Friday, August 21, 2015

The Family that Educates Together, Elevates Together!; SundayUniversity Teaches Community to Create Wealth in 2015; See InspirationalFirst Day of School in Delray Beach, Florida; Illinois Senators Help StopSeniors from Being Ripped Off


Family that Educates Together, Elevates Together
Sunday University
Illinois Senators Protect Seniors from Scam Artists
Delray Beach Joins The Million Father March
439 Cities Register for Million Father March
Unto Perfect Manhood -- Hales Franciscan
Cepeda: The family that educates together, elevates together
By Esther J. Cepeda
August 19, 2015
Esther J. Cepeda
CHICAGO -- Dear dads: It's your time to shine.
Everyone knows that kids do better academically when "parents" participate in school activities such as helping with homework and teacher conferences. But all too often, moms are designated the school-stuff managers, leaving out a precious piece of the puzzle for ensuring that kids understand how important their education is to the whole family.

Maybe not for long.

The Black Star Project, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that strives to improve the quality of life in black and Latino communities by closing racial academic achievement gaps, has been getting dads involved in back-to-school preparations for more than a decade.

"The Million Father March is a way to get men into their children's schools because right now men are the missing link in education," said Phillip Jackson, founder and executive director of the Black Star Project. "When fathers, grandfathers, uncles, foster fathers, stepfathers, big brothers, significant male caregivers and male friends of the family come together to support a child's education, they bring so much to schools and to families. It's amazing that we haven't figured out how to get more men involved in the education of children."

Today, the Million Father March takes place in schools and communities across the country, and beyond. This fall, the Black Star Project estimates that well over 1 million fathers and other family members will participate in more than 600 cities.

"The Million Father March is no longer a one-day activity," Jackson told me in an interview. "It did start out that way, but now it's a full-year activity that asks men and fathers to volunteer 10 hours a year to their child's school. To some people, that's nothing, but it's such a great beginning. Once they see they can be tutors, mentors, celebrity readers, 'real-men readers,' lunch-room monitors, field-trip chaperones, they can be put to painting and improving the school, they see there are so many things that fathers can do."

Jackson believes in the power of the whole family to boost educational achievement for black and Hispanic youth and says the emphasis on dads is just another way to improve participation.

"Education is absolutely a family affair. It is not, as we used to believe, the mother's job," said Jackson. "It's so much more than that now-the family that educates together, elevates together. You cannot simply send your child to school anymore, it never really worked, and it doesn't work in 2015."

Hear it loud and clear, dads: You are wanted and needed at school.

Click Here to Read Full Story
Our Next
Sunday University
Sunday, August 23, 2015
-------------------------------------------------
"Flipping Houses"
Learn to rebuild your community and to earn wealth while you provide quality housing for the people of your community. Learn how to research, identify, acquire, finance, rehabilitate and sell properties in your community.
Professor Attorney Geneva Brown
and
Professor D. Drew Williams
-------------------------------------------------
Sunday, September 27, 2016
Technology and Food Entrepreneurship
with Riana Lynn
Google - Code 2040 Entrepreneur in Residence
Riana Lynn is emerging as a young leader in food+health entrepreneurship with a passion for technology, access, and bringing people together. From her grandmother's garden to the White House South Lawn and through the local and international agricultural pipelines she was inspired to develop innovative supply chain management tools and create FoodTrace. A next level sourcing platform, FoodTrace is paving the way with software solutions to solve our biggest food industry problems. Her story and accomplishments have been featured in Inc.com, Wired Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, TheGrio 100, and other local and national publications. She graduated with a B.S. in Biology and African American Studies, along with a minor in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she taught herself how to code and was a top-ranked performer in Discus and Javelin before pursuing a Masters at Northwestern University. While getting her hands dirty in the White House Kitchen Garden, her work included major policy initiatives such as Small Business and Jobs, STEM, and Public Health. Riana currently serves as the Google - Code 2040 Entrepreneur in Residence. A native of the Chicago area, Riana is a young politico, a restaurant enthusiast, a world traveler, and an innovative fruit connoisseur!

