The Children’s Guild Alliance, a nonprofit organization serving children, families and child-serving organizations, will honor Guy E. Flynn and Nupur Parekh Flynn at the organization’s Kids First Celebration, an evening commemorating a legacy of innovation and transformation. The Kids First Celebration will take place on October 3, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore.

At the event, The Children’s Guild Alliance will present 2020 Sadie Awards to the Flynns for their leadership in innovation and philanthropy. The Sadie Award recognizes people who embody the organization’s spirit and vision of making the seemingly impossible possible.

Guy E. Flynn practices law at DLA Piper, one of the world’s largest law firms, where he serves as chairman of the firm’s Maryland real estate practice and partner-in-charge of the firm’s Baltimore office. Flynn serves as a trustee and board president-elect of The Walters Art Museum, a trustee and executive committee member of the Baltimore Community Foundation, a trustee of the Living Classrooms Foundation, a director of Maryland Legal Aid, a governor of The Center Club and a member of the Baltimore City Ethics Board. Global, national, regional and industry publications have recognized him as a top lawyer.

Nupur Parekh Flynn is one of the foremost women in the Baltimore area whose skills in board leadership have gained respect throughout the region. She is currently a trustee of LifeBridge Health, a trustee of the Baltimore Museum of Art, and a trustee of the Open Society Institute – Baltimore and actively involved with the United Way of Central Maryland. Flynn’s career in business and government included serving as a managing director for marketing and public relations at Brown Capital Management from 2004 to 2019. Previously, she served as a political appointee at the U.S. Agency for International Development and as a marketing executive at DLA Piper.

The Kids First Celebration will commemorate The Children’s Guild Alliance’s heritage of innovation and transformation and launch Kids First, the organization’s campaign to transform the way America cares for and educates its children. Through the Kids First campaign, The Children’s Guild Alliance will work nationally to create the cultural awareness, teacher preparation and political will to put kids first.

For more information about Kids First and sponsorships or tickets to The Kids First Celebration, visit KidsFirstAmerica.org.

The Children’s Guild Alliance is a nonprofit organization serving children, families and child-serving organizations and is dedicated to transforming how America educates and cares for its children through education, behavioral health and national training and consultation services. Affiliates of The Children’s Guild Alliance include The Children’s Guild, Monarch Academy public charter and contract schools, Children’s Guild D.C. Public Charter School, The Academy for Working Students (TAWS), TranZed Apprenticeships, The Transformation Education Institute, National At-Risk Education Network (NAREN), and The National Children’s Guild Fund. 

Partnership to advance modern apprenticeships throughout the United States

TranZed Apprenticeships, a nonprofit registered apprenticeship provider with the mission of expanding modern apprenticeships throughout the United States, is partnering with Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN) to exchange knowledge and advance modern apprenticeships as a solution to the skills gap facing businesses across the country.

“We’re starting an apprenticeship revolution, a movement to train and connect skilled workers with employers in huge need of talent,” said Paul Champion, president of TranZed Apprenticeships. “There’s no better way to close the skills gap than modern apprenticeships, where workers earn and learn at the same time. They’re cost-effective, customizable and necessary to the future of our workforce.”

GAN Global, based in Geneva, Switzerland, is a CEO-led alliance of private-sector companies, employers, international organizations and thought leaders seeking to accelerate the uptake of work-based learning, such as apprenticeships, to connect people with in-demand skills, build a sustainable talent pipeline for business and ensure an equitable future for the workforce.

“There is no better time than now to be working on apprenticeships in the U.S. We’re really excited about partnering with TranZed Apprenticeships and bringing to the collaboration our experience working with government, employers, our networks and our knowledge about why apprenticeships are such a fantastic opportunity for people, business and communities,” said Kathleen Elsig, head of strategic partnerships for GAN Global.

As part of the partnership, GAN Global and TranZed Apprenticeships will co-develop content for the network’s “SkillingNow” initiative, which provides a platform for dialog about work-based learning. Likewise, TranZed Apprenticeships will share its “Open 4 Apprenticeships” toolkit to educate businesses about the benefits of modern apprenticeships. In addition, TranZed Apprenticeships will promote GAN Global at conferences and exhibitions.

