B-CU Hosts Educational Justice Conference This Summer

Orlando, FL/Daytona Beach, FL – Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) is preparing to host its First Annual Educational Justice Conference in July.  The conference themed, “Connecting with the Diverse and Underrepresented Youth of Today”, aims to empower K-12 educational leaders and teachers by providing rich dialogue and presentations on critical issues affecting minority students.  The three-day conference will offer extensive learning opportunities for registrants including best practices and innovation models.  The speakers will focus on several factors including under-resourced schools, teacher preparation, mislabeling of students, insensitivity and family/community support.  The First Annual Educational Justice Conference is Sunday, July 12^th through Tuesday, July 14^th at Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa (1900 E. Buena Vista Drive, Orlando, FL).  More information and registration is available at www.cookman.edu/ejconf.  

B-CU recognizes the varied educational gap within our region, state and nation.  Minority students are slowly being left behind in many areas and academic gender gaps persist.  The conference will equip participants with the necessary tools to understand, serve and advocate for those who are often overlooked or ignored.  The students that often fall into this group are minorities, English language learners, students with exceptionalities, economically disadvantaged students and those who struggle with at-home challenges. “It’s time to take action,” says Dr. Willis Walter, Dean of the College of Education at B-CU.  “If we don’t begin to truly examine the core of the problems in our educational system, we will lose these children.  We as a nation can’t continue to take these risks and lose these precious resources.  We have to find ways to reach all students and place them on the track to fulfill their potential.”  The First Annual Educational Justice Conference is a collaboration between B-CU and stakeholders within the school districts, governmental agencies, community organizations and families.  The university plans to host this event each year and focus on various factors in an effort to strengthen our educational communities.  

Interested parties can find more details and information atwww.cookman.edu/ejconf.  For media inquiries, please contact Keisha Boyd – boydk@cookman.edu or (386)214-3653.