2024 Theme: Cultivating a Culture of Peace

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace.

In that declaration, the United Nations’ most inclusive body recognized that peace “not only is the absence of conflict, but also requires a positive, dynamic participatory process where dialogue is encouraged and conflicts are solved in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation.”

In a world with rising geopolitical tensions and protracted conflicts, there has never been a better time to remember how the UN General Assembly came together in 1999 to lay out the values needed for a culture of peace. These include: respect for life, human rights and fundamental freedoms; the promotion of non-violence through education, dialogue and cooperation; commitment to peaceful settlement of conflicts; and adherence to freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, cooperation, pluralism, cultural diversity, dialogue and understanding at all levels of society and among nations.

In follow-up resolutions, the General Assembly recognized further the importance of choosing negotiations over confrontation and of working together and not against each other.

The Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) starts with the notion that “wars begin in the minds of men so it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed”. It is this notion that framed the theme and logo of this year’s observance of the International Day of Peace. The ideas of peace, the culture of peace, need to be cultivated in the minds of children and communities through formal and informal education, across countries and generations.

The International Day of Peace has always been a time to lay down weapons and observe ceasefires. But it now must also be a time for people to see each other’s humanity. Our survival as a global community depends on that.

Background

The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.

• International Day of Conscience
• International Day of Sport for Development and Peace
• International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace
• International Day of Living Together in Peace
• International Day of UN Peacekeepers
• International Day of Non-Violence
• World Science Day for Peace and Development
• International Day of Neutrality

• Secretary-General’s Appeal for Global Ceasefire
• United Nations Messengers of Peace

for more info, go to https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-peace

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Good afternoon! Passing along news that PENCIL’s annual Principal for a Day (PFAD) initiative is coming to NYC public schools throughout the five boroughs on Tuesday, April 16! The program brings notable New Yorkers and business leaders into public schools to shadow principals throughout the day, speak with students, and experience the challenges facing the NYC school system firsthand.

This year, Abbe Raven, Chairman of A&E network, https://www.aetv.com/ will return to her alma mater high school – the Humanities & Arts Magnet High School in Queens. The philanthropic-minded co-founders of Bombas, Randy Goldberg & David Heath, will also be participating as “Principals for a Day” at P.S. 188. Abbe, Randy and David will host meetings with teachers and school leadership throughout the day, and speak with students about their careers. Another exciting opportunity for some students will be attending the new hit Broadway Show THE PROM, https://theprommusical.com/, wasn’t that an exciting time in many students lives:)

PENCIL’S FLAGSHIP PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY® PROGRAM
BRINGS HUNDREDS OF BUSINESS LEADERS BACK TO SCHOOL ON APRIL 16

PENCIL, New York City-Based Education Nonprofit, Connects Businesses with Local Public Schools
and Creates New Opportunities for Students & Educators

NEW YORK, NY – (APRIL 8, 2019) – PENCIL is proud to announce its flagship Principal For A Day® will be held on April 16, 2019, marking 25 years of meaningful partnerships between the business community and New York City public schools. During this year’s Principal For A Day® event, over 150 business and civic leaders will visit public schools across all five boroughs to experience a “day-in-the-life” of a school Principal, during which they meet with students and their teachers and school administrators, to learn first-hand the lasting impact that they and their organizations can have on students and schools, and to join PENCIL in its mission to connect students to success.

“When we launched Principal For A Day®, our goal was to bring together private and public sectors of the City to draw attention to the needs and potential of New York City’s public schools and the students they serve,” said PENCIL President Gregg Betheil. “PENCIL is proud to have the support of Chancellor Richard A. Carranza, New York City Schools Chancellor, as well as the New York City Department of Education, united in our shared belief that relationships have the power to create opportunities and experiences that help NYC students succeed.”

“I’m thrilled for New York City public schools to once again join PENCIL for this year’s Principal For A Day. This program gives our educators a unique opportunity to come together as thought partners with New York City’s business leaders, and provides business leaders a window into the wonderful work our students and educators are doing every day. I thank PENCIL for its continued partnership in helping bring our New York City students, educators, and leaders together in pursuit of equity and excellence for all.” – New York City Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza.
“We are proud to partner with the NYC Department of Education and the Council of Supervisors & Administrators for this year’s Principal For A Day®,” said PENCIL Board Chair Howard Chatzinoff of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. “What business leaders see and learn on this one day, helps us understand the critical work that school Principals and their teams do every day to support students and families across New York City. Thanks to all the school leaders who are opening their doors and making time to welcome visiting business leaders.”

“We are proud to again partner with PENCIL to support Principal For A Day®,” said Council of Supervisors & Administrators President Mark Cannizzaro. “Partnerships with the business community complement the academic work our Principals lead throughout the year. Opportunities to expose young people to authentic experiences help prepare them for life after school. I know our guests will learn a few things during their visits as well about what it takes to run a successful school!”

