Lusher Charter School Senior Amaris Lewis Accepted into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and MIT5/8/2019 Lusher Charter School Senior Amaris Lewis Accepted into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and MIT When Lusher Charter School Senior Amaris Lewis won the Grand Prize Award in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair last fall, it was obvious great things were in store for her. In her research, Amaris investigated “the utility of a biomarker called CD-264 for identifying human stem cells that were more likely to proliferate, and thus be better candidates for use in therapeutic applications.” In plain English: she’s a genius who seeks to save lives. Lewis’ high school career Is impressive: She is a National Merit Finalist and was nominated as a U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate, all while maintaining a 4.40 GPA. But when it came time to apply to colleges, Lewis like any high school senior, was nervous. She aimed high and applied to a dozen extremely competitive schools: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, MIT, Vanderbilt, Emory, Rice, Tulane, USC, Carnegie Mellon and LSU. And she got into all of them. “Amaris represents the paragon of hard work, dedication, and love for knowledge,” said Lusher Charter School CEO Kathy Riedlinger. “She is not only a brilliant and progressive thinker, she is a kind and generous person with a great future ahead of her, who really will make a difference in medical research.” Amaris was sent “likely letters" from Harvard and Yale before her official acceptances. “Likely letters” are only sent to a few hundred applicants of the thousands who applied as a way for colleges to notify the top candidates early of their acceptance. Eventually, Amaris was awarded an outstanding $2.675 million in scholarships, including the QuestBridge National College Match scholarship to attend Stanford University for the full cost of attendance; The Gates Scholarship, which is full cost of attendance at any U.S. college or university along with any study abroad or summer programs; and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship which covers any remaining cost of attendance up to $40k. She also was recently awarded the only gold medal for the 2019 Emmy Noether Awards by the Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation and will be awarded $25,000 for each year she is in a graduate level research program up to 3 years ($75,000) and will be inducted as a 2019 Emmy Noether Scholar. The Emmy Noether Awards seek top aspiring female research scientists in any STEM (science, technology, engineering, or math) field to help realize their potential careers through financial and networking assistance. "I owe an incredible amount of my success so far to my school community, teachers, and mentors for not only instilling a sense of academic drive and self-advocacy in me but also for encouraging me to be my most authentic self,” said Lewis. “By encouraging individual thought and creativity, Lusher made me even more excited to pursue thought-provoking concepts through lab research and to become involved in extracurricular projects and outreach activities that promote my genuine curiosity and interests.” This summer, Lewis will be participating in the Bessie F. Lawrence International Summer Science Institute (ISSI) at the Weizmann Institute for Science in Israel. As one of 19 American students representing the United States at the all-expense paid program, she will be completing laboratory research alongside Weizmann scientists as well as interacting with other young scholars from all over the world. Amaris plans to attend Stanford University in the fall to study either Bioengineering or Biomedical Computation. Lewis said, “Although I think it's very easy to get caught up in numbers, statistics, and test scores when applying to colleges, I feel fortunate to be in an environment that values intellectual vitality because it reminded me to showcase my own unique interests and experiences above all else and to hold those passions at the core of my identity as I presented a cohesive image of myself through my essays and interviews. I believe that these endeavors are what really helped me to stand out when applying to such competitive schools, and I hope to inspire this same quality of original inquiry in my new communities when I begin college in the fall." #### Lusher Charter School, a National Blue Ribbon School (1988 & 2018) in partnership with Tulane University, has a renowned arts-integrated academic program that engages students and challenges them to think critically, analytically and creatively. Lusher offers a unique program that inspires imagination and intellectual curiosity. It provides an environment which fosters the social-emotional development of students and values the unique combination of talents and interests in each of our students.
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CONTACT: Chris Beakey 302 448 0253 cbeakey@fightcrime.org WHAT: A panel discussion around the release of Infant-Toddler Child Care Increases Louisiana’s Success, a report demonstrating how solving Louisiana’s child care crisis will improve the workforce and support future public safety and military readiness. WHO: Michael J. Olivier, CEO of Committee of 100 General Ronald Richard, USMC, (Ret.) Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul, Jr Sonjia Joseph, Owner of Clara’s Little Lambs Preschool Academy Stephanie Riegel, Editor of the Baton Rouge Business Journal, who will moderate the panel WHEN: Tuesday, May 7, 2 – 3 p.m. WHERE: The Ellender Room, Louisiana State Capitol This report is from Council for a Strong America, a non-partisan, non-profit organization representing five sectors of society working together to prepare children for productive lives. Based on new research, it found the infant and toddler child care crisis is costing the nation $57 billion annually in lost earnings, productivity and revenue – which amounts to $1.1 billion for the state of Louisiana. The report is among the first to spotlight how the crisis impacts employers and taxpayers as well as working parents. The panelists will discuss the need for prompt action to clear Louisiana’s child care waitlist, which includes more than 5,000 children, and how expanding the availability of affordable high-quality child care will strengthen the workforce and improve future public safety and national security. Learn more about Council for a Strong America at www.strongnation.org. Over the past few years, the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children (LPIC) has documented through various studies and surveys the burden Louisiana’s decreasing investment in Early Child Care and Education has placed upon businesses, families, the school system and child care providers themselves.
