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David Suzuki's 90th birthday benefit concert helps protect nature
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 23 -- The David Suzuki Foundation posted the following news release:
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David Suzuki's 90th birthday benefit concert helps protect nature
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Event brought musicians, celebrities, activists and Indigenous leaders together to bolster the environmental movement Suzuki has championed for decades
VANCOUVER | TRADITIONAL, UNCEDED TERRITORIES OF THE xwm@thkw@y@m (MUSQUEAM), Skwxwu7mesh (SQUAMISH) AND s@lilw@tal (TSLEIL-WAUTUTH) FIRST NATIONS, May 23, 2026 - The benefit concert, Legacy: A Celebration of David Suzuki at 90, in concert with Vancity on Friday, May
... Show Full Article
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 23 -- The David Suzuki Foundation posted the following news release:
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David Suzuki's 90th birthday benefit concert helps protect nature
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Event brought musicians, celebrities, activists and Indigenous leaders together to bolster the environmental movement Suzuki has championed for decades
VANCOUVER | TRADITIONAL, UNCEDED TERRITORIES OF THE xwm@thkw@y@m (MUSQUEAM), Skwxwu7mesh (SQUAMISH) AND s@lilw@tal (TSLEIL-WAUTUTH) FIRST NATIONS, May 23, 2026 - The benefit concert, Legacy: A Celebration of David Suzuki at 90, in concert with Vancity on Friday, May22 at Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre and streamed live online fulfilled David Suzuki's birthday wish for people to come together, renew their commitment to nature and unite to protect the planet. Presented in partnership with Vancity, it honoured Suzuki's milestone 90th birthday and his lifelong dedication to the planet.
"Friends old and new lit up the stage and the hearts of everyone in the room, making it an inspiring evening to remember," David Suzuki Foundation executive director Pierre Iachetti said. "It was a rallying cry for environmental action and a celebration of all those who have joined Suzuki on his journey."
A welcome by xwm@thkw@y@m (Musqueam Indian Band), Skwxwu7mesh Uxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and s@lilw@tal (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) hosts kicked off the evening. Broadcaster and producer George Stroumboulopoulos was emcee.
David Suzuki, Tara Cullis, Jane Fonda and Al Gore recited the Foundation's Declaration of Interdependence. These speakers, along with Rick Hansen, Janelle Lapointe, Sophie Lui and Suzanne Simard, punctuated moments between musical performances by Bruce Cockburn, Chantal Kreviazuk, Sarah McLachlan, Danny Michel, William Prince, Sam Roberts Band, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Tanya Tagaq Trio, Uzume Taiko, Tia Wood and special guest Neil Young.
The event highlighted themes central to David Suzuki's core philosophy -that all life is interconnected, that what humans do to the planet and all living creatures we do to ourselves, that despite our foresight, we've ignored and then crossed critical planetary boundaries and that to leave behind a better world, we must heed the warnings and embrace the leadership of Indigenous Peoples who have lived in reciprocity with and responsibility to nature since time immemorial.
For his decades-long allyship with Indigenous Peoples, Suzuki was honoured on stage by Haida Nation, Gitg'at, Hailzaqv (Heiltsuk Nation) and 'Namgis First Nation leaders.
All proceeds from the event will support the David Suzuki Foundation's work protecting nature, curbing climate change and creating resilient communities. Projects include:
* Protecting and restoring nature through nature-based solutions, Indigenous-led conservation and grassroots rewilding projects.
* Accelerating climate solutions, such as a cross-Canada east-west renewable electricity grid that will create excellent jobs, save households money and slash greenhouse gas emissions.
* Inspiring cities to prioritize energy-efficient homes and buildings, affordable transit and accessible green spaces.
To support David's legacy, donate to the David Suzuki Foundation: https://dsfdn.org/legacydonation
Special thanks to event partners Vancity, Roots, Nature's Path, Global BC, Pink Buffalo, Real Estate Foundation of BC, ChopValue, Modo, Vancouver Art Gallery, Maison de Camille.
David Suzuki, grandfather, David Suzuki Foundation co-founder, activist, scientist, broadcaster and author said:
"I'm honoured to get all this attention. But what's most important to me -now more than ever -is safeguarding Earth. What I've always wanted -every day, not just in celebration of my birthday -is for people everywhere to act together on the understanding that we are one with nature."
Tara Cullis, David Suzuki Foundation co-founder and president said:
"People wonder what keeps David going. His deep love for the living world. His fierce commitment to truth. His profound faith that together people can change the world for the better. Having community come together to protect the planet that gives us everything -this was the greatest gift David could receive on this milestone birthday."
Pierre Iachetti, David Suzuki Foundation executive director said:
"For decades, David Suzuki has been warning the world about the impacts of climate change, promoting solutions and standing up for Earth. It's because of David's unfaltering, inspiring leadership and laser-focused calls to action that the David Suzuki Foundation can bring together such a large, like-minded community. I'm excited to keep building on David's legacy and help chart bold paths toward ecological resilience and social justice."
