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No child was designed to be a poster child for failed educational systems.

Our Promising Future

I am looking forward to my promising future! I know I need a good education.

Statistically, I have only a less than 50% chance of graduating from high school. That scares me. 

Who will support me on this journey?

Who will place barriers in my path?

Inspired by Dr. Rosa A. Smith’s challenge* to rethink how we approach the education of African Males, the Minnesota Minority Education Partnership, Inc. (MMEP) has convened an advisory group whose members have agreed to shape and nurture our newest initiative, “Our Promising Future.”

The working title of the group is the African American Male Education Advisory and members include:

• Roger Banks, Council on Black Minnesotans;
• Dr. Ernest Davenport, University of Minnesota;
• Gevonee Ford, Network for the Development of Children of African Descent;
• Robert Johnson, St. Cloud State University;
• Shawn Lewis, African American Men’s Project;
• Shabaka McKey, Engineer/Educator; and
• Phillip Miner, Minnesota Private College Council, retired.

In keeping with MMEP’s long-held belief that solutions currently exist within or should be generated from communities of color, advisory group members are all themselves African American male educators. Each of these talented individuals has exhibited a passionate commitment to equality of educational opportunities for all students.

The group held its initial meeting in February and at that time decided to proceed in two directions. First, develop a website repository for research and best practices; including the seven principles of Nguzo Saba. Second, create a collective approach to operational sustainability by convening a collaborative of the groups currently working on African American Achievement.