Latest news with #CarnegieCorporation
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
80 years after the atomic bomb: A photo gallery from Hiroshima
Japan Hiroshima Anniversary HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — Hiroshima is marking the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the western Japanese city. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. ___ The Associated Press receives support for nuclear security coverage from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Outrider Foundation . The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ Additional AP coverage of the nuclear landscape:
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GreatSchools receives grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York to integrate public library data into school information platform
New initiative will embed local public library information into GreatSchools' national school search platform, giving families a more complete view of community learning resources OAKLAND, Calif., July 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GreatSchools, the nation's leading nonprofit school information site, today announced it has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York to support the integration of public library data onto This grant represents a significant investment in expanding how families understand and navigate their local educational ecosystems, allowing them to explore not only school options, but also trusted community resources that support learning beyond the classroom. With this funding, GreatSchools will lead the first national effort to embed public library data within a school information platform. The project aims to contextualize school data with nearby library information, helping families better understand the learning supports available in their communities. The initiative reflects a shared vision between GreatSchools and Carnegie Corporation to illuminate the broader educational ecosystem that helps children thrive. "Where you learn goes beyond the classroom. Thanks to Carnegie's support, we can now highlight the vital role of public libraries in kids' education," said Jon Deane, CEO of GreatSchools. "By integrating library information into our platform, we're giving parents a more complete picture of their local learning environment. This innovation will help families discover community resources and make more informed choices for their children's learning." Ambika Kapur, a Program Director of Education at Carnegie, emphasized the foundation's interest in bridging school and community resources. "Public libraries are essential yet often under-recognized centers of learning," Kapur said. "We are proud to support GreatSchools in pioneering a platform that connects families to both school and library information. By surfacing these community assets, this effort not only strengthens transparency in education data but also spurs innovation in how families engage with learning beyond school walls." Public libraries have long served as vital learning hubs, offering not only books but a range of essential services from family literacy programs and after-school clubs to college readiness resources, English-language learning, and civic engagement opportunities. Yet despite their value, these resources are often underutilized, particularly in communities with the highest education needs. As families navigate an increasingly complex learning landscape, GreatSchools aims to make it easier to understand and access these trusted public institutions. As part of this initiative, the organization will develop dedicated profiles for public libraries across the country, along with tools that allow library staff to share up-to-date information about their programs and services. GreatSchools will also publish parent-friendly content to help demystify what libraries offer and encourage families to take full advantage of these free, accessible learning resources. About GreatSchools:GreatSchools is the leading nonprofit providing high-quality information that supports parents pursuing a great education for their child, schools striving for excellence, and communities working to diminish inequities in education. We are the only national organization that collects and analyzes data from all 51 state departments of education and the federal government to provide analysis, insights, and school quality ratings for parents, partners, researchers, and policymakers. Nearly half of all K–12 families visit GreatSchools' award-winning website annually to learn about schools in their area, explore research insights, and access thousands of free, evidence-based parenting resources to support their child's learning and well-being. Learn more at and join us on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook. About Carnegie Corporation:Carnegie Corporation of New York was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. Today the foundation works to reduce political polarization through philanthropic support for the issues that Carnegie considered most important: education, democracy, and peace. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gwinnett County Public Library gets $350,000 grant from Carnegie Corporation