“Modern apprenticeships improve business productivity and performance, reduce recruitment and training costs and strengthen the workforce,” Champion said. “Apprentices become valued employees with improved engagement, problem-solving skills, greater leadership potential and flexibility under less supervision. They give businesses a competitive advantage in the marketplace.”

TranZed Apprenticeships works to advance modern apprenticeships throughout the United States and offers apprenticeship programs in the Mid-Atlantic developed to address the need for alternative career paths. Apprenticeships combine on-the-job, competency and project-based training with job-related classroom instruction. They offer an earn-and-learn model where apprentices earn money starting their first day and receive pay increases as they gain additional skills and master their occupations. (tranzedapprenticeships.com)

GAN Global is a business-driven alliance through which private sector companies, employers, international organizations and thought leaders work together to fuse the connection between education and employment through work-based learning. Its goal is to accelerate the acquisition of skills and capabilities of all segments of the workforce and build a robust talent pipeline for business that can match the pace of change in the world of work. Its members are trailblazers and thought leaders from leading multinational corporations and international organizations, who are setting examples for others to follow and shaping global and community policies and approaches. GAN has established networks in several countries across the globe. (gan-global.org)

Students from the The Academy, our therapeutic group-living program, who reside in our Staffa House for girls had the opportunity last weekend to select their perfect athletic shoes and a pair of athletic socks with a motivational message on them.

Big thanks to Charm City Run for helping our students find the perfect fit and donated several running shirts and sports bras for our girls with the promise of more in the near future! The Children’s Guild Alliance staff also made monetary contributions to help make this a reality. Another example of putting Kids First!

Monarch Global Academy, a public contract school with Anne Arundel County Public Schools, named Latrice Wiggins assistant principal. In her position, Wiggins will support school parent groups and coach teachers to build their instructional capacity.

“I have an earnest love of learning, as I believe knowledge is power. I love helping schools grow, teachers teach and students learn,” Wiggins said. “I’m excited to be part of this new school year and what it will bring for the students and staff at Monarch Global Academy.”

Wiggins brings 11 years of experience in education. Prior to joining Monarch Global Academy, she taught reading at Meade Heights Elementary School in Severn and Tyler Heights Elementary School in Annapolis. Previously, she taught third and fourth grades at Germantown Elementary School in Annapolis, an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme World School, and Van Bokkelen Elementary School in Severn.

She holds a certification in educational leadership from Goucher University. Wiggins earned her master’s degree in reading education from Bowie State University and bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Florida A&M University.

“We’re thrilled that Latrice will join us this year at Monarch Global Academy. Her passion for quality education, contagious energy and positive attitude will contribute to the transformative school culture our students, families and teachers have come to expect,” said Kathy Lane, chief of educational services for The Children’s Guild Alliance and Monarch Global Academy.

Monarch Academy charter and contract schools are affiliate members of The Children’s Guild Alliance, a nonprofit organization serving children, families and child-serving organizations and dedicated to transforming how America educates and cares for its children through education, behavioral health and national training and consultation services. Affiliates of The Children’s Guild Alliance include The Children’s Guild, The Academy for Working Students (TAWS), TranZed Apprenticeships, The Children’s Guild DC Public Charter School, Transformation Education Institute, National At-Risk Education Network (NAREN), Conference Center at The Children’s Guild Alliance and The National Children’s Guild Fund. (www.childrensguild.org)

Today, Monarch Academy Annapolis celebrated the school’s new outdoor classroom, nature-inspired play space for younger children and webbed climbing structure, basketball court, and soccer field for older students with a dedication ceremony.

Steuart Pittman, Anne Arundel County executive, addressed the dedication ceremony and commended Monarch Academy Annapolis for their work to promote outdoor exercise, play, and learning. The new outdoor spaces were made possible through a $500,000 grant from Anne Arundel County.

“Our new outdoor classroom and play spaces will inspire our children and empower them to grow as learners, as people and as global citizens,” said Andrew L. Ross, president and CEO of The Children’s Guild Alliance, which operates Monarch Academy Annapolis. “The spaces support our curriculum themes of asking who we are, how the world works and how we can share our planet.”