Tobacco Dock London’s Post

Did you know that some #colleges will allow you to bring your small #pet? Admittedly, I'm not sure this would have worked for me because it was hard enough taking care of myself then, but if you're up for it - ask - because you never know! These are some of things that make the #college search personal. We're onboarding #classof2026 and #classof2027 now - link in the comments. #gotocollege #highereducation #petsgotocollegetoo #sayyestocollege

There is a story of countless starfish being washed up on the beach. A little girl walked along the beach, picking up starfish and throwing them back into the water.  An older man saw this girl, approached her, and asked her what she was doing.  The girl said she was throwing the starfish back in the water because they would die if they remained on the beach.  The man responded that so many starfish were on the beach, and she could only throw back a minuscule number of them.  He then said this number is so tiny; what difference would it make?  After hearing his question, the girl picked up a starfish and threw it back into the water.  Then she told the man, “I made a difference for that one.” The little girl's actions, though seemingly small, had a ripple effect.  When we all use our unique skills, talents, and abilities to make a difference, society as a whole is the beneficiary. Each action, no matter how small, can create a wave of change that reaches far beyond our immediate surroundings. Charles Drew's story is a shining example of how one person's abilities can revolutionize an entire field. His invention of the blood storage system has saved countless lives and continues to do so. Let his story inspire us to use our own abilities for the betterment of society.  #MakeADifference #RippleEffect #ActsOfKindness #SmallActionsBigImpact #Inspiration #ChangeMakers #UseYourSkills #PositiveImpact #CharlesDrew #SavingLives #BetterTogether #Empowerment #EveryActionCounts #CommunityImpact #InspiringChange https://lnkd.in/gmM95Dsx

Which is most important to you? ✨ We will be in the comment section 👇🏽 #kinsleafgroup #greencityfarmresort #millennialparkandgardens

Business can be a force for good…

The Hard Yards of Expanding Preschool Capacity Congratulations to the entire London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) team on the opening of this new Stoke Newington setting. In the context of the government’s increased Department for Education funding to #earlyyears, it’s worth reflecting on what it takes to operationally deliver an expansion of capacity. Particularly in the context of the structure of UK early years sector, in which >80% of nursery settings are operated by private or voluntary organisations, not the state. Two major building blocks to delivering high quality early years education are: - 1) well-trained, qualified and led teachers and - 2) the appropriate physical space.  I focus here on the latter. Finding, securing and preparing the right location (catchment area with adequate demand from families to enable economic viability) and the right actual venue (with space for target child capacity, AND outdoor garden space, AND easy access for parents and staff) is a material logistical, financial and operational task. Given the demographics of Hackney – 28% of children live in poverty, the fourth highest rate of child poverty in London – at LEYF we have been seeking to expand our capacity here for a number of years. Our Fire Station Nursery was subscale, had inadequate outdoor space. We searched for and reviewed a number of options. In the end, we formed a unique partnership with St Mary’s Church of England Primary School for a lease of two classrooms and dedicated and shared outdoor space. The primary school had available classrooms, identified a need for nursery provision, while at the same time recognising that an organisation such as LEYF had the pedagogical and operational experience to best deliver high quality early years provision in an economically sustainable manner. While this is one anecdote, the history of the last major expansion in early years – Sure Start -- tells a similar story. In a recent retrospective review by the program’s first director, Naomi Eisenstadt CB made the following comments on implementation complexity: “A big surprise to the Treasury was how long it took for programmes to actually start spending Sure Start funding. The initial allocation of funding for the first 250 programs was up to one million pounds capital . . . (which) meant finding appropriate places in very poor areas on which to commission new builds or refurbishments . . . (G)etting agreement on what and where to spend capital . . . (d)eciding on activities, setting up local evaluations, hiring staff all took time. “The NESS study found it took three years from agreement to get a fully functioning programme underway. . . . The key lesson is that . . . designing both capital investment and a new service structure takes time and skill. Ministers assumed that the announcement was implementation. Civil servants thought it was posting the guidance. The actual task was complex and required a range of soft and hard skills.”

