Ananda White is a 2017 Cecil E. Newman Scholarship recipient. Below is her scholarship-winning essay. The two most influential people to guide my life and education are my parents Angela and Brian White. It’s a cliché, but it is the truth. In fact, my parents will say they want me to have more opportunities than they […]
Education
A space for local and national stories about issues surrounding education, especially as they relate to African Americans.
Posted inEducation
Two women inspired me and showed me my potential
SharLamar Wren-Buchanan is a 2017 Cecil E. Newman Scholarship recipient. Below is her scholarship-winning essay. Shortly after I was born, my grandmother was murdered. We had to move to get away from that harsh setting. We were living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the time and decided to come to Minnesota. It was similar to Wisconsin […]
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I believe in myself because my father and brother believed in me
Noah Branch is a 2017 Cecil E. Newman Scholarship recipient. His scholarship-winning essay appears below. Throughout my life, I have been blessed to have received a significant amount of tutelage, but in recent years there are two people who stick out in my mind as both mentors and inspirations for me: My father and my […]
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My father and uncle taught me to follow my heart
Molubah Seley is a 2017 Cecil E. Newman Scholarship recipient. His scholarship-winning essay appears below. “I’m not mad, just disappointed.” If you’ve ever had someone say those words to you, you’ll recall the hurt in letting them down. Dealing with one person is tough; how about your entire family, church and community? I’ve been through […]
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What parents need to know about school selection
Whether you’re choosing a preschool, changing public schools, or switching to private schools, you’ll want to find the right fit for your child. Here are important things to consider when looking at schools. Schools by grade Pre-school — Some people think all preschools are the same, but some may not be the best fit for […]
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My parents sacrificed so I could succeed
Sadiyo Dirie is a 2017 Cecil E. Newman Scholarship recipient. Her scholarship-winning essay appears below. When I first started speaking, my first word was Hooyo (mother) I have grown up in her arms: she sacrificed everything for me. She woke up every day early in the morning and made something warm to eat. Before I […]
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My school “family” powered me on my journey
Alicia Harper is a 2017 Cecil E. Newman Scholarship recipient. Her scholarship-winning essay appears below. At 12 years old I began following my cousin and older sister, who was eventually kicked out of our house. Excited to get her room, I wasn’t prepared for the responsibilities I would have once she was gone. Before my […]
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Black grads and their families feted
Every year, a new group of high school graduates makes the transformation into adulthood. It is time for them to say goodbye to their families and start planning what to do for the rest of their lives. It is also when the Spokesman-Recorder 501 (c) (3) marks the transition by awarding Cecil E. Newman Scholarships […]
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U. of St. Thomas opens new ‘Family College’ for low-income students
Program aims to reduce higher-education achievement gap in Twin Cities If there is one gift we could give teens for their future, most people agree it would be a college education. But for too many hard-working youth, college seems beyond their reach. In an effort to help reduce the education and prosperity gap in Minnesota, […]
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Help your kids with learning and reading retention during summer
As the school year winds down, teachers begin sending home information on summer reading lists and programs. As a child, I remember my teacher giving me a list of things to do over the summer. One event that I recall is receiving a summer reading list. My friends and I debated over which book to […]
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Why all parents should take their children down south
To know the way forward, you must know what took place before you. Not only that, you must know who walked before you. To be effective in that process, you must be intentional and thoughtful. These realities have begun to ring more true the older I get. I am learning the value in engaging our […]
Posted inEducation, Local & State, News
A family affair for local, beloved educator
Richard Anton Chakolis, Sr. is an educator who enjoys his career. Throughout his 51 years teaching, he has worked with at-risk students and diverse groups of various ability. Said Chakolis, “I get up every morning and am excited to go to work. Maybe just some type of encouragement — some positive comment — may help […]
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Education for change: Legacy Keepers keeps it real for students
Legacy Keepers Inc.’s model is an excellent example of putting into practice the idea that for youngsters to be serious about learning, instructors need to be serious about educating them. It’s one thing to decry educational disparity, another to go about solving the problem, and the grassroots nonprofit is thoroughly exhaustive in its innovative, hands-on […]
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Parents can make homework fun
I fondly remember learning multiplication tables under my dad’s supervision. My dad would set a timer for 15 minutes, and then I would recite each table. I also remember reading Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham while my dad listened close by and asked me questions to see if I understood what I had read. […]
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Future leaders in training at T.R.U.T.H.
“Our goal is for them to be prepared to be service leaders.” These are the words of Jermain Cooper, superintendent and executive director of T.R.U.T.H. Preparatory Academy in St. Paul. It is a relatively new school — the academy doors were opened in the fall of 2016. It is currently serving just under 200 K-5 […]
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At-home learning activities for toddlers
The world is one giant playground for toddlers, but it is also one enormous classroom! Toddlers love to learn new things and master new concepts, making it the perfect time for creating a solid foundation for future skills like reading and counting. One of the best things you as a parent can do is to […]
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How vision, hearing impairments affect school success
I can vividly recall my sophomore year of high school. I took an advanced biology course that I felt I was sure to ace. I began having issues with my vision and I had no idea that I was copying problems from the blackboard and putting decimals where there were none. My teacher suggested that […]
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Tips for getting your kids test ready
My first encounter with standardized tests was as a third-grader in the 1970s. I can still remember the anxiety I felt as my teacher announced that we had to take these tests, and that our test scores would be compared to other children’s. She did not reveal the full scope of why we were being […]
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Reflect on our history in this season of remembering and healing
Hotep. During this season of reflection, please remember that contrary to what you may believe or have been taught, the history of the Africans in America does not begin with slavery. In addition, the continent of Africa is not the “dark continent” and Africans are not pagans or heathens. Africans are not a people without […]
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Local resources for African American parents and families
As I work and come in contact with African American families, I am mindful of the nutritional, housing, mental and emergency support needs of parents and families in our community. Below is a compilation of organizations that are local or in the immediate suburbs, are responsive, and have a culturally sensitive approach to meeting community […]