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Why
did we begin this project?
Early adolescence is
a life stage in which children typically experience great changes,
both emotionally and physically. Seeking independence, they look
to establish their own values and are often heavily influenced by
peers. Social and ethical conflicts are often at the heart of their
concerns, yet many elementary and middle schools do not or cannot
provide a vehicle for exploring these issues within the formal academic
curriculum. The Van Go Project gives preteens an exciting outlet
for discussing conflict and exploring solutions with guidance from
their teachers and on-air professionals.
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How
are we governed?
The
Van Go Project, a non-profit, educational corporation based in Massachusetts,
is governed by a Board of Directors (see list below) who bring a
broad range of skills and interests in teaching, curriculum development,
media, and drama production. We also consult with a group of advisors
on a regular basis.
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Who
are we?
Education and media professionals
in partnership with the Talking Information Center produce the Van
Go Radio Project.
- Jeff
Loeb, Executive Producer/Host, comes to the project
with twenty years of experience in teaching and media production.
In his thirteen years with the Newton, MA public schools, he developed
a full Media Literacy curriculum for sixth, seventh and eighth
graders. Jeff has co-produced and hosted three years of satellite-fed
interactive programming at the Massachusetts Corporation for Educational
Telecommunications (MCET). He has also co-authored two books based
on audio interviews with children, one on siblings, the other
on summer camping, published by Little, Brown and Company. In
the past three years, with a growing interest in multicultural
affairs, Jeff has served as a teacher of English as a second language
in local adult education programs and tutored children in English.
In the public radio arena, Jeff worked for WGBH-FM in Boston as
a producer for the Spider's Web radio broadcast on National
Public Radio. In addition, he co-produced over thirty features
for All Things Considered on NPR and has numerous soundtracks
for educational and corporate productions. In 1992, he produced
his first "schools on air" program, Radio Vision,
on WADN-AM in Concord, MA. Loeb is manager of Musictracks Audio,
an audio production facility based in Maynard, MA where Van Go
Radio’s drama segments and music are produced.
- William
Riley, Producer/Writer, holds a Masters Degree in Mass Communication
from Emerson College. He is the owner of Riley Productions, which
specializes in production of media for the medical marketplace.
He has over twenty years of experience writing, producing and
directing television, radio, video and interactive media for the
broadcast, educational and heath care markets in the United States
and abroad. He has worked previously as the managing producer
and director of the production department of Tufts New England
Medical Center and as a writer/producer for the Armed Forces Radio
Network where he produced a daily news and commentary program,
as well as radio specials. Bill is currently freelancing as a
health and science media producer.
- Kathleen Madaus, Co-Host,
holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from Smith College School
of Social Work. She has extensive experience with children and
adolescents in individual and family settings. She has worked
for the Massachusetts Department of Social Services and South
Shore Mental Health as a child clinician, working with children,
families, and crisis work. Since 1993 she has worked at the Quest
Program at the South Shore Educational Collaborative as a therapist
and child crisis team clinician. The Quest Program serves children
grades K through 8 with behavioral and/or emotional difficulties.
She sees children and families, runs groups and provides teacher
consultation. She has also supervised social work students for
the past eight years.
-
Veda Reilley, Director of Project Development, has produced
media for over twenty years, with the bulk of her work focusing
on educational media and projects for social service agencies.
During her tenure as staff producer for the Massachusetts Corporation
for Educational Telecommunications (MCET), she worked closely
with educators to create hundreds of live, interactive, national
satellite television programs with accompanying curriculum guides
for K-12 students, as well as professional development series
for teachers. As series producer for the Harvard-Smithsonian Center
for Astrophysics, Veda worked with educators and scientists to
create television workshop series with accompanying curricula
and web sites for the Annenberg/CPB satellite network. Her work
has garnered recognition from serveral educational groups and
video festivals. Recently, Veda served as Artist-in-Residence,
working with middle school students on a theme-based video project.
- Nancy Matesanz, Curriculum
Development and Program Review Coordinator, holds an
Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.S.
in Physical Therapy from the University of North Carolina. She
has more than twenty years experience teaching health care professionals
in varied settings, including interactive workshops on collaborative
learning, facilitating discussions, and using questions effectively.
During ten years at the Institute of Health Professions at Massachusetts
General Hospital, she: taught a course on teaching skills and
team taught seminars for International Scholars; consulted with
faculty on course design and learning activities; and developed
curriculum and materials for the International Scholars and Preceptorship
Programs. Nancy has extensive experience working with elementary
school teachers—five years as a school system PT and nine
years as a classroom volunteer working with children, primarily
on language arts, while doubling as the Volunteer Coordinator
for many of those years.
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How
are we funded?
Since 1999 we have
received support and funding from the following foundations:
The Baldwin Foundation
Cambridge Mustard Seed (Fleet Bank)
The Greeley Foundation
The Lincoln and Therese Filene Foundation
Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities
Mifflin Memorial Fund
Monster.com
Orchard Foundation
TJX Foundation
Talking Information Center*
*The Talking Information Center
where Van Go Radio originates is based in Massachusetts. It and
its affiliates provide a radio reading service (news, public affairs,
etc.) to the sight handicapped that reaches over18,000 listeners
in Massachusetts. Under the guidance of Ron Bersani, its Executive
Director, TIC has provided air time and technical support for the
Van Go Radio Project since it's inception. Since the fall of 2003
TIC has broadcast it's programming world wide through the Internet.
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The
Van Go Project Board of Directors:
Jeff Loeb (president)
Executive Director
The Van Go Project, Inc.
Maynard, MA
Dick Dougherty, PhD (treasurer)
Dougherty Management Associates, Inc.
Lexington, MA
William Riley (clerk)
Health and Science Media Producer
Boston, MA
Ron Bersani
Executive Director
Talking Information Center
Marshfield, MA
Claire
Goddu
Teacher, Fausey Elementary School
West Springfield, MA
Barbara
Lipski
Librarian/Media Specialist
Central Park East II Elementary School
New York, NY
Dr.
MaryAnne Pollett
Principal, Montefiore School
Chicago, IL
Veda
C. Reilley
Educational Media Producer
Boston, MA
Dr.
Robert Swartz
Director, National
Center for Teaching Thinking
Newton, MA
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