Urban Gardening ~ creatively using our environments to grow fresh produce, encourage an active lifestyle, meet others, and reduce the pull on our international food market. While we're entering into the harvest season, I'd encourage you to check out The Gardens Network by Rooted. This is an organization who's mission is to "work toward an equitable food system by ensuring access to garden space and healthy food, and by educating beginning farmers and gardeners of all ages." Maybe this upcoming year is the time for you to learn the basics of gardening, jump back into a long-neglected pastime, or share your own horticulture expertise with someone just starting out! https://lnkd.in/gmaWGznp

Pembroke Pines: It's not just a place, it's a community where life's moments are celebrated. Here's what makes life here so special: 📌 Community Events: From the vibrant Artfest in the Pines to spirited high school football games, there's always something that brings us together. 🌴 Green Spaces: Enjoy tranquility and nature at Chapel Trail Nature Preserve or take part in family fun at Pembroke Shores Park. ☕ Local Love: That small-town feel with a smile from your favorite barista or a neighbor waving hello. Local farmers' markets where you know vendors by name. 📖 Education: Committed to the future with top-tier schools nurturing our youngest residents into tomorrow's leaders. 🏪 Convenience and Lifestyle: Everything you need is right here, from shopping at Pembroke Lakes Mall to dining at local gems. Plus, easy access to major roads keeps the rest of South Florida within reach. 💚 Community Spirit: A place where the sense of togetherness is palpable, and neighbors become lifelong friends. If Pembroke Pines sounds like the community you’ve been searching for, let’s find you a home here. We're not just about real estate; we're about welcoming you into our family. #PembrokePinesLiving #theniceagent #realestate #pembrokepines #pembrokepineshome #pembrokepinesFL #florida #realtor #floridaproperties #success #dreamhome

This message is for my grassroots community builders. It’s hard to believe that we are preparing for the beginning of the holiday season. I encourage you to plant seeds everyday in your community. There are several unique metaphorical seasons when building community. 1) Planting the seeds - Each day in your community, you are planting seeds for opportunities. When you plant a seed in soil, there may not be any visible agrowth for several weeks, but eventually you see a nice breakthrough from the soil. The key is to keep planting multiple seeds. 2) Nuturing the blooms - As your seeds begin to blossom, you can’t neglect them. It’s critical to continue to water the plant so that the plant can have the most beneficial environment for growth. When building community, you must nurture your people and not give up at the first sign of adversity. 3) Celebrating the harvest - You have been watering this plant, putting it in the sun, and nuturing it for a long time. Out of no where after months of hard work, the plant begins to grow in all directions. You are amazed that your hard work has paid off. Enjoy this season, as it is easy to believe that this season will last forever. 4) Expressing gratitude for the pruning and drought season - You are enjoying all the success until it’s time to prune the plant so that it can grow bigger and expand its territory. This is one of the most difficult seasons for community builders and organizers as it includes pruning people. You must be comfortable knowing that everyone will not be able to go with you to the next level. Recognize where you are in the community building cycle and appreciate each phase. I can tell you that each phase is necessary as you build community at the grassroots level to make a significant impact. #seasons #harvest #bloom #seeds #prune #community #strategy #purposedriven #bettyricelegacy

Finsen Yu and his family are transforming lives through their community garden in Montgomery, Alabama. Their foundation, named Help a Brother Out, provides residents access to free, fresh foods and a place to learn about self-sufficiency and self-growth. Aside from getting produce, people can also take classes in gardening, meditation and financial literacy. “We try to help the community help itself by instilling values and developing future leaders,” Finsen said. Finsen and his family recently received support from the Red Cross through its Community Adaptation Program to help the foundation expand its efforts and be more resilient against the climate crisis. With the provided funding, they purchased a new greenhouse, storage shed, four-wheeler, and other equipment to broaden the garden’s reach. Through this partnership, the Yu family's foundation can help more families access nutritious food and continue serving the community in the face of disasters. “The community knows that we’re here and that the Red Cross is behind us,” Finsen said. “Knowing that, they come to us because they know the Red Cross can help.”

To wrap up #EarthMonth, this weekend I graduated from Forest ReLeaf of Missouri's Tree Stewardship program, which included 12 hours of classroom instruction and 15 hours of volunteer work. Over the past month, I participated in some local volunteer activities, including: 🌳 Planting trees along the Great Rivers Greenway 🌱 Potting tree seedlings at the Forest ReLeaf nursery 🌷 Pulling tulips at the Missouri Botanical Garden 🚮 Picking up trash and removing invasive species with Open Space STL 🧤 Mulching and pruning park trees with STL Neighborhood Foresters The most important thing I learned during this program ... There are some amazing organizations in St. Louis making our city a greener, healthier and more beautiful place to live. If you're like me and at times feel overwhelmed by the immense amount of work needed to safeguard our environment, go out and give a few hours of your time at one of these (or similar) organizations. You'll feel better knowing that you made a lasting and positive impact on your community. That, and say no to mulch volcanoes 😉 (Seriously though, they're awful for trees.) If you're in the St. Louis region, please check out these incredible organizations. #volunteer #arborday #earthday #stlouis #sustainability #community #conservation