One of the oldest philanthropies in the United States gave the Gwinnett County Public Library (GCPL) a major grant. According to the library system, the Carnegie Corporation of New York awarded $350,000, which they plan to use for expanding English language classes, in partnership with Gwinnett County Public Schools. The Carnegie Corporation said GCPL was one of 11 libraries across the U.S. to get an award from the Libraries as Pillars of Education and Democracy initiative. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'Andrew Carnegie believed libraries were ladders upon which anyone and everyone could rise, and that belief continues to guide us,' Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie, said in a statement. 'At a time when trust in public institutions is fraying, libraries retain public trust. We are delighted to support these grantees as they provide essential programs and community services.' TRENDING STORIES: 'Black Mecca' no longer? Atlanta prices cause families to move out of the city Atlanta Public Schools announces new first day of school, 13 new principals Georgia father drowns after getting caught in Gulf rip current Through the additional funding, GCPL said they'll be able to increase the number of free English classes and recruit more community volunteers. The funding will also go toward stipends for volunteer English teachers and bus passes for those participating in the program. 'Fluency in the English language is essential for everyone to participate in American society, culture, politics, and business. We are delighted that the Carnegie Corporation has recognized the importance of English language classes and libraries in general to maintain a literate and engaged citizenry,' Charles Pace, Executive Director of Gwinnett County Public Library, said. 'Thanks to this generous award we will be able to better support the English language learner needs of the Gwinnett Community than ever before.' The Carnegie Corporation said more than 1,400 applicants sent requests for funding from the program. The organization said they 'prioritized initiatives' that had shown both strong demand from their communities and success either teaching Adult English language and literacy to build job readiness, or college access programs for teens with academic, civic and leadership skills, college admissions knowledge and with support from families as they transition to college. 'Libraries are places where people build knowledge, skills, and agency,' said Ambika Kapur, an Education program director at Carnegie. 'This initiative reflects our belief in investing in civic participation — wherever people come together to learn." [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Local officials are looking for ways to keep political polarization at bay
Local officials are looking for ways to keep political polarization at bay as it continues to rage around them in the wider world, according to a new survey by the nonprofit research organization CivicPulse. Just under a third of local government leaders who took part in the survey, which was commissioned by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and released Tuesday, said political polarization negatively affects their communities "a great deal" or "a lot" — matching the 31% who said the same in an earlier survey by the nonprofit groups before the 2024 election. While their perceptions have held steady, local officials are seeking new ways to prevent what 83% of them called the substantial harmful impact of polarization on the nation from seeping into their communities. The survey of nearly 1,300 community leaders from around the country, conducted from January through March, is the second in a three-part series on the local impact of political polarization. The results, drawn from municipalities of a few thousand people to tens of thousands, again suggest local governments — especially in smaller communities — are more insulated from the negative effects of polarization than state and national ones. Still, the responses showed that local leaders believe the negative community impact hasn't subsided even after the conclusion of last year's heated election, driving a variety of mitigation efforts. They include focusing on hyperlocal policy areas that the public, regardless of party affiliation, can agree on; emphasizing neutral language, evidence and community benefits in communications; hosting community events to raise awareness of what local government is doing; and introducing volunteering opportunities and civics education. 'The finding that perceptions of political polarization are slow to change confirms the need for sustained commitments,' Louise Richardson, president of the Carnegie Corporation, said in a statement. 'Evidently local government leaders are looking for ways to foster more cohesive environments, and in so doing are providing examples for other communities.' Just under half of respondents, or 48%, said they choose to devote their time to policy topics that universally affect the community, like infrastructure, housing and public safety, to avoid potential politicization. Local leaders said that when opinions on topics could fall along national party lines, they try to reframe the issues to lessen any divisiveness, with 57% reporting they considered the challenges of polarization in deciding how to communicate about their work. James Hely, a Town Council member in Westfield, New Jersey, provided one example. He said that he and the mayor favor building affordable housing in their community but that the term can be politically charged. "You have to be very liberal to say I want the town to have a lot of affordable housing," said Hely, a Democrat. Instead, he reframes the issue to focus on local control of zoning. That's because New Jersey enacted a law, known as the "builder's remedy," that allows developers to sue municipalities to build affordable housing when such accommodations are lacking, sometimes overriding local zoning restrictions and the community's wishes. "Rather than say we want to make sure we have affordable housing, you turn that around to say, one, we want to stop the builder's remedy; we want to prevent builders from coming in and crashing our zoning code," he said. In addition to reframing potentially polarizing topics, council members typically stick to an agenda that focuses on hyperlocal issues, Hely said. 