One of the most exciting things about working with our individual community partners is the opportunity to celebrate and share the work we are doing with the larger community. It is with great pleasure that I invite you to share in a particularly exciting event scheduled to take place here on campus this week.

On Thursday, March 6th, in the Commons Skylight Room from 4:30 pm until 7:30 pm, The Shriver Center, along with the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation, will be hosting an event to examine a pressing social issue, and then share some of the work we have been doing to address this issue here at UMBC. Specifically, we will be looking at the issue of teacher shortages in K-12 schools, and our response to this crisis.

This event will begin with opening remarks by Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski, followed by a presentation of "The First Year," Davis Guggenheim's powerful and moving documentary which chronicles the first year of five young teachers as they fight the real fight: educating our children, one child at a time. We will follow the film with a panel discussion featuring current teachers, students, and administrators from Teach for America and the Teaching Enhancement Partnership Project. We would like to engage you in a conversation regarding the issues facing our nation's educational system and highlight these innovative initiatives that are addressing these issues.

The Teaching Enhancement Partnership Project (TEPP), a National Science Foundation funded program here at UMBC, brings together the university with local schools and community organizations to connect math, science, engineering and technology graduate and undergraduate students with middle school youth. Currently 25 fellows are working with 20 teachers and school administrators in 5 local, high-needs middle schools supporting and enhancing mathematics and science instruction of underrepresented middle school youth in the Greater Baltimore area.

Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates of all academic majors who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in the effort to expand opportunities for children. Teach For America has partnered with the Baltimore City Public School System since 1992.

On behalf of The Shriver Center and the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation, we hope to see you on Thursday! Please RSVP as soon as possible to shirleyj@umbc.edu or call ext. 5-2493.

Mark Terranova is Assistant Director of Service Learning at The Shriver Center.