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Featured
Speakers
In
the tradition of Geraldine L. Wilson, who was a staunch
advocate of African American authors of children’s
books and musicians,
this year’s seminar will present Maggie Brown,
daughter of the late, legendary
lyricist and performer Oscar Brown, Jr. Through
exciting, intelligent, “edutainment,” Ms. Brown will
demonstrate in a lively and engaging manner the
importance of and value of African American music. She
will demonstrate work songs of the enslaved and
anthologize musical forms all the way up to contemporary
rap music. Opening
Session
In her most recent book, Learning While Black, Dr. Janice Hale breaks the silence about the hidden racism in education and asserts that school reform will not be successful until educators let go of certain beliefs they hold dear and near. Based on her experiences as a single mother and well-respected educator, Dr. Hale will share her thoughts on the solutions for creating educational excellence. The other books authored by Dr. Hale are Unbank the Fire and Black Children: Their Roots, Culture, and Learning Styles.
Has
special education become the new form of segregation -
and tracking? Is illiteracy the precursor to
incarceration? How do we explain the academic
differential between males and females?
Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu has dedicated his life to saving
Black boys.
Toward that end, he has authored over 25 books
including national best sellers, Countering the
Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys; Black Students: Middle
Class Teachers; Satan, I’m Taking Back My Health;
State of Emergency: We Must Save African American Males;
Solutions for Black America; and
Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education
Tuesday
Morning Plenary
African people all over the world continue to face old challenges in new forms, economic, environmental, political, and educational. False framing of our problems have caused us to take detours from a correct path, wasting precious time and resources. The “savage inequalities” in school services so well documented by Jonathan Kozol have continued, but in new forms, such as “school reform” offered by many commercial school services, are ever more threatening, yielding minimum competencies. We have all the resources that we need to be victorious in this struggle, provided that we define our problems correctly, and that we are sophisticated in mobilizing for greater influence and direction over the education and socialization of our children. There are no mysteries about what to do. Nothing new needs to be discovered. If we are informed about our powerful traditions and outcomes in education and socialization, from ancient times to today, we will be able to commit to a powerful path, and save our children. Closing
Luncheon
As
President and CEO of the Casey Family Programs, William
C. Bell heads the nation’s largest operating
foundation with a mission focused solely on providing
and improving – and ultimately preventing the need for
– foster care. With nearly 30 years of experience in
the human services field, including commissioner of the
New York City Administration for Children’s Services
(ACS), Mr. Bell
will share his perspective on how advocates,
human service professionals and systems across
disciplines must work together to ensure children’s
well-being.
Issue Forums Disproportionate
Representation Forum Disproportionate
representation means that when compared to their
presence in the overall relevant population, a given
racial/ethnic group is over- or under-
represented in the specific population of interest.
For the first time in history, the federal
government is conducting an audit to investigate why
African American children and youth are over-represented
in the nation’s child welfare systems, despite data
that show no difference in the rates of child abuse and
neglect between races. Forum panelists will respond to
the findings outlined in the report, expected to be
released June 2007, and provide recommendations to
attendees as to what they can do within their own
jurisdictions to advocate for change.
Presenters:
Panel members will include congressional/legislative
representatives and child welfare experts. Responsible
Fatherhood Forum
Healthy
Communities Forum
Children
who do poorly in school and in other educational
activities are often unhealthy. Unhealthy
children, in contrast to their healthy classmates, are
unable to compete cognitively, emotionally, and
socially.
In this forum, a public health
perspective that has been developed and is being
implemented in Chicago
to provide children with the best outcomes for their
health and safety as they initially enter and ultimately
leave school will be presented. A panel presentation featuring educators
from the Chicago Board of Education and the Chicago
Department of Public Health will present initiatives
targeting community, domestic and school-based violence;
addressing children’s mental health needs; and
adopting the Speaker:
Terry Mason, MD,
Commissioner, Department of Health, City of Chicago,
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Speaker:
Maggie Brown
Speaker:
Janice E. Hale, PhD
Speaker: 
Speaker: 
Presenter:
William C. Bell
In
recent years advocates, researchers, and practitioners
in the responsible fatherhood arena have promoted the
importance of positive involvement of disconnected
fathers in the lives of their children.
In
an effort to help our children become successful
navigators of this fast-paced and often impersonal world
that is 21st Century America, it is important that we weave a safety net of
supportive relationships.