Crossing the Cultural Divide http://www.straightroads.org/culturaldivide/ Speak to kids in their own language -- stay up-to-date with pop cultural trends. en 2007-04-30T11:54:09-05:00 Agony in the Middle.....Persevering in Tough Times http://www.straightroads.org/culturaldivide/archives/2007/04/agony_in_the_mi.html Whenever attempting to pursue a goal that requires my reluctant dependence on the participation of others, I often find myself reminiscing this 1970’s classic by Stealers Wheel:

“Clowns to the left of me,
Jokers to the right, here I am,
Stuck in the middle with you.”

It also causes me to wonder how may times others have looked at me that way.

]]> Character GeorgeP 2007-04-30T11:54:09-05:00 Courage to Lead Without Fear http://www.straightroads.org/culturaldivide/archives/2007/03/courage_to_lead.html No wise captain leaves port without first making sure that his vessel is fit for the perils of the open sea. It is a simple nautical principle to survey the integrity of the vessel before exposing it to the elements. As leaders, it is important that we regularly examine the integrity of our personal core principles before expecting others to follow us.

]]> Character GeorgeP 2007-03-02T09:09:34-05:00 Coping with Tragedy http://www.straightroads.org/culturaldivide/archives/2007/02/coping_with_tra.html Tragedy struck close to home this past week.....
Four teenagers from a local high school were involved in a catastrophic traffic accident that critically injured three of them and left one family reeling from the death of their seventeen- year-old daughter. Shattered dreams, shattered hopes........ and unspeakable grief.

]]> GeorgeP 2007-02-11T07:52:58-05:00 Leading the Young Leader http://www.straightroads.org/culturaldivide/archives/2006/12/leading_the_you.html I recently read an exhaustive definition of leadership; a broad concept related to the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and aspirations utilized by one or more persons in influencing, motivating, inspiring and otherwise causing desired actions and reactions by others.

Whew…not only exhaustive, but exhausting!

]]> Education GeorgeP 2006-12-12T09:54:25-05:00 Arrested Development! http://www.straightroads.org/culturaldivide/archives/2006/10/arrested_develo.html by George A Palombo
Executive Director ACE

My experiences in law enforcement have not led me to make any white collar arrests for shifty accounting practices at any big family conglomerates. Those high profile investigations are generally handled by specialized agents who have far more investigative prowess than I am equipped with. But this week I had the unenviable task of confiscating a straight-razor, some suspected cocaine, and a note containing the written intention of extreme violence from a twelve year old girl at a local school today.

]]> Youth Violence GeorgeP 2006-10-02T15:17:40-05:00 Back from Book Writing http://www.straightroads.org/culturaldivide/archives/2006/09/back_from_book.html It has been quite a while since my last entry and I would like to apologize for the absence. I just finished writing a book entitled, "EQUIPPING PARENTS FOR BATTLE", A Practical Guide to Connecting with Your Kids in Their Media Saturated World.

]]> Education GeorgeP 2006-09-25T14:08:50-05:00 Feeling Their Way Around http://www.straightroads.org/culturaldivide/archives/2006/02/feeling_their_w.html by George A Palombo
Executive Director ACE

It doesn’t require being much of a music aficionado to remember the song “Feelings” by Morris Albert written back in 1975. As a boy, this song was the catalyst that drove me to contemplate my feelings for Kelly, the girl of my boyhood affections, every time the song came on the radio or was replayed in my daydreams.

]]> Internet GeorgeP 2006-02-26T19:57:34-05:00 <![CDATA[<strong>Minding their Music</strong><em> Discussing the Influence of Music with Today's Teens!</em>]]> http://www.straightroads.org/culturaldivide/archives/2005/11/minding_their_m.html Marriage of Music and Television

Music and video are powerful means of message communication. They can excite our imagination; stir our emotions; help us to learn more efficiently and even help us when we have trouble sleeping. Music and video also provide an outlet for producers and writers to relate to their audience in a meaningful way about life.


]]> Music GeorgeP 2005-11-07T13:55:51-05:00 We aren't as hip as we think we are! http://www.straightroads.org/culturaldivide/archives/2005/10/we_arent_as_hip.html culturaldivide_big.gif
The culture of your youth -- so vivid it seems like yesterday -- is ancient history to your kids!

]]> Meeting kids where they are sdonley 2005-10-09T10:59:31-05:00 A R.U.L.E.R. to Help Cross the Cultural Divide http://www.straightroads.org/culturaldivide/archives/2005/08/crossing_the_yo.html Few people would argue the central role of media in the lives of today’s students. With shouts of, “Whuddup dawg” or, “Dude” and “You da’ bomb”…. English teachers are shuddering at the vernacular used in today’s school hallways. There has always been a bit of a language barrier between the generations; but today, it seems more like a contrived language fort built by students to confound adults.

Ironically, one of the typical marks of adolescence is a desire to be understood by someone who is able to relate to their lives……Hollywood and MTV are always ready with a listening ear. Young people become easily enamored by pop music artists and actors who seem to share in their struggle for identity. Right or wrong, today’s often struggling, vulnerable teen identifies with the language of today’s media, music and pop culture, which often meets them right in the midst of their struggles for identity.

]]> Meeting kids where they are GeorgeP 2005-08-15T00:17:54-05:00 Web sites on Advertising http://www.straightroads.org/culturaldivide/archives/2005/07/web_sites_on_ad.html Be sure to check out the Web sites on Advertising listed in our Resources section.

Feel free to suggest other advertising resources by adding a comment below.

]]> Advertising sdonley 2005-07-22T13:31:51-05:00 Web sites about Television http://www.straightroads.org/culturaldivide/archives/2005/07/web_sites_about.html Be sure to check our list of Web sites on television in the Resources section of this Web site.

Please suggest other resources you have found helpful on this topic in the comment section below.

]]> Television sdonley 2005-07-22T13:22:37-05:00 Teen magazines on the Web http://www.straightroads.org/culturaldivide/archives/2005/07/teen_magazines.html Be sure to check the list of Magazine sites in the Resources section of this Web site!

If you have other Magazine sites to suggest, please leave a comment below.

]]> Magazines sdonley 2005-07-19T17:54:15-05:00 Web sites on Music http://www.straightroads.org/culturaldivide/archives/2005/07/web_sites_on_mu.html Be sure to check the list of Music sites in the Resources section of this Web site!

If you have other Music sites to suggest, please leave a comment below.

]]> Music sdonley 2005-07-19T17:52:30-05:00 Web sites dealing with Internet and Video Games http://www.straightroads.org/culturaldivide/archives/2005/07/web_sites_on_th.html Be sure to check the list of Internet and Video Games sites in the Resources section of this Web site!

If you have other Internet and Video Game sites to suggest, please leave a comment below.

]]> Internet sdonley 2005-07-19T17:27:41-05:00