Breakout Room #1
Inspiring the Genius and High Intellectual Performances from Our Students
Presenter: Dr. Yvette Jackson
Student success is directly related to our belief in the innate potential of ALL students for high intellectual performances, as well as belief and confidence in our ability to elicit and nurture that potential. Dr. Jackson will share the cognitive and neuroscience research from her book,听Pedagogy of Confidence, that substantiates her theory that when听ALL听children听(especially underperforming children)听are provided with a 鈥済ifted education approach鈥 through teacher/parent belief and confidence, links to cultural frames of reference, and application of High Operational Practices鈩, they are inspired for engagement, self-directed learning, and demonstration of high intellectual performances.
Concepts From the Disciplines
High Operational Practices
Breakout Room #2
Critical Issues Today and the Link to Carter G. Woodson, Ph.D.
Presenter: Marlon Rice
Music, environment, popular culture, and one's ability to think and do are all interconnected. But is the current state of affairs good for communities of color? Is there a connection between these issues and the recent debacle at the Oscars?听This workshop examines the connection between some of the music that we ingest, popular culture, and the environment听that encompasses our communities and how we may collectively do better using the wisdom of Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Finally, we will give instructions on how youth can balance the programming we are receiving to one of more empowerment and productivity.听
Breakout Room #3
The Basics Strategy, Why It Matters, How Your Community Can Participate
Presenter: Dr. Ronald Ferguson
You have probably heard that what infants, toddlers, and preschoolers experience during the first five years of life are fundamentally important for learning and brain development鈥攂rain architecture takes shape during this period. The talk will review how local coalitions can support learning and brain development during the first five years of life using The Basics Principles and Strategy. Dr. Ferguson will briefly review the science behind The Basics Principles and discuss how multiple types of institutions can provide parents and other caregivers with key information, relational support, and reminders.听
Breakout Room #4
Personal Branding for the MBK Scholar: Now More Than Ever
Presenter: Kel Spencer
Names like Pepsi, Apple, and Nike are known as Corporate Brands. They have a signature way of adding value to our lives. But what many don't realize, is that we as humans also add value to each other's lives, we add value to society, and we add value to these companies in return. You will make a living based on the value that your personal brand brings to the table of society. This workshop will help us to understand our gifts, talents, abilities, and unique traits and how they will not only help with earning a living but with adding value to our homes, to our peers, and to society at large.
Breakout Room #5
Building Systems to Support Our Scholars and their Families
Presenter: Dr. Ray Sanchez
The Ossining Union Free School District is committed to听empowering its scholars and their families. By implementing Raising a Reader,听the district is able听to engage caregivers and its students in a routine of book sharing.听The process helps to foster healthy brain development, healthy relationships, a love of reading, and the literacy skills critical for school success.听In addition, the district has adopted an Academic Parent Teacher Team (APTT) model to support family engagement.听In this session, attendees will learn more about the models and how they are positively impacting the district鈥檚 efforts to support the Ossining Community.
Breakout Room #6
Am I My Brother鈥檚 Keeper? Educational Opportunities and Outcomes for Black and Brown Boys
Presenter: Dr. Adriana Villavicencio
While many communities across the country have launched educational interventions focused on boys of color, we rarely get the听opportunity to learn what worked,听what didn't, and why. This session presents lessons from a study of the Expanded Success Initiative (ESI), a four-year model designed to increase college and career听readiness among fifteen thousand Black and Latino males in New York City. Drawing from her book听Am I My Brother鈥檚 Keeper?听Educational Opportunities and Outcomes for Black and Brown Boys (Harvard Education听Press), Dr. Villavicencio will highlight how school districts, principals, and teachers can embed educational equity into policy and practice versus launching short-lived interventions that come and go.听She will also chronicle some of the听challenges of implementing large-scale educational change, while offering insights into how these challenges may be addressed to achieve more robust results. Through the voices of students, teachers, and administrators, this session provides concrete recommendations to inform the next generation of work with boys of color.听
Breakout Room #7
Decide Your Destiny: Using Your Gifts To Add Value and Build Wealth
Presenter:听Attika J. Torrence
This workshop is designed to inform and inspire attendees to "live your best life using sound intelligent advice." Mr. Torrence, an award-winning filmmaker, and entrepreneur will share insights into life, business, growing up in Brooklyn in the historic Pan-African organization called The East, and the six years of his childhood growing up in Monrovia, Liberia - West Africa.听He will share his knowledge on making "Your First Million Without Being a Rapper or an Athlete" and defying the odds by following his vision to become an actor and award-winning filmmaker.听 This workshop is intended for students and adults who work with students.