Now, a poll released by LPIC further documents how Louisiana voters are united behind sustainable funding to make quality programs for their children more affordable and accessible. “This year, the Governor and Legislature, as well as the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education have all agreed with the work of the Early Childcare and Education Commission convened by State Representative Stephanie Hilferty in that we need an infusion of state funding into programs that care for our 0-4 year-olds,” said LPIC Director Melanie Bronfin. “This research shows voters not only agree with this strategy but demand more help in these programs now.” Key findings from the March survey of 600 Louisiana voters (margin of error +/- 4) are that a large majority (86%) of likely voters in Louisiana said that quality, affordable child care is an important issue in their communities. Similarly, a large majority of likely Louisiana voters support increasing state funding for quality child care that would benefit working class families, including over 50% of voters in each region of the state, 50% of conservative voters, and 86% of liberal voters. Additional findings are:
The poll summary is located here: https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/43cca3_322f721ba21c4f1791a3d318e1857799.pdf Find more information here: www.policyinstitutela.org Interviews: Melanie Bronfin, Director, LPIC (504) 228-0988 or D. Johnson (504) 881-3273. EINSTEIN CHARTER SCHOOL CEO ASKS BOARD TO HIRE NEW TRANSPORTATION PROVIDER Responding to internal investigations as well as public reports about Einstein Charter Schools’ transportation provider Scholars First, Chief Executive Officer Michael McKenzie is requesting the school’s Board, Einstein Group Inc., immediately move to cancel services with the bus company and replace it with A & S Transportation.
The Einstein Charter Board meets Tuesday, April 9 at 6 p.m. WHAT:
International School of Louisiana (ISL) is hosting its spring fundraising event on Thursday, May 9, 2019. Families, friends, and the community are invited to join the school for a wonderful carnival evening! ISL's Family Fun Night at City Park is open to the public. The evening will feature a raffle, silent auction, music, food, games, and fun for all ages. Proceeds will go to supporting ISL, international awareness, and the celebration of diversity! Tickets can be purchased at www.isl-edu.org/isl-family Mandie Landry announces candidacy for House District 91. Ready to move Louisiana forward Today, local attorney, neighborhood leader and civic advocate Mandie Landry announced her candidacy for the Louisiana House of Representatives, District 91.
“I am ready to serve the people of Louisiana, like I have served my clients and my community over the years,” said Ms. Landry. “I want to help ensure that working class men and women in Louisiana have a voice and the same opportunities I have been given to succeed.” (CLEVELAND) On behalf of women nationwide and in order to stop opioid prescription-related Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) births, attorneys filed a landmark complaint and motion for issuance of a preliminary injunction requiring nearly all prescriptions for opioids to women of child-bearing age be written only after the woman tests negatively for pregnancy, as currently required with other medicines which damage fetuses. The filings were supported by sworn declarations from prominent physicians who give witness to the fact that opioid intake while pregnant has been determined to have long-lasting effects on exposed embryos. Plaintiff Amanda Hanlon said, "I have seen with my own eyes that prescription opioids hurt babies, moms, and their families. If I could tell every woman, like me who is at risk for hurting their unborn babies, of how bad opioids are, I would. This injunction will tell every woman what they need to know, right when they need to know it with their doctor present. I hope the motion is approved." Attorneys Scott Bickford and Celeste Brustowicz said this single action should abate the incidence of opioid-dependent children born to prescription opioid-using mothers. Relatively recent scientific confirmation that in-utero exposure to opioids causes teratogenic birth defects prompted the legal action, the attorneys said. The incidence of NAS births is now estimated by organizations like the Centers for Disease Control to be every 15 minutes in the U.S., they added. “This request is not unlike other programs established by drug manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies, and the FDA to successfully protect fetal development,” said Ms. Brustowicz. “The Accutane Program which requires the same of child-bearing women with acne is evidence that institutional requirements like those sought here do protect babies from fetal injuries.” A major part of the Accutane Program requires urine pregnancy tests and communications between the prescribing physician and the dispensing agent, such as a pharmacy, with the support of the drug manufacturers and distributors, according to the filing. The injunction seeks a court order to require major opioid pharmaceutical manufacturers like Purdue, Teva, Cephalon, Johnson & Johnson, Janssen, Endo, and Allergan to implement a program which, except in limited circumstances, will require a doctor to prescribe only seven days of an opioid-based prescription to a child-bearing-age woman after a negative pregnancy test. Physician renewal of a second prescription can occur only after a second negative test. “Our organization Love on Wheels works to help children born with opioid-addiction at birth to opioid-addicted parents,” said Dr. Kathy Kunkel, a founder of this organization that deals with foster children. “We