VIDEO OF Social Justice in Education 3/6/2021

Social Justice in Education.  How diversity is considered in safety, mental health, and juvenile justice.

Speakers:

• Charlotte Nycklemoe, Co-Chair, Juvenile Justice Action Team, League of Women Voters of Florida
• David Newlan, Executive Director, Safety, Security & Emergency Management, School District of Lee County
• Tommy Bowens, Principal, Success Academy, School District of Lee County

The League of Women Voters has a long history of concern and action to promote social and economic justice and equity and quality in education.  The League supports responsible government that is open, effective, efficient, and provides leadership and coordination to solve economic and social issues and to assure needed services to all citizens; this includes funding for programs that prevent or reduce poverty, promote self-sufficiency, and enhance the quality of life and the well-being of individuals.   Effective prevention and intervention are proven to strengthen families and communities, ensure children are healthy, safe, prepared to learn, and to have viable life choices.

 The League of Women Voters of Lee County advocates for increased and adequate investment in Lee County’s children and their families including prevention and intervention, early learning programs that give children the start they need, behavioral health and alternatives to incarceration, and an ongoing system for identifying and addressing human service issues and needs such as a Children’s Services Council.

Additional information on studies and resources include:  The Cost of School Policing What Florida's Students have paid for a pretense of security 2018-19  The Cost of School Policing Report 2018-19[112600].pdf - Google Drive, Juvenile Justice - League of Women Voters of Florida (lwvfl.org),  Education - League of Women Voters of Florida (lwvfl.org)

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

  Charlotte Nycklemoe, Co-Chair, Juvenile Justice Action Team, League of Women Voters of Florida. 

Charlotte is passionate about quality organizational leadership and making sure an organization adheres to its mission statement and strategic plans. This goal was evidenced in the restructuring of a Chamber of Commerce in Minnesota when she was President and her implementation of a succession plan in the Collier County League of Women Voters where she was past president for two years, co-president for one year and chair of the Governance/Nominating Committee.

After attending the University of Minnesota, Charlotte embarked upon a 30 year career of Commercial/Industrial Real Estate, beginning as a secretary and ending in the management of several corporate firms. The last seven years of her career were spent as Director of Legislative Affairs for the MN Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties. Duties included chairing numerous committees, such as Smart Growth, Transportation, Development, interfacing with governmental entities and lobbying at the legislature and Congress.

As a mother of daughters who were diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness, her experiences personally and of witnessing many critical events causing damaging family and societal hardships gave her the impetus to fight for the rights of the mentally ill. This led her to a directorship on the state board of the National Association for Mental Illness, Minnesota (NAMI, MN) and a chairmanship of its Legislative Committee. Convinced that behavioral health is intertwined with at-risk kids behavior and juvenile delinquency, Charlotte is utilizing her leadership skills and knowledge in chairing the LWVFL Juvenile Delinquency Action Committee.  Charlotte was born and raised in Minnesota and now resides in Naples.

David Newlan, Executive Director, Safety, Security & Emergency Management, School District of Lee County. David Newlan retired from the Cape Coral Police Department as Police Chief with 30 years of law enforcement experience, his entire career with the Cape Coral Police Department. He has experience in various aspects of public safety.  During his career, he has been assigned to the Patrol Bureau, Investigative Services Bureau, where he worked in VICE, (including participation in task forces), major crimes and property crimes, and the Professional Standards Bureau where he was responsible for Personnel and Training, Internal Affairs, Budget, policy writing, and accreditation. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Barry University and a Master’s degree with a major in Human Resources Development and Administration from Barry University. He is a graduate of the 252nd session of the FBI National Academy. He is also a graduate of the Administrative Officers Management Program at North Carolina State University, a graduate of the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute's Executive Leadership Seminar, and a graduate of the 58th session of the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police. Chief Newlan is also a Certified Assessor (Team Leader) for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).  Chief Newlan was the Chair for the Region 10 Committee, and on the board for the Human Services Council, and the past President for the Southwest Florida Police Chief’s Association and a member of several organizations: FPCA, IACP, FBINAA, SWFPCA, and the South Rotary. David Newlan is a Florida native and has lived in Lee County Florida since 1977.

  Tommy Bowens, Principal, Success Academy, School District of Lee County. 

The Success Academy, an alternative school servicing students grade levels 6th through 12th. Bowens is a graduate of the Lee County School District, graduating from Cape Coral High School Class of 1982. Mr. Bowens earned his Master’s in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University and has worked as an Administrator at the Elementary, Middle, High, and Special Center level during his twenty five year career in education. He’s a member of the Lee County Administrators Association and enjoys watching football and basketball in his spare time.

The League of Women Voters of Lee County Florida is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. information on the programs and issues of the League of Women Voters is available on the web at www.lwv.org, www.lwvfl.org, and www.lwvlee.org. 239-278-1032.