Join Our Monthly Meetings Third Thursday of every month • 6:30–8:00 PM Come as you are—whether you’re brand new to Pennridge Unplugged or part of our core planning team. Our monthly meetings are a chance to connect with other parents and community members, hear what’s happening, talk through local opportunities and challenges, and find ways to plug in. It’s a great place to get oriented, share ideas, be energized by others, and help shape the conversation around technology in our schools and homes. Bring a friend, a snack to share, or just yourself. We’d love to have you. Agendas are emailed out through our group listserv. To join that mailing list and get meeting location information, please complete the Google Form.

The Balance Exchange is our monthly gathering where the entire team comes together to reconnect, realign, and recharge around our mission. Each session is an open forum for sharing progress, exchanging ideas, and spotlighting the work happening across The Balance Project. We use this time to: - Review key initiatives and milestones - Highlight stories from families, schools, and communities - Surface challenges and crowdsource solutions - Celebrate wins and strengthen team cohesion

Who: All invited What: - Discuss the big changes that could come with a new Board - Debrief our recent meeting with AAPS IT chief, Heather Kellstrom. - Take in the national sea change of attitudes around AI After you register, check your email for a confirmation and download the calendar event. - If you use Google Calendar, click the button in the email under "Add to Calendar" - If you use Outlook/365 or Apple, that button in the email doesn't work. Instead, click "View Event Details." This will bring you to a web page with a button that works.

he SBS EdTech | AI Working Group focuses on district and school-level policy change and features guest panelists covering a variety of topics from grassroots organizing to local press opps, to help you make change at the hyperlocal level. Join advocates from across the country to ask questions, share resources, and find support. All are welcome!

Loneliness is quietly becoming one of our biggest public health challenges — even as we stay more 'connected' than ever. Come hear Dr. Kate Storm explore why Good Neighbor Day matters, what's really driving isolation, and simple ways we can rebuild community. Registration for this event is appreciated but not required. This event is part of a larger series of events celebrating "Good Neighbor Week" in Stow, MA. See Randall Library website for more details. You do not need to be a Stow resident to participate.

We're going to the CPS Board of Education meeting, and we need you there. Our petition has real momentum, and now it's time to bring that parent voice into the room. We're asking the Board to support our petition language and to take up a resolution to consider a real, intentional technology policy for CPS. Our goal: 25 parents signed up to give public comment. That's a big number, and it's meant to be. When 25 parents stand up, one after another, and say the same thing in their own words, the Board cannot dismiss it as one or two loud voices. It becomes impossible to ignore. Can't imagine speaking in public? You can still make a huge difference just by showing up. We want as many observers in the room as possible. A packed room sends its own message, and it makes every speaker feel less alone at that podium. Two ways to be part of this: 🎤 Public Commenter (in-person or virtually) Sign up for a few minutes at the podium to share your perspective as a CPS parent. We'll give you a sample script to start from and you're welcome to make it your own. Real stories move boards more than statistics do. 🪑 Observer Come sit with us. Fill the seats. Your presence tells the Board this matters to the community, even if you never say a word. (Can't attend in person? Written comments are also accepted; ask us about the write-in option.) FOR THOSE THAT CAN ATTEND, here's what happens next: 1. We'll get in touch with you and have a preview meeting with all speakers. We can help answer your questions. 2. You'll need to formally sign up as a public speaker during the 24 hour sign up window (And we'll send you these instructions via email too) How to sign up for public comment at the board website: How to sign up for public comment at the board website: Registration opens: Tuesday, September 22 at 10:30 a.m. Registration closes: Wednesday, September 23 at 10:30 a.m. Anyone can sign up during this 24-hour window Selection is by lottery after registration closes (e.g., if 100 people register, the lottery might select 20 speakers) — this gives everyone a fair shot Register online (recommended): www.cpsboe.org Register by phone: (773) 553-1600 CPS BoE Meeting Details: https://www.cpsboe.org/meetings/details/5478 Questions? Message us here or reach out to schoolsbeyondscreens.cps@gmail.com. We'll walk you through everything, from signing up to what to expect once you're in the room. Let's fill that room.

NY Times reporter, Natasha Singer, will join SFCxUS to talk about her upcoming book "CODING KIDS: Big Tech's Battle to Remake Public Schools." Natasha has been covering tech industry influence in schools since 2014, including stories on how Google took over the classroom; how tech giants are racing to train teachers on A.I. and embed their A.I. chatbots in schools; how some schools are pulling back on Chromebooks; how A.I. deepfakes harm teen girls; and how teachers, students and their parents are fighting back.

