Dr. Joseph Marshall of Omega Boys Club/Street
Soldiers to moderate panel discussion
SAN
FRANCISCO — (Feb. 22, 2012) The University of San Francisco’s Office of
Diversity Engagement and Community Outreach and School of Education are
partnering with the Omega Boys Club to host a panel discussion and community
forum entitled “Urban Education: Reframing the Conversation about the ‘Achievement
Gap’ ” on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 4:30 p.m. in Fromm Hall on USF’s main campus. This
event is free, and the public is encouraged to attend.
“We
need to change the way we talk about and address the issues facing our young
people in urban schools around the Bay Area,” said Dr. Joseph E. Marshall Jr., co-founder and executive
director of Omega Boys Club/Street Soldiers, a youth development and violence
prevention organization headquartered in San Francisco. “This event brings
together a distinguished panel of experts who will discuss the root causes and
implications of the so-called “achievement gap” while also providing proven
success strategies and new philosophies in teacher training. We look forward to
a lively and thought-provoking discussion.”
The
program will begin with Brandon Santiago, a spoken word artist, who will
deliver his piece “Brown vs. Board of Education.” Following Santiago’s reading,
Marshall will moderate a discussion with a panel of experts, who will share
their research with the audience. After each panelist speaks, members of the
audience will be invited to participate by asking questions during the
community forum portion of the evening. The panelists include:
Patrick Camangian:
assistant professor of teacher education, USF School of Education
Katrina Traylor:
co-director, June Jordan School for Equity in San Francisco
Deborah Estell:
coordinator, Leadership Academy, Omega Boys Club
Noah Borrero: assistant
professor of teacher education, USF School of Education
“The
University of San Francisco’s long standing commitment to urban education provides
a solid foundation for this discussion,” said Mary J. Wardell, USF’s associate
vice provost for diversity engagement and community outreach. “We believe
facilitating this type of dialogue between key stakeholders both inside and
outside the classroom is crucial to the success of future efforts towards
bridging the divide experienced by many in urban schools.”
Community
members and all those involved in educating and inspiring young people are
encouraged to attend. Food and beverages will be served. Complimentary parking
for those attending this urban education event is available in the Koret
parking lot (upper and lower levels) located at the corner of Turk Boulevard
and Parker Avenue. Entrance to USF’s Fromm
Hall is located on Parker Avenue, behind St. Ignatius Church (650 Parker Ave.,
at McAllister). For more information, please call (415) 422-2697.
About Omega Boys
Club/Street Soldiers
The
Omega Boys Club of San Francisco was founded by former educators Joseph
Marshall and Jack Jacqua in response to the increasing number of inner city
youth dropping out of school and being incarcerated or killed. Omega’s mission
is to keep people alive and free, unharmed by violence and free from
incarceration. The group strives to provide youth with opportunities and
support to build positive lives for themselves and move into contributing roles
in society. For 25 years, Omega has transformed the lives of thousands of
at-risk mostly African-American young women and men, helping them succeed in
school and life. For more information, please visit http://street-soldiers.org.
About the University of
San Francisco
The
University of San Francisco is located in the heart of one of the most
innovative and diverse cities in the world and features a vibrant community of
students and faculty who achieve excellence in their fields while building a
more humane and just world. University of San Francisco students, faculty, and
alumni are involved in the entrepreneurial city of San Francisco and work in
all industries, from technology to the nonprofit sector. With dedicated
professors and exceptional academic programs to choose from, the university
offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional students the knowledge and
skills needed to develop into ethical leaders who are sought after in their
professions. USF’s diverse student body benefits from direct access to faculty,
small class sizes, and a broad array of programs and co-curricular
opportunities. Informed by the university’s 156-year-old Jesuit Catholic
mission, the USF community ignites students’ passion for social justice and the
pursuit of the common good. For more information about the University of San
Francisco, please visit www.usfca.edu.
####
