UNCF, National Urban League, and Education Post Release Joint Report on Black Education Efforts

“Building Better Narratives in Black Education” highlights African American perspectives on K-12 education issues

Media Contacts:
Ashlei Stevens
UNCF Communications
astevens@uncf.org
202.810.0226

K. Kim Atterbury
National Urban League
katterbury@nul.org
202.629.5750

UNCF, the National Urban League, and Education Post today released “Building Better Narratives in Black Education,” a joint report published by UNCF’s Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute, providing tangible approaches to shift the narrative concerning black educational reform. The findings of the report aim to better engage communities around K-12 education and drive substantive policy changes for black students. The three organizations will gather national and local education advocates, policy-makers, and community leaders today for a public launch event and reception at UNCF’s headquarters, featuring special guests Dr. Michael L. Lomax, UNCF president and CEO, and Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League.  The launch event also includes a panel of education leaders who will discuss accountability, improving educational outcomes, and improving college completion for African American students.

Building Better Narratives in Black Education
Building Better Narratives in Black Education

“Building a better narrative means privileging African American voices and perspectives as central drivers of successful urban school reform, as these conversations have largely excluded communities of color,” said Dr. Lomax. “We’re excited about engaging with our partners in this important work, which we believe will encourage substantive dialogue and drive meaningful changes to the way black education reform is viewed, promoting an ‘urgency of now’ in ed reform.”

“At a time when only seven percent of black 12th graders are performing at ‘proficient’ or above on national math assessments, compared with 32 percent of white students, we know we’ve got lots of work to do,” said Morial. “As education is the pathway to economic prosperity, we’re glad to work together with UNCF and Education Post to engage local communities in taking critical steps to address education achievement gaps.”

WHAT:
“Building Better Narratives in Black Education” report release, panel discussion, and reception

WHEN:
Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016; 4:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. EST

WHERE:
UNCF, 1805 7th Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20001, located at Shaw-Howard Metro station.

WHO:

  • Jonathan Atkins, Community Engagement Manager, K-12 Advocacy, UNCF
  • Dr. Meredith B.  L. Anderson, Senior Research Associate (Patterson and K-12 Advocacy), UNCF
  • Sekou Biddle, Vice President, K-12 Advocacy, UNCF
  • Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO, UNCF
  • Marc H. Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League
  • Eugene Pinkard, Deputy Chief of School Turnaround and Performance, DC Public Schools
  • Susie Saavedra, Senior Director for Policy and Legislative Affairs, National Urban League Washington Bureau
  • Naomi Shelton, Director, K-12 Advocacy, UNCF
  • Hal Smith, Vice President, Education, Youth Development and Health, National Urban League
  • Christopher Stewart, Director of Outreach and External Affairs, Education Post
  • Shantelle Wright, Founder and CEO, Achievement Prep

WATCH:
Live stream begins at 5 p.m. EST on UNCF’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/uncf

Follow the discussion on Twitter: @uncf   @Edu_Post   @NatUrbanLeague   #BBNBlackEd

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About UNCF
UNCF (the United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 21 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF. 

 

About Education Post
Education Post is a non-partisan communications organization dedicated to building support for student-focused improvements in public education from preschool to high school graduation. The organization advocates world-class schools that support children to love learning, to be challenged and supported in the classroom, to have access to a range of enrichment activities, to be socially and emotionally strong and healthy, and to graduate from high school with everything they need to pursue the future they see for themselves. Learn more at educationpost.org.

 

About The National Urban League
The National Urban League is a historic civil rights and advocacy organization dedicated to economic empowerment in African American and other underserved urban communities. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League impacts and improves the lives of more than 2 million young people and adults annually through direct service programs, which are implemented locally by 94 Urban League affiliates, serving 300 communities in 36 states and the District of Columbia. Learn more at nul.iamempowered.com.