Undertow
09-17-2008, 10:21 PM
http://www.rrstar.com/communities/x510110457/African-American-town-hall-meeting-addresses-social-issures
ROCKFORD —
Nationwide, 50 percent of African-American males do not graduate high school.
“In Rockford, seven out of 10 do not graduate,” Rockford School Board member Mike Williams said. “They are four times more likely to be expelled, and we have a have a high truancy rate.”
Williams was one of about 25 men who participated in an African-American Task Force town meeting Tuesday night at Northwest Community Center.
The Task Force, recently established by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is hosting a series of town hall meetings around the state this fall, dedicated to identifying and addressing social issues effecting African-American males such as high school and post-secondary education, incarceration and parole, economic earnings, child welfare, life expectancy and health disparities.
Based in part on the outcome of the town hall meetings, the Task Force will develop state programs and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of African-American men.
“In Chicago, we identified the need for a clearing house where African-American men can go for resources,” said Lloyd Sutton of the Chicago-based Employment and Training Resource Development Services. “We’re here today trying to find out what Rockford needs.”
The men in attendance Tuesday were broken into several groups to discuss issues such as education, criminal justice, health, entertainment media, economics and fatherhood.
Williams identified a charter school as a way to boost the education of African-American males.
“We need charter schools that our children can enter into,” he said. “We don’t have one charter school in Rockford.
“While we’re waiting on a charter school, we’re losing hundreds of children to gangs.”
ROCKFORD —
Nationwide, 50 percent of African-American males do not graduate high school.
“In Rockford, seven out of 10 do not graduate,” Rockford School Board member Mike Williams said. “They are four times more likely to be expelled, and we have a have a high truancy rate.”
Williams was one of about 25 men who participated in an African-American Task Force town meeting Tuesday night at Northwest Community Center.
The Task Force, recently established by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is hosting a series of town hall meetings around the state this fall, dedicated to identifying and addressing social issues effecting African-American males such as high school and post-secondary education, incarceration and parole, economic earnings, child welfare, life expectancy and health disparities.
Based in part on the outcome of the town hall meetings, the Task Force will develop state programs and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of African-American men.
“In Chicago, we identified the need for a clearing house where African-American men can go for resources,” said Lloyd Sutton of the Chicago-based Employment and Training Resource Development Services. “We’re here today trying to find out what Rockford needs.”
The men in attendance Tuesday were broken into several groups to discuss issues such as education, criminal justice, health, entertainment media, economics and fatherhood.
Williams identified a charter school as a way to boost the education of African-American males.
“We need charter schools that our children can enter into,” he said. “We don’t have one charter school in Rockford.
“While we’re waiting on a charter school, we’re losing hundreds of children to gangs.”