Skyline College and the White House are working together to open up the dialogue about education and African Americans.
The college is gearing up to host the 2016 White House Initiative’s Summit on Educational Excellence for African Americans on Friday, September 30, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The event will provide a platform for experts and black students to discuss the accomplishments they have made in higher education and the support that is needed to succeed both in school and in life. The event will help identify best practices and allow participants to learn from both the successes and failures of the past in order to influence the future.
The White House Initiative was created through an Executive Order by President Barack Obama in 2012. The Initiative works to restore the United States to its role as the global leader in education; strengthen the Nation by improving educational outcomes for African Americans of all ages; and help ensure that African Americans receive a complete and competitive education that prepares them for college, and productive citizenship. Among the things most important to the Initiative is centering the experiences of young people—those impacted by the decisions made by adults, educators, school leaders etc. The AfAmEdSummit is a way to accomplish this goal while supporting communities in responding to the needs of students.
Hosting the summit at Skyline College will provide a powerful forum to disrupt the status quo as well as negative stereotypes that surround Black students. The event will propel increased collaboration with high schools on the peninsula and surrounding areas. Additionally, Skyline College will partner with other colleges in the region to open the dialogue about the needs of Black students.
Article by Cherie Colin and Connor Fitzpatrick
