Distinguished Panel Discusses Educational Opportunities and Challenges Affecting Men of Color
For Immediate Release
Contact: Rebecca Neale | Teach For America
202.906.9207 | rebecca.neale@teachforamerica.org
PHILADELPHIA, January 25, 2011—The Makuu Black Cultural Center and Teach For America today convened a forum of distinguished education and community leaders to examine the educational disparities impacting young men of color in the United States and identify actionable solutions to help all students reach their full potential, while discussing how to attract more talented men of color into the field of education. Held at the University of Pennsylvania, panelists for the interactive event, titled Shifting the Numbers: Men of Color and Education, included: Dr. Arlene Ackerman, superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia; Amanda Fernandez, interim chief diversity officer at Teach For America; Robert Archie, Jr. Esq., chairman of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission; Sharif El-Mekki. principal of Mastery Charter Schools, Shoemaker Campus; and David Hardy, chief executive officer of Boys' Latin of Philadelphia.
“To turn a blind eye to the plight of young men of color in this country is to do so at our own peril. A good education is one of the greatest deterrents to many of the pitfalls these young men are facing, and it is imperative that we do all that we can to encourage them and help them realize this,” said Dr. Arlene C. Ackerman, superintendent and chief executive officer of the School District of Philadelphia.
Today's discussion drew an audience of students, educators and community members to explore the challenges young men of color face and the ways to better ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education to prepare them for college and life success. Additionally, panelists addressed ways to recruit more high-achieving men of color into our country's low-performing classrooms, as teachers who share the backgrounds of their students can have the potential for additional impact by serving as a model of success in education and in life for their students. The forum is part of the ongoing efforts of the Makuu Black Cultural Center to expand cultural dialogue among university students and of Teach For America to end educational inequity by engaging communities of color in the work of closing the achievement gap.
“As an institution of higher education full of resources and opportunities, we have a responsibility to ensure that young people are engaged and fully understand that attaining an education will improve their quality of life, which in turn improves the quality of life for their families and communities” said, Dr. Karlene Burrell-McRae, director of the Makuu Black Cultural Center.“Makuu works with young men with varied education histories and different professional trajectories, and we must impress upon them that there is a dire need for their presence in the classroom as educators.”
“Through today's discussion, Teach For America is working to support a dialogue of diverse perspectives on how our country can bridge the achievement gap that adversely impacts students of color, particularly young men,” said Omari Todd, vice president of regional operations for Teach For America and moderator of today's discussion. “I'm inspired by the thoughts, ideas, and actions shared during this discussion on ways to improve educational opportunities for students of color-and all underserved students across our country.”
Also today, Teach For America founder and CEO Wendy Kopp released a new book titled A Chance to Make History, which draws on her experiences over 20 years at the center of a growing movement to end educational inequity. The book describes how we can provide children in low-income urban and rural communities with an education that dramatically changes their life prospects, by embracing the strategies of transformational teachers and educational leaders. For more information about A Chance to Make History, visit http://www.achancetomakehistory.org/.
About the Makuu Black Cultural Center
The Makuu Black Cultural Center is a nexus of academic, personal, and professional growth for University of Pennsylvania students interested in Black culture and the African Diaspora. Through advising, leadership development, social and cultural programming we expand student access to the University's resources. For more information, visit www.vpul.upenn.edu/makuu.
About Teach For America
Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in expanding educational opportunity. Today, more than 8,200 corps members are teaching in 39 regions across the country, while 20,000 Teach For America alumni continue working from inside and outside the field of education for the fundamental changes necessary to ensure educational excellence and equity. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org.
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