Wellington Holbrook, Vancity president and CEO said:
"Vancity was built on the belief that values matter and that a better future is possible. Partnering with the David Suzuki Foundation is a natural extension of our shared values. As we celebrate David Suzuki's 90th birthday, we're proud to partner in a legacy that creates hope, inspires optimism, and calls all of us to act for a sustainable and equitable world."
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Event images and videos: https://dsfdn.org/PressKit
For more information, please contact: dsf@ninepointagency.com.
* Note: David Suzuki and Pierre Iachetti are available for select interviews on request.
The David Suzuki Foundation is a Canadian environmental non-profit organization, founded in 1990. We operate in English and French, with offices in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. We aim to collaborate with many different people in Canada, including Indigenous leadership and communities, all governments, businesses and individuals to find solutions to create a sustainable Canada through scientific research, traditional ecological knowledge, innovative policy and legal solutions, communications and public engagement. Our mission is to protect nature's diversity and the wellbeing of all life, now and for the future. We envision a world where we all act every day on the understanding that we are interdependent with nature and each other.
Vancity is a values-based financial co-operative serving the needs of its 588,000 member-owners and their communities, with offices and more than 60 branches located in Metro Vancouver and Squamish, the Fraser Valley, the Sunshine Coast, the Vancouver and Gulf Islands and Alert Bay, within the territories of the Coast Salish and Kwakwaka'wakw Peoples. With $41 billion in assets plus assets under administration, Vancity is Canada's largest credit union. Vancity uses its assets to help improve the financial wellbeing of its members while helping to develop healthy communities that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.
David Suzuki is a grandfather, scientist, former host of CBC's The Nature of Things, emeritus professor at the University of British Columbia and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Through radio, television and more than 55 books, he has communicated about humanity's collective impact on the natural world, which now threatens the future of human life. Among his many accolades, Suzuki has been conferred with more than 30 honorary degrees from universities in Canada, the United States and Australia. He has been honoured with adoptions and names from eight Indigenous nations in Canada and Australia.
Bruce Cockburn has enjoyed an illustrious career shaped by politics, spirituality and musical diversity. His remarkable journey has seen him embrace folk, jazz, rock and worldbeat styles while earning high praise as a prolific, inspired songwriter and accomplished guitarist. He remains deeply respected for his activism and humanist song lyrics that thread throughout his career. On all his albums, Cockburn has deftly captured the joy, pain, fear and faith of human experience in song. Cockburn has won 13 Juno Awards, an induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, a Governor General's Performing Arts Award and has been made an Officer of the Order of Canada, among many other accolades. He has 22 gold and platinum records including a six-times platinum record for his Christmas album. Cockburn continues to tour internationally.
Tara Cullis is an award-winning author, activist and president of the David Suzuki Foundation. She has been a key player in environmental movements in the Amazon, Southeast Asia, Japan and British Columbia. She co-founded the David Suzuki Foundation with David Suzuki "to collaborate with people in Canada from all walks of life, to conserve our environment and to find solutions that will create a sustainable Canada through science-based research, education and policy work."
Jane Fonda is a two-time Academy Award-winning actor, producer, author, activist and fitness guru. Her career has spanned over 50 years, accumulating a body of film work that includes more than 50 films and significant contributions to political causes such as women's rights, Indigenous rights and environmental protection. She is a seven-time Golden Globe winner and was honoured with the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2021. She accepted the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival. In April 2024, Fonda accepted the TIME magazine Earth Award. She also received the SAG Life Achievement Award in February 2025.
Al Gore, former vice-president of the United States, is the founder and chairman of The Climate Reality Project, a non-profit devoted to solving the climate crisis, a founding partner and chairman of Generation Investment Management and a co-founder of Climate TRACE. He is also a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, a member of the World Economic Forum's board of trustees and a past member of the board of directors at Apple.
Rick Hansen, C.C., O.B.C., six-time Paralympic medallist, is a Canadian icon best known as the "Man In Motion" for undertaking an epic 26-month, 40,000-kilometre journey around the world in his wheelchair. He is the founder of the Rick Hansen Foundation, an organization committed to inspire, create and deliver innovative solutions that accelerate a global movement to remove barriers to inclusion for people with disabilities.
Chantal Kreviazuk made her critically acclaimed full-length debut, Under These Rocks and Stones, in 1997. Since then, the Winnipeg-born and internationally celebrated three-times Juno Award and Grammy winning singer-songwriter and musician, classically trained pianist, actor, movie producer, philanthropist, humanitarian and proud wife and mother of three has recorded 10 albums, including a live album, a holiday album and a collaboration with her husband and Our Lady Peace frontman Raine Maida. A prolific songwriter, Kreviazuk has written global smashes for the likes of Drake, Gwen Stefani, Pitbull, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Carrie Underwood, Avril Lavigne, Shakira, Kelly Clarkson and Kendrick Lamar. Equally committed to helping those in need, Kreviazuk was awarded the Order of Canada in 2014 along with Maida, for their efforts to raise awareness and support for human and animal rights, mental health, education and the environment. Kreviazuk has been an ambassador to War Child for more than two decades and one of the organization's founding artists.
