement (������Ƶ), a national nonprofit dedicated to the intellectual, creative, and personal growth of our nation’s gifted and advanced learners, celebrated its 25^th anniversary with a Celebration Gala. The event, which was hosted at the San Gabriel Country Club, on Sept. 23, 2023 honored the individuals and organizations that support ������Ƶ and raised funds to continue the nonprofit’s important work.

At the Celebration Gala, ������Ƶ presented the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) with an award for their partnership and dedication to the children in the community. PUSD has been a longtime partner of ������Ƶ. From 1999-2010, the organizations ran a pilot program called Pipeline to Success that provided gifted middle and high school students in PUSD with enrichment classes, Personal Education Plans, and other services, and stressed strong relationships among students, teachers, parents, Program Coordinators and enrichment teachers. Most recently, PUSD tapped ������Ƶ to deliver free, high-quality gifted and talented services for eligible students. Last year, over 130 students in grades 3-8 benefited from the ������Ƶ-lead curriculum.

������Ƶ also honored co-founder, James Davis, past board chairs including Jennifer Burke, Jeffrey Hudson and Chris Newman for their leadership and Michael M. Piechowski for his longtime role as a Yunasa Fellow and incredible 22 years of service to gifted students.

“Jim and I wanted to create an organization to provide stimulating, rigorous programs that would address the intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual and physical needs of advanced learners, while providing educators with tools and best practices to support the unique needs of gifted learners,” said Elizabeth Jones, president and co-founder, Institute for Educational Advancement.

Recognized as one of the nation’s leading organizations supporting the needs of gifted youth, ������Ƶ is one of the only nonprofit organizations providing a robust array of services in Los Angeles County. The nonprofit offers enrichment classes and learning opportunities, teacher trainings, consulting services, support groups, summer camps and scholarships for gifted learners. Since its inception in 1998, ������Ƶ has supported over 11,000 students.

In addition to the awards ceremony, the Celebration Gala included dinner and a silent auction with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit. For more information about ������Ƶ’s programs and services, visit

About the Institute for Educational Advancement

The Institute for Educational Advancement (������Ƶ) is dedicated to the intellectual, creative, and personal growth of our nation’s gifted and high-potential youth. Central to the mission of ������Ƶ is a commitment to the development of the whole child through engaging educational experiences that promote optimal challenge, mentorship, exploration of ideas, and recognition of personal potential. ������Ƶ seeks to connect gifted individuals through dynamic and engaging year-round programming. Additionally, ������Ƶ supports a diverse community that creates a sense of belonging and affirmation. For more information, visit .

###

Pasadena, Calif. – 8/9/2023 – The Institute for Educational Advancement(������Ƶ), a national nonprofit dedicated to the intellectual, creative, and personal growth of our nation’s gifted and advanced learners, will transform their outdoor space in Pasadena, CA into an Outdoor Multi-Use Classroom and Activity Space. This project was funded in part by a grant from the Pasadena Community Foundation with additional funding from another local foundation. ������Ƶ also recently received a generous grant from the Joseph Drown Foundation for general operating expenses. The support from organizations dedicated to improving the lives of people in the greater Pasadena area during the ������Ƶ’s milestone 25^th anniversary is critical as the nonprofit looks to deepen its reach to more underserved communities within Los Angeles County and increase capacity for the next 25 years.

Outdoor spaces for learning opportunities and community gatherings have become increasingly important as ������Ƶ strives to support healthy learning experiences for its students and families. The pandemic reinforced the value of supporting high-quality teaching and learning in outdoor spaces. Access to outdoor learning experiences has been credited with helping to reduce stress and increase concentration as well as an overall sense of emotional well-being for children.

The new outdoor classroom will include a shade pergola, drought-tolerant landscaping, lighting, secure fencing and resurfaced asphalt for improved safety and accessibility for all students, teachers and staff. Students enrolled in ������Ƶ’s dynamic educational programming, which includes enrichment classes on a wide variety of subjects, will benefit from the additional classroom space as they conduct experiments and research, play games, improve creativity, and explore their passions in the fresh air. The outdoor classroom will also provide a venue to host community gatherings and special ������Ƶ events. The new Outdoor Multi-Use Classroom and Activity Space is expected to be completed in early 2024.

“Our Learning Center, housed inside a historic building, has been an inviting and ‘home-like’ place for our students,” said Elizabeth Jones, president and co-founder, Institute for Educational Advancement. “The funding from local organizations like the Pasadena Community Foundation will help us provide private, safe, and secure outdoor spaces for our students that will open up exciting new learning opportunities to support gifted children, an underserved population in Los Angeles County and beyond.”

