2009 Think Tank Final Program(1)

Think Tank for African American Progress 2

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

October 2009 Greetings Colleagues: On behalf of the individuals and organizations that have assisted in making this event a reality, I thank you for your participation in this 4th Think Tank for African American Progress. At every turn in this journey to match progressive thoughts and words to progressive actions, I am amazed at how many share a similar vision for our communities—a vision that recreates and restores scholar-activists as partners in African American community-building. The vision begins with a model that calls for policymakers, community activists, practitioners and academics to work together utilizing their collective geniuses to develop solutions for our communities. It is my sincerest belief that unless we employ our collective genius our children will continue to make up the majority of the faces at the bottom of the well. Our goal is to promote a paradigm shift for how communities are included in the process of change and mobilization. This starts with inclusion of all voices, challenging stakeholders to produce solutions, and plans to implement solutions that are collectively developed. Solutions with no plans are limiting. We want to produce a Solutions Brief that is a roadmap for this community and several others to demonstrate its capacity to resolve its challenges and appropriately allocate its resources. This year’s Think Tank welcomes new partners like the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the Open Society Institute’s Campaign for Black Male Achievement. The continued support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation- New Connections made the moderator training possible. This year we also developed a local planning committee that witnessed several members of the Memphis community building a coalition to take ownership of the Think Tank. I am extremely grateful and thankful to Dr. Janice Johnson Dias for her leadership and dedication to putting together a program that maintains the integrity of the Think Tank. Her brilliance comes through in many significant changes in the Think Tank process for example a commitment to include community voice and the training of the moderators, a first for the Think Tank. I am empowered by your choice to invest time in this process we call the Think Tank for African American Progress. Our communities and nation deserve our voice. Peace and Progress, Dr. Leon D. Caldwell President and Executive Director The Think Tank for African American Progress To my wife Celika, son Kahlil (5 years old) and daughter Kendi (3 years old) thanks for allowing me to do this work. The world will be a better place when you answer the call to serve in its liberation struggles.

--- Daddy


What is the Future for Black Boys?

A community that is serious about its children must plan for their future. This is a call for our communities to give

voice and direction to African American males.

This year’s event raises the question: What is the future for black boys? This question challenges our community to respond. We have spent an inordinate amount of time reacting to the “problems” of Black boys, yet we have allotted very little time to developing a plan for their futures. Annually, well-intentioned organizations, foundations, government agencies hold conferences detailing the status, condition or problems of black males. Few have invested in developing solutions that if strategically implemented can improve the life chances of these same Black males. The Think Tank is not a conference. This convening is the beginning of a process. Here we will listen to the youth and community stakeholders, collaborate with national thought leaders to developed solutions to prepare for the future of Black boys in the areas of health, education, community and economic development, and technology. Then work as a body to generate strategic plans to implement our solutions. Finally we will disseminate and revisit our strategies to assess our progress.

We are extremely pleased to have several key partnerships in this year’s Think Tank. The scholar-activism of Dr. Ivory A. Toldson, Senior Policy Analyst of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation led to the publication of Breaking Barriers: Plotting the path to academic success for school age African American males. Breaking Barriers demonstrates an innovative model of using research to promote strength based policy development. The dissemination of this work has been supported by Shawn Dove, Manager of the Open Society Institute’s Campaign for Black Male Achievement. This year’s Think Tank theme is as to the continuation of their efforts to shift the paradigm for promoting a better future for Black Boys. As a result of this collective vision we will release a special issue of the Journal of Negro Education addressing imperatives for school aged Black males at special reception on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at Rhodes College. We attempted to challenge researchers to translate their research into solutions. We had an overwhelming response from across the country and proud to be releasing the special issue at this Think Tank.