Janelle Lapointe is a climate justice and Indigenous rights organizer from Stellat'en First Nation. She is of mixed Black, Dakelh and French (Quebecois) ancestry. Currently, she is a senior adviser at the David Suzuki Foundation and a guest on Treaty 13 territory, the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Huron-Wendat peoples, as well as the Mississaugas of the Credit. Janelle was previously a regular contributor on CBC Vancouver's The Early Edition climate panel and is a member of the Indigenous Climate Adaptation Working Group, board member of Common Horizon and Sacred Earth Solar, council member of SevenGen Energy and an instructor of Simon Fraser University's Foundations in Climate Action course. She leans on her lived experience growing up on a small reserve in northern British Columbia to ensure that intersectionality is at the forefront of environmental narratives, to build power and help others see their stake in fighting back against the status quo.
Sarah McLachlan is one of the most celebrated singer-songwriters in entertainment with over 40 million albums sold worldwide. She has received three Grammy Awards and 12 Juno Awards over her career and has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriter's Hall of Fame. Sarah's music embodies the art of songwriting on its most personal level, and her indelible vocals resonate with people everywhere. Her songs have had a profound influence: "Angel," "Building A Mystery," "Fallen," "I Will Remember You," "Adia," "Sweet Surrender," "World On Fire," "Possession" and countless others are an inspiration to music lovers around the globe.
Danny Michel is a Canadian songwriter and producer who has built a decades-long career on curiosity and creative risk-taking. Blending rock, pop, folk, world and even classical influences, his "musical ADD" has earned him a devoted fan base, multiple Juno and Polaris Prize nominations, CBC's Heart of Gold award and CFMA honours, including Producer of the Year and the Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries Award. Beyond music, he founded the DM Ocean Academy Fund to support a non-profit high school in Belize and has performed at milestone celebrations for Jane Goodall and David Suzuki, as well as toured with Stuart McLean's Vinyl Cafe.
William Prince is a songwriter shaped by powerful legacies of family and craft. His perspective is both singular and resonant. His fifth LP, Further From the Country, is a striking work of reflection and ambition, marked by clarity, humanity and emotional depth. The distance travelled on this new album is generational, aspirational and deeply personal. Expansive and declarative, the record finds Prince meeting the challenge of writing enduring songs for an age of uncertainty. A two-time Juno Award winner, Prince continues to build an exceptional body of work, earning the John Prine Songwriter Fellowship and an Americana Honors & Awards nomination. From the Newport Folk Festival to sold-out performances at Massey Hall, from NPR's Tiny Desk to tours with The War and Treaty and Yola, he has appeared on some of music's most storied stages. In June 2025, Nipissing University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) recognizing his contributions to music, storytelling and cultural bridge-building.
Sam Roberts Band is an award-winning rock act with over 125 million career streams to date. They maintain their tradition of delivering chart-topping singles, consistently surpassing expectations with their music. Originating from Montreal, the double-platinum-selling band is known for their radio hits since their debut album We Were Born In A Flame, which included hit singles "Brother Down," "Don't Walk Away Eileen," "Hard Road" and "Where Have All The Good People Gone?" Sam Roberts Band continues to release critically acclaimed and fan-loved albums, touring constantly throughout Canada and the world. The band is a perennial favourite and continues to bring new fans into the fold. Their legacy of hit singles is now etched into the Canadian music landscape. Songs such as "We're All In This Together," "Bridge to Nowhere," "Them Kids" and "Picture of Love" continue to be heard on the airwaves, rock and lifestyle playlists and at unforgettable shows.
Suzanne Simard is a professor of forest ecology at the University of British Columbia and leads the Mother Tree Project and Program. Her research -showing that forests are cooperative, connected networks -has revolutionized forest ecology. Her TED Talk has reached millions, and her bestselling book Finding the Mother Tree continues to capture global interest. Named one of TIME 's 100 most influential people in the world in 2024, she champions regenerative forestry rooted in Indigenous knowledge.
Snotty Nose Rez Kids tore into the music scene with an unmistakable talent and an unforgettable name. Showing off their lyrical prowess and natural storytelling ability, Yung Trybez and Young D jumpstarted the band with back-to-back albums in 2017. Their follow up albums, Trapline, Life After God and Im Good, HBU? have solidified their career with greater industry recognition, collecting 13 Western Canadian Music Awards, a Prism Prize award, two Juno nominations and four appearances on the Polaris Prize shortlist. The band has taken their high voltage live show to the road, performing hundreds of shows across six countries. SNRK has gone on to dominate hip-hop music, most recently achieving their biggest milestone, signing to Sony Music. SNRK are blazing their own path, weaving together a musical fabric of hard-hitting lyricism, revealing stories about the struggles they and their people have encountered, empowering protest songs for the frontlines and a humour that keeps even the heaviest of topics something you can vibe to.
