2018

Sarah Borenstein in the role of project sponsor in 2018, advised BNCs to focus on the following strategic goals:

• Increase economic development by providing an ecosystem of learning opportunities at American Spaces, as well as schools, museums, libraries, and other education-centered institutions;
• Bolster the American Spaces network by building multidisciplinary teams representing the functions of EducationUSA, libraries, cultural spaces, academic departments, and alumni networks that mentor each other;
• Broaden the scope of the project to include American Spaces in other regions that harness the power of shared networks in cultivating an open community and strengthening civil society;
• Develop sustainability strategies by applying effective management principles as learned in American Spaces training;
• Increase the production of intellectual capital that fosters shared economic prosperity between the U.S. and Brazil, a new teaching method that accelerates the acquisition of knowledge.

In 2018, CTJ designed the milestones, shared, and validated the ideas with the American Spaces Office. CTJ kept feeding the project's site with program narratives and delivering online consultation for any BNCs willing to collaborate on strategic programs. Having CTJ in the lead provided a useful model, and some BNCs started investing in building internal expertise.

International Campaigns

The IRO at the time, Sarah Borestein, and AS staff brought to the project's scope the idea of BNCs collaborating on IIP campaigns to cause a greater impact and gain visibility. Some successful examples of his collaboration effort are the Basquiat Programming and 16 Days of Activism. CTJ offered samples during online sessions and conducted Design Thinking sessions to motivate the BNC network and facilitate the flow of ideas and exemplify how to look for partners within the alumni networks and the state. The number of BNCs involved in the project reached 31 and we could notice more engagement regarding participation in strategic programs.

CTJ delivered teacher training programs and become a reference for innovational practices

Casa Thomas Jefferson devoted time to investigating, recommending, and providing instructional services for Casa Thomas Jefferson's teacher trainers and academic staff members. The makerspace, by 2018 was well versed in the use of innovative technologies and methodologies to enrich the quality of teacher educational programs. The first CTJ Maker Summit, at Casa Thomas Jefferson took place CTJ in-service. Novice and experienced teachers experienced with innovative learning tools and methodologies for varied teaching environments (English classroom, bilingual programs, online teaching, Resource Centers and Educational STEM labs. The Educational & Instructional Technology Specialist documented and shared workshops and program plans with the BNC Community on the project's site. In January, Daniela also actively contributed to inter departmental strategic planning and engaged in close collaboration with the team responsible for a new CTJ successful story - The innovative initiative - Bilingual Adventure.

Success stories

• CTJ makerspace prepared training sessions for current and emerging education technologies to CTJ teachers as the school prepared to have more students in bilingual/maker programs. Expertise was offered to participating BNCs.
• CTJ promoted the use of technologies to modernize American Spaces to BNC directors in Colombia in collaboration with (then CPAO) Abigail Dressel.
• Daniela oversaw the strategic program “16 Days of Activism” and offered guidance to all the network during an online meeting by uploading plans and providing online support.
• CTJ provided instructional services and training to the entire BNC network during the one-hour webinar entitled “What to Learn from a Maker Faire?”
• CTJ's Resource Center offered solid guidance to the network- A new resource center supervisor steps in and CTJ's capacity of creating and sharing program plans was strengthened.

CTJ challenges

CTJ Makespace finished the year with positive numbers. However, only a few BNCs had a hired implementation team in place and many others were suffering from severe financial problems. CTJ efforts to push the mission goals were compromised and programs shared for assessment lacked the clear strategic mission goals expected. It was expected more understanding and commitment to project's goals.

Having a model American Space requires a financial commitment. Keeping a balance between becoming self sustainable and working as an open space for public schools and the commitment is a big challenge.