Does Minnesota Need a “13th” Grade?
Finding ways to keep black students behind the curve. If it does not happen by white men, there are black men and women who will step in.
by Donald Allen, Editor-in-Chief – OurBlackNews.com and The Independent Business News Network
Minneapolis, MN – The Minnesota House of Representatives have enacted a bill attempting to establish a “13th” grade pilot project based in north Minneapolis. The bill, H.F. 1149 is part of an education and employability solution for young adults who are unemployed, underemployed and not enrolled in postsecondary education. Co-authored by Senators Jeff Hayden (D-SD 62), Bobby Joe Champion (D-SD 59), Representatives Ray Dehn (D-HD 59B) and Will Morgan (D-SD 56B), the bill is said to potentially impact over 3,000 young adults ages 18-26, placing them on college and career pathways by 2015. It states the commissioner of education shall develop a one-year “13th” grade pilot project, with one site being operated by the Minneapolis Urban League. (Read HF1149 here)
The “13th” grade proposal is problematic because a one-year pilot program is expected to eradicate generations of educational failures in poor minority communities and the parties involved seem not to understand Minnesota’s employability issues and current status of K-12 education (if any) in the Minneapolis and St. Paul Public School systems.
The Minneapolis Urban League who currently operates the Urban League Academy in Minneapolis has not shown any success in their private educational ventures. The school, according to U.S. News and World Report shows test scores (U.S. News calculates these values based on student performance on state exit exams and internationally available exams on college-level coursework) of 27% reading proficiency with math not reported and college readiness omitted from the report. It is not educationally sound for an agency like the Minneapolis Urban League to be involved in a venture of this nature when they cannot communicate, represent, or show positive outcomes for the people they currently represent, if any. In 2013, the MUL does not speak for many residents as it pertains to Minnesota’s education system or successes therein.
This leads to the second challenge in Minnesota’s K-12 education system. Last week, outgoing CNN reporter Soledad O’Brien toured the Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ) facilities for an upcoming report on “Black in America.” O’Brien and CNN, seeking to answer questions on Minnesota’s challenges with the achievement gap was in Minneapolis to celebrate the NAZ program who identifies poor families with pre-K children in a predetermined pilot area of north Minneapolis. The parents are channeled through a variety of different classes with the award being a t-shirt for their pre-K children that reads, “College Graduate 2035.”
The Northside Achievement Zone, who in December of 2011 received $28 million from the US Promise Neighborhood Program has yet to show how they will report successes in 2013 with promises of graduates from college in 2035. Pre-K children in the NAZ project area and surrounding neighborhoods are more likely to be dropouts, expelled, or killed by violent crime according to Ronald A. Edwards, a Minnesota historian and the longest seated chairman of the Minneapolis Urban League. Edwards states, “The Minneapolis Urban League has not seen much in the area of educational success for its now closed elementary school or their high school. The Urban League is attempting to make themselves relevant in 2013 not because of their concern for the education of black youth – but to get money – they’re broke.”
The NAZ program from the US Promise Neighborhood Grant only lasts for five years; after $28 million is spent, mostly in administrative costs – what real results will north Minneapolis see in education? The Minneapolis Urban League’s “13th” Grade proposal at the Minnesota State Legislature and NAZ both feature a boutique community engagement piece reminiscent of many past failures in Minnesota’s education system.
It could be important to ask the question, “Who represents students in the Pre-K and K-12 public school system?” The duty should fall upon the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the local districts – but in the last 10 years, the MDE has done little to nothing in the area of addressing the achievement gap while celebrating more “performance art” initiatives in a failed attempt to solve a problem of educational equity from the top down.