George Stroumboulopoulos is a globally renowned storyteller, broadcaster and producer, synonymous with music, television, film and the creative arts in Canada. For more than three decades, he has shaped the national conversation through iconic prime-time news and late-night programs, including CBC's The Hour and George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, his interview series on CNN and as anchor of Hockey Night in Canada. He also fronted and produced The Strombo Show on Apple Music, further cementing his reputation as one of the most trusted and influential voices in contemporary culture.
Tanya Tagaq Trio comprises Tanya Tagaq, Jean Martin and Jeffrey Zeigler. Tanya Tagaq is an internationally celebrated artist from Ikaluktutiak (Cambridge Bay, Nunavut). She is an improvisational singer, avant-garde composer and bestselling author. A member of the Order of Canada, Polaris Music Prize and Juno Award winner, and recipient of multiple honorary doctorates, Tagaq is an original disruptor and a world-changing figure at the forefront of seismic social, political and environmental change. Jean Martin is a drummer, multi-instrumentalist and producer based in Toronto, but with a network of collaborators that extends throughout Canada and internationally. He was nominated in 2004 as 'Best Drummer' at the National Jazz Awards and received the 2004 Freddy Stone Award for excellence in contemporary music in Canada. As a producer, Jean is best known as the Artistic Director of Barnyard Records. Cellist and multidisciplinary artist Jeffrey Zeigler has a body of work that spans genres, themes, and formats, from solo to opera to chamber and interdisciplinary collaborations. As a member of the internationally-renowned Kronos Quartet from 2005-2013, he is the recipient of the Avery Fisher Prize, the Polar Music Prize, the President's Merit Award from NARAS (who present the GRAMMY(tm) Awards), the Richard Bogomolny National Service Award from Chamber Music America, and The Asia Society's Cultural Achievement Award.
Tia Wood followed her heart from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation rez in central Alberta to the bright lights of Los Angeles to make her musical dreams come true. Her powerful, soulful voice carries the spirit of her peoples' songs that have echoed from her homelands since time immemorial. Growing up in Treaty 6 territory in a home rich with music and culture, Wood began singing as soon as she could talk, inspired by her parents, siblings and dual Plains Cree and Coast Salish heritage. Her father, Earl Wood, co-founded and was a member of the renowned powwow group Northern Cree, while her mother Cynthia Jim and sister Fawn Wood are also accomplished musicians. These early influences shaped Wood's artistic path and continue to inform her work today. Her debut songs, including "Losing Game," "Dirt Roads," "Sky High," "Catch and Release" and "Sugar and Cream," are as eclectic and rich as the young adult experience. With sonically rich vocals and deeply personal storytelling, Tia Wood is carving out a distinctive voice in today's music landscape.
Uzume Taiko has developed a reputation as one of Canada's most dynamic performing ensembles. Their repertoire includes a variety of drum-playing styles, exciting rhythms and powerful beats that the audience feels. They create new cross-cultural taiko music by combining the festival drumming style from Japan with contributions from various musicians and artists. Uzume Taiko has performed in all corners of Canada, from the Arctic to both coasts and many points in between. The group has toured their evening concerts, festival and youth shows across North America, the United Kingdom and Europe. The troupe leads taiko drum workshops in schools and communities for people of all ages, for health and wellness.
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Original text here: https://davidsuzuki.org/press/david-suzukis-90th-birthday-benefit-concert-helps-protect-nature/
Asia Foundation Co-Convenes Asia Symposium in Wellington on Regional Transition and Cooperation
SAN FRANCISCO, California, May 23 -- The Asia Foundation issued the following news:
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The Asia Foundation Co-Convenes Asia Symposium in Wellington on Regional Transition and Cooperation
Wellington, May 21, 2026 - The Asia Foundation partnered with the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whitau Tuhono to convene Asia in Transition: The Middle Power Moment, a full-day symposium examining the forces shaping Asia and the growing role of small and middle powers in advancing regional stability, economic resilience, and cooperation.
More than 150 policymakers, business leaders, researchers, and regional
... Show Full Article
SAN FRANCISCO, California, May 23 -- The Asia Foundation issued the following news:
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The Asia Foundation Co-Convenes Asia Symposium in Wellington on Regional Transition and Cooperation
Wellington, May 21, 2026 - The Asia Foundation partnered with the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whitau Tuhono to convene Asia in Transition: The Middle Power Moment, a full-day symposium examining the forces shaping Asia and the growing role of small and middle powers in advancing regional stability, economic resilience, and cooperation.
More than 150 policymakers, business leaders, researchers, and regionalpractitioners gathered on May 20 for a series of timely foreign policy conversations focused on regional security, supply chain resilience, technological transformation, climate change, and the geopolitics of aid.
For The Asia Foundation, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to connecting grounded regional knowledge with decision-makers navigating a complex and rapidly changing landscape.
Asia New Zealand Foundation chief executive Suzannah Jessep said the symposium comes at a critical time for New Zealand's relationship with Asia.
