Mayor Ras J. Baraka hosted the two-day Newark Community Education Convention on Friday, November 21, at Bethany Baptist Church, and on Saturday, November 22, at the Rutgers University-Newark Paul Robeson Campus Center. Themed “Reclaiming the Village,” the convention brought together educators, activists, and leaders from across the region, state, and nation, to discuss Newark’s education issues, solutions, and best practices.
“As an educator for 22 years and Newark’s chief executive, I regard the teaching and nurturing of our youth as to be one of the most important tasks a community can fulfill. It is a moral obligation to our residents and their future. That is why it is so important that we held this convention here in Newark this weekend, bringing together people of all ages, experts from within our City and outside it, to address our issues, create a community-based and child-focused educational structure, and continue to transform Newark into a City we can all believe in,” Mayor Baraka said.
The two-day convention began at the Bethany Baptist Church at on Friday, at 6 p.m., with a panel discussion and a keynote address by People’s Organization for Progress Founder Larry Hamm.
The second day commenced at Rutgers University-Newark on Saturday, at 8 a.m., with a keynote address by National Urban Alliance for Education for Effective Education Chief Executive Officer Dr. Yvette Jackson. Her address was followed by discussion panels until 3 p.m. The Mayor delivered remarks at 1 p.m.
Discussion topics included an overview of public education in Newark from the 1970s to the present; Breaking Through Barriers to Learning; Newark’s Educational landscape: A Community View; and Planning Together to Transform our Schools Together. Panelists included school principals, student leaders, Newark municipal directors, education experts, and community activists.
Partners in the event were the City of Newark; NAACP-Newark Chapter; Abbott Leadership Institute; Coalition for Effective Newark Public Schools; Communities United; Parents Unified for Local School Education; American Federation of Teachers; Newark Teachers Union; Education Reform Now; Teach for America; Newark Student Union; Newark Trust for Education; Statewide Parent Advocacy Network; Newark Charter School Fund; United Way of Essex and Hudson.
