Community

Praise Fellowship Ministries Hosts Closing the Education Gap Conference

Published

12 years ago

August 18, 2013

A one-day conference to empower parents to close the education gap, “Creating a 21^st Century Village,” will be held Saturday, Aug. 31 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Praise Fellowship Christian Church, 7711 MacArthur Blvd. in Oakland.

The CA Title I – Closing the Gap Collaboration event is sponsored Praise Fellowship Ministries, Inc. (PFMI), Pastor John Clark, Jr. and First Lady Ruby Clark, in partnership with Empowering Parents, – an organization committed to increasing knowledge of educational issues among parents, families, administrators, educators and communities.

Sessions will be facilitated by motivational speakers Marsha Dodson and Dr. Darlene Willis of Empowering Parents, who are authors of “Empowering Parents: A Guide to Taking Control of Your Child’s Educational Journey”.

“Ordinary moms are doing some extraordinary things,” Dodson and Willis reach audiences with their unique interactive approach using music, poetry, scripture, “reality statistics” and real-life solutions.

The event will delve into issues important to all students, emphasizing how to improve structures that support learning and the importance of combining resources to achieve a common goal.

Topics discussed will include: Grade Level Preparation and College Bound, Drugs and Violence, Special Education, Parents Community Consortium and Fundraising.

“Education continues to be the accessibility to a better and more satisfied life for all, regardless of the color of ones skin. There still remains so many programs, grants and assistance for further educational opportunities that are not being taken advantage of,” said Pastor Clark.

Associate Superintendent Karen Monroe of the Alameda County Office of Education and Jacqueline Orpilla of the Office of Assemblymember Rob Bonta, 18^th District, are expected to participate in the collaboration.

Invited guests include: Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, Oakland Deputy Mayor Sandré Swanson, Oakland Interim Chief of Police Sean Whent and District 6 City Councilmember Desley Brooks.

The event is open to all parents, guardians, communities, clergy, state and city officials, and educators.

Continental breakfast, lunch, refreshments and materials are included with the registration fee.

For information and to RSVP, call (510) 569.8066 ext 1003 or email pfcc0619@yahoo.com.