Medgar Evers College (MEC) President Dr. William L. Pollard today released the College’s 2013 Black History Month Calendar of Events in anticipation of this year’s theme, “Black Consciousness: Past, Present and Future.” This year, the College joins the nation in celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the historic 1963 March on Washington, and in acknowledging the somber commemorations of the 50th anniversary of the 1963 church bombing in Alabama that killed four Black girls, and the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the college’s namesake, Medgar Wiley Evers.

Events kick off on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 as President Pollard welcomes students, faculty and community residents to the College’s Opening Program for Black History Month with writer, professor and host of Our World with Black Enterprise Dr. Marc Lamont Hill who will deliver the keynote remarks to open this year’s program. Professor Hill will discuss the importance of these events from his perspective as a hip hop generation scholar/activist/writer. The event will take place in Founders Auditorium at 1650 Bedford Avenue from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and will be followed by a book signing.

“As we celebrate Black History Month this year, it takes on a special meaning as we recognize and acknowledge the sacrifices of many who have given their lives literally and figuratively,” said President Pollard. “This year is an especially poignant one for the Medgar Evers College family as we commemorate Medgar Wiley Evers’ untimely death at the hands of an assassin, and we are privileged to be a part of the legacy he left behind. We look forward to sharing activities that will engage participants and the college community, highlight important partners like Dr. Lamont Hill, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office,

Dr. Ron Daniels, and Dr. Emma Jordan-Simpson just to name a few. Our faculty and staff look forward to sharing the many activities that will engage participants, the college community, and our community stakeholders at large.”

“Each year Medgar Evers College produces an outstanding Black History Month program, and this year is no exception,” said Black History Month Committee Chair Dean Richard Jones. “As in past years, we have a full program with something for everyone – from historical commemorations and anniversaries to the state of Black media, art shows, and issues focusing on social and economical impacts within our community, this month gives us an opportunity to focus on the challenges we face. We look forward to seeing participation from all of our stakeholders.”

In partnership with the Office of the Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes, Medgar Evers College’s Partnership for Racial Justice will present a two-day symposium on Thursday, February 14 at 1150 Carroll St. Gymnasium from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday, February 15 from, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 1650 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn. Speakers include Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes, former New York State Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye; and New York City Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott. MEC School of Business Dean Dr. Byron Price, author of the forthcoming “A Lesson Plan for Failure: Educational Malpractice and the School-to-Prison Pipeline Connection” is among the featured panelists.

The goal of this year’s program was to create an historical, educational, and cultural Black History Program that would bring significant events to life for students, faculty, staff, and the community in a meaningful way and lay the foundation for a year long recognition of struggles and successes of Blacks throughout the world. Events include panel and book discussions, student presentations, black history gifts for students, refreshments at each event and opportunities for students to speak with legendary participants. A list of some of the activities follow; a comprehensive list can be found at www.mec.cuny.edu.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

6:00 pm – 8:30 pm, Mary Pinkett Lecture Hall, S122, 1637 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn

Voting Rights and Voter Suppression in the Age of Obama: Current Challenges, Historical Perspectives: A Symposium

Co-sponsored by the Medgar Evers College Public Administration Department, Center for Law and Social Justice, the Dubois Bunche Center, the MECSPA Student Organization, and the MEC School of Business, this panel discussion will focus on the struggle to enact the voting franchise for Black Americans, the 20th and 21st century voting rights struggles; voter suppression tactics in the 2012 re-election of President Barack Obama; the role and impact of redistricting; and recommendations to eliminate the historically persistent damage of voter suppression to American democracy.

Distinguished panelists include Civil Rights Attorney and St. Johns University Law School Professor of Law Dr. Janai Nelson, MEC Center for Law and Social Justice Executive Director Esmeralda Simmons Esq.; MEC DuBois Bunche Center Professor Roger Green, and MECSPA President Camille McIntosh. This panel will be moderated by Department of Public Administration Chairperson Dr. John Flateau.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

11:30am – 12:45pm; Edison O. Jackson Auditorium: 1638 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn

The Racial Past is Racial Present: Django Unchained and Lincoln

The School of Liberal Arts and Education will host a symposium entitled The Racial Past is Racial Present: Django Unchained and Lincoln, A Critical Analysis by Medgar Evers College Faculty/Scholars. Faculty scholars will present their observations on these two nationally distributed films and address the critical issues of race, identify formation and gender raised in these films and the implications of these issues in light of the 150-year anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington and the 50th Anniversary of the assassination of Medgar Wiley Evers.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

6:00 pm – 8:30 pm; Edison O. Jackson Auditorium: 1638 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn.

The Seeds of Our Legacy: Medgar, Martin & Malcolm

Sponsored by the Medgar Evers College Center for Male Development & Empowerment, and moderated by Peter Holoman, featured panelists include journalist and activist Herb Boyd, activist Lumumba Bandele, and the Reverend Conrad Tillard. The panel and teach-in will examine the resistance, activism and social change of Medgar Evers, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, three martyred African American freedom fighters whose contributions still impact us today.

Panelists will offer reflections about how Black males view themselves in the context of the organizing activities of Medgar Evers, the dream of Martin Luther King and the self-determination of Malcolm X versus their own everyday realities and the roles they can play in making a difference in their own lives and their communities. Following the discussion, there will be a book signing of By Any Means Necessary: Malcolm X, Real Not Reinvented edited by Herb Boyd, Dr. Ron Daniels and Maulena Karenga.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

6:30 p.m.; Edison O. Jackson Auditorium: 1638 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn

Pamela Newkirk, author and journalist

The Center for Black Literature will host the Voices from the Diaspora Literary Salon featuring MEC Professor Pamela Newkirk, author of Letters from Black America, novelist and journalist Christopher John Farley and poet Khalil Almustafa, celebrating the publication of the Killens Review of Arts and Letters . This event will serve as a kick-off for the Center for Black Literature’s 10th Anniversary, and will also feature dramatic readings by Medgar Evers College students.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

6:30 pm; Edison O. Jackson Auditorium

150th Anniversary of Emancipation Proclamation: The Legacy of Black Civil War Soldiers featuring NY1′s Cheryl Willis

Award-winning NY1 Weekend Evening Anchor, journalist, and author of Die Free: A Heroic Family Tale will present The 150th Anniversary of Emancipation Proclamation: The Legacy of Black Civil War Soldiers. The discussion will focus on the disparities between the treatment of black and white soldiers during the Civil War. A book signing will follow.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

1:00pm – 2:15pm; Mary Pinkett Lecture Hall Room S-122, 1637 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn
Living Black History Month At Medgar Evers College: An Ongoing Conversation About Civic Engagement

The MEC Career Management Services Center will participate in Black History Month activities through its Black Executive Exchange Program. Visiting lecturers, known as BEEPERS provided by the National Urban League, will act as the panel for an interactive discussion about civic engagement, which will be hosted by Career Services Marketing Manager Judy Morgan. A meet and greet reception will immediately follow.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

6pm – 8:30pm; Edison O. Jackson Auditorium: 1638 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn

Reflections on Black Consciousness and the Black Radical Tradition

Columbia University professor and author of Panther Baby Dr. Jamal Joseph will explore his insights on the role of the Black Radical Tradition’s impact on shaping the contours of black consciousness in America, the theme of the Black History Program at the College. He will share his interpretations of how this tradition affected the activism and self-identity of African Americans. A book signing will follow.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

6:30 pm; Edison O. Jackson Auditorium: 1638 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn

Blackout: The Absence of Blacks in Media and Black Ownership

Sponsored by the MEC Student Government and Adafi in collaboration with the Association for Computing Machinery, Enactus, Student Life & Development, and Radio Nation this panel discussion will examine the scarcity of black ownership in television, radio, and print which has diminished our voices and created representations that perpetuate negative portrayals of people of color. This panel will be comprised of communications and media experts. In addition to the highlighted events above, additional activities and programs will take place throughout including lectures, performances, film screenings and discussions. All events are free and open to the public. A complete listing of events is available at www.mec.cuny.edu.

About Medgar Evers College

Medgar Evers College, a senior college within The City University of New York, was established in 1970 with a mandate to meet the educational and social needs of the Central Brooklyn community. With a commitment to students who desire a sound academic foundation as well as an opportunity for personal development, MEC seeks to provide a high quality, professional, career-oriented undergraduate degree programs in the context of a liberal arts education.

Contact: Dawn S. Walker, dwalker@mec.cuny.edu

(718) 530-4539

Six Medgar Evers College Students Also Receive $11K in Scholarships at Luncheon

Medgar Evers College (MEC) honored outstanding leaders in business, technology, medicine and education, and Medgar Evers students today at the 2013 ING/Medgar Evers College Pinnacle Awards Luncheon today at Morton’s The Steakhouse in Manhattan. The ING/Medgar Evers Pinnacle Awards, generously supported by ING U.S., honored five outstanding leaders and supporters, as well as six MEC students who received scholarships to continue their studies.

Joining Medgar Evers College President Dr. William L. Pollard to welcome and laud the honorees and students were ING Foundation Community Relations National Director Chip Wheeler; CUNY Senior Vice Chancellor Jay Hershenson; First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn Senior Pastor Emeritus Reverend Dr. Paul Smith; WABC-TV Community Relations Vice President and luncheon Mistress of Ceremonies Saundra P. Thomas, as well as MEC School of Business Marketing & International Business major Sharrell Williams who spoke about her experience as a Medgar Evers student.

Six Medgar Evers College students also received a total $11K in scholarships. ING U.S. scholarships of $2,500 each were awarded to Kelisha Alexander and Marilyn Beckford; Sprint scholarships of $1,500 each to Michael Angerville and Holy Cabrol; and UPS scholarships of $1,500 each to Tasheika Grizzle and Daun Joseph.

This year’s honorees included ING Foundation President & Office of Corporate Responsibility Senior Vice President Rhonda R. Mims; Macy’s Government and Consumer Affairs & Diversity Vendor Development Senior Vice President Edward J. Goldberg; Medgar Evers College Preparatory School Principal Dr. Michael Wiltshire; SUNY Downstate Medical Center School of Graduate Studies and Vice Dean for Research Dr. Mark Stewart; and Sprint Corporate Social Responsibility Vice President Ralph D. Reid.

The luncheon takes place during the College’s Black History Month activities which honor and acknowledge the accomplishments of those who have supported African American civil rights and advancement efforts in education. Funds raised from the luncheon will benefit the Medgar Evers Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) entity which provides programmatic support as well as scholarships to MEC students.

“The word ‘pinnacle’ is defined as the highest or topmost point or level, and the ING Pinnacle Awards luncheon gives us the chance to acknowledge those who are at the pinnacle of their careers,” said Dr. Pollard. “ING, Macy’s, Sprint and UPS, SUNY Downstate, and Medgar Evers Prep are critical partners as we prepare our students to take on leadership roles for success beyond Medgar Evers College. We are grateful to ING U.S. for recognizing the potential in our students, for their willingness to invest in them, and especially for commemorating this occasion during Black History Month. We look forward to a longstanding relationship.”

“ING U.S. is excited to join Medgar Evers College as a partner in education,” said ING Foundation President & Office of Corporate Responsibility Senior Vice President Rhonda Mims.  “We strongly believe that a quality education is a key to future job opportunities, and ultimately, a secure financial future. This is why the ING Foundation has partnered with Medgar Evers College, and will present two scholarships of $2,500 each to Kelisha Alexander and Marilyn Beckford at the Pinnacle Awards Luncheon.  Both Kelisha and Marilyn embody the spirit and drive that will surely help them reach their ultimate goals.”

“At CUNY, Black History Month is a time of celebration, appreciation, and advancement as we share history, heritage, and high hopes for the future,” said CUNY Senior Vice Chancellor Jay Hershenson. “By supporting Medgar Evers College students, ING U.S., Sprint, and UPS are helping to positively transform lives.”

“I am extremely gratified for the association that both my company, Macy’s, and I have personally with Medgar Evers College,” said Macy’s Government and Consumer Affairs & Diversity Vendor Development Senior Vice President Ed Goldberg. “Medgar Evers College represents tremendous educational opportunities that abound in the New York school system for higher education and continues to inculcate in its student body all of the important attributes and skills that will lead its graduates to successful careers in just about any field or endeavor that they choose. Congratulations to the college and its faculty and staff for achieving excellence on a continuous basis!”

On behalf of the students of Medgar Evers College Preparatory School, I am humbled to be among those being celebrated at the ING/Medgar Evers Pinnacle Awards luncheon,” said Medgar Evers College Preparatory School Principal Dr. Wiltshire. “During Black History Month, it is a great honor to be recognized in conjunction with the namesake of our school, as well as the College. Our students take pride in his legacy and continue to secure many successes.”

“Sprint is proud to be a part of the Pinnacle Awards, and as an honoree, I am thrilled to share in the success of the students receiving scholarships from Sprint, ING and UPS,” said Sprint Corporate Social Responsibility Vice President and honoree Ralph Reid. “As an important investment in their futures, we are privileged to do our part in helping to keep those futures attainable and achievable.”

“The future of science, math, and medicine depends on leaders who commit to be role models and mentors for the generations to come,” said Medical Center School of Graduate Studies and Vice Dean for Research and honoree Dr. Mark Stewart. “The considerable efforts of Dean Patwary and others at Medgar Evers College, and SUNY Downstate Medical Center’s relationship with them are key steps in building a network of mentors and role models that will be critical for guiding our young people into lasting and meaningful service. We are honored to be included in this year’s program.”

About ING U.S.

ING U.S. constitutes the U.S.-based retirement, investment and insurance businesses of Netherlands-based ING Groep N.V. (NYSE: ING).  Through the ING U.S. family of companies, we serve the financial needs of approximately 13 million individual and institutional customers with a comprehensive array of products and services, including retirement plans, IRA rollovers and transfers, stable value, institutional investment management, mutual funds, alternative investments, life insurance, employee benefits, fixed and indexed annuities and financial planning.  Our dedicated workforce of more than 7,000 employees is focused on ING U.S.’s mission to make a secure financial future possible—one person, one family and one institution at a time.  For more information, visit http://ing.us.

About Medgar Evers College

Medgar Evers College, a senior college within The City University of New York, was established in 1970 with a mandate to meet the educational and social needs of the Central Brooklyn community. With a commitment to students who desire a sound academic foundation as well as an opportunity for personal development, Medgar Evers College seeks to provide high-quality, professional, career-oriented undergraduate degree programs in the context of a liberal arts education.

Contact:         Dawn S. Walker/dwalker@mec.cuny.edu (718) 530-4539

Keynote addresses by the Honorable Judith Kaye, Former Chief Judge of the State of New York and New York City Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott

Panel discussions to feature educators, professors, judges, faith leaders, social workers, and parents and students

Medgar Evers College President Dr. William L. Pollard and Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes announced today that nationally recognized educators, academics, prosecutors, social workers, judges, and faith leaders, along with local parents and students will discuss public policy, criminal justice, and society at an upcoming symposium on Race, Law and Justice: Strategies for Closing the School-to-Prison Pipeline, generously supported by The Kellogg Foundation, to be held February 14 and 15 on the Medgar Evers College (MEC) campus. This symposium is the second such event being held at MEC in collaboration with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office. The partnership was formed three years ago with the goal of keeping the community informed about significant issues that affect the lives and futures of its young people including those of law enforcement, economics and race.