For 25 years, ������Ƶ has believed that every child deserves access to the most appropriate educational opportunities and individual support they need to thrive and pursue their full intellectual and personal potential. Recognized as one of the nation’s leading organizations supporting the needs of gifted youth, ������Ƶ is one of the only nonprofit organizations providing a robust array of services in Los Angeles County. Since its inception, ������Ƶ has supported over 11,000 students. The nonprofit is focused on transforming the lives of advanced learners by identifying and serving intellectually curious and creative thinkers of all backgrounds in a safe learning environment.

For more information about ������Ƶ’s programs and services, please visit or follow on , , and .

About the Institute for Educational Advancement

The Institute for Educational Advancement (������Ƶ) is dedicated to the intellectual, creative, and personal growth of our nation’s gifted and high-potential youth. Central to the mission of ������Ƶ is a commitment to the development of the whole child through engaging educational experiences that promote optimal challenge, mentorship, exploration of ideas, and recognition of personal potential. ������Ƶ seeks to connect like-minded individuals through dynamic and engaging year-round programming. Additionally, ������Ƶ supports a diverse community that creates a sense of belonging and affirmation. For more information, visit .

###

The Institute for Educational Advancement was honored to be awarded a grant from the Annenberg Foundation to participate in the 2019 cohort of Alchemy Tech, a pilot program developed in partnership with the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN,) that is focused exclusively on technology capacity building for nonprofits in Los Angeles County. The kickoff to the program began with attending the Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC) hosted by NTEN.

LOCATION AND VENUE

Portland, Oregon, Oregon Convention Center, March 13-15, 2019

Having never been to Portland, I was pleasantly surprised at how beautiful the downtown area is. The transit system makes getting around very easy, and almost everything I needed was within walking distance. There is no shortage of places to eat; from fine-dining to quick on-the-go meals, downtown Portland has something for everyone. (BlueStar donuts, anyone?)

CONTENT

Offerings

The conference ran for three days, and each day there were at least three sessions. There were over 130 topics to choose from, grouped by categories: IT, Fundraising, Leadership, Marketing/Communications, and Program, in addition to the keynotes and vendor presentations. In the main hall, there were over 100 vendors and suppliers ready to answer questions about various platforms and services. I definitely experienced information overload, but every session I attended gave me new insights and ideas into how to apply technology to our Pasadena-based organization.

Collaborative Notes

The conference is centered around technology, so it would stand to reason that technology would play a huge part in the delivery of information. An app allowed you to see the complete schedule of events, and by marking your favorites, create a mini vetted itinerary for yourself. In addition, either through the app or through a web browser, attendees were able to view notes provided for each session and contribute note-taking to the collaborative platform. After the conference concluded, speakers’ slide decks were also made available through the portal.

Learning Outcomes

Unfortunately, as many offerings as there were, one could only choose one topic per time slot to participate in. Perhaps future technology will allow for time-travel, cloning, or parallel-universe existence, but I did not have access to those this year.

Instead, I tried to attend sessions in various categories, sort of a “survey / 101” approach. As ������Ƶ is migrating to a new database this year, I learned key concepts around migrating data and keeping it clean, best-practices for implementing those changes, and specific questions to ask the team about goals and focus areas. I learned about various integrative delivery methods for deep content, such as the report on the Poll Results on Gifted Education going live this month. I attended sessions on succession-planning; mapping digital ecosystems; how to have effective project management from a staff resources, as well as,

a platform and reporting structure viewpoint; how to reach target audiences through crowdfunding and peer to peer networking; and even tools and tricks for creating an efficient and user-friendly financial dashboard that key stakeholders (board members, staff, foundations) can utilize with minimal time requirements.

ACTIVITIES

In addition to the actual conference, attendees arranged for various get-togethers and tours around the city each day. The conference hosted a party at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry Thursday night, and key sponsors of the event (Microsoft and EveryAction) hosted mixers at the Convention Center.

PEOPLE

Finally, the conference provided excellent networking opportunities with fellow cohort members of the Annenberg Alchemy Tech program, NTEN employees, speakers and vendors, and fellow attendees who found each other through the “Birds of a Feather” lunch tables coordinated by the event.

The experience was eye-opening and incredibly valuable, and our team is already implementing strategies and projects inspired by the event. Look for announcements from ������Ƶ in the coming months regarding new platforms and technology, as we grow into the next phase of our development!

The 2020 NTC will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, MD, March 24 -26.

RESOURCES AND REFERENCES

https://annenberg.org/what-we-do/alchemy/alchemy-tech/ https://www.nten.org/ntc/program/agenda/?page=day-2 https://www.oregoncc.org/ https://omsi.edu/

This past November, I had the opportunity to attend NAGC’s Annual Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. Although the primary purpose of my trip was to learn more about the changing and ever-growing landscape of gifted education, I also had the privilege of listening to and meeting some amazing presenters and influential professionals in the field of gifted education.