What both programs and program leaders fail to recognize are the facts. There is too much racial discrimination in Minnesota to adequately address the achievement gap and issues of unemployment. According to a story in the Star Tribune: “Minnesota has the worst joblessness gap in the country between whites and blacks according to the Institute on Public Policy in Washington, DC.” The 2010 City of Minneapolis Disparity Report states the same: “We conclude that the statistical evidence presented in this report is consistent with these anecdotal accounts of contemporary business discrimination.” Minnesota’s public school system has problems also. Minnesota, more specifically the Minneapolis Public Schools has one of the largest achievement gaps between whites and blacks in the US. If one were to combine the issues, based on fact and sound logic there is no way either of these programs will work given the current methods of perpetual poverty in Minneapolis, especially the city’s north side. This is nothing more than moving chairs around on the Titanic.
St. Paul Police Department wants youths away from the system and in School
Please, take our poll on the right—->
Drop Out to Drop Ins – showing immediate success is very important. (Numbers based on estimates.) Click photo to enlarge.
“There will come a time when the need for a grassroots community engagement will put Black and Hispanic men and women back in their communities to reach the youth that need to be in school. This need will outweigh the bureaucratic, office-bound agenda that has not been effective in over 10 years.” ~D. Allen
by Donald Allen, Editor-in-Chief – OurBlackNews.com
St. Paul Police Truancy officials want to keep St. Paul students in school and off the streets during school times. The focus on education versus being in the system is a comfortable sign that the City of St. Paul law enforcement is ready to try something outside the box. In a preliminary meeting with Mr. Wesley Smith, founder of Drop Outs to Drop Ins, Smith and a development staffer took the opportunity to discuss the DODI program model with assistant chief Bill Martinez and Sgt. Christopher Byrne of the Juvenile Unit – St. Paul Police.
Smith said, “There are many things involved in getting a child back in school. That kid you see on the street corner during school hours has many things going on in his life that keep him away from school.” Smith and Chief Martinez both agreed there is a need for a more creative approach to truancy including exploring technical schools, Internet training courses and creative outlets to keep St. Paul youth interested in education.
Truancy at a Glance:
According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, habitual truancy can be defined as unexcused absences from school by a minor that exceed the number of such absences allowed under State law. Each State has its own school attendance laws, which specify 1) The age at which a child must begin school, 2) The age at which a youth can legally drop out of school, and 3) The number of unexcused absences that constitute truancy under the law (NCSE, N.d.). (PDF Report 2009)
No one really knows what the drop out rate for truants is; most school districts do not collect the data. Data from the 2000 census show that high school dropouts had only a 52% employment rate in 1999, compared to 71% for high school graduates, and 83% for college graduates. Of those who worked full-time year-round in 1999, high school dropouts earned only 65% of the median earnings.
Drop Out to Drop Ins takes a non-traditional approach, combined with common sense methods to get students thinking about education and the benefits of being back in school. Volunteers and law enforcement majors from local colleges combined with individual’s whose interest might range from math, science, English and philosophy join with DODI staffers to custom design a curriculum that focuses on successful student engagement while providing the necessary tracking data to the public schools and law enforcement officials.
Smith, who sees the summer fast approaching said, “I don’t see a crisis; I see an opportunity to get out on the streets of St. Paul and invite youth to one of the many community engagements DODI will plan. These children, for the most part test as creative and need to find out who they are. We can do that.”
Drop Out To Drop Ins at a glance:
Mr. Wesley Smith founded Drop Out to Drop Ins in 2006. He is responsible for re-entering over 200 K-12 students back in school. Mr. Smith has received no funding whatsoever for his mission. He survives from the kindness of friends, families and people who believe in his work.
Join Drop Out to Drop Ins and become a fan on Facebook.
Northside Achievement Zone: Aiming kids towards College? Former NAZ board member pulls the covers off no achievement in NAZ
Expected college graduation for poor minority students in 2035 does nothing to fix issues in 2013.
