College Board and Congressional Tri-Caucus Call on Leaders to

Address the Urgent Need to Raise Achievement among Young Men of Color

WHAT:       On Tuesday, Jan. 26^th, education leaders, policymakers and community advocates from around the country, will convene on Capitol Hill to discuss the most pressing challenges facing young minority men in secondary and post-secondary education programs based on The Educational Crisis Facing Young Men of Color, a compelling policy report released today by the College Board. 

WHY:          In The Educational Crisis Facing Young Men of Color, the College Board gathered the insights and firsthand experiences of more than 60 scholars, practitioners and activists from the African American, Hispanic, Asian American/Pacific Islanders and Native American communities, based on a series of four, one-day seminars called Dialogue Days, in which thought leaders from each community participated in a discussion to address the most pressing education needs of minority males. 

Through the voices of these participants, the report underscores the scope and urgency of the educational crisis facing minority male students, and highlights a number of promising programs that have proven effective in meeting the needs of this underserved group.

WHEN:       9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 26, 2010

WHERE:     South Congressional Meeting Room, Capitol Visitor Center, Washington D.C.

WHO:         The briefing will convene educators, policymakers and advocates to discuss the report’s findings and call on leaders and communities to address this national crisis. Distinguished speakers to include:

·     Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

·     Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) Congressional Hispanic Caucus

·     Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) (Invited) Congressional Black Caucus

·     Gaston Caperton, College Board President

·     Sidney Ribeau, President, Howard University

·     Lee Bitsoi, Assistant Professor, Georgetown University

·     Roy Jones, Project Director, Call Me MISTER Program, Clemson University

·     Luis Ponjuan, Assistant Professor, University of Florida

·     Hal Smith, Vice President Education & Youth, National Urban League

·     Robert Teranishi, Associate Professor, New York University

·     Ronald Williams, Vice President, The College Board (Moderator)

MEDIA:       We would welcome your attendance.  Call-in information provided by request.  Please contact Stephanie Coggin at scoggin@collegeboard.org or call 212-520-8662. For additional information, you may also visit www.collegeboard.com/advocacy.

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