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The Power of the Possible: The Dire State of Inner City Education and One Woman's Revolution to Fix It Paperback – November 1, 2017

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 22 ratings

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From one social worker's perspective, the public schools of inner city Chicago had a reputation for being rife with daunting and challenging conditions. But once entering that world, she would come to find it was much more heartrending and, at times, devastating than she could ever have imagined.

After working in the Chicago Public Schools system for many years, Valerie Groth became convinced this system - as well as the majority of America's inner city schools - was not serving the needs of countless underprivileged students. The thousands of middle and high school students she counseled were expected, like all of their classmates, to learn what they needed in order to make their way into the world in severely dysfunctional environments, frequently a far cry from any atmosphere where true education could take place. She also discovered that many of them regularly faced challenging issues at home and in their neighborhoods - hunger and malnourishment, physical or emotional abuse, displaced or absent parents, and exposure to violence.

In The Power of the Possible, Val Groth shines a light on the disturbing conditions faced on a daily basis by inner city teachers, social workers, administrators, and students and offers a distinctive vision and innovative education model toward this dilemma's solution. Ryan Banks Academy, Chicago's first residential school for urban youth, is building a community of learners who will be insulated from the violence, abuse, and turmoil so prevalent in America's inner cities, while providing them with a well-balanced, stimulating and rigorous academic environment, as well as the essential social/emotional support, generally reserved for only the wealthy and privileged.

Through taking a strengths-based approach to learning and building student confidence and leadership, Ryan Banks Academy will foster the legacy within each and every student to positively change the world. By promoting the Ryan Banks Academy Initiative, Val Groth is standing with all inner city students, teachers and administrators.

"The time is now for a revolution in education that embraces and upholds the highest ideals and delivers them to the youth of inner city America."

- Valerie Groth

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About the Author

Valerie Groth is a social innovator who is best known for inspiring possibility through her leadership as a nonprofit founder, executive coach, and internationally acclaimed speaker. She received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Indiana University, attended Dominican University where she received her Master's in Social Work, and received her second Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University. Before starting her business as a coach and speaker, Val worked for many years as a school social worker in the inner city schools of Chicago. She worked with students in crisis, providing individual and group counseling services to students dealing with abuse, neglect, violence, hunger, and mental illness. Valerie is now spearheading the mission to build Chicago's first boarding school for inner city students. Ryan Banks Academy (named after one of her former students who was shot and killed) seeks to impact the lives of students through a rigorous college and career preparatory education, a supportive boarding program, and a focus on personal development in a positive environment. Valerie has received national attention for her innovative work to transform the educational landscape for urban students. In addition to her work as founder of Ryan Banks Academy, Valerie currently runs an executive life coaching practice at www.ValerieGroth.com coaching individuals who come to her from around the world. Valerie loves working with her clients on overcoming fear, gaining self-confidence, and making massive positive transformations in their life. She believes that everyone is capable of living an energized and impassioned life, and she loves to make the impossible POSSIBLE. She is also a sought after international speaker who is praised for her dynamic and innovative keynote presentations and for her contagious energy, enthusiasm, and ability to bring transformation to those in the audience. www.ValerieGroth.com www.RyanBanksAcademy.org

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ JETLAUNCH (November 1, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 142 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1944878653
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1944878658
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.32 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 22 ratings

About the author

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Valerie Groth
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Valerie Groth is a social innovator who is best known for inspiring possibility through her leadership as a nonprofit founder, executive coach, and internationally acclaimed speaker. She received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Indiana University, attended Dominican University where she received her Master's in Social Work, and received her second Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University.

Before starting her business as a coach and speaker, Val worked for many years as a school social worker in the inner city schools of Chicago. She worked with students in crisis, providing individual and group counseling services to students dealing with abuse, neglect, violence, hunger, and mental illness.

Valerie is now spearheading the mission to build Chicago's first boarding school for inner city students. Ryan Banks Academy (named after one of her former students who was shot and killed) seeks to impact the lives of students through a rigorous college and career preparatory education, a supportive boarding program, and a focus on personal development in a positive environment. Valerie has received national attention for her innovative work to transform the educational landscape for urban students.

In addition to her work as founder of Ryan Banks Academy, Valerie currently runs an executive life coaching practice at www.ValerieGroth.com coaching individuals who come to her from around the world. Valerie loves working with her clients on overcoming fear, gaining self-confidence, and making massive positive transformations in their life. She believes that everyone is capable of living an energized and impassioned life, and she loves to make the impossible POSSIBLE. She is also a sought after international speaker who is praised for her dynamic and innovative keynote presentations and for her contagious energy, enthusiasm, and ability to bring transformation to those in the audience.

www.ValerieGroth.com

www.RyanBanksAcademy.org

@valeriegroth

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
22 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book inspiring and impactful. They appreciate the author's personal experiences and innovative model for urban education. The story is compelling and will stay with them. Readers describe the visual style as eye-opening, powerful, and interesting.

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7 customers mention "Inspirational content"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspiring and impactful. They appreciate Valerie's personal experiences that humanize an incredibly difficult situation. The book offers an innovative model for urban education, inspired by one amazing Chicago boy. Readers believe every child deserves an excellent education in a safe and loving environment.

