Democratizing Smart Cities

Today’s environmental, social and technological factors make city evolution necessary but unpredictable. Climate change is requiring more sustainable urban designs. Income inequality widens the distance between cities and suburbs. Advancements from Silicon Valley lead to innovation as well as disruption. From those issues came the idea of a “smart” city. Using technology to improve infrastructure, [...]

By |2019-01-18T17:57:28+00:00January 18th, 2019|Blog, Sonny Kalsi|Comments Off on Democratizing Smart Cities

Educational Opportunities in Gateway Cities

Education is a gateway to opportunity, so it’s no surprise that gateway cities across the United States are opening the book to examine how their educational initiatives can help underprivileged youths and address the skills gap within today's workforces. Indeed, education is the key to the survival of gateway cities. Significant progress has made when it comes [...]

By |2018-10-16T16:18:54+00:00October 16th, 2018|Blog, Education, Sonny Kalsi|Comments Off on Educational Opportunities in Gateway Cities

Greening Gateway Cities

Investing in people is like watering a garden, watching them grow until they blossom. Indeed, the metaphor carries the important lesson that fostering the symbiotic relationship between human and its natural environment can provide many benefits. Gateway cities have an unlimited amount of potential to transform the lives of its citizens, but they can also [...]

By |2018-10-09T14:54:17+00:00October 9th, 2018|Blog, Sonny Kalsi|Comments Off on Greening Gateway Cities

Immigration and Global Economy Drive Growth in Gateway Cities

As advances in technology and transportation continue to progress at a rapid clip, economies across the world have become increasingly bound through global networks of trade and immigration. This trend is none so clear as in gateway hubs. Known by some economists as “capitals of the world,” these cities boast commercial and financial links to [...]

By |2018-08-13T01:45:17+00:00August 3rd, 2018|Blog, Education, Philanthropy, Sonny Kalsi|Comments Off on Immigration and Global Economy Drive Growth in Gateway Cities

Women on Both Sides of the Ocean Face Practical and Cultural Barriers to Higher Education

  Women have always faced sizable barriers in their quest for higher education. Some are unique to the country in which they live. Some are not. In both the United States and India there is no single reason why many women still cannot attend college. In both countries, the threads of socio-economic status, patriarchy and [...]

By |2021-08-03T14:14:33+00:00June 8th, 2018|Blog, Education, Sonny Kalsi|Comments Off on Women on Both Sides of the Ocean Face Practical and Cultural Barriers to Higher Education

‘Dreamer’ Debate Highlights the Missed Opportunity of Fully Funding ELL Programs

As debate continues on Capitol Hill regarding the fate of “Dreamers” (young people who qualify for the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act) there’s one immigration problem that isn’t making headlines: lack of federal funding for ELL (English Language Learners) in public schools. On average, federal funding only accounts for 11 percent [...]

By |2021-08-03T14:13:07+00:00May 20th, 2018|Blog, Education, Sonny Kalsi|Comments Off on ‘Dreamer’ Debate Highlights the Missed Opportunity of Fully Funding ELL Programs

Innovative Education Initiatives in Gateway Cities

It’s not a new idea: the belief that public education can fuel economic growth. But it’s one that’s gaining traction, especially in Massachusetts. Twenty-four Gateway Cities across the state have pledged to work together to improve their local economies by building stronger schools and communities. Massachusetts has twenty-six so-called “Gateway Cities,” which are considered to [...]

By |2021-08-03T13:53:46+00:00May 18th, 2018|Blog, Education, Sonny Kalsi|Comments Off on Innovative Education Initiatives in Gateway Cities

Gender Equity in Education in India: Problems and Progress are Not Equal

There is no question that gender bias is a problem in India. Despite recent legal successes that indicate some progress, such as the supreme court decision that ruled that sex with an underaged wife is rape, the government has been slow to address the specific laws that support discrimination based on sex. True, the constitution [...]

By |2021-08-03T14:00:30+00:00May 1st, 2018|Education, Philanthropy, Sonny Kalsi|Comments Off on Gender Equity in Education in India: Problems and Progress are Not Equal

Economic Swings Affect Philanthropy

Since the global financial crisis of 2008 there has been significant economic recovery in many parts of the world. Which is good news-- for philanthropic organizations. In times of economic hardship and downturn, donations from individuals and corporations to foundations, nonprofit organizations, and other philanthropic entities decline.  Which is troubling because when an entire country [...]

By |2022-08-04T19:20:19+00:00February 16th, 2018|Blog, Philanthropy, Sonny Kalsi|Comments Off on Economic Swings Affect Philanthropy

What Tanzania Teaches Us About Public-Private Partnerships in Education

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are defined by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as “arrangements between public and private actors for the delivery of goods, services and/or facilities.” The organization goes on to explain that “in many different settings, PPPs are increasingly perceived as an innovative policy approach to provide education for all, [...]

By |2018-04-17T15:04:41+00:00October 16th, 2017|Blog, Education, Philanthropy, Sonny Kalsi|Comments Off on What Tanzania Teaches Us About Public-Private Partnerships in Education