“I am delighted to join with Medgar Evers President William Pollard, Former Chief Judge Judith Kaye and New York City Schools Chancellor Dennis Wolcott as we meet to share our commitment to “Close the School to Prison Pipeline.” Each of us understands that by saving our youth we insure our future. I am proud to be a co-sponsor and resource contributor with President Pollard in our second annual Symposium on Race, Law and Justice,” said District Attorney Hynes.

Studies have shown that black students are more than three-and-a-half times as likely than white students to be suspended or expelled and more than 70 percent of students arrested in school or handed over to law enforcement were black or Hispanic. Although black students made up only 18 percent of those enrolled in the schools sampled, they accounted for 35 percent of those suspended once, 46 percent of those suspended more than once and 39 percent of all expulsions, according to the Civil Rights Data Collection’s 2009-10 statistics from 72,000 schools in 7,000 districts, serving about 85 percent of the nation’s students. The data covered students from kindergarten age through high school.

During the two-day symposium, speakers and panelists will address the school-to-prison pipeline from both a problem- and solution-based perspective. Day One will include a series of policy and community impact panels such as “A Look at the Research – What We Need to Know”, “Factors that Affect the Practices – Are We Ready to Face Them?”, and “The Impact on the Community.”

“Understanding how the school-to-prison pipeline affects our community is critical,” said President Pollard. “We must continue to focus on the ongoing role of both conscious and unconscious racism in the ongoing saga of seeking justice in our nation. District Attorney Hynes and his team’s commitment to justice has driven home the importance of the need for community and national discussions. This forum engages advocates, scholars and the general public in  helping to identify and manage the early behaviors to help our young people avoid situations where they wind up incarcerated and affecting their lives.”

“Research underscores how incarceration decreases life chances for gainful employment, successful college matriculation and how a host of other life-enhancing opportunities are not realized once one is ensnared by the criminal justice system,” said MEC School of Business Dean Dr. Byron Price and a featured panelist.  “A lack of education is the gateway to a lifetime of limited opportunities and a pathway to prison and poverty. This forum provides an understanding of the challenges and offers potential solutions for early intervention.”

Dr. Price’s forthcoming book, “A Lesson Plan for Failure: Educational Malpractice and the School-to-Prison Pipeline Connection”, focuses on the hostile practices which undermine the efforts of advocates and educators to change the trajectory of minority students from dropouts and prisoners to graduates and professionals.  The book provides strategies to address the dropout, carve-out, and push-out mechanisms within secondary schools, which feed the pipeline.

Former New York State Chief Judge and current chair of the New York State Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children, the Honorable Judith Kaye will deliver the keynote address on Thursday, February 14.  Judge Kaye has spent the past two years leading a special task force examining the school-to-prison pipeline and is expected later this year to issue recommendations for systemic, attainable reforms regarding alternative approaches that hold students accountable for their behavior while keeping them engaged in school.

Day Two of the symposium will focus on solutions identified through proven strategies and model programs. New York City Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott will present the keynote address on Friday, February 15. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to engage in breakout discussion groups focused on faith-based solutions, school structured solutions, the community, the judicial system, and law enforcement.

Panelists include:

• Dr. Byron Price, Dean of the School of Business, Medgar Evers College
• Annette Fuentes, author of ‘Lockdown High: When the Schoolhouse Becomes a Jailhouse’
• Daniel Losen, Director of the Center for Civil Rights Remedies: The Civil Rights Project at UCLA
• The Honorable Steven Teske, Juvenile Court Judge, Clayton County, Georgia
• Zakiyah Ansari, Advocacy Director, Alliance for Quality Education
• Edward Fergus, Deputy Director, the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education and Research; Assistant Professor in the Humanities and Social Sciences Department, NYU
• Udi Ofer, founding Advocacy Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union; Adjunct Professor, New York Law School
• Damon Hewitt, Director, Education Practice Group at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
• Rev. Dr. Emma Jordan-Simpson, Executive Pastor at Concord Baptist Church of Christ

To register for this free symposium or for more information send an e-mail to symposia@brooklynda.org or call (718) 250-2988.  Visit www.mec.cuny.edu for a complete agenda.

About the Kings County District Attorney’s Office

The Kings County District Attorney’s Office is one of the largest and busiest prosecutor’s offices in the nation, serving over two million residents in ethnically and culturally diverse Brooklyn. Led by District Attorney Charles J. Hynes, the office is a partner with the Brooklyn community and other law enforcement agencies.

About Medgar Evers College

Medgar Evers College, a senior college within The City University of New York, was established in 1970 with a mandate to meet the educational and social needs of the Central Brooklyn community. With a commitment to students who desire a sound academic foundation as well as an opportunity for personal development, Medgar Evers College seeks to provide high-quality, professional, career-oriented undergraduate degree programs in the context of a liberal arts education.

