April 21, 2016

Rose Martin, RSM, Executive Director, Hope Partnership for Education

Frederic Bertley, Ph.D., says he is never bored at his job. He is the senior vice president of science and education at the Franklin Institute. He came to Hope Partnership for Education several weeks ago to be interviewed by Hope students who are contributing to the book Leading Healthy Change in Our Communities 2016.

Sixth graders Xaria Burgess and Diwud Morrow, seventh graders Nakeya Williams and Zahir Farlow, and eighth graders Kenyetta Powell and Shyann Davis conducted the interview. Their article about Dr. Bertley will be published in the book, along with 11 others, that features leaders in the Philadelphia area who are making people’s lives healthier.

At the Franklin Institute, Dr. Bertley started a program called Color of Science to raise awareness that everyone can become a scientist. Among his favorite projects are the Partnerships for Achieving Careers in Technology and Science (PACTS) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Scholars.  These programs enable students from middle school to high school to the Franklin Institute to learn more about science and even to work in real science labs. His greatest dream, he said, is that “everyone will have the same opportunities that I’ve had.”

The 2016 Leading Healthy Change book is the fifth in a series published by Healthy NewsWorks. Classroom sets of the four earlier editions, from 2012 through 2015, are available in the sixth grade classroom. Hope students have contributed to all four volumes. For more information on this program, visit: www.HealthyNewsWorks.org.