"The Asia region is central to New Zealand's future, economically, strategically, and diplomatically. The symposium creates an important opportunity for New Zealand decision-makers to engage directly with experts from across Asia, helping to build the relationships and understanding needed to navigate a complex regional environment."
She added that partnering with The Asia Foundation brings deep regional insight and expands the networks and perspectives available to New Zealand audiences.
"Partnering on this symposium reflects our commitment to connecting on-the-ground knowledge with decision-makers who need it most," said Thomas Parks, vice president for strategic partnerships at The Asia Foundation. "We see this symposium as part of a longer-term effort to strengthen dialogue, relationships, and regional understanding between New Zealand and Asia."
From supply chain resilience and regional security to governance, economic transition, and geopolitics, these are issues The Asia Foundation's country offices and regional teams engage with every day through research, dialogue, partnerships, and policy-focused programming.
Anthea Mulakala, senior director at The Asia Foundation, shared regional perspectives on governance, development, and shifting geopolitical dynamics across Asia and the Pacific. Kathline Tolosa, director for governance and resilience in The Asia Foundation Philippines, discussed community resilience, democratic governance, and the importance of locally grounded approaches in responding to regional uncertainty. Todd Wassel, country representative in Thailand, contributed insights on regional cooperation, political transitions, and evolving economic and strategic relationships across Southeast Asia.
The event underscores The Asia Foundation's longstanding role as a bridge between local insight, regional expertise, and practical policy engagement across Asia and the Pacific.
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Original text here: https://asiafoundation.org/the-asia-foundation-co-convenes-asia-symposium-in-wellington/
Foundation for Economic Education Posts Commentary: Curiosity Isn't Enough
DETROIT, Michigan, May 22 -- The Foundation for Economic Education issued the following commentary by entrepreneur-in-residence Jennie Jones:
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Curiosity Isn't Enough
But control isn't, either.
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In a recent interview, David Bidler, founder of the non-profit Physiology First, asked an important question: Should our brains follow what they are interested in, or what we are told to pay attention to? One could argue that this is the central question that defines the variety of educational philosophies in our world today. It is essentially asking, "Who leads? The teacher or the student?"
I
... Show Full Article
DETROIT, Michigan, May 22 -- The Foundation for Economic Education issued the following commentary by entrepreneur-in-residence Jennie Jones:
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Curiosity Isn't Enough
But control isn't, either.
*
In a recent interview, David Bidler, founder of the non-profit Physiology First, asked an important question: Should our brains follow what they are interested in, or what we are told to pay attention to? One could argue that this is the central question that defines the variety of educational philosophies in our world today. It is essentially asking, "Who leads? The teacher or the student?"
Istarted my agile learning community (a center for self-directed learning) two years ago, feeling pretty adamant that the answer to that question was the child. However, after four years of unschooling my own kids, and two years of running my community, I am convinced that this is a false dichotomy. The middle place I am trying to land is relationship-centered learning, where both the mentor and mentee's experience is valid and useful.
Four years ago, when I first told my kids that our new homeschool plan was to learn the things we are interested in, I envisioned that they would naturally get curious about things that fit into nice subject boxes like math, science, and reading--things that would look like my childhood school days. Instead, the question that came up right away was: "Does Minecraft 'count' as an interest?"
The kids didn't ask that question, but I did. Over and over. Should kids' brains really follow what they are interested in?
This is a centuries-old question, but asking it in our modern, attention-driven economy is perhaps more nuanced than it was for the pioneers of the child-led learning movement. Handing kids full autonomy to follow whatever captivates their interest now feels a bit like selling them to the loudest bidder.
I am not a neuroscientist, but I have read enough to understand a bit about how our brains, with their novelty-seeking reward pathways, are naturally drawn to engage with our digital devices. And sure, there is a lot we can discover and even "learn" on digital platforms. However, the skill of processing and assimilating that information into applicable uses in our lives is mostly an off-screen task requiring our higher-level thinking, focus, and sustained effort. I can't tell you how many amazing skills I have "learned" from Instagram that I still struggle to use--or even remember, for that matter.
One of the criticisms of traditional, teacher-led instruction is that kids are incentivized to memorize and regurgitate, making it difficult for deeper engagement, real-world application, and long-term retention. On the other end of the spectrum, allowing unfettered access to the Internet and calling it "educational" possibly gives kids a similar barrage of new (and often disjointed) information. It is interest-led and "self-directed" (although I would probably call it algorithm-directed), so kids appear engaged. But how much is retained? What part is applied? When the project is harder than the video looks, do we sustain effort long enough to troubleshoot, or do we just go back to scrolling for something else new and flashy? Do kids even try the experiment? After all, they just saw it unfold before their eyes in living color. And there's plenty more where that came from.
We live in the tension of two truths: Kids learn best when they can engage with something that interests them, and kids today are bombarded with constant digital novelty bidding for their attention.