Contact:         Dawn S. Walker/dwalker@mec.cuny.edu (718) 530-4539

Jerry Schmetterer/ schmetj@brooklynda.org (718) 250-2300

Brooklyn, New York – Medgar Evers College President Dr. William L. Pollard announced the recent appointment of Dr. Karrin E. Wilks as Interim Provost & Senior Vice President. Dr. Wilks, who has extensive experience in the fields of academic affairs and strategic planning and is a former Senior Vice President of the Vermont State Colleges, and until recently, served as University Dean for Undergraduate Studies at The City University of New York since 2010, where she was responsible for policies aimed at improving student learning outcomes, particularly to increase retention and graduation rates and to promote excellence in undergraduate education. She was Senior Vice President at the Vermont State Colleges from 2006 to 2010, where she was a member of the executive leadership team for a five-college public higher education system with more than 13,000 students.

Dr. Wilks has wide experience in academic affairs and strategic planning and brings a record of exemplary achievement in promoting academic excellence, student success and access to public higher education.

As University Dean for Undergraduate Studies at CUNY since 2010, Dr. Wilks has worked with the University’s K-12 partners to improve college readiness and success rates in CUNY’s developmental education programs; expanded high impact, evidence-based practices in the first year and beyond; and has helped ease transfer across CUNY colleges. She has also played a key role in assessing general education outcomes and supporting efforts to improve pedagogy across disciplines.

Dr. Wilks was Senior Vice President at the Vermont State Colleges from 2006 to 2010, where she reported directly to the Chancellor and worked closely with the Board of Trustees, five college presidents and the academic deans to enhance the system’s capacity to provide access, educational quality and service to students. Prior to that she was Vice President for Academic and Strategic Planning at the Vermont State Colleges from 2001 to 2006, serving as the system’s chief strategic planning and academic officer.

From 1996 to 2001 Dr. Wilks was Director of Academic Affairs at the Vermont State Colleges, serving as the chief academic officer for five colleges. Her responsibilities included overseeing academic program development and review, designing system-wide faculty development initiatives, representing the system in state-level and national preK-16 initiatives, and leading special system-wide academic projects such as the Learning Communities grants. During 1994-95 she was the Curriculum Developer for IBM Burlington Education Services, under the auspices of the University of Vermont/Vermont State Colleges Consortium. She served as a course and program developer for a team managing education and training for approximately 6300 employees.

Dr. Wilks is a 1982 graduate of Middlebury College, where she received her B.A. in American history with a minor in creative writing and made the Dean’s List. She earned her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, and her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Vermont in 1985 and 1993, respectively.

 ###

 Contact:          Dawn S. Walker (718) 530-4539

Medgar Evers College Alumni Return as Symposium Presenters to Discuss the Impact of the Storm on the Environment, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Beaches and Parks

Brooklyn, New York – Medgar Evers College (MEC) President Dr. William L. Pollard announced today that the College will kick off its 18^th Annual Environmental Sciences conference on Friday, March 8 at 1638 Bedford Avenue in the EOJ Auditorium with an opening ceremony and poster competition. For the main conference on Saturday March 9^th, Dr. Pollard will be joined by School of Science Health & Technology Dean Mohsin Patwary, Conference Chair Emeritus Dr. John Gibbs; and Con Edison Public Affairs Manager Johari Jenkins.  Several Medgar Evers College alumni who are graduates of the Environmental Sciences program, will return as speakers or presenters for the March 8 and 9 two-day conference, including NASA physical scientist Dr. Alicia Joseph; Rutgers University environmental chemist and lecturer Dr. Andy Sandy, and current City College doctoral candidate Deon Hines.  Tulane University Associate Professor Dr. L. Faye Grimsley will deliver the keynote speech on March 9.  Other presenters include representatives from Con Edison, New York City Parks Department, National Grid, and area colleges and universities.

Co-sponsored by Con Edison for the last 18 years, the conference brings together students, educators, business representatives and community members to interact with environmental professionals and is highlighted by keynote addresses, poster presentations and panel discussions. This year’s conference focuses on the environmental challenges following Hurricane Sandy and its impact on New York City. Presenters will discuss the environmental impact of the storm on New York City wildlife sanctuaries, beaches and parks, as well as mold infestation and the pollution of wildlife.

“This annual conference provides the public and our community with critical information that impacts our surroundings and environment, and is key to understanding the challenges of a changing environment, weather patterns and the impacts on natural habitats,” said President Pollard.  “The conversations will provide an opportunity for broad discussion on how the city is moving ahead with plans to address the devastation left in the wake of the storm.”

“Our landscape has been severely impacted by the strength and force of the storm,” said Dr. Gibbs.  “And the chance for us to speak to experts to better understand and address these concerns allows us to be involved in future planning.  Our ability to be a part of the solution is greatly enhanced by what we learn through these important exchanges.”

“For nearly 20 years, Con Edison has partnered with Medgar Evers College to support this important community conversation,” said Con Edison Public Affairs Manager Johari Jenkins.  “We are pleased to lend our support and expertise to the topic as we are committed to working toward a leaner, greener environment and greater customer service.”

