FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Jubelirer, (215) 840-8390, jjubelirer@bellevuepr.com
Camden, New Jersey (November 20, 2024) – On Thursday, November 21 Camden Education Fund (CEF) will host a kickoff for up to 20 Camden school-based black male educators attending the 2024 Black Men in Education Convening (BMEC), hosted by the Center for Black Educator Development and which will be held November 21-23 in Philadelphia at the Loews Hotel. “Black male educators in Camden are not just educators—they are architects of hope, builders of dreams, and living proof that greatness is possible. Their presence as both educators and role model shapes futures, strengthens our community, and ignites the spark of possibility in every student they reach,” said Giana Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, Camden Education Fund. “The Black Men in Education Convening provides a powerful space to gather, learn, and connect with like-minded individuals, offering the resources, inspiration, and support needed to thrive in this crucial work together.” “Rebuilding the Black teacher pipeline isn’t just a mission—it’s a collective responsibility. We must unite not only to recruit more Black teachers, but to support and uplift those already in the classroom,” said Sharif El-Mekki, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Center for Black Educator Development. “Every step we take together ensures a future where Black educators thrive, shaping generations to come.”
WHAT:
Kick-off Celebration and Check Presentation
WHO:
Giana Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, Camden Education Fund
Black male educators from Camden City schools registered to attend BMEC
*Press ops – Interviews with Giana Campbell and Black male educators from Camden
WHERE:
Omega’s Restaurant
27 South Center Street
Merchantville, NJ 08109
WHEN:
Thursday, November 21, 2024
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
About Camden Education Fund:
The Camden Education Fund (CEF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating progress in Camden’s public school system. CEF works with families, school partners, and community leaders to identify citywide needs in education. CEF then provides grants and develops strategic partnerships to address these citywide needs. Grantees include schools, non-profits, and universities.
To learn more about The Center for Black Educator Development, visit https://thecenterblacked.org/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dominque Howse, Center for Black Educator Development, cbed@fenton.com
The seventh annual Black Men in Education Convening (#BMEC2024), the largest Black male educator convening in the country, returns to Philadelphia from November 21–23, 2024. The event will feature live sessions with experienced educators such as Joyce Abbott, award-winning educator and veteran teacher; Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings, American pedagogical theorist; Dr. Angela Davis, educator and member of the Black Panther Party; Dr. Chris Emdin, Maxine Greene professor of Science Education at Columbia University’s Teachers College; Michael Harriott, columnist at TheGrio; James H. Shelton III, former United States Deputy Secretary of Education; and many more! Participants will engage in a unique, communal and empathetic space to discuss classroom pedagogy best practices and empower male educators.
Hosted by The Center for Black Educator Development, #BMEC2024 will continue the tradition of professional development, mentorship and organizing by convening Black men in education and those who support them to build a community that remains committed to the success of students and the school communities they serve.
Research conducted by John Hopkins shows that Black male educators are vital to student success as Black boys who have at least one Black teacher are up to 39% less likely to drop out of school and 18% less likely to be identified as needing special education services – especially in under-resourced communities.
BMEC2024 will be a live event aiming to enhance the learning experience and student outcomes by recruiting, retaining, supporting, and activating more Black men in education who are essential to student success, both in and beyond the classroom.
EVENT:
2024 Black Men in Education Convening
WHERE:
Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market St, Philadelphia, PA
WHEN:
November 21– 23, 2024, at 10:30 am EST
CONFERENCE SPEAKERS INCLUDE:
- Joyce Abbott, Award-Winning Educator and Veteran
- Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings, American Pedagogical Theorist and Educator
- Dr. Greg Carr, Professor of Africana Studies, Howard University
- Dr. Angela Davis, Pedagogical Theorist and Educator, Black Panther Party
- Dr. Chris Emdin, Maxine Greene Chair for Distinguished Contributions to Education & Professor of Science Education, Columbia University’s Teachers College
- Michael Harriott, Journalist, TheGrio
- Dr. William Hayes, Chief Executive Officer, Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia
- Dr. Ericka Huggins, Educator, Black Panther Party
- Cherelle L. Parker, City of Philadelphia Mayor
- Dr. Vanessa Dodo Seriki, Associate Dean, Recruitment and Student Success, School of Education & Urban Studies, Morgan State University
- James H. Shelton III, Former United States Deputy Secretary of Education
- Dr. Tony Watlington, School District of Philadelphia Superintendent
About The Center for Black Educator Development:
The Center for Black Educator Development was founded in 2019 to address and accelerate change in the educational ecosystem. Its mission to rebuild the Black Teacher Pipeline to achieve educational equity and racial justice is achieved through the alignment of pathways into the profession, professional learning and public policies to ensure greater educator diversity, cultural responsiveness, and improved student outcomes for Black children.