Welcome to the Spring 09 edition of the Center for Community Development & Civil Rights (CDCR) newsletter.   We hope you'll find this newsletter an informative way to keep up to date on our many activities and programs.   For all of CDCR's events and programs visit our website by clicking here.

 

The ADA has graduated close to 7,000 parents of students attending 41 different schools, and indirectly impacted more than 24,000 youth of Title I schools throughout the greater Phoenix region since the program began three years ago. View the award proposal here.           
 
Established in 2006, the C. Peter Magrath University Community Engagement Award recognizes the outreach and engagement partnerships of four-year public universities. The award program seeks to identify colleges and universities that have redesigned their learning, discovery, and engagement functions to become even more sympathetically and productively involved with their communities. 
 
"This award recognizes an extraordinary partnership between ASU and the Phoenix K-12 educational community" says Raul Yzaguirre, Presidential Professor of Practice and Executive Director of the Center for Community Development and Civil Rights. "The program relies on collaborations with area school districts, as well as community leaders and community service organizations to operate and be successful."
 
With a focus on retention, graduation and academic success, the American Dream Academy instills an understanding of the value of attaining an education, and can offer a pathway out of poverty for many people.  The American Dream Academy aims to improve parent/child relationships; reduce dropout rates and ensure high school graduation; improve classroom performance; and put children on a track to attend and be successful in a college or university and earn a diploma.
 
The award is named for C. Peter Magrath, who served as president of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities from 1992-2005.
Made possible by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Magrath Award includes $20,000 and a trophy. The regional outreach award is $6,000.

One of the key indicators of success in K-12 and college is parental involvement.  This is a driving factor behind the American Dream Academy's important work in parent education.   Last month over 400 parent graduates of the American Dream Academy's 9-week parent engagement program took part in a one-day conference focused on workshops that build upon the family's role in preparing for excellence in school.  The conference entitled, Building the Dream...One Piece at a Time offered workshops in English and Spanish on how to prepare financially and personally for the commitment of a college education.  Taking place at the ASU Downtown Phx campus the conference provided valuable information to ADA parents and even featured a workshop track for high schoolers with over 100 high school students in attendance.

April 3rd marked the sixth installment of the Civil Rights Forum and a banner day at the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus.   A full day of interactive social justice opportunities entitled Action, Advocacy, and Art had the campus buzzing with activity from mid-day to well into the evening. Starting the day of Action, Advocacy, and Art was the Civil Rights Forum featuring John Echohawk, Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund.  Known as the Thurgood Marshall of Indian Law, Mr. Echohawk gave an account of the gains and efforts within the US Native American community as it relates to tribal law and sovereignty.  Following his address was a panel discussion featuring Mr Echohawk, Raul Yzaguirre, Dr Michael Niles, and Dr Peterson Zah.  This panel, moderated by Jose Cardenas answered questions from the audience and spoke on a broad range of issues in both the Native American and Latino communities.  This well attended event included guests from the business, student, and government communities of the downtown Phx area as well as current and former tribal presidents and other elected officials.  A special thank you to the Intertribal Council of Arizona and the ASU Office of American Indian Initiatives for their support of the Civil Rights Forum.

 

This Fall the Civil Rights Forum will take place October 16, 2009 and will feature Rev. Al Sharpton!  Sponsorship opportunities are available, please contact Leticia de la Vara at 602-496-0433 or ldelavara@asu.edu for more information.

 

Join us this Thursday, May 14th, 2009 as the Center for Community Development & Civil Rights hosts the AZ Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards. Over 20 outstanding Latino High School seniors will be acknowledged by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation for their achievements in academics, sports, business, journalism, and leadership.  These future leaders will receive a scholarship and the distinction of being named among the best and the brightest in Hispanic Heritage Foundation's national youth program. 

 

 

For the full press release on the Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards click here.

 

AZ Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards

Hosted by the ASU Center for Community Development & Civil Rights

May 14, 2009

ASU Downtown Phx Campus

411 N Central Avenue, main lobby

6:00PM Reception

7:00PM Ceremony