“Con Edison is a great friend of Medgar Evers College and has shown consistent commitment to the College for several decades,” continued Dr. Pollard. “And like Dr. John Gibbs, whose tireless efforts always result in a quality conference, we are incredibly grateful to each of them for their belief and continued work on behalf of the students, faculty and the Medgar Evers College community.”

This year’s conference will feature presentations from alumni of the Medgar Evers College Environmental Science (MEC ES) program, including Dr. Alicia Joseph, a NASA Goddard Space Flight Center physical scientist, one of the first graduates of the MEC ES program, who will speak at the Opening Ceremony and poster competition at 5pm on Friday, March 8.  Rutgers University lecturer and environmental scientist Dr. Andy Sandy will participate on a panel about exposure assessments, and current CUNY doctoral candidate Deon Hines will present on measurements and exposure assessments of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other hazardous chemicals.  This panel will be led by Professor Derrick Hodge, a pioneer of the Medgar Evers College environmental science program, who will join his past students on the health panel.

On March 9, Tulane University Assistant Professor Dr. Faye Grimsley will deliver the keynote address.  Dr. Grimsley, who also spoke at the College’s 15^th Environmental Conference where she discussed lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina, recently completed several mold and allergen exposure assessment investigations in flood-damaged homes in New Orleans. She was the lead investigator for the environmental mold and allergen exposure assessment for the National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences.

Other Saturday panels will be devoted to the New York City Parks and Recreation  Department and will feature speakers who will discuss the levels of impact the storm had on wildlife sanctuaries, beaches, oyster beds, parks and other aspects of the City’s natural physical environment.  This panel will also discuss how the livelihoods of many residents have been affected, as well as strategies in place to address recovery.  A panel on the roles of first responders and utilities following major disasters will provide conference attendees with first-hand information as panelists identify the challenges that confront them.

Events on Saturday, March 9 will be held in the Founders Auditorium at 1650 Bedford Avenue, and designated rooms in the new Science building (AB 1) from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Visit www.mec.cuny.edu for more information.

About Medgar Evers College

Medgar Evers College, a senior college within The City University of New York, was established in 1970 with a mandate to meet the educational and social needs of the Central Brooklyn community. With a commitment to students who desire a sound academic foundation as well as an opportunity for personal development, Medgar Evers College seeks to provide high-quality, professional, career-oriented undergraduate degree programs in the context of a liberal arts education.

Contact:          Dawn Walker/MEC Communications         (718) 530-4539

                        Dr. John Gibbs/MEC ES Program                (718) 270-6455

The Medgar Evers College Department of Physical, Environmental, and Computer Sciences – in conjunction with the National Science Foundation; and the National Aeronautics & Space Administration – will hold the 17th Annual Environmental Issues Conference on Saturday, March 10, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. in the Founders Auditorium at 1650 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225. The 2012 Conference is themed “Creating Green Jobs: A New Paradigm.” The creation of green jobs has been part of an ongoing strategy at federal, state and local government levels to help provide a livelihood for the unemployed struggling in a stagnating American and global economy.

“For 16 years, with the generous support of Con Edison, this Conference and this College have been at the forefront of exploring how environmental issues impact our communities,” said Medgar Evers College President William L. Pollard. “This year, we look forward to providing crucial information on how our students and our community members can take advantage of opportunities to participate in a strengthening green economy.”

The full day forum will feature a keynote address by Amanda Eyrich Daly, Director of Green Education and Training Programs City University of New York; as well as speakers, panelists and presenters who will collectively explore the emerging eco-conscious economy. This 2012 conference will also feature strong representation from area high school students who will be participating in poster competitions, logo designs and presentations on topics such as recycling, going green and energy conservation.

“We expect this year’s Conference to be an exciting educational forum that also provides practical information for educators, students, and the community on their future in a greener America,” said Conference co-founder Dr. John Gibbs.

For the past 16 years Medgar Evers College, in collaboration with Consolidated Edison of New York, Inc., has been presenting its Annual Environmental Issues Conference. This event has provided a unique forum for community members, parents, teachers, grassroots organizations, area businesses and students to interact with environmental professionals.

Green issues provide dynamic inspiration for new curricular initiatives at colleges and universities globally. This is a trend of particular interest to urban and metropolitan institutions located in complex, multicultural communities; Medgar Evers College – which currently offers the BS degree in Environmental Science – is determined to take a leadership role in creating a full-fledged green inspired curriculum.

For further inquiries or to register for the program, please contact Dr. John A. Gibbs, Conference Chair Emeritus: 718.270.6455/6216 or email: john@mec.cuny.edu

About Medgar Evers College, CUNY

Medgar Evers College was founded in 1970 through the efforts from educators and community leaders in central Brooklyn. The College is named after Medgar Wiley Evers, a Mississippi-born black civil rights activist who was assassinated on June 12, 1963. The College is divided into four schools: The School of Business; The School of Professional and Community Development; The School of Liberal Arts and Education; and The School of Science, Health, and Technology. Through these Schools, the College offers 29 associate and baccalaureate degree programs, as well as certificate programs in fields such as English, Nursing, and Accounting. Medgar Evers College also operates several co-curricular and external programs and associated centers such as the Male Development and Empowerment Center, the Center for Women’s Development, the Center for Black Literature, and The DuBois Bunche Center for Public Policy.