The Distraction-Free Illinois (DFS-IL) state advocacy team meets weekly via Google Meet from 12:30pm-1:30pm (CST). Join us to connect with others across the state working to advocate at the state and local level. If you are new to DFS-IL, please make sure to fill out our state letter of support: https://forms.gle/YPptKCWFDneMfpsR7 We encourage you to share this letter widely. Have any questions? Email us: distractionfreeschoolsIL@gmail.com

A candid conversation bringing together the voices of a local teenager, a former internet-crimes prosecutor, a mental health therapist and educator, and one of the country’s leading digital-parenting experts about the realities of growing up online – and practical ways parents can help. Moderated by CNN Chief Domestic Correspondent and Anchor, Phil Mattingly. Space is limited - register now. Open to adults and teens. Business attire preferred.

Casual conversation about topics related to tech and childhood - e.g., tech inschool, AI, smartphones. Intended for parents/caregivers in Arlington but welcome to others locally.

Kids lead their own play: adults supervise but don't organize activities or resolve conflicts Builds resilience, collaboration, and problem-solving skills through real experience Prepares kids to grow into confident, empowered adults Bonus: grown-ups get social time too

BYO Breakfast & Yoga Mat (or towel) for a fun morning at the beach! Yoga kicks off at 9:00. All ages and yoga levels welcome!

Show your support-- visit our booth at Clarendon Day! We are looking for volunteers to help us man our booth! Please sign up for a slot at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B4BACAE2BA3F58-65536644-clarendon. Kids welcome!

As summer winds down and a new school year begins, give your tween the opportunity to slow down, connect, and build confidence from the inside out. Join local mama Allison Gold Russell for an afternoon of yoga, creativity, and connection designed for tweens ages 8–12. Together, we'll explore movement, mindfulness, stress-management tools, and a hands-on craft that encourages self-expression, confidence, and self-love as participants navigate the emotions and transitions of the back-to-school season. The afternoon begins with conversation and community-building, flows into an energizing yoga practice, and concludes with a meaningful craft to take home. Caregivers are encouraged to enjoy a little time for themselves - stay nearby and explore all that downtown Ambler has to offer! The classroom experience will be for tweens only! No prior yoga experience is necessary. Please bring a yoga mat, water bottle, and a nut-free snack. Please note: To help everyone stay present and connected, this is a tech-free event. Please leave smartphones and smartwatches at home. Allison Gold Russell is a 200-hour certified yoga instructor with a 25-hour children's yoga certification from Next Generation Yoga. She is passionate about building children’s confidence, cultivating joy, and practicing mindfulness through yoga in a welcoming, supportive environment that equips them with the tools to thrive in today's world. Inspired by her experiences as a mother to two daughters, Eden + Ida, Allison is passionate about bringing yoga to this population through this offering. Cancellation Policy: No refunds 14 days prior to workshop.

This event is FREE and open to the public! We will have free pizza available for as long as supplies last. Drop in any time between 3 and 5 to learn about and test out various kid-safe, alternative devices. Kids and teens welcome!

Schools Beyond Screens is a national coalition of parents and educators advocating for evidence-based guidelines around technology in the classroom. The SBS EdTech Working Group calls focus on district/school-level policy change and meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month.

Join host and Screen Time Action Network Director Jean Roger’s as she talks with journalist Natasha Singer, author of the new book “Coding Kids: Big Tech’s Battle to Remake Public Schools”. Free webinar, registration required.

Join us to learn about starting a TBP in your local community. We'll give you everything you need to know to take the next steps to start driving change! COMMUNITY ONBOARDING Wednesday, September 30 · 8:00 – 9:00pm Time zone: America/New_York Google Meet joining info Video call link: https://meet.google.com/xtv-muzm-zch Or dial: ‪(US) +1 225-442-0114‬ PIN: ‪673 873 987‬# More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/xtv-muzm-zch?pin=9533457997411

This call is for community leads in MA to share strategies, wins and challenges to leverage collective action in MA. Whether you're a seasoned community lead already in the thick of it or just starting out, we are here to support each other!

This event is for parents and youth of all ages. In many high-performing communities, young people absorb a powerful—and often unintentional—message: that their worth is tied to grades, accolades, and productivity. The result is rising rates of anxiety, burnout, and disconnection, even among kids who are doing everything “right.” This event introduces the concept of mattering—the idea that young people thrive when they feel seen, valued, and connected, not just evaluated. Speaker Stephanie Malia Krauss is an educator and author of How We Thrive: Caring for Kids and Ourselves in a Changing World and Whole Child, Whole Life. Drawing on research and real-world experience, she offers parents, educators, and young people practical ways to push back against achievement culture and create conditions where youth—and the adults who support them—can truly flourish. Bring friends and family.

The Balance Project aims to bring modern childhood into balance, championing real-life experience, the freedom for kids to be kids, and mindful, intentional use of technology. Drop in anytime between 9:30 and 11 to meet us and learn more as we kickoff the Westfield chapter.

Stop by our table at Foundation Day! We'll have information for parents on coming together to delay smartphones and social media, plus some crafts and treats for the kids.