The MAC Phoundation

The MAC Phoundation sat down with one of Carolina's living legends: Bea Thompson!  The MAC recorded a segment with Bea Thompson for her "Straight Talk" show.  The brief yet insightful interview will be broadcast during 5/4/08--or perhaps 5/11/08--between 11:00 AM and noon. 

The MAC Phoundation will continue its push to best-seller status by having its first book signing!  It will be held at the Sharon Corners Barnes & Noble on May 3, 2008.  The signing comes during Educator Appreciation Week--and what better way to celebrate that occasion than to purchase T&L, the book with an unusual presentation of Urban Education.  Attend, and bear witness to the initial book signing of the MAC Phoundation!  

 The booksigning was a smashing SUCCESS!  Every book ordered by Barnes & Noble was sold--and The MAC even sold some of the books they brought to the signing!  It was exciting, fun and uplifting to speak to fellow educators and sign books as well! 

Much respect to Kaye McGarry (pictured below) who imparted some of her wisdom to The MAC during and after the signing!

 Much love and respect to Judy Harper (pictured below) who brought this "crazy thing" together!

 The "C" drops some knowledge to a father and son duo.

 The "M" signs a book for the anxious recipient of "The Book!"

Watch out! The MAC Phoundation is is finally in the international distribution system!   The MAC is officially GLOBAL!                                                                                                     

 The MAC Phoundation will have a follow-up interview with Mike Collins which will be aired March 30, 2008 on Channel 46!  The MAC will finally "go telly!"  You are hereby warned: Urban Education will never be the same!   

The MAC Phoundation spoke to a group of middle schoolers at Bishop Spaugh Community Academy.  The MAC brought anecdotes, advice and commentary along with them.  The kids were enthusiastic, and The MAC received awesome support and encouragement from the adult directors present.  Pictures are forthcoming--The MAC forgot the camera!  Still, the day was memorable for both the presenters and the kids.    

The MAC Phoundation will be interviewed by an intrepid reporter on Friday, March 7.  The interview will be trimmed to about 4-5 minutes of actual air time.  It is to include comments on the dynamite poetry contained in T&L.  More later!  

The "C" spoke with Simone Orendain for 5 of the most soothing minutes in radio history.  It truly is a NPR thang!  The interview may be heard at the following link--for a limited time.  It follows the summary...

"Urban Educators' Reality"
(3/12/08) A book of poetry on life as a so-called "Urban Educator" is quietly circulating around the region.  Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teacher GranVille Caldwell and Cabarrus County Schools teacher Ryan Marshall wrote "Thoughts and Lamentations of Urban Education."  WFAE's Simone Orendain recently chatted with Caldwell.
http://wfae.org/wfae/nav1024.cfm?cat=1&subcat=87&subsub=115

The MAC Phoundation was interviewed on The John Hancock Show, AM 1110, WBT Charlotte!      

A certain R. Marshall, the "M" of the Phoundation, is captured autographing T&L for John Hancock!  John was a hilarious host who made it easy to relax and discuss "hood rich" and other concepts bedeviling urban education.  Much thanks to John Hancock who had the curiosity and the guts to put us on the air!  

The entire 90 minute interview segment may be heard at the address below

http://hancock.wbt.com  Click on the link near the school bus and enjoy the interview!

The MAC Phoundation was featured in The Charlotte Observer--front page!  Wow!  The article delved into the thoughts and lamentations of The MAC.    

"English teachers GranVille Caldwell (right) and Ryan Marshall have written a collection of poems that reflect a year of teaching in inner-city schools. The self-published book is titled "Thoughts & Lamentations of Urban Education." (photo taken by T.ORTEGA GAINES -- ogaines@charlotteobserver.com)" --as printed in The Charlotte Observer 2-16-08.

The MAC Phoundation will be sharing their vision during a Talent Show celebration in honor of MLK, Jr.  The show will be held at Logan Gym, 3:00 PM.  The Phoundation will be discussing the nature of their book and highlighting some of the challenges facing urban educators.

The Talent Show was a success!  The MAC Phoundation well represented the vision spelled out by Dr. King, Jr. so many years ago.  The gym was packed to the walls with people of all ages willing to hear a message concerning the state of our children in urban schools.  The Phoundation read succinct excerpts from Thoughts & Lamentations, including the crowd favorite "The Standards" and "Important Details."  Books were sold and the message continued to reach those who need it.

The MAC Phoundation will be interviewing with The Charlotte Observer on Friday, January 4, 2008.  The Phoundation will be discussing their book Thoughts & Lamentations of Urban Education and their motivations behind publishing "the untraditional book" on the trials and travails confronting "Urban" educators.  

The MAC Phoundation had a two-hour interview with The Charlotte Observer which we believe will  lead to the publication of a fantastic article.  We believe this will be part of the beginning of something special and permanent.  In the meanwhile: pictures germane to the interview, kinda.  

The MAC Phoundation will be speaking at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, in Kannapolis, NC, on Saturday, December 29, 2007, at 3 PM.  They will be detailing the specifics of their book Thoughts & Lamentations of Urban Education as it pertains to the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa.  The event will include musical spirituals, history games and other activities.

The MAC Phoundation showed up, and boy was it a blast!

We signed books and discussed issues with patrons of the engagement...

MAC'n it up prior to speaking...

Let the Lamentations begin...

The "C's" input...

 Further augmentation by The "M"...