NEW CONNECTIONS

PROGRAM OVERVIEW www.rwjf-newconnections.org


LETTER FROM THE PROGRAM CHAIR Welcome to this year’s Think Tank. We have designed the program with you in mind. We begin each day with reflection. The walk/runs provide opportunities to remind ourselves of our purpose but also to support our health. Our communities face tremendous disparities in health and the Think Tank seek to promote longevity and vitality. We hope you will chose to participate in these daily events as they will likely give you energy for the long day’s work ahead. In addition, we have prepared delicious and balanced breakfast meals to nourish our bodies and minds. For our spirit and minds, we will begin each day as a group, where we will unite and discuss some of the most pressing issues facing our communities. These plenary sessions afford us the chance to hear the struggles we face, but also to envision new possibilities. During these sessions we will hear from both the thinkers and the doers. This year we spotlight those who have been toiling on our behalf in Memphis. Concurrent sessions follow the plenary as a way to facilitate more in-depth dialogue in each of the four thematic areas. After a rigorous selection process, we have chosen some of the most innovative papers in the areas of Health, Education/Youth Development, Economic/Community Development and STEM for conversation. Our moderators have been trained to help facilitate these dialogues. They have been charged with pushing you to be your most innovative and strategic. We will use the information gleaned for the Solutions Brief-a program and policy relevant document that codifies your recommendations for action. After the roundtables we will again nourish our bodies while engaging in conversation. Our Lunch Mbongi groups seek to bring together our best minds and practices. Led by a diverse group of scholars and activists, we hope you will use this time to seize the responsibility for solving and resolving the challenges facing our communities. We hope you will not be bashful in these discussions. Finally, at the end of each day we will have more opportunity to network with fellow peers at the poster session and reception. We are delighted that you have elected to participate in this year’s event. We hope you will utilize this time to discuss, network and help build a stronger community. To create a better program, we hope you will also take the time to fill out the evaluation and let us know what we can do to improve our future convening. Thank you for helping to make a difference in the lives of our youth. Your participation is integral to the success of our communities. Blessings, Janice Johnson Dias, PhD Program Chair Scott and Marley, you have been gracious and lovely. Thanks for being supportive during these many months. ---Janice


A NOTE OF THANKS The Think Tank for African American Progress express deepest thank to the following individuals and organizations for their generous support. Their contributions, along with those of so many family, friends and advisors, made this event possible. SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS* African and African American Studies- Rhodes College AmeriChoice by United Health Black Rose Foundation Center of the Advance of Youth Development- Rhodes College Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Ford Foundation Black Men’s Network Journal of Negro Education Labfour Career Training Institute Memphis Visitors and Convention Bureau Memphis Department of Housing and Redevelopment Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-New Connections Taylor-Brown Apothecary The Open Society Campaign for Black Male Achievement Brothers of the Academy THANKS ALSO TO OUR PLANNING COMMITTEES* Local Planning Committee Anthony Muhammad, Nation of Islam Antoinette Holman, City of Memphis, Infant Mortality Unit Calvin Taylor, Memphis Tourism Foundation Charlotte Conners, City of Memphis, Department of Housing and Redevelopment Cheryl Beard, Urban Youth Initiative Dorothy Cox, Rhodes College Gregory Washington, University of Memphis Ivory Taylor, Taylor-Brown Apothecary Kelan Nance, University of Memphis Lirah Sabir Exchange City, Junior Achievement of Memphis & the Mid-South Mark Yates, Life Enhancement Services-Tennessee Niekia Parks, Memphis City Schools Peggy Russell, University of Phoenix and University of Memphis Robert Lipscomb, City of Memphis, Department of Housing and Redevelopment Roby Williams, Memphis Black Business Association Sheila Easterling-Smith, Mid-South Health Sheila Fleming, The Black Rose Foundation for Children Tera Hayman-Upshaw, AmeriChoice Tomeka Hart, Urban League of Memphis Tonni Chew, Department of Children Services-Shelby County Tony Okhiria, Labfour Career Training Institute Veronica Coleman-Davis, National Institute of Law and Equity


National Planning and Review Committee* Janice Johnson Dias, John Jay College of Criminal Justice Jerlando Jackson, University of Wisconsin Melody Goodman, Stony Brook University Raphael Travis, University of Texas Sacoby Wilson, University of South Carolina Sandra Lewis, Montclair State University Shawn Bediako, University of Maryland-Baltimore County Tamara Leech, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis *Names are listed alphabetically by first names. What are the Lunch Mbongi Tables? Mbongi, a Bantu Kongo term, was a way of structurally 1) gathering together the best minds and practices; 2)

taking, seizing or accepting responsibility for solving and resolving the problematics of the African community; 3)

capturing, critiquing and clarifying those “things which concern us dearly”, 4) exposing the “truth” of our reality

as reflected in and represented by our spiritual, intellectual, social and artistic memory and creations; and, 5)

uncovering, correcting and utilizing the core meaning and purpose of a people in the service of human development

and well-being. We are recreating this African community practice at the tables during the Think Tank. At

designated tables there will be Mbongi discussion leaders. It is our hope that you use this time to become an active

participant in the Think Tank during the Mbongi lunch hour. We have invited many national and local thought

leaders to facilitate discussion on a variety of topics. We hope the outcome is a new connection for a collaboration,

support for an idea or learning about an alternative perspective.

