Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Challenging Racial Inequality in Our Schools
As a leading urban sociologist, Dr. Noguera examines how schools are influenced by social and economic conditions in the urban environment. What are the challenges they face in providing safe, academically rewarding environments? What is the state of race relations, racial inequality? What is the role of diversity? What is the impact of violence, parents, and school vouchers? What factors promote student achievement? Which detract from it? What is the impact of immigration and migration? A realistic, hopeful speaker, Dr. Noguera shows you the hurdles we face in providing equal education to all -- and then unveils the solutions that are already working to overcome them.
· Dr. Pedro Noguera, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University,
Executive Director of the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education and Co-Director of the Institute for the
Study of Globalization and Education in Metropolitan Settings (IGEMS)
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Flood the Hood with Dreams
In every generation there are voices that represent the struggles of the nation’s have-nots. In the 60s, legends like Sam Cooke, Bob Dylan and the Watts Prophets warned the world about African American oppression. Following 2 decades of failed political promises and socio-economic upheaval, hip-hop became the language of change as MCs like Chuck D, Rakim and KRS ONE encouraged urban-minded youth to learn about the knowledge of self in the 80s and 90s. Today, as rap music becomes less reflective of the realities of ghetto life and the world becomes increasingly hostile, some of the most poignant voices of freedom are coming from the nation’s growing spoken word community.
Flood the Hood with Dreams is at the forefront of this movement. More than just artists, Kwabena Antoine Nixon and Muhibb Dyer are rapidly becoming the faces of the country’s growing youth movement. As leaders in their Milwaukee community, their powerful words have mobilized young adults to voting booths, inspired detainees in juvenile detention facilities and rocked crowds at sold out concert halls. Their current effort, The Campaign Against Violence, seeks to curb inner city violence. No longer local talents, their reputation as top notch performers has quickly spread outside of the rustbelt and these two powerful lyricists have shared the stage with many of hip-hop's biggest names including P. Diddy, Talib Kweli and Common.
Their message is so motivating that Congresswoman Maxine Waters flew them to Washington D.C. to perform for the Congressional Black Caucus after hearing them inspire the crowd at a campaign stop in Milwaukee. With hip-hop’s uncertain future and the world impatiently watching urban America’s next move, they are ready to become the voices of the next generation.
· Kwabena Antoine Nixon
· Muhibb Dyer
Bias is a Four Letter Word
Ruth Gudinas and Dorothy Davids of Full Circle Consulting will close the CREATE a Culturally Responsive Environment Conference by discussing solutions to the problems mentioned in previous sectional presentations. These knowledgeable women will discuss integrating authentic Native American materials into the regular curriculum.
· Ruth Gudinas, Full Circle Consulting
· Dorothy Davids, Full Circle Consulting
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