HOPE Conference Seeks to Help Students Grow

Saturday, Aug. 10, marked the first annual African-American Family Conference at Vista del Lago High School. Looking to improve the academic, emotional and social growth of students is the reason that parents, families, educators, community-based organizations and local businesses have been working for quite some time as they sought to provide a well-rounded conference filled with positivity, encouragement and community support. Hosted by the African-American Advisory Council of Moreno Valley Unified School District (MVUSD), members of the council spoke to several hundred families for just over four hours explaining the importance of education and the necessity for parents to show interest continuously in their children’s education. The theme of this year’s conference, “Hanging onto Positive Expectations” (HOPE), was designed to empower families with information to help them more effectively understand and navigate the educational system, from support resources and programs, to financial planning, and college/career preparation. Guided by influential speakers and heartfelt testimonies, MVUSD Superintendent Dr. Judy D. White explained that in addition to highlighting some of the current graduation, dropout and expulsion rates, educators and board members are hoping that kids take with them a new sense of motivation and inspiration. Dr. White’s expectations of students are simple, as she lives by the motto, “Be history makers and stereotype breakers.” “Moreno Valley is a wonderful place to live and to work in, and when the community comes together we can do amazing things and we can close the achievement gap. If you look around there are faces other than of African-Americans that are part of this journey. Just as in the Civil Rights Movement, it took a diverse group of people to change the course of history,” said Dr. White. Families who registered did so free of charge and were able to enjoy a continental breakfast, refreshments, grade-specific breakout sessions and workshops, a resource fair, and prize giveaways. The conference was aimed at parents/guardians and students in grades K through 12 from Moreno Valley Unified School District. “We knew that African-American parents and students did not feel as comfortable in our schools because of experiences,” said Dr. Martinrex Kedziora, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services at MVUSD, “so in order to make more people feel more comfortable we started to develop a bigger African-American parent group. This is amazing what’s happened here.” [END] HOPE Conference Date: Saturday, August 10, 2013 Time: 8:00 a.m. Event Location: Vista Del Lago HS Address: 15150 Lasselle St Moreno Valley CA 92551 Description: Thru 12:30 p.m. Workshops and a resource fair promote success for our youth! Free event. Call for registration information. CONTACT INFO Phone: 951-571-6382 Email: mvaapac@gmail.com Here's a bit of information we ran on this event in the newspaper as a pre-event article: On behalf of the African-American Advisory Council of Moreno Valley Unified School District (MVUSD), you are invited to the first annual African-American Family Conference on Saturday, August 10, 2013 from 8:00am to 12:30pm at Vista Del Lago High School in Moreno Valley, California. The theme of this year’s conference is Hanging onto Positive Expectations (HOPE). The purpose of the conference is multifold. First, in order to effectively address the needs of the students in our community, it is vital that schools partner with various stakeholders – parents, families, community based organizations, and local businesses – to “help each student maximize his/her academic, emotional, and positive social growth in order to become lifelong learners.” To that end, this conference serves as a platform to bring parents, educators, community members and students together before the beginning of the 2013-2014 academic year to establish and strengthen partnerships and our collective commitment to the success of African-American students and other students in the community. Next, the conference is designed to empower families with information to help them more effectively understand and navigate the educational system. Finally, the conference will connect families with information on support resources and programs, financial planning, and college/career preparation. The conference is open to parents/guardians and students grades K through 12th grade from Moreno Valley Unified School District. We anticipate approximately 500 to 600 families to attend. The HOPE Conference is FREE!!! Continental breakfast and light refreshments will be served. The conference will feature workshops, a resource fair, and prize giveaways. REGISTER TODAY!!! Let’s come together as a village to show our commitment to our students’ success!!! For more information, please call (951) 571-6382 or e-mail mvaapac@gmail.com. Sincerely, MVUSD African-American Parent Advisory Council MVUSD African-American Parent Advisory Council Micki Poole Clowney Director Upward Bound Math & Science Moreno Valley College 16130 Lasselle Street – Student Services 112 Moreno Valley, CA 92551 Cell Phone: (909) 645-5962 Office: (951) 571-6382 E-mail: micki.clowney@mvc.edu