I have found that while I believe strongly in giving kids space to explore their interests, my goals as an educator are twofold:
* I want kids who are capable of following their curiosity and sustaining attention and effort to get to the deeper levels of meaning or higher-level skills within their interests.
* I want to teach kids how to persevere when something stops being fun because they still want what is on the other side of the hard or the boring.
* In our attention economy, I really want kids to know how to direct their own attention. This requires getting clear about what they want, making some sort of plan to get there, and then maintaining focus long enough to follow through on the plan.
One thing I love to teach my kids is that good questions lead to better ones. If we stay stuck in the false dichotomy of teacher versus student, we miss the more important question: How do kids learn to direct and sustain their attention?
An algorithm keeps a child engaged--that's its goal. It can appear to be sustained attention. A mentor's goal is actually the opposite: to help the child no longer need them. So curiosity is not enough, but control isn't, either.
Curiosity is natural and easily led by the child. But focus and sustained effort are skills, and they don't develop on their own. They require supported practice in the right environment. Kids need someone who can ask good questions, model reflection, and help them break big ideas into manageable steps. Over time, when extended in a caring relationship, that external guidance becomes the internal voice of a self-directed learner. That is the relationship-centered dance led by a guide who knows when to lead and when to follow.
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Jennie Jones is an Entrepreneur-In-Residence in FEE. She is former professional ballerina, turned homeschooling mom of four, turned education entrepreneur. She runs the Treehouse Agile Learning Community in St. George, Utah. A home-based microschool that uses agile learning tools to foster intentional community, natural learning, and independence, The Treehouse currently serves homeschooled students ages 5-12.
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Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/curiosity-isnt-enough/
Breakthrough T1D Supports Bipartisan SCREEN for T1D Act Introduced by U.S. Representatives Schrier and Joyce and Senators Shaheen and Collins
NEW YORK, May 22 -- Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) a non-profit dedicated to funding type 1 diabetes research, posted the following news release:
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Breakthrough T1D Supports Bipartisan SCREEN for T1D Act Introduced by U.S. Representatives Schrier and Joyce and Senators Shaheen and Collins
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Breakthrough T1D applauds Representatives Kim Schrier (D-WA) and John Joyce (R-PA) and Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) for introducing the Strengthening Collective Resources for Encouraging Education Needed (SCREEN) for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) Act of 2026. The bipartisan legislation
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, May 22 -- Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) a non-profit dedicated to funding type 1 diabetes research, posted the following news release:
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Breakthrough T1D Supports Bipartisan SCREEN for T1D Act Introduced by U.S. Representatives Schrier and Joyce and Senators Shaheen and Collins
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Breakthrough T1D applauds Representatives Kim Schrier (D-WA) and John Joyce (R-PA) and Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) for introducing the Strengthening Collective Resources for Encouraging Education Needed (SCREEN) for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) Act of 2026. The bipartisan legislationaims to increase awareness and improve screening and early detection of T1D.
The SCREEN for T1D Act would direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a national education campaign to highlight the benefits of T1D screening, early detection, and disease management. The bill also would ensure that evidence-based educational resources on T1D screening are shared with state and local health departments, schools, primary and pediatric care providers, and community health centers.
Screening and early detection of T1D can save lives, help people make important decisions about their health, and potentially change the course of the disease. Too often, children and adults are diagnosed only after becoming critically ill. Screening for T1D can be done through a simple blood test, and ongoing monitoring can help families avoid medical emergencies and take action sooner. In addition, following the FDA's recent approval of Tzield for use in children as young as one year old to delay the onset of T1D, even more families stand to benefit from early screening-further increasing the urgency of this legislation.
"Breakthrough T1D applauds Representatives Schrier and Joyce and Senators Shaheen and Collins for introducing the SCREEN for Type 1 Diabetes Act, a bipartisan bill to promote awareness and early detection for type 1 diabetes," said Lynn Starr, Breakthrough T1D's Chief Global Advocacy Officer. "Too many people first learn of a T1D diagnosis in the emergency room during a medical crisis. Screening and early detection can change that by reducing the risk of life-threatening complications, giving individuals and families valuable time to prepare, and connecting them to clinical trials and therapies that may delay disease onset. As we continue advancing toward prevention and cures, we must ensure that families across the country can easily access screening and have the tools and information needed to respond."
Breakthrough T1D will continue to work with lawmakers to advance this important legislation and ensure families nationwide have access to timely information and early detection tools.
More information about screening and early detection can be found at www.breakthrought1d.org/early-detection.
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Original text here: https://www.breakthrought1d.org/for-the-media/press-releases/breakthrough-t1d-supports-bipartisan-screen-for-t1d-act-introduced-by-u-s-representatives-schrier-and-joyce-and-senators-shaheen-and-collins/
WLF Urges Supreme Court to Stop Boulder, Colorado from Subverting the Constitutional Order
WASHINGTON, May 21 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The Washington Legal Foundation issued the following news release:
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WLF Urges Supreme Court to Stop Boulder, Colorado from Subverting the Constitutional Order
Washington Legal Foundation (WLF) today urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a Colorado Supreme Court order allowing an unconstitutional state proceeding against two energy producers, Suncor and ExxonMobil, to go forward. WLF was joined on the brief by the National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center and the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.