On Saturday, April 27 a former board member of Peace Foundation/NAZ was interviewed on the Internet radio program ON POINT with Ronald A. Edwards and myself. This former board member uncovered that NAZ was not doing the community any favors and the agency does call other north Minneapolis based organizations for human needs assistance. The former board member also alleges that NAZ is not doing what it was designed to do and the current model is nothing more than “talking point fluff.” Listen to the program on iTunes “The Ron and Don Show” or click here to download Saturday’s program. What is the black community to do when some of our leaders work harder to “back pat” each other versus actually doing the work? Listen to the program here.
by Donald Allen, Editor-in-Chief – OurBlackNews.com
North Minneapolis – Where are the “culture brokers, creators and sustainers?” boutique engagement words used by NAZ president Sondra Samuels to describe how NAZ is “trying” to help everyone. The challenge is NAZ has shown no results other then meetings and payout in administration costs. Betting on a poor black child in north Minneapolis to graduate from college in 2035 (under the cities current political and economic infrastructure) is like expecting to win the lottery. Is that why the Samuels sends a child 11 miles outside of north Minneapolis to school. Fixing a challenge starts in your own back yard.
Without the assistance of the African American Leadership Forum (AALF); excluding interviews with Black in America’s Soledad O’Brien, can Sondra Samuels and NAZ open up their playbook to the public and provide a list of clients to be surveyed for an evaluation of NAZ – it’s services and programs?
NAZ president Sondra Samuels told MPR in an interview, “If this program doesn’t work, I will resign.” This is a problematic statement if you take in to account NAZ is hoping for college graduates in 2035. Of course, salaries will be paid – the money will be gone.
Some organizations in north Minneapolis consider themselves above reproach, as if they were knighted by the Queen of England – or operating under some form of Sainthood, appointed by a higher power to bring forth an end to whatever it is they’re working towards.
The Star Tribune ran a story on Sunday (4/28), “Aiming kids toward college.” Northside Achievement Zone’s president Sondra Samuels told reporter Adam Belz, “Our purpose is to end multigenerational poverty using education as a lever, creating this culture of achievement in this geographic zone, where all children graduate high school college-ready.”
Samuels statement provides the foundation on why a close look must be taken at the Northside Achievement Zone and why a program that gives a t-shirt with a date of college graduation to it’s littlest participants excludes the data that tells us children in north Minneapolis are more likely to be drop outs; economically disenfranchised or killed by violence than graduate from high school.
North Minneapolis and the surrounding geographic area has not seen the kind of economic uplift out of poverty that Samuels is expecting from her programming with NAZ. Waiting until 2035 does not guarantee any successes.
The community of North Minneapolis is considerably diverse: 26.2% of residents speak a language other than English and 91% have incomes below 275% of the Federal poverty level. According to the 2010 Census, 57,765 individuals live in the North Minneapolis neighborhoods served by NorthPoint (Health Clinic), of whom 26% self-identify as African American, 8% Asian, and 5% Hispanic. In 2012, 37% of patients at NorthPoint were uninsured and 50% received Medicaid; 4% received Medicare and other public programs covered an additional 3%. Private insurance covered only 6% of patients (Hennepin County).
So how many black families are involved with NAZ? We don’t know….
In the Star Tribune story, the reporter asked Ms. Samuels:
Q: Explain how you think the program can stop the cycle of poverty in north Minneapolis.
A: We have a saying that “population-level results are revolutionary.” We’re not just trying to impact the children of families that actually come through NAZ; we’re trying to impact the entire zone. Even in families that don’t ever come to NAZ, and that’s creating a tipping point. They become the culture. They are the culture brokers, creators and sustainers.
Our question to NAZ and Ms. Samuels: What are the current results from the 217 families with 584 children in 2012? Have the situations of these families with children changed with the “Touch of NAZ?”
Stay tuned; IBNN NEWS and its affiliate will release an exclusive interview with a mother and child who participated with NAZ.
Boutique Engagement: Children Affected by Educational Disasters
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Tune into Saturday, April 27. 2013 at 3 p.m. (CST) to ON POINT with co-hosts Ronald A. Edwards and Don Allen as they discuss the latest in news and information. This is a special 90-minute program to deal with “Who is really black in Minnesota.” Click here to listen.