'I counted up the votes that are put before the Town Council,' he said. 'About 98% to 99% [of the votes] there's 100% unanimity, because it just involves how much do you pay the police and how many traffic lights we need — things have nothing to do with ideology.' Hely, whose Town Council consists of five Democrats and four Republicans, said partisan political rhetoric is seen as counterproductive on the council and is considered off-limits when community issues are discussed. 'On the formal Town Council meetings, if anyone were to say, you know, 'Trump is evil' or anything critical on the national level, you'd be seen as out of bounds,' he said. 'You know — why are you talking about that? We're here to solve local problems.' Zoe Warner, a member of the Malvern Borough Council in Pennsylvania, echoed Hely. She said it's easier for council members to do their work when their constituents understand 'we don't have control over those larger issues' that plague discussions of national politics, such as immigration or cuts to federal agencies. 'So [we're] trying to work together to find solutions for things that we really do have control over, like a building going up,' despite potential disagreements over things like the potential impact on traffic congestion, said Warner, a Democrat. The things that help enlist community support are 'being transparent about it, providing as much information, having the developer meet with these people, trying to find as much common ground as we can," she said. Forty-four percent of the survey respondents also cited long-term volunteering opportunities as a way to fight polarization in local communities, while 38% of the school board officials surveyed described civics education as helpful. Still others said staying connected with residents is key. Forty-six percent of local leaders said hosting community events 'strongly' or 'somewhat' decreased the negative effects of polarization. A high proportion also pointed to other methods of engagement as effective, such as hosting open meetings, holding informal office and coffee hours (where residents meet with leaders in informal settings) and inviting people to participate in things like budget planning by joining special commissions. 'It's really quite simple,' said Jon Keeney, the mayor of Taylor Lake Village, Texas. 'I am and my council are 100% transparent. There's not anything that's done behind closed doors in the city.' Keeney said that while he has been active in the Texas Republican Party for a long time, he has never let those political beliefs affect his agenda for the city. 'I have both Democrats, Republicans and actually independents on my council, and I could care less what their ideology is,' he said. He added: 'I never tried to influence any of my council members on what I put on the agenda in terms of how they would vote. So there's no backroom stuff going on in that respect.' Carleigh Beriont, a Democratic town selectwoman in Hampton, New Hampshire, agreed with the survey's findings that community engagement is critical. 'Listening is just really key," Beriont said. "Like, the more I've listened to residents, the more I've come to understand that their views are not really represented by partisan ideology, right? 'I really do think that listening and being humble and organizing people in the community can be a great way to get things done,' she added. 'I'm not making decisions that I think will benefit my Democratic neighbors or my Republican neighbors. I try to make decisions that I know will benefit as many people as possible and be as transparent and accountable and open to exchange as I can be.' This article was originally published on
NBC News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Amid continued political polarization, local leaders seek out the best ways to mitigate
Local officials are looking for ways to keep political polarization at bay as it continues to rage around them in the wider world, according to a new survey by the nonprofit research organization CivicPulse that was commissioned by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Just under a third of local government leaders who took part in the survey, which was released Tuesday, said political polarization negatively affects their communities "a great deal" or "a lot" — matching the 31% who said the same in an earlier survey by the nonprofit groups before the 2024 election. While their perceptions have held steady, local officials are seeking new ways to prevent what 83% of them called the substantial harmful impact of polarization on the nation from seeping into their communities. The survey of nearly 1,300 community leaders from around the country, conducted from January through March, is the second in a three-part series on the local impact of political polarization. The results, drawn from municipalities of a few thousand people to tens of thousands, again suggest local governments — especially in smaller communities — are more insulated from the negative effects of polarization than state and national ones. Still, the responses showed that local leaders believe the negative community impact hasn't subsided even after the conclusion of last year's heated election, driving a variety of mitigation efforts. They include focusing on hyperlocal policy areas that the public, regardless of party affiliation, can agree on; emphasizing neutral language, evidence and community benefits in communications; hosting community events to raise awareness of what local government is doing; and introducing volunteering opportunities and civics education. 