On Friday March 23, 2012, Medgar Evers College, in conjunction with the New York City Department of Education will hold the Ninth Annual National Professional Social Work Month Conference beginning at 8:00 am in the Founders Auditorium at 1650 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225. New York City Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott shall give special remarks. Dr. William L. Pollard, President of Medgar Evers College will serve as Honorary Chair.

“As a veteran social work educator, I am excited by this critical exploration of cultural identity and academic success with respect to our youth, from key minds in the field,” said Dr. William L. Pollard. “As President of Medgar Evers College, I am proud that we can provide such a forum, not only for its intellectual engagement, but for the enhancement of the profession as a whole as well.”

Over the past nine years, the conference has grown from an initial idea of bringing together members of the social work community with other disciplines to celebrate National Professional Social Work Month, into a highly anticipated conference which has been attended by social workers, guidance counselors, public sector administrators and staff, and students from community schools.

This year’s conference is co-sponsored by the Bachelor of Science in Social Work Program in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Department of Public Administration, the Male Development and Empowerment Center at Medgar Evers College and the NYC Department of Education (DOE). The conference offers an opportunity for Medgar Evers College faculty, students and administrators along with Department of Education guidance counselors, social workers, educators and high school students, as well as partners in various disciplines including law, social justice, the political arena and other professions to come together, exchange ideas and discuss strategies for working more effectively with each other and with young people and their families.

The Conference theme “Building Resilience in Young People: Promoting Cultural Identity and Academic Success” will offer strategies for working collaboratively with colleagues and with students, to help build resiliency in young people, many of whom are succeeding despite daunting odds. Special sessions targeted to youth will address strategies for building leadership skills, self-esteem, self-reliance, and communication skills. Workshops targeted to adult participants will focus on strategies for effectively engaging young people. A Pre-Plenary Early Bird Presentation will be held on “Collaborating, interacting and engaging students through the use of social technology.” The conference will culminate in a special musical performance by students who are enrolled in the Performing Arts and Technical High School located in Brooklyn.

Previous conferences have featured special guest speakers such as: Former New York City Deputy Mayor now NYC DOE Chancellor Dennis Walcott; Dr. David Clifton Banks, Founding Principal of the Eagle Academy for Young Men; U S Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns; CUNY Trustee and New York City Deputy Mayor Carol Robles–Roman, Esq.; Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes; Nan Henderson, a nationally renowned expert on resiliency and student support; Elayna Konstan, CEO of New York City Department of Education, and Terri Williams, a leader of one of the nation’s most successful public relations firms, and a clinical social worker.

The conference is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. For further information, contact College Events Planning: (718) 270-6903 or you may send an e-mail to Dr. Eda F. Harris-Hastick, Professor of Social Work, Conference Convener: email: hastick@mec.cuny.edu.

About Medgar Evers College, CUNY

Medgar Evers College was founded in 1970 through the efforts from educators and community leaders in central Brooklyn. The College is named after Medgar Wiley Evers, a Mississippi-born black civil rights activist who was assassinated on June 12, 1963. The College is divided into four schools: The School of Business; The School of Professional and Community Development; The School of Liberal Arts and Education; and The School of Science, Health, and Technology. Through these Schools, the College offers 29 associate and baccalaureate degree programs, as well as certificate programs in fields such as English, Nursing, and Accounting. Medgar Evers College also operates several co-curricular and external programs and associated centers such as the Male Development and Empowerment Center, the Center for Women’s Development, the Center for Black Literature, and The DuBois Bunche Center for Public Policy.

Medgar Evers College Social Work students – Nicole Franklin and Peta-ann Bigby – profiled in the The Positive Community March issue. This semester, the two BSSW students are servicing at-risk youth in our underserved neighborhoods through Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes’ Back on Track program at the CPCA Community Enrichment Center in Brownsville, where they plan and implement activities designed to steer at-risk youth away from criminal activity. Read more of this inspirational story on p. 24 of the magazine’s online issue.

About Medgar Evers College, CUNY

Medgar Evers College was founded in 1970 through the efforts from educators and community leaders in central Brooklyn. The College is named after Medgar Wiley Evers, a Mississippi-born black civil rights activist who was assassinated on June 12, 1963. The College is divided into four schools: The School of Business; The School of Professional and Community Development; The School of Liberal Arts and Education; and The School of Science, Health, and Technology. Through these Schools, the College offers 29 associate and baccalaureate degree programs, as well as certificate programs in fields such as English, Nursing, and Accounting. Medgar Evers College also operates several co-curricular and external programs and associated centers such as the Male Development and Empowerment Center, the Center for Women’s Development, the Center for Black Literature, and The DuBois Bunche Center for Public Policy.