Fast Tube by Casper
by Donald Allen, Editor-in-Chief – OurBlackNews.com
Samuels and O’Brien – Northside Achievement Zone: Something stinks on Broadway Avenue North.
Think carefully: How do you measure success in 2013 for poor northside school children in 2035?
The former CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien was in Minneapolis touring the north side with representatives from the Northside Achievement Zone: Here’s what we think….
This is the challenge: If the first graduating class of the Northside Achievement Zone is just entering Kindergarten in 2013, how is it they presuppose these children will be college graduates in 2035? It eludes me why CNN’s Black in America or “Who is Black in America” (certainly not Soledad), would come over north and interview Northside Achievement Zone.
If a 2013 (or whatever) “program participant” will graduate from college in 2035, what has NAZ done for the parents? Are there jobs now? Will little Shauna or Tyrone see their mom and dad, get up each morning, leave for work and come home at the end of the day to review the children’s homework (much like you do with your children)? Rumor has it – someone is house shopping anyway. North Minneapolis will be short lived.
It’s not going to happen; it’s not happening. Where is the data – besides NAZ telling everyone (Facebook) that the first class is entering kindergarten? This tells us nothing the programs metrics – other than you brought some food; picked some families from Shiloh International (where you attend church) and might of given up a few Cub Food gift cards. A long-term success or failure rate) or gauge will not happen until 2025 (if they graduate from high school) and another 4 years 2030 “if” they graduate from college.
This program only lasts for 5 years; after $28 million dollars is spent, mostly in administrative costs – what real result will north Minneapolis have? Who will be responsible for the K-12? Certainly the Minneapolis Public Schools is not.
After seeing this shirt, I’m convinced this is all a scam – a pretty way to spend money on perpetual nothing.
How is it possible, or in line with the current data that says residents of north Minneapolis make the least money (next to the Native Americans); the killing, drugs, lack of opportunity and political slavery has been a juggernaut for everyone. There is no way this program will work given the current “provable” methods of perpetual poverty over north. This is nothing more than a “boutique community engagement” much like the Minneapolis Urban League’s proposal for an 13th grade.
When is CNN or Soledad O’Brien come and ask the right people questions versus this “Black Fluff” which is noting more than a perpetual incompetence.
Why the Minneapolis Urban League’s 13th Grade is a Bad Idea
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Our children’s Education is much more important then your doomed “pilot program.” (photo: Art)
The press release about the MUL’s 13th Grade proposal states, “Growing numbers of Minneapolis youth leave high school lacking a defined career path or the basic skills required for employment.” Is it the Minneapolis Urban League’s problem or public educations problem? If the money is right, the MUL will make it their problem.
by Donald Allen, Editor-in Chief – OurBlackNews.com
Minneapolis – Both Senator Jeff Hayden and State Rep. Raymond Dehn are great guys. Senator Bobby Joe Champion does not shake hands with someone who puts a red nose on his photos…oh well.
It eludes me on why these men would support such a proposal put forth by the Minneapolis Urban League. It seem, in the black community of Minnesota, we never asks the salient questions that should be asked before we put our people, agencies and resources out front for more embarrassing failures.
Some of the questions we need to ask the MUL:
When was the last time the MUL submitted test scores from their schools to the Minneapolis Public Schools? What successes can they report?
Urban League Academy 2009-2010 (photo: US NEWS)
This needs more than a MUL 13th Grade. (Photo: US News 2009/2010 school year)
US NEWS.com reports no test scores submitted. (Photo: Urban League Academy – US News 2009/2010 school year)
It’s a wonder Minneapolis parents have not took to the street. (Photo: Star Tribune)
2. How are Minneapolis Public Schools doing overall?
It’s not easy being a black person who has escaped the matrix. The consistent cover-up inside of black organizations that don’t want to be questioned about what it is they do has now come to a national level of conciseness. Many tell me I should just walk away and leave the Minneapolis Urban League to their own devise. That’s not who I am. Being a critic of a perpetuation of dysfunction-as-normal operations brings attention, and hopefully some new people to start asking the salient questions on why the organization went from “The Gateway of Opportunity,” to now push a 13th grade agenda. Something failed twice.
