Breaking Barriers to Improve Achievement

For far too many school-age black males, under-achievement, delinquency and even prison is a foregone conclusion made, in many cases, by the school system, the public and even African-American boys themselves.                     

But Dr. Ivory Toldson, 38, a leading researcher and author, says that doesn’t have to be, especially when black and white data is considered.   

Toldson will be the featured speaker at Educational Equity Consultants (EEC) free symposium: “."

The conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 at Saint Louis University in DuBourg Hall, Room 157 (Refectory Hall). 

Also part of EEC’s symposium will be a panel of four St. Louis community advocates:  

• Niwar C. Davis, Superintendent of the Eleventh Circuit Family Court;
• Charles Adams, University City Police Chief;
• Redditt Hudson, Racial Justice Associate with the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri; and
• Leon Henderson, President of Cardinal Ritter College Preparatory School. 

Sylvester Brown, St. Louis-based writer and former St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist, will be the moderator.            

The symposium is free, but space is limited. Priority will be given to educators, community workers/advocates, parents and students who reply by calling (314) 997-6500. The deadline for reservations is Friday, Feb. 17.

Free parking is available in the Laclede Street Garage, corner of Laclede and Grand, or street parking on Lindell Avenue.

EEC is sponsoring the symposium in collaboration with Saint Louis University, Teach for America and St. Louis Leadership Cypher.

Toldson is an associate professor at Howard University, senior research analyst for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and editor-in-chief of The Journal of Negro Education, the country’s oldest black continuous publication. Toldson has received national acclaim for his work on addressing issues facing African-American males. He is the author of the “Breaking Barriers" series, which analyzes academic success indicators from national surveys that looked at almost 10,000 black male pupils from schools across the country.

“Breaking Barriers 2,” released March 2011, offers solutions that will assist policymakers, educators, school advocates, families and others in enabling African-American males to have greater success in the classroom and afterward.  EEC helped bring Toldson to St. Louis in 2010 to talk about his first “Breaking Barriers” series.

According to Toldson, research shows that black male success and achievement is at an all time high. “Few people know that the black male college population is also larger today than at any point in history,” Toldson said in a previous interview. “In addition, the rate increase in college enrollment has expanded for black males over the last 10 years, while the rate increase in incarceration for black males has decreased.”            

Niwar C. Davis

Panel member Davis, works with juveniles in the criminal system. He has worked in various positions in the Juvenile Justice Division as Deputy Juvenile Officer. 

For the past 10 years, Davis has been the superintendent of the Juvenile Justice Center. Davis is also a member of the Missouri Juvenile Justice Association and American Corrections Association and serves on the Disproportionate Minority Confinement Committee of the St. Charles County Family Court.                                                                                                                         Charles Adams

Adams, also a panel member, began his career with the in 1974. He was appointed Chief of Police in December 2005. Chief Adams is active in both the St. Louis and Missouri Chief of Police Associations.  He currently serves on the Board of Managers of St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy and is a past vice president of the St. Louis Area Police Chief’s Association. 

Adams is currently one of the St. Louis Regional Vice-Presidents with the Missouri Chief of Police Association and previously worked on their Diversity in Law Enforcement committee.

Redditt Hudson

The third panelist is Hudson. Among other things, Hudson is an advocate for criminal justice reform and works to address civil liberties issues within the criminal justice system. As a former officer of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Hudson is aware of equipping families and communities with effective resources needed for an improved quality of life. Hudson has been active in coalitions formed to address issues related to affirmative action, equal treatment under the law, and racial profiling. Hudson has also worked to address violence in the schools and communities and to create better opportunities for youth.

Henderson

Rounding out the panel is Henderson, who has been a teacher, administrator and now president at Cardinal Ritter for the past 30 years. Henderson has been an instructor and administrator at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies, at Xavier University in New Orleans, LA. He has served as the Dean of Student Affairs/Development at Wilberforce University, the oldest private historically black university. He currently serves on the following Boards: St. John Vianney High School, Community Women Against Hardship, North Grand Neighborhood Services and The Institute for Peace & Justice.

It is because of EEC’s work and vision that FOCUS St. Louis presented them with the What’s Right with the Region! 2011 award.  

For more information about EEC, please visit www.eec4justice.com.