Minority Education Workshop Speakers Announced for Save Our Schools Conference in DC

CAMDEN, NJ, July 22, 2011 (Press-News.org) The Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action Conference for Friday, July 29th, "Addressing the Minority Communities Issues in Public Education" Workshop panel has been announced by the New Jersey Minority Educational Development organization this week.

The 2-hour workshop will feature five topics that the New Jersey Minority Educational Development organization has identified as important towards closing the academic achievement and attainment gaps for minority students in the 21st century. The first hour will address the current relationship between the public education school debate and how it is affecting students and their neighborhoods: Community and Schools, Student Development, and Community Focus. The second hour topics - Family Dynamics and Educational Support Services - will explore what type of solutions needs to be address before a sustainable system can be obtained.

The workshop moderator and Executive Director of New Jersey Minority Educational Development, Albert Mitchell II, said, "This workshop is designed to find solutions, why there are two public education systems in America. One for people of color and one for those without; this is a time like no other time in history, where America must face the fact we have serious competition for goods and services, and we need a better-educated minority workforce. If we think others, like the European Commission with their Central Bank, and China and its People's Bank of China, are willing to let America lead the world economy in the 21st century; the dummying down of America has already occurred."

Starting with the first workshop speaker, Ms. Ceresta Smith, outspoken member of the National Education Association, adds, "Their two systems, one that is stable and well-managed, while the second shows no signs of improvement; which helps create an atmosphere for failure." The 2nd workshop speaker, Ms. Karran Harper Royal, board member of Parent Across America, said, "Students get lost in the system, and parents are most time ill-informed about what is happening or where they can go for help." Retired Colonel Walter L. Holmes, President of The Fifth House, and the workshop's third speaker, points out, "We have to change the way we approach education; today, students and schools need more organizational assessments. Every student does not learn the same way, and every teacher does not teach the same way. This is where the disconnect needs to be reevaluated. Each community in itself presents a challenge that defines the moral and social values; we must understand these dynamics before we move forward in education reform."

The workshop closes with two members from the national Achieve High Points organization. First, Dr. Carol Simmons, Regional Manager, will explore how families have changed in minority communities. She remarks, "Today students don't have the same support. They received 30, 20 or even 10 years ago. This leaves the child with the dilemma of figuring out why do I have to go to school." Ms. MoNique Holland, also regional manager of Achieve High Points, will discuss her experience in working with low-performing minority community school districts.

Again, the Addressing the Minority Communities Issues in Public Education workshop will be held on Friday, July 29th at 1:45 to 3:35pm, at Bentley Lounge in Gary Hall at America University, in Washington, DC.

New Jersey Minority Educational Development provides an alternative lifestyle for minority youth through higher education.