The
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 21 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The Washington Legal Foundation issued the following news release:
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WLF Urges Supreme Court to Stop Boulder, Colorado from Subverting the Constitutional Order
Washington Legal Foundation (WLF) today urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a Colorado Supreme Court order allowing an unconstitutional state proceeding against two energy producers, Suncor and ExxonMobil, to go forward. WLF was joined on the brief by the National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center and the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.
TheCity and County of Boulder, Colorado wants to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions and "tax" the energy industry by obtaining a multi-billion-dollar verdict under Colorado tort law against the targeted companies for contributing to global climate change. And Boulder isn't alone-thousands of local governments stand ready to bring copycat suits against the whole worldwide energy industry if this gambit succeeds.
Although the Constitution gives the power to regulate interstate and international commerce solely to Congress, the Colorado Supreme Court denied an effort by the companies to shut down the litigation on constitutional grounds. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review that decision earlier this year-but Boulder argues that the Court made a mistake is agreeing to hear the case before Boulder secured a verdict from a jury.
WLF's amicus brief explains why that's wrong. The Colorado Supreme Court decision wrongfully deprived Suncor and Exxon of a valid and correct constitutional defense to vexatious litigation. That's sufficient injury for the Court to hear the case now and end Boulder's unlawful regulatory ambitions. As the brief notes, doing otherwise "would have cataclysmic consequences for the Nation-indeed, the world."
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Click here to read WLF's brief (https://www.wlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/WLF-NFIB-NAW-Amicus-Brief-Suncor-21may2026.pdf).
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Original text here: https://www.wlf.org/2026/05/21/communicating/wlf-urges-supreme-court-to-stop-boulder-colorado-from-subverting-the-constitutional-order/
Schwab Investors Controlling $4.3 Trillion Demand Answers re: DAF Funding Prohibition
OAKLAND, California, May 21 -- As You Sow Foundation posted the following news release:
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Schwab Investors Controlling $4.3 Trillion Demand Answers re: DAF Funding Prohibition
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MEDIA CONTACT: Ryon Harms, ryon@asyousow.org, 310.730.9407
Sign-On Letter Delivered to Schwab CEO and Investor Relations Before Annual General Meeting; Shareholders Press Board on Unilateral Donor Advised Funds Policy Change
EL CERRITO, CA, May 21, 2026 - As Charles Schwab Corporation convened its 2026 Annual General Meeting today, a coalition of investors representing more than $4.3 trillion in assets delivered
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OAKLAND, California, May 21 -- As You Sow Foundation posted the following news release:
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Schwab Investors Controlling $4.3 Trillion Demand Answers re: DAF Funding Prohibition
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MEDIA CONTACT: Ryon Harms, ryon@asyousow.org, 310.730.9407
Sign-On Letter Delivered to Schwab CEO and Investor Relations Before Annual General Meeting; Shareholders Press Board on Unilateral Donor Advised Funds Policy Change
EL CERRITO, CA, May 21, 2026 - As Charles Schwab Corporation convened its 2026 Annual General Meeting today, a coalition of investors representing more than $4.3 trillion in assets delivereda sharp rebuke to the firm's leadership over its abrupt decision (coordinated in apparent lockstep with Vanguard and Fidelity) to stop honoring DAF client funding directions for donations to Southern Poverty Law Center, currently a 501c3 non-profit organization in good standing. This abrupt change occurred after the recent indictment by the Trump DOJ for charges that appear to be politically motivated.
The sign-on letter was transmitted directly to Schwab's Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Secretary, and Investor Relations on May 20th, one day before the AGM, demanding transparency and accountability from executives and a board that has so far offered only a legal technicality in response.
Donor-Advised Funds are widely used by philanthropically minded investors to manage charitable giving with tax efficiency. Clients contribute assets, receive an immediate tax deduction, and rely on fund administrators like Schwab to execute grant recommendations to IRS approved nonprofits of their choosing. When Schwab's DAFgiving360, Vanguard Charitable, and Fidelity Charitable each announced (within hours of one another)that they would no longer follow client directions to certain organizations, the move struck thousands of account holders as a unilateral breach of the foundational promise of how those accounts were sold.
"When investors put money in a donor advised fund, they want their funding directives to be followed. Schwab, Vanguard, and Fidelity have breached this trust, limiting their clients' giving in what appears to be a coordinated action," said Andrew Behar, CEO, As You Sow. "Everyone should have a financial manager that they can trust to execute their decisions."
At today's AGM, shareholders submitted pointed questions designed to determine whether this Schwab DAFgiving360 decision was made unilaterally or whether Schwab was approached by outside interests, whether the board was consulted and approved of the decision to prohibit funding to the group, and whether the timing of the near-simultaneous announcements by all three firms reflects any form of coordination.