2:30 pm to 4:00 pm
after church, mosque or temple
at
The Black Star Project
3509 South King Drive
Chicago, Illinois

Please call 773.285.9600 to RSVP, for more information or to create a Sunday University in your city.
Illinois State Senators Jacqueline Collins and Mattie Hunter protect seniors from scam artists
mis-using reverse mortgages!
In the wake of revelations that con artists have used risky financial products called "reverse mortgages" to scam seniors, please encourage your senior networks to attend this reverse mortgage event and learn more. Senator Collins and Senator Hunter will be joined by experts in the field. Please call 773.224.2830 or 312.949.1908 for more information.
Delray Beach, Florida Joins
The Million Father March
--------------------------------------------------
Monday, August 17, 2015
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Community leaders are using back to school events Monday to connect kids with male mentors.

Village Academy in Delray Beach asked fathers, uncles, cousins and grandfather to greet students as they walk onto campus. Principal LaToya Dixon says she wants to show children that the community is invested in their education. She has recruited more than 100 men.

A Florida Department of Education study found that when fathers are actively involved in their child's education, the student earn better grades, score higher on tests, enjoy school, has fewer discipline problems and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college.

Monday's initiative is part of The Black Star Project, U.S.A. - Million Father March. The organization says schools in almost 600 cities are expected to participate.

Click Here to See the the Inspirational First Day of School in Delray Beach, Florida.
447 Cities Are Participating in The 2015 Million Father March.
If Your City Is Not Participating, Why Not? Ask Your Schools, Your Faith Institutions, Your Governments to Join the 2015 Million Father March or participate on our special National Million Father March Day on Tuesday, September 15, 2015.
On your first day of school, or on Tuesday, September 15, 2015, or on any day you choose: 1) Invites fathers and men to bring children to school; 2) Serve fathers and men breakfast and introduce them to your school; 3) Invite fathers and men to volunteer 10 hours a year at your school; 4) Invite fathers and men to "Real Men Read" at your school; 5) Invite fathers and men to "Real Men Mentor" at your school; 6) Invite fathers and relatives to have lunch with their children at your school; 7) Invite fathers, men and faith institutions to pray around your school (outside); 8) Invite fathers and men to attend a performance of students at your school; and 9) Invite fathers and men to organize a march through the community near your school.
Click Here to Register for the 2015 Million Father March
Click Here to see if your city has signed up for the 2015 Million Father March
Click Here to Learn More about the Million Father March or call 773.285.9600.
Quote of the Day
From The Black Star Learning Center
"Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit."
- Conrad Hilton
(quote shared by Black Star Member Stan Jendresak)
Unto Perfect Manhood!
Graduating 8th-grade, rising 9th-grade and transferring 10th-grade young men (and young women) can register now to attend Hales Franciscan High School in Chicago, Illinois. Some financial assistance is available. Please call 773.285.8400 for more information.
History:
Hales Franciscan High School is a nationally recognized not-for-profit, independent Catholic school that has serviced students throughout Chicago, for over 50 years. Named after Alexander of Hales, a Franciscan scholar in the Middle Ages, Hales Franciscan High School opened it's doors in 1962 as an African American, all-male, Catholic college preparatory high school, dedicated to imparting Christian values in the Catholic and Franciscan traditions; instilling moral and ethical ideals, while helping students fulfill their academic potential in a safe, disciplined and nurturing environment. In 2013, Hales Franciscan High School became a coeducational institution, enrolling female students.

Academic Program:
Hales Franciscan High School is a small, faith-based, Catholic school, servicing approximately 125 male and female students in grades 9-12. Class sizes average about 20/1. Students receive a traditional, classical education, anchored by humanities and the great books, in addition to participating in weekly colloquia. Senior students are afforded an opportunity to take classes at our partner schools; Chicago State University and Shimer College; as part of our dual-enrollment program.

School Stats:
Freshmen On Track Rate: 90%
Graduation Rate: 97%
College Enrollment: 100%
College Retention: 99%

Demographics:
Number of Students: 125
Gender: 20% Female, 80% Male
Race: 99% Black
Ethnicity: 99% Non-Hispanic
Click Here to visit the Hales Franciscan website

No comments: