Innovated minds are at every GLOBAL ECONOMIC LEVEL

Education+Location= Global Education
Reshape our thinking, provide our world with the opportunity for all communities to have access and support to education where one’s mind is no longer hindered by race, gender, class, or location.

There is a huge waste of capital when we do not consider minds from all economic levels. I say no human capital is to be wasted!  We need to redefine and explore where talent lies. The individual with the seed of ideas may come from anywhere – be it economically or globally. The motivation is in need of both opportunity and access to a proper education. We need to allow individuals to realize their talents and allow education to further their personal strengths, so that our global society does not miss the amazing  opportunities their imaginative minds can offer!  

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Let Your Dreams Include the World

As a former public school art teacher, homemaker and mother I place great value on the importance of reading. My personal motto is “Children + Comic Books = Reading, Knowledge, Confidence and Creativity”.

Comic books can be used to engage a variety of learners, while promoting literacy, reading skills and fostering the love of reading.  Comics teach children the art of storytelling through illustration and enable them to explore their artistic abilities. It is a natural progression for children, as a bridge to the next level of reading from the picture books of their younger years. I see comic books as an academic resource for communication in today’s world. The power of the graphic image is a language in itself that encourages one’s own interpretations, thoughts and personal values.

I often see text books in the school curricula as dull and boring, and as a result sometimes failing to sustain a child’s attention. Attending the ‘One Globe 2013: Uniting Knowledge Communities’ conference in New Delhi last month, which deliberated on the sustainability, quality and affordability of educational reform in congruence with a growing knowledge society, propelled me to take this thought further to educators, government officials, investors, policy makers, entrepreneurs, universities and NGOs in the South Asia region. At my talk at the session on ‘storytelling’, we concurred on how introduction graphic novels and comics in the curricula could serve as a means to stimulate young people in developing a love for their academia books. 

While I shared my perspective on the need for this aspect of educational reform, it was also encouraging to note that there is a very strong awareness and commitment to provide the young girl child the right to proper education. Historically it is the mother who is the matriarch of the family and the one who creates an environment that fosters education. By providing a girl child with education, we empower her to raise a family, in which her children inevitably seek higher education and reap the benefits that stem from it.

To me, Globe One was a great endeavor in connecting knowledge societies and uniting them to find answers to the future of education and the skills requirements for the growing youth population in areas that have so far been neglected.

I reach out globally with the message Let us all bond relations,support our sisterhood’s dreams and encourage those dreams to have a  ripple effect for our world.

Anti-Bullying Event at Alcorn State

Alcorn School of Education and Psychology hosts anti-bullying events for students and community

Recently, Alcorn State University hosted anti-bullying events on the Lorman campus, A.W. Watson Elementary School in Port Gibson, Mississippi, and Jefferson County Elementary School in Fayette, Mississippi, featuring Nancy Silberkleit, co-CEO of Archie Comic Publications.

During her lecture, Mrs. Siberkleit shared her story of becoming the company’s co-CEO and acquiring the love of reading using Archie comic books. She also explained why she believes in the power of comic books to help address challenging social issues, such as childhood obesity, discrimination, environmental concerns and bullying. Siberkleit spoke to the audience about bullying as an unacceptable behavior using examples from “Rise Above: What we can all do about bullying”, a comic book by Rise Above Social Issues Foundation Incorporated, and shared books with the teachers to use in the classroom.

Silberkleit continues to spread the message of the power behind the visual image and comic books as an academic tool for communication in today’s world. Her friend, Stan Lee, The king of the comic book world along with Silberkleit, both shared their thoughts in a 2011 summer edition of ‘Commerce Business of New Jersey’ discussing how Comics  Books are Serious Business. Both see beneficial learning benefits from the  literary genre of  the comic book.

“Teachers can use these comic books as a tool to raise students’ interest and help combat bullying,” says Siberkleit. “The book teaches kids what to do when they are being bulled or witness other kids being bullied – reach out to a caring person, find an interest or a hobby that would relieve the pain from bullying. Teachers can use the book to start a conversation about taking care of each other, and promoting caring behavior to stop bullying.”

“Bullying is a problem everywhere and we are all working on addressing it,” stated Marvin Harvey, principle, A.W Watson Elementary School. “Using comic books is a fun way to deal with the problem and they do get the message across.” Assistant Principle and Alcorn alumnus Antwan Reeves ’98 agreed with him and added, “I grew up reading Archie comics. We are glad to host Mrs. Silberkleit and thankful to Alcorn for affording this positive experience for our children.”

The programs were sponsored by the School of Education and Psychology and spearheaded by Dr. Robert Z. Carr, dean, and Dr. Malinda Butler, chairperson, Department of Education and Psychology.

