"Model" Captures our Mission

Lifting verbiage from Terada Mokei, a small paper craft company, "Replicas and models are often confused for one another.

Replicas are substitutes that you accept when your desire to have the real thing cannot be fulfilled. That is to say they are limitations or reproductions. ...we don't think of 'models' as replacements, but rather a product that represents, in a positive manner, values or points-of-view different from the actual object."

I recently discussed with architect James Hanis the BLU SKY INITIATIVE vision to

TEACH. REACH. DEVELOP. ENHANCE. REPLICATE.

He countered with a resounding, "No, don't use the word replicate. "

I added. "But the world of education touts the idea of replicating best schools."

Of course, the obvious then hung heavily in the air. This is why education as a whole keeps getting the same tried results.

In this simplistic discussion, our architect nailed the truth. The limiting word replicate could not capture our intent to impact education on a national level. To Right the Future NOW FOR Education, the BLU SKY INITIATIVE must stay dedicated and focused on a true North Star goal to produce values and points-of-view different from what we have accepted as best practices for 21st century education:

TEACH. REACH. DEVELOP. ENHANCE. MODEL.

Education Defined:"An Aid to Life"

OPEN EDUCATION, NEIGHBORHOOD LIVING, AND PUBLIC HEALTH drive the bold goals of the BLU SKY INITIATIVE. Each element deserves more in-depth explanations. Those descriptions and details will come. Initially it is enough to imagine the strength of the three working together.

• EDUCATION, the simple command to educate our children well stands as the anchor, the cornerstone from which the other two Essential Element support and sustain transformation.

• NEIGHBORHOOD LIVING seeks to build the neighborhoods we want to live in and grow the neighbors we want to live next to.

• PUBLIC HEALTH works through the arts to produce clear public health impacts.

Maria Montessori is credited in her later years with the powerfully strong, yet simplistic definition of education: "An Aid to Life." Her understanding of education left for the next generations offers a foundation, along with other 21st century bellwethers in education, to Right the Future Now FOR Education.

Coming Into Its Own

Bold and daring, based on Three Essential Elements:

Open Education

Neighborhood Living

Public Health

BLU SKY INITIATIVE: Dedicated to making WHOLE CHILD TO WHOLE COMMUNITY transformation a reality in Western North Carolina and communities around the US.