African American Men and Boys Conference
2008 / 2009 Conference Schedule
“Theme for the Conferences This Year”
“Individual Responsibility”
Date Campus Conference Theme
September 27th, 2008 LBJ H.S. “Keeping it Real, Education a Must”
October 25th, 2008 Manor H.S. “Individual Responsibility”
November 22nd, 2008 Pearce M.S. “Setting Personal Goals”
December 13th, 2008 RRISD or PISD ‘Taking Control of My Life”
January 31st, 2009 Reagan H.S. “Making Career Choices Now”
February 28th, 2009 Manor M.S “Dating With Out Violence”
March 28th, 2009 Dobie M.S. “Strategy for Conflict Management”
April 25th, 2009 Garcia M.S. “Am I on Track to Graduate”
May 16th 2009 RRISD or PISD “Letting Go, Moving Forward”
All Conferences Are On Saturdays From 10:00 AM To 2:00 PM . Conferences Are Free, Door Prizes Will Be Given Away, Refreshments Are Provided
Volunteers, Vendors, Facilitators are requested to be present by 9:00 , the day of the Conference.
Registration starts at 9:30 AM the Day of The Conference
The Conferences are for “ALL” Students, Boys and Girls and all Ethnicities.
The African American Men and Boys Harvest Foundation: a unique organization designed to bring together successful African American men as mentors and role models to African American boys with a specific goal of reducing the academic achievement gap between Blacks and their White peers. The Harvest Foundation will sponsor activities designed to:
1) combat crime, juvenile delinquency, and destructive antisocial behavior;
2) encourage academic excellence;
3) build working partnerships between successful African American men and boys; and
4) teach successful strategies for achieving economic prosperity and personal wealth through entrepreneurial strategies, academic achievement, and employment activities.
The program elements are chosen in order to achieve the objectives of the conference:
The Objectives are as follows:
1) Reduce disciplinary actions and suspensions within AISD
2) Reduce the dropout rates of African Americans
1) Increase the Graduation Rates of African Americans
2) Reduce the rates of African Males in special ed
3) Provide a forum for parents and teachers to interact
4) Provide greater access to government provided social services
5) Provide forum for young boys to have discussions with professional Black Men
6) Educate parents on effective monitoring of their child’s progress in school
7) Promote higher education as a “must” to be successful
Look for alternative ways to bring every child up to grade-level
9) Provide a forum for the community to engage students, parents, teachers and principals
10) Provide feedback to AISD on issues/concerns from students/parents’
Why the Conferences?
Black males as a group lag significantly behind in both grade point average and performance on standardized tests. In elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, many Black males are often categorized as a population at-risk who trail behind in academic achievement. The academic achievement of Black males has declined and they are at the lowest of all demographic subgroups. Sadly, Black males are at the very bottom of virtually every academic indicator at disproportionate rates.
The goal of the Conferences and workshop are to:
1. Recognize problems that contribute to the poor academic performance of minority students and offer viable solutions
2. Increase the confidence of minority students so they are better equipped to meet their educational goals and
3. Respond to social issues that affect student performance in the classroom
Program History
The African American Men and Boys Conferences were established in response to the poor academic performance of Black males in Central Texas. The Conferences address the on-going academic problems that contributed to the educational decline of minority students. The monthly Conferences generate dialog and fosters needed support from school administrators, community groups and concerned parents. To date, community leaders and parents recognize the Conferences as the primary source of information for addressing academic and social issues facing minority students in the Austin Independent School District (AISD). The purposes of the Conferences are to:
Create a safe environment that allows minority students struggling with social and academic issues an opportunity to receive needed support.
Organize a team of adult Black males from the community who will serve as mentors and workshop facilitators for the Conference.
Give participants an opportunity to learn skills that can be used to change destructive behavior and ready themselves for graduating from high school.
Please review The You Tube Video filmed by KLRU TV Station.
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