Eleventh National Black Writers Conference

The Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College, CUNY, will host the Eleventh National Black Writers Conference (NBWC) on Thursday, March 29 through Sunday, April 1, 2012, on the college campus at 1650 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. Centered around the theme The Impact of Migration, Popular Culture, and the Natural Environment in the Literature of Black Writers, the 2012 Conference will honor literary and cultural icons Kenyan-born writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o; poet, novelist, essayist, and publisher Ishmael Reed; poet Nikki Giovanni; and Dr. Howard Dodson, former director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Hailed by best-selling author Walter Mosley as “the most significant gathering of Black writers in the country,” the NBWC is the only gathering of its kind in North America. “Black writers and artists are natural cultural explorers and investigators,” said Dr. Brenda M. Greene, Director of the National Black Writers Conference and Executive Director of the Center for Black Literature. “Their works reveal the importance of memory on our concepts of self and family; examine the impact of popular culture on our personal lives, belief systems, and traditions; and chronicle the effects of our actions on our natural environment. They use the power of words and the literary arts to stir our imaginations.” Dr. Myrlie Evers-Williams, Honorary Chair of the Conference, reminds us that “Perhaps one of the most powerful things that we have as human beings is not only the spoken word, but the written word that lasts forever.”

Highlights of this year’s Conference will include a poetry presentation by South African Poet Laureate Keorapetse Kgositsile; a conversation with author and broadcaster Tavis Smiley; and a roundtable discussion and critical response to Manning Marable’s Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention with Haki Madhubuti, Herb Boyd, Ron Daniels, and Michael Simanga. This year’s Conference will also devote a day to film screenings by Black filmmakers. “Films are our words in motion; every film begins with the written word. There are many films that are adapted from books to begin with, so to include them in the Conference is a natural and organic evolution,” added Dr. Greene.

Since its inception in 1986, the National Black Writers Conference has consistently attracted a stellar roster of writers and scholars who have been featured in panel and roundtable discussions; youth and elder writers’ workshops; talkshops on fiction, poetry and drama; film screenings; and author readings and book signings. Confirmed participants for 2012 NBWC four-day lineup include authors, poets, and publishers such as Haki Madhubuti, Sterling Plumpp, Tavis Smiley, Herb Boyd, Patricia Smith, Camille Dungy, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, Nnedi Okorafor, Lita Hooper, the Rev. Conrad Tillard, William Jelani Cobb, Tony Medina, Maulana Karenga, Teju Cole, Bernice L. McFadden, Elizabeth Nunez, Karen Hunter, Sofia Quintero, Keli Goff, and Joan Morgan, among others.

Ishmael Reed, on speaking as to why we need to continue to present National Black Writers Conferences, recounts, “In 2009, I published a story that was translated from the first Alaskan language to become extinct in the previous year. This is what happens to a culture that loses to the inexorable forces of assimilation. The National Black Writers Conference at Medgar Evers College is needed and is more than a gathering of scholars and writers; it is a meeting of resisters.”

This year’s Conference has received major funding from the National Endowment for the Arts; Con Edison, Barnes & Noble Inc., New-York Historical Society, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, New York Council for the Humanities, CUNY Office of Collaborative Programs, Office of the Provost, Medgar Evers College, CUNY, and Hachette Book Group.

For media credentials and/or to schedule interview requests, contact Joy Doss at East West PR, 646-489-4432, joy@eastwestpr.net. For further information about the National Black Writers Conference, for updates and preconference programs, call 718-804-8883 or visit the Conference website at www.nationalblackwritersconference.org.

About the National Black Writers Conference

Sponsored by the Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College, CUNY, the National Black Writers Conference (NBWC) provides emerging and established writers, literary scholars, critics, agents, publishers and booksellers, as well as the general public, with a forum to share the writing published by Black writers, discuss the trends and themes in Black literature, and identify the major issues and challenges faced by Black writers and those in the business of reading, publishing, and selling Black literature.

Initially inspired by the late John Oliver Killens, the Conference has been held at Medgar Evers College since 1986. John Oliver Killens was a writer-in-residence and professor at Medgar Evers College from 1981 to 1987. The first NBWC held at Medgar Evers College, a year before Killens’s death on October 27, 1987, focused on the social responsibility of the Black writer. Each subsequent Conference was built on the previous one, attracting a national and international audience. The Conference is currently held biennially; on alternate years, literary symposia are held.

About the Center for Black Literature

Founded in 2003, and spearheaded by Dr. Brenda M. Greene, the Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College, CUNY, was established to expand, broaden, and enrich the general public’s knowledge and aesthetic appreciation of the value of black literature; to continue the tradition and legacy of the National Black Writers Conference; to serve as a voice, mecca, and resource for Black writers; and to study the literature of people from the African Diaspora. It is the only Center devoted to this in the country.

About Medgar Evers College, CUNY

Medgar Evers College was founded in 1970 through the efforts from educators and community leaders in central Brooklyn. The College is named after Medgar Wiley Evers, a Mississippi-born black civil rights activist who was assassinated on June 12, 1963. The College is divided into four schools: The School of Business; The School of Professional and Community Development; The School of Liberal Arts and Education; and The School of Science, Health, and Technology. Through these Schools, the College offers 29 associate and baccalaureate degree programs, as well as certificate programs in fields such as English, Nursing, and Accounting. Medgar Evers College also operates several co-curricular and external programs and associated centers such as the Male Development and Empowerment Center, the Center for Women’s Development, the Center for Black Literature, and The DuBois Bunche Center for Public Policy.