PRE-EVENT SESSIONS Tuesday, October 13, 2009 2:00-5:00 MODERATOR TRAINING

This training is for community leaders and scholars who will facilitate the strategic planning of the meeting and the development of the Solutions Briefs. The moderator training is sponsored by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – New Connections, under the leadership of Program Officer Dr. Debra J. Perez.


*** On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings there will be a group walk/run. We begin at 7:00am across from the Sleep-Inn Suites on Front Street. Walk/Run will be at a moderate pace. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water. The walk will begin with affirmation and some brief yoga poses. Please plan to be out there for an hour.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 Youth-Focused Think Tank: “I AM A PART OF THE SOLUTION” Black Male Empowerment: An Intergenerational Dialogue Rhodes College, McCallum Ballroom 7:00-8:00 Group Walk/Run, River Front Park

8:30-9:00 ARRIVAL AND CHECK-IN 9:00-9:30 WELCOME

Dr. Leon D. Caldwell, Executive Director, Think Tank for African American Progress Dr. Ivory A. Toldson, Associate Professor, Howard University

Dr. Russ Wigginton, Vice President for Community Relations, Rhodes College Dwaun Warmack, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Rhodes College 9:30-10:00 VIEWING of Bring You’re “A” Game

A 22-minute documentary from the Twenty-First Century Foundation and actor-director Mario Van Peebles that seeks to reverse the trend of poor educational outcomes for black men and boys.

10:00-11:00 INTERGENERATIONAL RESPONSE TO DOCUMENTARY

Panelists: Dr. Raphael Travis, University of Texas-Austin Harry Cash, Metropolitan Inter-faith Association Kelan Nance, Student University of Memphis Martavious Jones, Memphis City School Board

Moderator: Dr. Charles McKinney, Rhodes College

11:00-12:00 BREAKING BARRIERS YOUTH INTERPRETATION led by Dr. Ivory A. Toldson

12:00 – 1:00 NETWORKING AND MENTORING LUNCH 1:00 – 2:00 YOUTH-GUIDED SOLUTIONS ROUNDTABLES 2:00-2:30 CLOSING 2:30 RHODES CAMPUS TOUR (optional)

The Youth-Focused Think Tank is co-sponsored by the Center for the Advancement of Youth Development and African American Studies Program (Rhodes College); the City of Memphis, Office of the Managing Director; The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation; the Open Society Institute Campaign for Black Male Achievement; the

Black Rose Foundation; and AmeriChoice by United Health.


Wednesday, October 14, 2009 WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR BLACK BOYS? Soulsville Charter School 910 E McLemore Ave Memphis, TN 38106

6:00-8:00 OPENING PLENARY AND RECEPTION “What can be the Future for Black Boys?”

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Panelists:

Dr. Alford Young, Jr, University of Michigan Dr. Debra Saunders-White, University of North Carolina-Wilmington Dr. William ‘Sandy’ Darity, Duke University Dr. Ivory Toldson, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

Moderator: Dr. Leon D. Caldwell, Rhodes College

Thursday, October 15, 2009 Family Youth Life Center 369 G.E. Patterson Ave Memphis, TN ** Daily shuttle service to and from the Temple of Deliverance C.O.G.I.C. Family Youth Life Center will leave from 40 North Front St. at the Spring Hill Suites beginning 8:00 AM. The schedule will be posted at the hotel. 7:00-8:00 Group Walk/Run, River Front Park

8:00-9:00 REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST

9:00-10:45 COMMUNITY RECOGNITION AND VOICES (Location: Auditorium)

Panelists:

Cheryl Beard, Urban Youth Initiative Dr. Kenneth Robinson, Memphis Health Department Dr. Niekia Parks, Memphis City Schools Jim Russell, Workforce Investment Network Keith L. Brown, Memphis City Schools Reginald Milton, South Memphis Alliance Robert Lipscomb, City of Memphis Stanley Lipford, Shelby County Division of Corrections Tony Okhiria, Labfour Career Training Institute

Moderator: Dr. Janice Johnson Dias, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

11:00 –11:30 Break


11:30-1:00 PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

Room A RWJF New Connections Community Based Participatory Research and Scholar Activism

Dr. Melody Goodman, Stony Brook University Dr. Raphael Travis, University of Texas

Moderator: Dr. Janice Johnson Dias, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Room B Grantmaking for Nonprofits Leonard Burton, Jim Casey Foundation Shawn Dove, Open Society Institute

Moderator: Dr. Leon D. Caldwell, Rhodes College

Room C Faith-based Initiatives • Neko Sharkey, Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, Rites of

Passage Program • Jeffery R. Futrell, Young Man University • Norman Redwing, Operation Hope, Urban Youth Initiative, Inc. • Larry Killebrew, TN-AR-MS Father Initiative Moderator: Cheryl Beard, Urban Youth Initiative