support actions, such as these, which would help reduce the number of births of children born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, thus addressing a part of the problem caused by prescription opioid abuse and its impact on women and families.” “Anything a pregnant woman ingests or breathes that enters the bloodstream is transmitted to her baby by the placenta, and opioids pass the mother’s placenta with ease,” said Ms. Brustowicz. “In-utero opioid exposure subjects the fetus to addiction as well as brain and other organ injury.” Ms. Brustowicz and Mr. Bickford are currently leading a team of attorneys working on behalf of NAS children who were harmed by prescription opioids. They have filed eight state class actions and one nationwide class action seeking to recover medical monitoring costs, epidemiological studies, medical and social welfare treatment, and damages on behalf of the prescription opioid NAS babies and children. “The efforts by the Federal Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health and other government agencies have been focused on abating addiction and crime, but there is no particular focus on opioid-dependent babies and children,” said Attorney Scott Bickford. “This injunction is an extraordinary remedy to an extraordinary national crisis.” Moreover, Attorney Bickford as well as Dr. Kanwaljeet Anand, the former chief of pediatrics at Stanford University, said the costs of caring for such children born dependent on opioids threaten the budgets of every family with such a child and every political subdivision in the country. “There is an unprecedented epidemic of opioid addiction sweeping across the U.S.,” said Dr. Anand. “Newborn babies are the most vulnerable citizens, their lives and developmental potential are disrupted by Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), but arrangements for their short-term and long-term care have been ignored until now. Babies with NAS must receive essential medical care and rehabilitation. On average, one infant with NAS is hospitalized every hour in the U.S.” As of September 30, 2016, child and family assistance spending related to the epidemic was about $6.1 billion, according to various reports tracking the problem, though Attorneys Bickford and Brustowicz believe the problem is not sufficiently tracked and reported. “The only realistic means of reducing these types of birth is prevention,” said Mr. Bickford. “The proposed injunction provides a pragmatic approach to avoid NAS and congenital malformations related to opioid use, while providing responsible exceptions for surgical and other acute/chronic pain relief during pregnancy,” added Dr. Anand. “Since opioids can alter fetal development, preventing in-utero opioid exposure is key to reducing lifelong disabilities in the affected child. Every baby should be given the best chance to the best health. “ Nearly one-third of all pregnant women in the United States are prescribed opioids, according to recent Centers for Disease Control reports. Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a group of medical conditions faced by babies born dependent on opioids from their exposure in the womb due to their mothers’ usage. Between 2000 and 2009, the National Institute on Drug Abusereported a five-fold increase of infants born with NAS. Data from multiple states that track NAS births continue to show growing numbers of newborns afflicted with it, and it is estimated that tens of thousands of NAS babies are born every year. “It will cost billions to evaluate, treat, and monitor these infants and children as they grow into adulthood,” said Mr. Bickford. “These babies not only require expensive after-birth care but exhibit life-long problems, including profound learning disabilities and propensity toward future addictions. Thus, the fight continues for these babies.” “Individuals and health professionals are still woefully uneducated of the potential long-term impacts of first-time opioid exposure for themselves, especially expecting mothers,” said Greg Williams, a national addiction health policy expert and former Executive Vice President and Co-Founder of Facing Addiction."This would be a huge step forward to push the medical field to use alternative methods and, in the long-term, limit the epidemic of NAS births in our country." ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS: UNDISPUTED MATERIAL FACTS SUPPORTING MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION DECLARATION OF DR. KANWALJETT S. ANAND DECLARATION OF AMANDA M. HANLON About the Opioid Justice Team The Opioid Justice Team (OJT) is a group of attorneys working with doctors and national and local nongovernmental organizations fighting to end our nation’s opioid epidemic by identifying real solutions to the crisis. The OJT seeks not only compensation for damages for their clients but also a comprehensive settlement that will address the root causes of the opioid crisis. For more information, please visit http://opioidjusticeteam.com/.
Other States Use Sin Taxes to Fund Early Child Care and Education Holds Lessons for Louisiana3/27/2019 New Report: Other States Use Sin Taxes to Fund Early Child Care and Education Holds Lessons for Louisiana
Prioritizing Our Future: How cities and states dedicate funds for early care and education Congratulations to Audubon Schools’ CEO Latoye Brown who was featured in the National Alliance for Public Charter School’s blog this week in celebration of Women’s History Month. Ms. Brown will also be taking over the NAPCS Instagram posts for March. Brown is a participant in the School Leaders of Color convening, and shares her experience serving as an educational leader in the post-Katrina landscape.
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