AEC celebrates International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

Alternative Education Center joined the world in celebrating the International Day for Disaster Reduction on October 13, 2023, with the theme, Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future. This year’s celebration addressed the connection between disasters and inequality. Unequal access to services leaves the most vulnerable exposed to the danger of disasters. The theme aligns with the Sendai Framework, the international agreement to prevent and reduce losses in lives, livelihoods, economies, and basic infrastructure when disasters occur.

At AEC, students discussed the disasters they experienced in town and ways to address them to maintain wellness practices and achieve the global goals of climate action and reduced inequalities. Many remembered the most devastating winter storm of February 2021, with hails damaging cars and houses and snow causing power outages for days. However, Texans were resilient and stood back up after the disaster regardless of property damages or even deaths of family members due to the storm. Students identified careers of choice to help the city withstand disasters, drew what their future career contributions could look like, and discussed social skills needed to achieve their careers.

AEC global education project changes focus

Alternative Education Center changed its global education project focus from writing across the curriculum to counseling. The change aligned with the project founder's role transition from Math Department Head to School Counselor. The 2022-2023 school year focused on counseling and integrating global sustainable development goals and global competence through the lens of local issues and challenges. The project founder's Fullbright Fellowship in Canada equipped him with the knowledge and skills to continue advocating for global education while carrying the role of School Counselor. His visits to various highly performing schools and meetings with education agency officials and U.S. Ambassadors in Toronto and Quebec gifted him with innumerable ideas to share with the AEC community. 

In line with the identified school counseling need for intrapersonal effectiveness for S.Y. 2022-2023 and the global sustainable development goal of good health and well-being, Alternative Education Center streamlined its school resources for the smooth implementation of 7 Mindsets, the ECISD-recommended program to teach guidance and SEL skills. Furthermore, the school partnered with various local and national organizations to help promote students' health, well-being, and intrapersonal skills.