Throughout the day, business leaders will have opportunities to participate in immersive activities tailored to each partner, including shadowing a principal over the course of the day to gain a deeper understanding of their job, acting as a thought partner and advisor, facilitating career panels and workshops, and speaking directly to students at special school assemblies. Students are the future generation of business leaders and PENCIL realizes the importance of access to skills, opportunities and relationships.

“We are excited to spend the day with Principal Ramos to learn more about P.S. 188 and its students. We initially started Bombas to give back to our community, and our team was thrilled to start a PENCIL school partnership with P.S. 188 this year to do so firsthand. As the company’s leadership, Principal For A Day gives us the perfect opportunity to learn not only about the impact our team is making with students, but also to take a deeper dive into the incredible work that goes on at schools like P.S. 188 behind the scenes, to provide children a safe, engaging environment to learn and grow. Partnerships like this energize our staff as we live our mantra to “bee better” and make the world a better place.” – Randy Goldberg & David Heath, Bombas Co-Founders

“Having attended New York City public schools, I look forward to Principal For A Day each year as a chance to share my journey with the next generation of student leaders,” said Abbe Raven, Acting Chairman, A+E Networks, and PENCIL Board Member. “In 2006, PENCIL gave me the opportunity to go back to my alma mater, Humanities & Arts Magnet High School (formerly Andrew Jackson HS), which grew into a multi-year partnership to help connect more students to opportunities to fulfill their potential.”

Following Principal For A Day®, PENCIL works to translate initial business interest into opportunities for sustained partnerships with schools. PENCIL makes it easy for business professionals, educators and students to work together—in schools and the workplace. Our hands-on programs, including in-school partnerships, mentoring, internships, and immersive experiences like Principal For A Day®, create targeted opportunities to make a real difference in the classroom and beyond.

Since 1995, over 9,000 high profile New Yorkers have lent their time to Principal For A Day®. Joining that list this year are executives from A&E Television Networks, Viacom, ABC, NBC, Google, Goldman Sachs, Scholastic, KPMG, Deloitte, Empire BlueCross BlueShield – Anthem, Inc., Starbucks and more.

About PENCIL:
PENCIL is a New York City-based non-profit. New York City schools are filled with students who have potential and ambition to go far, and we envision a city filled with students whose opportunities match their ambitions. Since 1995, we’ve played a critical role in bringing together business professionals, educators, and students to open eyes, open minds, and open doors. By doing so, we connect students to success. Learn more at pencil.org.

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Once an extremely shy child, Robyn is passionate about teaching individuals how to transform their process of communication so that they can express themselves effectively and powerfully. With that in mind, Robyn recently launched her first book, Standing Ovation Presentations (Motivational Press, 2013), a complete presentations skills guide that contains a unique communication-style system called ActorTypes. Robyn knows from years of training others that most people have a core set of strengths that relate to one or more of nine different character types found in movies and TV. Using these personas, she provides readers with detailed tips and skills on how to polish strengths and minimize weaknesses so they can create and deliver stellar presentations and communicate with style – their own style.

Over the course of her career, Robyn has helped thousands of business professionals improve their presentations and conduct successful interviews and interpersonal communication. Her clients have included C-suite executives and entrepreneurs, as well as academics and human services professionals, among many others. Her corporate client roster has included Fortune 500 companies and noteworthy brands, including Lifetime Television, Jones New York, AXA, Jet Blue, Deloitte & Touche and Merrill Lynch, to name a few.

Prior to founding her own consultancy, Robyn worked as a professional actress, appearing on stage in New York and surrounding region, as well as in television commercials and dramas. She has also provided voiceover talent for radio advertisements. Robyn served as a writer for two daytime dramas and is a contributor to American Express Open Forum. In addition, Robyn has frequently appeared as an expert guest on HuffPost Live, was a contributing media expert in PRNEWS 2013 Media Relations Guidebook, and wrote a personal essay that became a part of the published anthology Dancing at the Shame Prom (Seal Press, 2012) (which was recently featured at www.mariashriver.com).

Robyn is a current member of the prestigious New York Women in Communications, Inc. (NYWICI), Savor the Success, Step Up Women’s Network, Writers Guild of America East, Screen Actors Guild, Actors Equity and American Federation of Radio and Television Artists, and was an appointed member and committee chair of Manhattan’s Community Board Five for six years. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Adelphi University. One of Robyn’s proudest achievements is raising an incredible son who went from attending the New York City public schools to graduating from Yale University, then was drafted into a Major League Baseball organization where he is currently a minor league pitcher.

She lives in New York City with her husband of 29 years, Ken Becker.

Robyn uses her extensive experience to create innovative material and bring out the dynamism in every person she coaches. Her warm, humanistic approach and passion for her work encourages learners to push through their fears and into their greatness.

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