Dear Friends,

Join us virtually Saturday, January 11th, at 2pm PST, as celebrated educator and author Esther Wojcicki shares her insights on education and empowering the next generation of critical thinkers. Wojcicki is the featured guest at this week's Eva Haller Salon. To request an invitation to the salon, email myhero@myheroproject.org.

Esther Wojcicki - global educator and author

Wojcicki, affectionately known as 'WOJ' is a pioneer in progressive teaching, with 30 years of experience in inspiring students, through journalism, to take charge of their lifelong learning. She founded the Palo Alto High School's Media Arts Journalism Program, which she grew from a handful of students in a portable classroom to a $20 million state-of-the-art media facility that serves more than 600 students at a time. There, young journalists share their stories through award-winning magazines, television shows, radio programs and podcasts.

Her book Moonshots in Education Launching Blended Learning in the Classroom helped shift the culture of education to one that empowers both students and teachers. The book explores digital and online learning in the classroom and outlines Wojcicki’s methods of fostering curiosity, creativity and trust, while helping students develop keen critical thinking skills.

Wojcicki has also written about her journey as a mother in How to Raise Successful Children. Her own three daughters have made tremendous inroads in innovation, technology and science.

Wojcicki is a Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Stanford University’s MediaX program, a former MacArthur Foundation Research Fellow, and California’s Teacher of the Year in 2002. She received the Charles O’Malley Award of Columbia Scholastic Press in 2011. Wojcicki was presented with The MY HERO Project's Global Educator Award in 2016.

As our children face the challenges that lie ahead, learning to be critical thinkers is of primary importance.

Sincerely,

The MY HERO Team

Eva Haller - philanthropist, mentor and host of Eva Haller Salons

The Eva Haller Salon Series is a weekly, online event that brings together leaders from various fields to engage in meaningful discussions about pressing social issues, innovation, and human progress. Founded by philanthropist Eva Haller, the series is designed to create an intimate space for the exchange of ideas and to inspire action toward positive change in the world.

Previous salons are archived on MY HERO's website. To be added to the salon mailing list, please send your request to myhero@myheroproject.org.

Esther Wojcicki annually presents the 'WOJ' Youth Reporter Award at The MY HERO International Film Festival to encourage and promote the work of student journalists and filmmakers. She is also supervising the production of MY HERO's 'WOJ' Youth Reporter Workbook, designed to foster creativity and critical thinking skills to young filmmakers. The book, which will be available this Spring, walks students through the entire filmmaking process, from concept through distribution, so they can share their hero stories with the world. Thanks to the Scripps Family Impact Fund for their support of this project.

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