Schwab management has thus far responded to shareholder concerns by characterizing DAFgiving360 as a legally separate entity-a response that investors and analysts have widely dismissed as evasive. The corporate separation argument does not address the substantive governance questions: who approved this policy, on what legal or ethical basis was it implemented, and why did three major DAF sponsors align simultaneously without prior client notification.
The financial stakes are considerable. According to DAF Research Collaborative, DAF accounts represent over $327 billion in assets and made over $64 billion in charitable giving in 2025. This is a significant and growing segment of philanthropic capital in the United States, and Schwab, Fidelity, and Vanguard collectively administer a dominant share of assets among 1,512 sponsors.
Institutional investors in the sign-on letter and hundreds of DAF holders who signed another letter put forth by Democracy Alliance, warn that Schwab's reputational exposure is material: clients who feel their giving autonomy has been compromised have many alternatives, and account migration risk is real. Several DAF account holders have already indicated they are evaluating independent community foundation sponsors and single-purpose DAF platforms that operate without the same conflicts of interest. An online workshop on how to move your DAF to another sponsor was held on May 14th and was attended by over 200 DAF holders. The website FreeYourDAF was also launched to assist the shift of capital that is now under way.
The investor coalition is calling on Schwab's board to publicly disclose the deliberative record underlying DAFgiving360's policy change, confirm whether any inter-institutional communications preceded the announcement, and articulate whether the board intends to restore client funding direction rights or establish a clear, viewpoint-neutral standard for any future restrictions. Shareholders will be watching closely to determine whether management chooses to engage substantively with these governance questions or deflect once again.
About As You Sow
As You Sow is the nation's leading shareholder representative, with a 30-year track record promoting environmental and social corporate responsibility. Its focus areas include climate change, ocean plastics, toxins in the food system, the Rights of Nature, racial justice, and workplace diversity. Click here to view As You Sow's shareholder resolution tracker.
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Original text here: https://www.asyousow.org/press-releases/2026/5/20/investors-controlling-44-trillion-demand-answers-at-schwab-agm-over-donor-advised-fund-funding-restrictionsnbsp
FFRF Supports AZ Students Protesting School-Sponsored Prayer
MADISON, Wisconsin, May 21 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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FFRF supports AZ students protesting school-sponsored prayer
Students at El Capitan High School in Colorado City, Ariz., are protesting school-sponsored prayer that district officials are still scheduling in the graduation ceremony despite student objections and constitutional dictates.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has told the Colorado City Unified School District to immediately remove prayer from the school's June 3 graduation ceremony after the school received complaints from
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MADISON, Wisconsin, May 21 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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FFRF supports AZ students protesting school-sponsored prayer
Students at El Capitan High School in Colorado City, Ariz., are protesting school-sponsored prayer that district officials are still scheduling in the graduation ceremony despite student objections and constitutional dictates.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has told the Colorado City Unified School District to immediately remove prayer from the school's June 3 graduation ceremony after the school received complaints fromgraduating seniors who say administrators are attempting to force religion into what should be a celebration of students' achievements. According to the student complaint received by FFRF, El Capitan High School has long included official invocations and benedictions at graduation ceremonies, with students selected in advance to lead the audience in prayer. This year's graduation program was set to feature scheduled prayers led by two designated students despite clear Supreme Court precedent ruling such practices unconstitutional.
After student objections, district officials reportedly altered the program so that the prayer would occur before the ceremony officially begins and described participation as "optional." But the change misses the point.
"El Capitan High School's custom and practice of including school-sponsored prayers at graduation directly violates students' First Amendment rights," FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence writes. "The school cannot avoid a constitutional violation by assigning students to lead prayers, moving the prayer to the top of the ceremony, or proclaiming that the prayer is no longer mandatory."
As the school board itself has noted, the ceremony is under the school's control. A public school cannot constitutionally implement religious worship as part of a school activity.
High school graduation is a once-in-a-lifetime event that students spend over a decade working toward. As FFRF's student-complainant explained, the school forcing prayer on graduating students has caused the students "frustration" instead of allowing them to focus on their achievements. Including prayer at graduation puts many students and families in the unconscionable and unconstitutional position of choosing between exiting or foregoing the ceremony or else violating their conscience.
Plus, having prayer at graduation ceremonies and other school-sponsored events needlessly marginalizes students and families who are nonreligious or members of minority faiths. As many as 29 percent of Americans are non-Christian, including the almost 30 percent that are nonreligious. (Arizona even has slightly higher than average numbers of religiously unaffiliated adults at 31 percent.) More than half of Generation Z members (those born after 1996) are non-Christian, including 43 percent who are nonreligious.
"Students deserve to celebrate their achievements that came from hard work -- not be forced to show obeisance to someone else's religion," FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor says. "We expect this rogue school district to stop violating the constitutional rights of its students by canceling these prayers immediately."
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with over 41,000 members and several chapters across the country, including more than 1,000 members and a chapter in Arizona. Its purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
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Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-supports-az-students-protesting-school-sponsored-prayer/
[Category: Religion]