This is not the first time the Minneapolis Urban League has attempted to become relevant in the 21st century. We need look no further than the grant from the Minnesota Department of Transportation to create highway heavy jobs…still no report (or jobs either). We can attribute their lack of representation and understanding of critical issues to the MUL president Scott Gray and it’s board chairman. Remember, “Without deviation from the norm, change is not possible,” (Zappa).
This becomes a bigger issue when talking about who represents black Minnesotans, more specifically, who represents students in the K-12 public school system? This duty should fall upon the Minnesota Department of Education – but in the last 10 years, the MDE has done little to nothing in the area of addressing the achievement gap while celebrating more “performance art” initiatives in a failed attempt to solve a problem from the top down.
In reviewing the website “Schooldigger.com” – and viewing the Top 10 Schools in Minnesota, none of the “best” schools are in Minneapolis or Saint Paul. Looking at the 10 worst schools in Minnesota, 5 can be found in Minneapolis. This speaks volumes to the failure of the public schools – but more importantly, it lays out concerns on why the Minneapolis Urban League and elected officials are pushing for a “13th grade” in light of the K-12 failing stats.
If a Minneapolis/St. Paul high school student has not learned critical thinking or how to write an important paper, which is what the K-12 system should be providing, there is no way it can be learned in an ill attempt for a 13th grade. While we understand the Minneapolis Urban League as been reduced to a skeleton staff with little to no services other than referrals, it seems this attempt is little more than a way to keep some type of cash flow within the organization.
The Twin Cities of Minnesota has some of the best-trained poor people. The problem is there is no route to a sustainable job, a 13th grade will not help – but maybe hurt.
America’s Problem: Racism and Defining the American Negro
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Jamie Foxx (photo: Public Shaming)
I should not be judged or held responsible for actions or events that took place in history. Black people have been affected by events that happened in the past. These events, which have shaped the perception of who we are and how others see us has become a problematic issue inside the philosophy and social construct of America’s effort to deal with diversity. The children of the ancestors of slavery continue to become part of the darkness, dramatic irony, conflict and symbolism of others on defining what it is Negro; simply because we are black. The “dust” of history, hidden in unique corners is a reminder, if we ask questions and don’t stay in our place; we then become labeled something other than our names. ~Don Allen
Posted by IBNN NEWS
The website, “Public Shaming – Tweets of Privilege” reported that actor/singer/comedian Jamie Foxx attended the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday night (April 14, 2013) to accept the 2013 Generation Award.
He did so while wearing a shirt that had the phrase “know Justice” above photos of murdered youth Trayvon Martin and the Newtown kids.
Public Shaming – Tweets of Privilege writes, “Many intelligent humans would view Jamie Foxx’s shirt as a way a celebrity can bring awareness to America’s young people and remind them that justice has not yet been served for our country’s young victims of gun violence. Sadly, many humans lack this intelligence…”
Here are the photos that show America is in deep shit.
Nuff said…
The MnDOT-DEED Highway Heavy Construction Training program: MnDOT-DEED HHCT materials
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A message from Rebecca Fabunmi, Customer Relations
Minnesota Department of Transportation
IBNN NEWS Public Service Announcement
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and the Minnesota WorkForce Centers have partnered with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to deliver a program designed to reduce a disparity found in the ratios of minorities and women within the Minnesota highway construction industry – the MnDOT-DEED Highway Heavy Construction Training (HHCT) program. The MnDOT-DEED HHCT program is now in its third year and is available in 2013 to candidates living within commutable proximity to the metro district and Owatonna/Rochester/Mankato communities.
