Living Together in the 21st Century

August 2000 - current

Project Description

  In August 2000, plans for Echo's first educational project for elementary school students, Living Together in the 21st Century, began.  Designed at the suggestion of Echo Honorary Chair, Elie Wiesel, in partnership with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and local businesses, educators, and community leaders, this project's aim is to provide character education to elementary school students through comprehensive lesson plans teaching core values such as cooperation, honesty, respect and compassion, and responsibility. 

After eight months of preparation, the first phase of this new Echo program reached a high point on Friday, March 16, with a day-long Celebration of Hope, which brought together 100 second graders, ten each from ten participating schools selected to participate in the pilot program.  During this event, students interacted with artist teachers in small group workshops, from which they created performance pieces to share what they had learned from the curriculum with one another, teachers, parents, and invited guests.  "The day," said Echo President Stephanie Ansaldo, "was truly a Celebration of Hope.  The students' grasp on the themes taught during the four week curriculum was evidenced in their performance pieces as well as how they interacted with students from other schools in their groups."

The four-week curriculum was created in curriculum development workshops last fall by teachers (one liaison teacher from each school), educators, and community leaders led by Steve Hall, Principal of Pawtuckett Elementary and Rosebud Turner, former Staff Development Professional from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.  The Echo Foundation launched the teaching phase of the project with a Staff Development Day on Saturday, February 17, 2001, featuring a lecture and discussion with child advocate Jonathan Kozol. 

Plans are currently underway for the next phase of Living Together in the 21st Century.  More details will be announced in the coming months.

Living Together in the 21st Century has been supported by sponsorships from American Management Systems, Inc., Bank of America, Goodrich Company, and Lee Morgan General Contractors and with a grant from the Cultural Education Collaborative.

List of Participating Schools

Barringer Academic Center
Dr. Linda M. Morris, Principal
Nancy Halvorsen, Liaison Teacher

Cannon School
Mr. Richard Snyder, Headmaster
Ms. Gay Roberts, Lower School Head
Jennifer Calvert, Liaison Teacher

Community Charter School
Ms. Polly Redd, Principal
Cyndi O'Brien, Liaison Teacher

Cotswold School
Ms. Donna Cianfrani, Principal
Kathy Malmfelt, Liaison Teacher

Dilworth Elementary
Ms. Millie Snyder, Principal
Dianna Dunlap, Liaison Teacher

Hidden Valley Elementary School
Ms. Anne Brinkley, Principal
Angela Belfield, Liaison Teacher

Lansdowne Elementary School
Ms. Megan Thompson, Principal
Faye Coggin, Liaison Teacher

McKee Road Elementary
Ms. Diane Adams, Principal
Teresa Fletcher, Liaison Teacher

Sedgefield Elementary School
Ms. Lenora Shipp, Principal
Maria Zancanaro, Liaison Teacher

Statesville Road Elementary 
Ms. Carolyn Turner, Principal
Nicole Sparrow, Liaison Teacher