'The finding that perceptions of political polarization are slow to change confirms the need for sustained commitments,' Louise Richardson, president of the Carnegie Corporation, said in a statement. 'Evidently local government leaders are looking for ways to foster more cohesive environments, and in so doing are providing examples for other communities.' Choosing topics to transcend polarization Just under half of respondents, or 48%, said they choose to devote their time to policy topics that universally affect the community, like infrastructure, housing and public safety, to avoid potential politicization. Local leaders said that when opinions on topics could fall along national party lines, they try to reframe the issues to lessen any divisiveness, with 57% reporting they considered the challenges of polarization in deciding how to communicate about their work. James Hely, a Town Council member in Westfield, New Jersey, provided one example. He said that he and the mayor favor building affordable housing in their community but that the term can be politically charged. "You have to be very liberal to say I want the town to have a lot of affordable housing," said Hely, a Democrat. Instead, he reframes the issue to focus on local control of zoning. That's because New Jersey enacted a law, known as the "builder's remedy," that allows developers to sue municipalities to build affordable housing when such accommodations are lacking, sometimes overriding local zoning restrictions and the community's wishes. "Rather than say we want to make sure we have affordable housing, you turn that around to say, one, we want to stop the builder's remedy; we want to prevent builders from coming in and crashing our zoning code," he said. In addition to reframing potentially polarizing topics, council members typically stick to an agenda that focuses on hyperlocal issues, Hely said. 'I counted up the votes that are put before the Town Council,' he said. 'About 98% to 99% [of the votes] there's 100% unanimity, because it just involves how much do you pay the police and how many traffic lights we need — things have nothing to do with ideology.' Hely, whose Town Council consists of five Democrats and four Republicans, said partisan political rhetoric is seen as counterproductive on the council and is considered off-limits when community issues are discussed. 'On the formal Town Council meetings, if anyone were to say, you know, 'Trump is evil' or anything critical on the national level, you'd be seen as out of bounds,' he said. 'You know — why are you talking about that? We're here to solve local problems.' Zoe Warner, a member of the Malvern Borough Council in Pennsylvania, echoed Hely. She said it's easier for council members to do their work when their constituents understand 'we don't have control over those larger issues' that plague discussions of national politics, such as immigration or cuts to federal agencies. 'So [we're] trying to work together to find solutions for things that we really do have control over, like a building going up,' despite potential disagreements over things like the potential impact on traffic congestion, said Warner, a Democrat. The things that help enlist community support are 'being transparent about it, providing as much information, having the developer meet with these people, trying to find as much common ground as we can," she said. Public engagement is critical, respondents say Forty-four percent of the survey respondents also cited long-term volunteering opportunities as a way to fight polarization in local communities, while 38% of the school board officials surveyed described civics education as helpful. Still others said staying connected with residents is key. Forty-six percent of local leaders said hosting community events 'strongly' or 'somewhat' decreased the negative effects of polarization. A high proportion also pointed to other methods of engagement as effective, such as hosting open meetings, holding informal office and coffee hours (where residents meet with leaders in informal settings) and inviting people to participate in things like budget planning by joining special commissions. 'It's really quite simple,' said Jon Keeney, the mayor of Taylor Lake Village, Texas. 'I am and my council are 100% transparent. There's not anything that's done behind closed doors in the city.' Keeney said that while he has been active in the Texas Republican Party for a long time, he has never let those political beliefs affect his agenda for the city. 'I have both Democrats, Republicans and actually independents on my council, and I could care less what their ideology is,' he said. He added: 'I never tried to influence any of my council members on what I put on the agenda in terms of how they would vote. So there's no backroom stuff going on in that respect.' Carleigh Beriont, a Democratic town selectwoman in Hampton, New Hampshire, agreed with the survey's findings that community engagement is critical. 'Listening is just really key," Beriont said. "Like, the more I've listened to residents, the more I've come to understand that their views are not really represented by partisan ideology, right? 'I really do think that listening and being humble and organizing people in the community can be a great way to get things done,' she added. 'I'm not making decisions that I think will benefit my Democratic neighbors or my Republican neighbors. I try to make decisions that I know will benefit as many people as possible and be as transparent and accountable and open to exchange as I can be.'