“TWINKIE MOMENT”

I find it comforting in a time of turmoil, or unfair nastiness or at times when I am being sold a bill of goods that look sinfully delicious, that sponge toasty soft cake with that creamy gooshy filling but underneath it all, buried deep inside that TWINKIE is something out right wrong, bad and INTENTIONALLY disguising the bad, in hopes that I WILL TAKE A BITE!

I LOVE MY TWINKIE MOMENTS. I find it is powerful and poignant!… I become quiet , cross my arms and simply say theatrically “I DO NOT EAT TWINKIES ” and simply walk out… I have been known to immediately send a box of TWINKIES WITH MY SIGNATURE ON IT SAYING COME BACK AFTER ALL ARE EATEN!

I do believe in healthy eating but  I see the TWINKIE useful in  making  a good point!

SAVE THE TWINKIE! IT’S A MULTI-TASKER!

‘Rise Above’ Comic Tells Students to ‘Rise Above’ bullying

Nancy Silberkleit Co-CEO of Archie Comics, created the ‘Rise Above’ comic as a tool for teachers and students. The goal is for the comic to be used in schools to help students learn what they can do about bullying. The comic was unveiled in Bullitt County, Kentucky, just hours after it rolled off the printing press.

Kids love comics but this comic is not solely for entertainment. ‘Rise Above’ demonstrates to students that words and actions CAN hurt. It’s a story about a young girl who moves to a new town and finds herself being bullied.

“I just want to plant the seed that they have it in them to be the change-makers to stop this unacceptable behavior of bullying,” Silberkleit said, who handed out the first copies of the comic at Shepherdsville Elementary. WHS 11 NEWS was at the launch in Bullitt County. Watch more from 11 NEWS.

To learn more about the comic book, send an email to riseabovesocialissues@gmail.com.

Stan Goldberg “wows” me at Hampton’s Authors Night

Another successful year for the East Hampton’s Library Authors Night. The 2012 event was the biggest and most successful Authors Night so far with 130 authors and record number of attendees. I was proud to join Stan Goldberg and to be a part of this great night surrounded by stellar authors and many star studded appearances, from Alec Baldwin, Dr. Ruth and many more.

Discussion on how are comics created, inspires students to express themselves

I call my school visits an insight on how Comic books are created. It’s a quiet way to capture students attention. I use the Comic books as a platform to instill career awareness, promote the love of reading, inspire writing, character development, and how one can express one’s passions and messages.  Messages can be about any passion – like recycling and refusing of disposible plastics, obesity, bullying.

My talks are sparked by my passion for students to embrace reading, knowledge , confidence, creativity. I see the comic book as a powerful tool to stimulate and build today’s children into strong creative thinkers that are prepared to approach complex situations and make good choices. Every child is capable of becoming a Superman or Superwomen and making a powerful contribution to society.

What can you do to stop bullying?

My interview with ‘Good Morning San Diego’ morning show

The audience on the ‘Good Morning San Diego’ show got a sneak peak at my comic, which tells readers about bullying and what they can do about it. Here is the clip of the show Nancy Silberkleit on GMSD – KUSI 

I use comics to share important messages and make readers aware of relevent issues like anti-bullying, pollution and obesity. The message in ‘Rise Above’ is never let anyone define who they want you to be. You know who you are. Be proactive in your life.

At San Diego Comic-Con with Orange Water Bottle…. Not Plastic

There was a lot of action and pop culture at The San Diego Comic-Con International that was held in mid-July. Publishers Weekly Comics World captured a fun photo of me and my orange water bottle – it’s glass of course, not plastic. I carry my refillable glass bottle, adorned in my symbolic shapes, my dots that ‘connect the dots’ to my past and in the bright orange that I call ‘Archie Orange’.  I spoke on a panel and enjoyed the vibes at the biggest pop culture event in North America.

See what Archie and his friends have to say about plastic bottles in my comic ‘Bottle Battle’. Read it at www.ComicBookFairs.com

Matching rings and bracelets to support anti-bullying

My bracelets often inspire empowering conversations; The conversations often end, with me giving the other participant the bracelet off my wrist.  The bracelets include my words of inspiration for today’s youth : “Never let anyone define who they want you to be. You know who you are”.  And now I also have matching rings in bright neon colors. The rings too help support anti-bullying and lead to empowering discussions.

It’s not always so easy but it’s important, so important to find that fit inside you; to find what you believe in, what excites you and what you like to do. Be a change maker for yourself and you just may Rise Above in your own personal – or even global world!

In 2012, Silberkleit created Rise Above Social Issues Foundation INC. to address challenging issues such as bullying, obesity, literacy. The Foundation is developing a series of educational comic books that focus on these issues and encourage literacy and confidence so that youth can become positive influences on their peers. She shares her words of inspiration with today’s youth. Her bracelets and rings will be available for sale the Foundation website.