With this e-mail, MnDOT-DEED HHCT program applications are now being fielded region-wide. Program candidates must be able to fulfill all availability and participation requirements to be considered for the program, inclusive of possessing independent insured transportation, minority/female status, high school diploma/GED/comparable certification, English language and basic arithmetic skills, and achievement of a “Silver” (level 4 or higher) National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) within applicable areas of reading, math, and information finding. Due to a shortened recruitment period this year, HHCT applicants are very strongly encouraged and advised to take the NCRC skills test as soon as possible and submit their NCRC scores with their HHCT application. Applicants who submit appropriate NCRC scores with their applications will be given priority in the candidate selection process. Those applicants who do not participate in the NCRC exams prior to submitting their application are strongly advised to schedule and conclude the NCRC exams independently. Successful interviewees will be scheduled, if time permits, to participate in NCRC tests at their affiliated HHCT district WorkForce Center following a successful screening and interview.
A complete listing of program eligibility requirements is included within the attached HHCT 2013 tri-fold program brochure and HHCT 2013 E-formAppFAQ form. The HHCT 2013 tri-fold program brochure and HHCT 2013 E-formAppFAQ application are intended to be distributed to applicants as one package. Interested program applicants should carefully read the HHCT 2013 tri-fold program brochure to get a full understanding of program eligibility guidelines and the HHCT 2013 E-formAppFAQ FAQ section to get a comprehensive perspective of the HHCT program (Click here: MNDOT FORMS IN ZIP FILE). Read the rest of this entry »
Cam Winton, Gary Schiff and Mark Andrews to participate in ON POINT radio program this Saturday at 3 p.m.
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From L-R: Cam Winton, Mark Andrews and Gary Schiff. (photos: Campaign websites.)
It is clear to us (Ronald A. Edwards and Don Allen) the Minneapolis Mayor’s race needs a new set of eyes. Local mainstream media is missing the point on who the popular candidates really are by listening to political action groups the have done little to nothing besides positioning “air.” The three candidates we will interview don’t need the DFL or GOP endorsement because they are “liked” by the people – and that’s all that matters. “Let the rank choice voting begin.”
by Donald Allen, Editor-in-Chief – The Independent Business News Network, OurBlackNews and Black Politics in Minneapolis and reporter for AllVoices and CNN’s iReport
On Saturday, April 13th at 3 p.m. the team of Ronnie and Donny take to the air in an effort to provide real-time voter education in Minneapolis with the program titled, “The Real Minneapolis Mayor’s Race Review.” Tune into ON POINT to listen, call in (347) 426-3904 and join the conversation. (Click here to visit the show page).
We did not contact any of the candidates before we posted our public poll on Poll Stack.com. We felt it was important to not interfere with a process that has already seen shepherding, misdirection and benign neglect by several organizations in Minneapolis. If the Minneapolis mayor’s race is to be fair, then on our watch it is our duty to ask the public their opinion before we move forward.
Join co-hosts Ronald A. Edwards and Don Allen as we collectively interview the top three candidates from our research poll on Poll Stack.com. On Wednesday, April 10, 2013, a poll was developed in cooperation with local and global media outlets Black Focus, The Minneapolis Story, IBNN and Black Politics in Minneapolis to create a clear vision from a survey sample of who the votes in our Minneapolis networks like to see as mayor of Minneapolis.
If you keep track of current events, you know that the DFL African American Caucus is attempting to “push” former Minneapolis City Councilwoman Jackie Cherryhomes and current City Councilwoman Betsy Hodges-Cunningham as “endorsed” candidates supported by the skewed lot of the usual suspects.
Our scientific poll tells another story of whom “the People” are supporting for mayor of Minneapolis.
This interview is a prelude to our (in planning) upcoming LIVE Minneapolis Mayoral Forum titled, “To Tell the Truth in 2013 – Minneapolis Mayor’s Forum.” Stay tuned for more information.
Click here to listen to the program Saturday at 3 p.m.
