Tell everyone what you want to do and then do it. I promise you that people will show up…And, encourage everyone to teach something. The best way to retain what you learn is to teach it to others. Simply explaining what you made to someone else or showing them how to use a particular tool is one of the best ways to build up community and life-long friendships. We have highly skilled parents who come to our events who have never taught before, not even to their kids—because they just don’t consider themselves as teachers. Once they are in the space, though, teaching just happens naturally and they can use their knowledge and abilities to help others. All of a sudden someone who didn’t consider themselves in this capacity before has that “a-ha!” moment.

College of the Canyons has received approval from the state Chancellor’s Office to establish a Center for International Trade Development (CITD). This new program will be operated in collaboration with the Small Business Development Center hosted by College of the Canyons (SBDC), opening the doors to begin providing resources, training sessions, expert business advice and consulting services in the areas of international trade. The CITD system was established in 1998 to help promote the state’s high capacity for international trade competitiveness, assist exporter/importers excel in the international market and continually advance the state’s economic and job growth.

Congratulations to LAEDC member College of the Canyons! The College has a long history of working to make California a more competitive trade destination, and this most recent program will bring even greater impact to Los Angeles County and California at large.

Read our most recent international trade outlook report here.

A must read by Joe Klein for Time Magazine:

Clyde McBride is one of those everyday saints who, without much fanfare, go about the work of changing, and sometimes saving, the lives of children. He teaches agricultural science on the Navajo reservation in Kayenta, Ariz. He’s a memorable-looking fellow, with his cowboy hat, horsehide tie and a body like a giant sack of flour perched on tiny toothpick legs. His most notable characteristic, though, is his persistence. When a new school superintendent arrived in town a few years ago, McBride parked himself on the guy’s doorstep. “He came in and gave me the ‘I have a dream’ speech,” says superintendent Harry Martin. “I told him I’d think about it, but he wouldn’t let me think about it. He was bugging me three, four times a week about it.”