In September 2009, the Harvard Black Alumni Society of New York launched an initiative that sought to address head on a public education system that produces just about as many drop outs as it does high school graduates. As a part of this initiative, the Harvard Black Alumni Society of New York has held a series of discussions and service events directly engaging hundreds -- Harvard and non-Harvard community members, Black, White, Hispanic, Asian and other -- in just a matter of months. Discussions have featured General Colin Powell, NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and Harvard Graduate School of Education Dean Kathleen McCartney among others.
Waiting for "Superman" Screening and Discussion
The Harvard Black Alumni Society of New York, America's Promise Alliance and Microsoft presented a screening and discussion of a seminal documentary "Waiting for 'Superman'" that takes a critical look at tthe public education system in America.
Panelists included: NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein; Deputy Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Heather Higginbottom; Senior Deputy Commissioner of the NYS Board of Regents John King; Founding Member of Teach for America and Democrats for Education Reform Whitney Tilson; Director of Evaluation of the Harlem Children's Zone Betina Jean-Louis; Principal of KIPP Academy Elementary School Stephen Ajani; and MENTOR President Larry Wright. The panel was moderated by Former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell.
Panelists included: NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein; Deputy Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Heather Higginbottom; Senior Deputy Commissioner of the NYS Board of Regents John King; Founding Member of Teach for America and Democrats for Education Reform Whitney Tilson; Director of Evaluation of the Harlem Children's Zone Betina Jean-Louis; Principal of KIPP Academy Elementary School Stephen Ajani; and MENTOR President Larry Wright. The panel was moderated by Former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell.
Educating Everyone: A Conversation on Equity and Excellence in American Schools
More than 200 attended the Harvard Black Alumni Society of New York's event that featured a conversation on how to move America's schools forward.
Panelists included: General Colin Powell, the 65th United States Secretary of State and founder of the America’s Promise Alliance; Harvard Black Alumni Society of New York member Rhena Jasey AB’01, currently a founding teacher at The Equity Project Charter School in Washington Heights; David Banks, the Founding Principal of the Eagle Academy for Young Men; Yvette Crespo, the Parent Coordinator at the Eagle Academy for Young Men; and Odell Patterson, a graduating high school senior.
Working to Address the High School Dropout Crisis: The Civil Rights Issue of our Generation
Over 400 people attended the launch event for the HBASNY's education initiative on September 30 featuring a panel discussion at Scholastic's headquarters. The discussion featured NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein; Harvard Graduate School of Education Dean Kathleen McCartney; NYU Professor Pedro Noguera; Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education Russlynn Ali; and Yale Professor Dr. James Comer. This event was made possible with the support of the Harvard Alumni Association, the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the America's Promise Alliance.