Room D African-based Interventions with and for Black Boys Dr. Jerry Watson, University of Mississippi and Shea Langs, LCSW-Private

Practice Kuumba, An Afro-Centric Social Work Intervention for African American

Boys" Dr. Jebose O. Okwumabua, University of Memphis Let the Circle Be Unbroken": Implementing a community-based

prevention program for African American adolescent males Ekpe Abioto, Genius Unlimited Black Boys, African Drums, Music, History and Culture: The Missing Link

Ekundayo Bandele, Founder Hattiloo Theatre Memph[is] : Utilizing culture to promote healthy development

Moderators: Dr. Gregory Washington, University of Memphis and Dr. Sandra Lewis, Montclair State University

1:00-2:00 LUNCH AND MBONGI GROUPS: A Focus on HEALTH AND JUVENILE JUSTICE

Welcome by Deidra Malone, Shelby County Commissioner Mbongi’s Group Leaders:

Altha Stewart, MD, Consultant Antoinette Holman, Shelby County Infant Mortality Project Dr. Donn Worgs, Towson University Judge Arthur Burnett, National African American Drug Policy Coalition, Inc Stanley Lipford, Shelby County Department of Corrections Veronica Coleman Davis, JD, National Institute of Law and Equity


2:00 – 4:00 CONCURRENT SOLUTIONS ROUNDTABLES

Room A Education/Youth Development Frank Rose, Pemiscot County Community Coalition Moving From Assessment to Action to Address the Needs of African American

men in Rural Missouri Dr. R. L’heureux Lewis, City College of New York Schooling Black Boys: From Crisis to Construction

David Miller, Urban Leadership Institute Raising Him Alone: Strategies Focused on Impacting the lives of African

American Mothers & Sons Moderator: Dr. Raphael Travis, University of Texas

Room B Health Terrance R. Campbell, YOUR Center 4 World

Entrepreneurship: Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Janice Boone, MD, River City Pediatrics & Healthy Memphis Common Table Strong Me! Family Weight Management Program: A Community Response to

Pediatric Obesity Dr. Freida Hopkins Outlaw, Mental Health and Disability Services-TN The Implications of Mental Health Systems of Care on Black Boys

Moderators: Abigail Sewell, Indiana University and Dr. Melody Goodman, Stony Brook University

Room C Economic and Community Development Dr. Garry Mendez, The National Trust for the Development of African American Men The National Trust for the Development of African-American Men: The Silent

Crisis Dr. William Darity, Duke University No More Excuses?

Tiena Q. Gwin, Urban Construct, LLC From Eyesore to Economic Opportunity: Using Real Estate Development to

Fulfill Unmet Demand in the Urban Core Moderator: Mark Yates, Life Enhancement Services-Tennessee

Room D S.T.E.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Dr. Joan Schwartz, CUNY-New York City College of Technology

Creating Spaces for STEM: A Learning Community Model Patrick Oliver and John Lester, Say It Loud! Readers and Writers Series Reading, Writing and Wired

Dr. Leonard Bloom, University of Tennessee Health Science Center Macro(scopic) to Micro(scopic) to Nano(technology) Community Outreach

Tony Okhiria, Labfour Career Training Institute Preparing Black Boys for a Green Economy

Moderator: Dr. Debra Saunders-White, University of North Carolina-Wilmington

4:15 – 4:45 Summary Plenary Session (Location: Auditorium)


6:00- 8:00 SOLUTION POSTER SESSION AND RECEPTION Release of the Special Issue of the Journal of Negro Education Crain Reception Hall, Rhodes College

POSTER PRESENTERS Clare Xanthos, Morehouse School of Medicine

Solutions to the Mental Health Crisis Affecting Adolescent African-American Males Edward Hill, Georgia College and State University

The African American Barbershop: Implications for Creating School Culture and Student Learning for Black Males

James Bethea, St. John’s University Pipeline Mentoring: Addressing the Black Male Educational Crisis

Michelle Anderson, Loyola Marymount University Sexual Health

Peggie Russell, Memphis City Schools It Still Takes a Village: Expanding Site Based Services in Memphis

Richard Noble II, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Using a Motivational Lens to Examine the Mathematics Achievement of African American Male

Students Sunne-Ryse Smith¸ The University of Medicine and Dentistry-New Jersey

Addressing Disproportionate Suspension of African-American Boys: A School-wide Approach


Friday, October 16, 2009 Family Youth Life Center 7:00-8:00 Group Walk/Run, River Front Park

