Last night, appropriately sitting under the Endeavor at The California Science Museum, 400 people celebrated education in Los Angeles and the leadership of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Four years ago, the Mayor created the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, an independent nonprofit that focuses on turning around some of LA’S toughest schools in the city’s most impoverished areas. Their focus on change wasn’t uniquely remarkable:  great school leaders, highly effective teachers, targeted student supports and strong family and community engagement. I believe their impact was that they strategically focused and took action.
 
The results are impressive:  Partnership schools improved faster on the state Academic Performance Index than any other school system in California with more than 3,500 students.  I personally salute the leadership of Mayor Villaraigosa and the community of people who focused their time, talent and resources.  They modeled for us that even our most educationally underserved students are poised to dramatically increase their academic achievement; it is simply the need for all of us to take action.
 
One of the books that most influences me is Stephen Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” One of his habits is to ‘work within your sphere of influence.’ When we started BookEnds we didn’t think we could change educational policy (but we’re now working on that) but we knew that we could influence a classroom of young children through inspiring them to act to help their fellow students.  BookEnds sphere of influence now includes more than three quarters of a million children.
 
Last night was not only a celebration of the leadership of the Mayor and the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, but an affirmation and encouragement for all of us to simply take action because the action of each of us makes impact. Who first dreamed to build a spaceship to return again and again to the moon? How many people did it take to build the Endeavor? Each of us has our part and it takes the community of actions for us to reach the moon.  I salute and challenge each of you to take one step today to make our world a better place. “Make today your masterpiece” – John Wooden.

Robin M. Keefe
BookEnds Founder and President