"...children and give them that kind of environment is inspirational and uplifting...." Read more

"...a must-read for those who truly believe that every child deserves an excellent education in a safe and loving environment...." Read more

"...our efforts to "level the playing field" and transform our children's lives." Read more

"...and social factors impacting where we are, while her very real personal experiences humanize an incredibly difficult environment...." Read more

4 customers mention "Inspirational story"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the story inspiring and compelling. They say it's an important account of challenges facing inner-city social workers.

"...Read this inspiring story of hope about one young social worker’s vision - to build an urban boarding school for children most at risk...." Read more

"...experience working in Chicago Public Schools, Groth provides a compelling account of the challenges facing inner-city students and teachers today...." Read more

"...Valerie is inspirational and motivational and I will be waiting for her next book!" Read more

"Been waiting on this book for a while! Valerie's story is incredible and it's an inspiration to see what's she doing with RBA...." Read more

4 customers mention "Visual style"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's visual style engaging and eye-opening. They say it provides a powerful vision of triumph born of tragedy. The book offers a great look at what really happens in CPS and the reality.

"...I found it to be very eye opening in different ways...." Read more

"...It is a great vision for what needs to change in the public school system in Chicago and how it can be done...." Read more

"...It's the launch pad for a powerful vision of triumph born of tragedy...." Read more

"Provocative and interesting...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2018
    I have known Valerie for twenty years and have always admired her desire to open an inner city boarding school in Chicago. I knew tidbits that I would here in different conversations as to why she was driven to do this but it wasn't until I read this book that I fully grasped why her urge to do this was so strong. I found it to be very eye opening in different ways. I am a former elementary teacher who grew up and taught in a college town and both of my parents worked at a University. This meant I was always around highly educated people and blessed with many cultural opportunities. When I was younger, I did not think much of it and thought that all kids had a similar up bringing. I of course have come to realize that is not the case but reading this book really put it into perspective for me. Things that most of us probably took for granted like going home to a home cooked meal after school or going on a long walk in the neighborhood are nowhere to be found for the kids in this neighborhood of Chicago. Childhood should be a time of wonderful memories and experiences to look back on that help us develop our identity. It saddened me to read that so many children did not have the opportunities and experiences I had. Valerie's desire to change the lives of so many children and give them that kind of environment is inspirational and uplifting. After finishing the book I felt eager to hear more about Ryan Banks Academy and the positive changes it will bring to South Chicago.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2017
    This is a must-read for those who truly believe that every child deserves an excellent education in a safe and loving environment. Read this inspiring story of hope about one young social worker’s vision - to build an urban boarding school for children most at risk. The story of her quest to establish the Ryan Banks Academy, named in memory of a special boy who was lost to gun violence all too soon, is unforgettable. Val’s dedication to making this dream a reality is proof that one person can truly make a difference in the world and in the life of a child.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2018
    After meeting Val and being inspired by her mission to launch the 1st of its kind, tuition-free inner city boarding school in the heart of Chicago, I read her book. In her telling of the truly unimaginable circumstances that our City's poorest children are exposed to I came away both angry with its unfairness and energized with the vision of Ryan Banks Academy. Val exposed me through her CPS experiences to the reality of the facts -- that it is these children's non-school situations that causes them to fail to obtain the education they deserve and so desperately need if they are to have any chance of breaking out of the violence, abuse and turmoil in which they are surrounded. RBA's mission is clear, the groundwork is laid, and the time is now to accelerate our efforts to "level the playing field" and transform our children's lives.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2020
    Based on her first-hand experience working in Chicago Public Schools, Groth provides a compelling account of the challenges facing inner-city students and teachers today. Her perspective provides an important voice to understanding the myriad economic and social factors impacting where we are, while her very real personal experiences humanize an incredibly difficult environment. Her stories are important, and will stay with you.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2018
    This is a great look at what really goes on in CPS and the reality of what happens daily. It is a great vision for what needs to change in the public school system in Chicago and how it can be done. Valerie is inspirational and motivational and I will be waiting for her next book!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2018
    While the reality of the CPS system is depressing to say the least, the light is people like Valerie who truly want to make a difference in our immediate community. We might not always have an exact plan of action or know the HOW, but to know the WHY continues to drive us through unknown territory. Just as a runner takes a marathon one step at a time, building a school literally from the ground up is such an overwhelming thought, most people would disregard it as impossible. Not Val, she shows us through Ryan's own words the very definition of The Power of the Possible - determination, dedication, support, encouragement and most of all the BELIEF that you too can turn your dreams into plans, actions and reality one step at a time!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2017
    I read this book cover to cover in one day. I work in a school and understand what teachers and counselors go through to help kids be successful. Unfortunately, inner city schools can be tough places for kids and social workers to find success. As Valerie suggests we need to provide more resources to these neighborhoods and their schools. Bless the social workers who perform miracles in these schools every day.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2017
    Been waiting on this book for a while! Valerie's story is incredible and it's an inspiration to see what's she doing with RBA.

    Definitely pick the book up and give it a read! (Loved the book name too).
    2 people found this helpful
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