National Advocates for Boys of Color Set to Gather from May 18-21;
Media Highlights & Interview/Feature Opportunities Touted
[May 11, 2016] The Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color (COSEBOC) has announced a memorial fund, established by the family of the late Jackie Carter, a prominent, Black publishing executive who was known especially for her efforts to promote ethnic diversity in children’s books. Ms. Carter, an ardent supporter of COSEBOC and numerous other philanthropic causes, passed away on April 13 in New York City.
COSEBOC will present a plaque in appreciation to the family of Ms. Carter at its 10th Anniversary Awards Luncheon at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City on May 20. The Jacquelyn L. Carter Memorial Education Fund will also be announced at the event as a way for friends, colleagues, and the communities she touched to extend her legacy and work. Ms. Carter, who began her career as a teacher before a long, distinguished career in children’s book publishing, often shared that her passion for ensuring that children saw themselves reflected in book characters came from her painful childhood growing up in a mostly White neighborhood in upstate New York.
“Jackie truly understood how a compelling plot and memorable characters could engage even the most reluctant reader. So it’s particularly fitting that a fund in her name will benefit COSEBOC,” says Pat Cummings, the NAACP Image Award-winning children’s book creator and illustrator who worked closely with Ms. Carter on a number of projects at Jump At The Sun, an imprint of Hyperion Books for Children. “She wanted to help dissemble the myth that young, Black boys don’t read by providing the kind of books they would be eager to read. Jackie had an exquisite gift for story,” Cummings noted.
Ron Walker, COSEBOC’s founder and executive director, underscored the impact the memorial fund will have on COSEBOC’s work, saying, “We’re saddened by Jackie’s loss; she was a giant in the field of support for boys of color. However, this is also a time to be inspired, to know that our life’s work doesn’t have to stop when we do. The memorial fund will be an ongoing reminder of Jackie’s spirit and a great help to the young leaders and advocates that COSEBOC serves.” Walker added that Scholastic Education will make book donations to COSEBOC in honor of Ms. Carter, their longtime friend and colleague.
The Jacquelyn L. Carter Memorial Education Fund is one of several highlights asCOSEBOC, the country’s leading convener of education-based advocates for boys and young men of color, hosts its 2016 Gathering of Leaders for its national membership and K-12 school leaders. The #COSEBOC10 event features informative workshops on cultural pedagogy, trauma, school-to-prison pipeline, rites of passage and more; influential speakers; tours of successful NYC schools and historical sites; and a recognition event to applaud a decade of providing professional development to the field.
Below are SUGGESTED MEDIA MOMENTS for planning coverage of the event. See the full agenda at http://coseboc.org/agenda-2016. Please RSVP in advance and forward all media inquiries to Seandra Sims at simsmediapr@aol.com.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18
“All The Difference”
Film screening on the lives of two Chicago-youth and their journey through college
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 5:00-9:00PM
Guided tours of the Schomburg Center and a special, COSEBOC members-only screening of “All The Difference” (read more & view trailer ), followed by a post-film panel discussion featuring Joy Moore, Marcia Canterella, Robert Henderson, Lionel Allen and moderator Rhonda Bryant.
THURSDAY, MAY 19
Opening Ceremony/Youth Presentations/Keynote Plenary
“Framing the Narrative for Boys and Young Men of Color”
Jacob Javits Convention Center, 8:30-10:00AM
The Opening begins with The Grand Procession of Young Men entering into the venue with all of the Gathering leaders, dignitaries and distinguished elders. This processional occurs with vibrant drumming and establishes the intention and ambiance for the entire conference. Cohorts of young men will present their creative rendition of the gathering theme, followed by a Keynote Address fromDavid Johns, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans.
Tour & Youth Panel
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 11:15AM-12:15PM
Brief Tour of the venue and a Panel Discussion with Black and Latino boys entitled “Reframing the Narrative: Re-Imagining the Educational Journey of Boys and Young Men of Color.”
“Kingmakers of Oakland” Film Screening & Discussion
Jacob Javits Convention Center, 4:45-6:45PM
A screening of “Kingmakers of Oakland”, described as ” an inspiring 5-part docu-series that explores the short history, challenges, triumphs, and five-year road to sustainability and success of the Office of African American Male Achievement Program (AAMA) in the Oakland Unified School District,” a nationally recognized, culturally-centered curriculum helping to close the achievement gap for Black boys. View the trailer at http://youtu.be/n472uXZdpXc .
FRIDAY, MAY 20
Youth COSEBOC Talks
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 8:50-9:50AM
A TEDTalk-style session with cutting edge, innovative young leaders and thinkers of this era, who will showcase that the power of ideas has the capacity to change attitudes, lives, and ultimately the world.
Youth Hush Hip Hop Tour
Guided, multi-borough bus tour leaving from Schomburg Center
10:00AM-12:00PM
#COSEBOC10’s young men will be immersed in the roots of Hip-Hop as they take a guided tour of some of the culture’s earliest landmarks, including the park in Bronx that helped birth it all and spots of interest in Harlem.
COSEBOC 10th Annual Awards Luncheon
Jacob Javits Convention Center
12:00-2:00PM
With a keynote address from Carmen Perez of Harry Belafonte’s Gathering for Justice, the Awards Luncheon will feature recognition and remarks from key leaders in the organization’s 10 years, along with a special performance from the award-winning Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement. COSEBOC will also announce the newly established Jacqueline L. Carter Memorial Education Fund on behalf of the late children’s book executive and philanthropist.
COSEBOC Talks
Jacob Javits Convention Center
2:30-4:00PM
After the youth hold their own version in the morning, #COSEBOC10 attendees will gather for the first ever COSEBOC Talks session, a TEDTalk-style conversation on the transformational impact of Mentoring between Wayne Harris of Cambridge Strategic Services, Dr. Stephen Powell of the National CARES Mentoring Movement, and a few of the country’s most inspiring young men of color.
Hip-Hop Slam with Science Genius’ Dr. Chris Emdin
Jacob Javits Convention Center, 6:00-9:00PM
NYC’s Expanded Success Initiative will host an engaging “Hip Hop Slam”, showcasing the unconventional way #COSEBOC10’s host partner is using urban innovation to teach academic and life skills. Dr. Chris Emdin of Teachers College at Columbia University, the mastermind behind the popular Hip Hop-based Science Genius program, will be a highlight of this night of representing and rhyming.
SATURDAY, MAY 21
“Trauma In The Village” Summit
Wyndham New Yorker, 8:30AM-12:30PM
“Trauma in the Village” is an expertly facilitated session that will allow members of the Village to share, strategize and find solutions to aid in the healing process for boys and young men of color who have experienced or live in environments plagued by trauma. Featured participants include: youth spoken word team Kingmakers of Oakland , depression and suicide expert Richard Taylor, Dr. Janice Stevenson of Total Health Care in Baltimore, Dr. Michael Lindsey of NYU’s School of Social Work, Dr. Olga Acosta Price of George Washington University, Kenneth Braswell of Fathers Incorporated, University of Pennsylvania’s Howard Stevenson, and Eric Grimes of WURD Radio-Philadelphia.
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