8:00-9:00 REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST

9:00 – 10:30 BREAKING BARRIERS REPORT PLENARY (Location: Auditorium)

Panelists: Jamal McCall, KIPP Memphis Shawn Dove, OSI, Campaign for Black Male Achievement Natalie McKinney, JD, MPA Dr. Beverly Cross, University of Memphis Dr. Leviticus Pointer, Principal, Memphis City Schools Dr. James Bacchus, Memphis City Schools

Moderator: Dr. Ivory A. Toldson, Howard University

10:45 –12:00 STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSIONS A set of interactive strategic planning sessions to achieve shared goals and action steps for the four thematic areas: Education/Youth Development, Health, Economic/Community Development and S.T.E.M. Room A: Education and Youth Development Room B: Health Room C: Economic and Community Development Room D: Technology (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)

12:15 –1:45 LUNCH AND MBONGI GROUP: A Focus on Economic and Community Development

Welcome by Dr. Elsie Scott, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Mbongi Group Leaders:

Tomeka Hart, JD, Memphis Urban League Stanley Lipford, Shelby County Division of Corrections Jeffrey Higgs, LeMoyne-Owen Community Development Corp.

2:00-4:00 PLENARY: Strategic Plans and Action Steps

4:15 –5:30 CLOSING AND EVALUATION


Individual Action Plan In order to sustain the momentum we have built during this year’s Think Tank, we will all need to take some specific next steps. Please take a moment to reflect on your next steps, and complete this “Individual Action Plan”. The plan requires that you set three goals you hope to reach in the next year. You are then asked to list three to five objectives for the next two months that you should accomplish in order to reach the long term goals. Lastly, and perhaps most important for sustaining the momentum created at the Think Tank for African American Progress, compile a list of tasks to be completed immediately – within three to five days- after leaving the Think Tank. LONG TERM GOALS – List three goals related to our conversations at the Think Tank for African American Progress that you intend to accomplish within the next year. These goals should be specific, measurable and realistic. SHORT TERM OBJECTIVES –List three to five objectives you will need to accomplish within the next 2 months in order to make progress on your long term goals, then complete the chart on page 2. These objectives should be specific, measurable and realistic. IMMEDIATE TASKS – Tasks to be completed in the next 3 to 5 days. People to Contact (email, call, visit) Contact info.

Action Steps (e.g. revise proposal; review protocol; call meeting) Research/Learning (articles, books, reports, websites, etc.)


Short Term Objectives –Fill in your short term objectives and complete the rest of the chart. Once you have

completed the chart, return to the first page and complete the section on Immediate Tasks.

Objective

Resources Needed (time, money, other resources)

Potential Resources

Potential Partners, Allies, Supporters

Indicators of Success

Target Dates Begin/Complete


Contact: Vanessa Mizell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (202)806-8123

Sept. 18, 2009 www.journalnegroed.com

The Journal of Negro Education to Publish Special Issue Addressing Imperatives for School-aged Black Males

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- The Journal of Negro Education will be releasing a special issue this season sponsored by the Open Society Institute Campaign for Black Male Achievement and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. This issue will be edited by Dr. Leon D. Caldwell, Research Associate Professor at Rhodes College and President of the Think Tank for African American Progress and the Honorable Danny K. Davis, member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Illinois's 7th congressional district. “This edition of The Journal of Negro Education is devoted to one of the most urgent questions of our time,” states Davis. “It is my hope that readers of [this issue] will view the material here as a call to action.” The special issue dives head-on into several determinants influencing academic success among African American males. Contributors have

been careful to make clear and consistent recommendations and policy implications based on empirical support. Editor-In-Chief, Dr. Ivory Toldson, states that this body of work “has the potential to influence federal and state-level educational policy” and will be distributed to policymakers, educators, school activists, families and other advocates. Colleges and Universities that contributed to this issue include:

Howard University Indiana University Lehigh University Memphis City Schools Rhodes College Temple University University of California, Berkeley University of Michigan University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Pennsylvania University of South Dakota Virginia State University

Yale University School of Medicine

For more than 76 years, The Journal of Negro Education has been the leading purveyor of a wealth of scholarly research concerning Black academia. The quarterly journal is operated under the auspices of the Howard University (HU) School of Education (SOE). With world-wide readership and subscribers, JNE has published distinguished scholars that include Horace Mann Bond, Ralph J. Bunche, W. E. B. Du Bois, and Kenneth B. Clark. The current Editor-in-Chief is Dr. Ivory A. Toldson [email protected].

mailto:[email protected]


Documents

2009 Think Tank Final Program(1)