One of the keynote speakers at the convention left a lasting impression on me and served as the inspiration for this blogpost. He was not only the youngest presenter at the convention, but he also seemed to embody what it truly means to be gifted and talented.

He introduced himself as Joey Hudy, a 17 year old student at Arizona State University and an active member of the Maker community. From a young age, he was fascinated with making things out of household materials and immersed himself in DIY engineering projects which lead to some great inventions, like his ��which he presented to President Obama at the White House.

His simple philosophy, “Don’t be bored…Make something!” further propelled him to create more amazing gadgets like his SMD Arduino Shield,�� 3x3x3 LED Cube Arduino Shield , and a prototype “smart” glasses which run by reading human thoughts. It was not surprising to also discover that he is currently the youngest intern in Intel’s New Devices Group product development program. I sat in amazement as Joey presented eloquently and knowledgeably about his experience and growth as a maker. Needless to say, I left Joey’s presentation feeling revitalized and inspired to delve into some DIY projects of my own.

The future definitely seems a little brighter with gifted and imaginative young people like Joey. There’s no doubt that Joey, and other young innovators like him, will pave the way for some ground-breaking technologies in the near future. If you want to know what Joey is making today, head over to his .

So what are you waiting for? Pull up your sleeves and get your creative juices flowing. Maker labs are popping up in cities nationwide. These labs serve as creative workspaces where makers of all ages and skill level can innovate, learn, design, and build things. They provide access to the necessary tools, resources, and equipment so you can bring some of your brilliant ideas to life! Check out some of the maker labs in Los Angeles County:

• Vocademy (closed in 2020)

If making things isn’t quite your forte, you can still get a unique glimpse of some remarkable projects and get involved in the maker movement by attending a . Think of these family-friendly festivals as a cross between a county fair and science fair with a sprinkle of innovation. Hundreds of makers from all walks of life showcase and hold live demonstrations for their incredible creations. Maker enthusiasts, educators, students, tinkerers, hobbyists and people of all ages come out to participate in hands-on activities, meet the brilliant makers behind these one of a kind designs, and learn new skills.Here are a few resources to help kick start your next project:

��

Scientists @ Work – Advanced Research Workshops

San Marino, California

Offered March through May 2015

Scientists @ Work evening workshops are designed to advance students’ intellectual curiosity through access to new knowledge from research scientists in the Los Angeles area. Working with a professional scientist, students will be introduced to the skills needed to be a successful scientific researcher in areas such as coding, mechanical engineering, or advanced physics.

These evening workshops led by Caltech researchers will include a lecture, seminar, and hands-on learning experience. Space will be limited.

Tuition*: $25 per workshop or $60 for 3 workshops

Summer Apprenticeship 2015

Los Angeles and Pasadena, California

June 22-August 7, 2015

������Ƶ’s summer Apprenticeship Program is more than an internship – it’s a place where high potential students can advance their intellectual passions with incredible mentors. Apprenticeship 2015 is non-residential and will provide opportunities for immersion in engaging research and the chance to meet peers with shared interests. Apprentices will work as professionals during the day, and in the evening, they will enjoy weekly social gatherings and workshops with lead college advisors, counselors, and other experts.

Local gifted high school students are invited to apply for this prestigious experience. Apprentices will be placed at Caltech, USC, and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where they will work with a team of professionals to gain hands-on, intellectually stimulating advanced research experience in a field of their choice.

Summer Apprenticeship is a place for students to develop their passions alongside helpful professionals.

Tuition*: $1,400

Academy for High School

San Marino, California

April 6-May 30, 2015

As our students grow, we grow. For the first time, will offer STEM classes for high school students during the Spring Session. These challenging enrichment classes focus on exploration and application of knowledge and are taught by content area specialists. Schedules will be announced in early March – stay tuned for more details!

These are amazing opportunities for young adults. As one 2014 Apprentice said:

“The experience of actually doing work in astrophysics, rather than just learning things in a classroom, was a very valuable experience that taught me a lot about the environment and the world of work and research. I also discovered that I would want to be in that environment, something that is hard to determine when just learning about astronomy in the regular classroom.”

In addition to these new and updated program offerings in the Los Angeles area, ������Ƶ continues to provide our Yunasa and Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship for teenagers nationwide.

• ������Ƶ’s awards highly gifted applicants with a four-year scholarship to a high school that fits their individual intellectual and personal needs. Students apply in 7th grade.

• ������Ƶ’s pioneering and award-winning unite highly able youngsters ages 10-15 with experts in the social and emotional development of gifted children. In a nurturing setting campers explore and grow the intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social, and physical aspects of their lives.

*Financial aid for all ������Ƶ programs is available to families in need.

The Apprenticeship Program is not sponsored or endorsed by Caltech, UCLA or USC.

to receive more information and updates on ������Ƶ programs for gifted high school students.

Please share this information with any friends, parents, students, teachers, and administrators who may be interested.