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Dropout Prevention Summit

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 Cleveland Dropout Prevention Summit:
A Family and Community Empowerment Conference
May 22-23, 2009
Cleveland Convention Center
 
         Title Sponsor

 TCC Logo

Press Release

Sponsorship Information and Commitment Form

Anticipated and Confirmed Guests

Friday, May 22, 2009

Schedule of Events

8am – 5 pm

Community and business leaders will join CMSD's CEO and community leaders to discuss the growing dropout crisis and generate business community driven solutions that will help keep young people in school, then graduate ready for college, work and life. 

Attendees can choose from a number of sessions throughout the day or decide to attend the 12:30-2:00 luncheon featuring keynote speaker, Joe Williams, Executive Director, Democrats for Education Reform.

     
Friday, May 22 and
Saturday, May 23, 2009
8am – 5:00pm
Friday and Saturday will target the families and children of the CMSD so that student and family support resources can be identified and brought into use in ways that promote student success.  Governor Strickland and Mayor Jackson will attend the Saturday event.
In a unique partnership and with the support of Cleveland Clinic, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), America’s Promise Alliance, and City Year Cleveland are convening the city’s first Family and Community Empowerment Conference and Dropout Prevention Leadership Summit, which will be held May 22- 23, 2009 at the Cleveland Convention Center. The goals of the conference and the summit are to engage the entire community in meaningful collaborations that will improve the quality of life for youth and families, build stronger partnerships, and create greater access to information, programs, and wrap-around services that exist to assure that all Cleveland students complete high school ready for college, work, and life.

The Dropout Prevention Summit will take place on Friday, May 22. Leaders from throughout the business, nonprofit, education, and public sectors will have the opportunity to hear from thought leaders and participate in session that will:

  • Create a forum where the entire community can come together to learn about the nature of the dropout crisis and the current best practices for addressing the challenges;
  • Recognize the work that is already being done and the programs that are already available;
  • Build partnerships to align and coordinate current efforts;
  • Identify opportunities for additional collaboration and enhancement; and
  • Create a long-term plan that will form a framework for a multi-year, community-wide effort to support an effective education for all Cleveland students.

Guests include Tom Pelto, President, AT&T Ohio; Dr. Eugene T. W. Sanders, CEO, Cleveland Metropolitan School District; Dr. David Osher, American Institutes for Research; Marguerite Kondracke, President & CEO, America’s Promise Alliance; Rob Gordon, Senior Vice President for Civic Leadership, City Year, Inc.; and Pamela Holmes, Senior Director, Department of Community Affairs, Cleveland Clinic

The Family and Community Empowerment Conference is taking place Friday and Saturday, May 22 and 23. Parents, students, service providers, community leaders, and educators will join conversations during collaborative workshops focused on a variety of topics, including:

  • Adult literacy
  • Child social and emotional development
  • College readiness and financial aid
  • Families and parenting; kinship care and grandparents
  • Fatherhood and father involvement
  • Early childhood development
  • Health and wellness
  • Job readiness
  • Literacy for English language learners
  • Mentoring
  • Parent organizations
  • Safe and drug-free schools and neighborhoods
  • Violence prevention and conflict mediation

Guests at the Family and Community Empowerment Conference include Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio; Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson; Dr. Eugene T. W. Sanders, CEO, Cleveland Metropolitan School District; Dr. David Osher and Dr. Trina Osher, American Institutes for Research; Dr. Anthony Stallion, M.D., Cleveland Clinic; and Dr. Bill Cosby, who is the keynote speaker on Saturday May 23, discussing his book Come On, People and leading a town hall meeting afterwards.