Who do you support for Mayor of Minneapolis in 2013? Take the Poll
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Take the survey. Let us know who should participate at the forum.
Minneapolis, MN – Local media outlets, Black Focus (Ronald A. Edwards) and IBNN (Don Allen) are planning a Minneapolis Mayor’s Forum titled, “To Tell the Truth in 2013 – Minneapolis Mayor’s Forum.” We would like you to participate in our online poll to see who will be the three candidates we invite for questioning, examination and critique. We are limited the choice to three candidates in order to provide clear voter education without duplication.
In a partnership with the online survey and poll firm Poll Shack, we have developed a place for you to cast your votes for Mayor of Minneapolis in 2013.
Don’t delay, click here to take the poll: Who do you support for mayor of Minneapolis in 2013? Link: http://www.pollshack.com/p/atfq
Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College continues to misrepresent Diversity and loses another key staff member
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Dr. Joi Lewis – A valuable asset, lost to stupidity. (photo: MCTC, fair use).
Effective Immediately: Dr. Joi Lewis, Chief Diversity Officer & VP of Student Affairs resigns after only 9 months on the job. MCTC: The Graveyard for Committed & Vocal Faculty & Staff of Color. That school needs to get rid of the president.
Related stories:
1. Part 1: Minneapolis Community and Technical College: Racism, Exclusionary and Toxic for some Educators
2. Part 2: Second Chance U: What really happened to Minneapolis Community and Technical College’s Men’s Basketball Team?
3. MSR: Students of color now the majority at MCTC
4. MCTC’s Student Life: Being Colorblind won’t help the majority
by Donald Allen, Editor-in-Chief – OurBlackNews.com
Minneapolis, MN – (Breaking News)…Minneapolis Community and Technical College continues to roll downhill in their aloof efforts of hiring qualified candidates and those candidates voluntarily leaving the college in under a year. The violent racial atmosphere experienced personally by this author was one of benign neglect for black students and Ice Cream Socials for the lighter students.
Today, it was announced (via Facebook) in a private message that Dr. Joi Lewis, VP of Student Affairs & Chief Diversity Officer at MCTC has resigned. “Dr. Joi,” who served as dean of student life at Mills College in Oakland, California, began her duties at MCTC in early July 2012.
The following is an unedited message from Dr. Joi:
Dear Student Affairs Colleagues,
I am writing to share with you that today is my last day at MCTC. I consider it an honor and a privilege to have worked with each of you over these 9 months. You are some of the most committed, brilliant, fun and caring human beings I know and our MCTC students are so fortunate that you are each here. I do believed that I was called to be at MCTC for this short time period and for now my time must come to an end. I care deeply about the students and about the work of closing the equity gap and widening the opportunity gap for students, particularly those who have been historically marginalized. I am hopeful about the path forward at MCTC, but at this time there is a disconnect about how to carry out these values at the institution. My way of doing the work is not in line with the current climate and thus it is best that I move on. The timing is not at all perfect, but please do not confuse the timing for my not caring about the college, the students or each of you. As you know I have a strong value radical self-care, it is important that I work in an environment where I can truly and healthfully live out my values of social justice. As a Black Woman, choosing self-care as my number one priority is the most radical act I can perform. I will continue to cheer loudly for our MCTC students and for the project the College is moving towards to directly eradicate the equity gaps and widen the opportunity gaps pathways for those who have been historically marginalized. If I can in the future be of assistance to MCTC students and the College and I am able, I will. Please do share with students who you work with as will likely not get to see them all before I leave.
For now, I send you each peace and I thank you for allowing me to lead and work with you over these 9 months.
I will be around in the Student Affairs Central Office/IDEAS Center for the next hour or so. I hope I get to see you before I depart. If not know that I am holding you in my thoughts. Here is my personal e-mail address ****@yahoo.com
With Peace,
Joi
IBNN NEWS and its affiliates will bring you up-to-date, real-time information as it come in…stay tuned.
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