Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and KLEO

You are receiving this email because you have been identified as one of the many people that are making a difference in the lives of students all across the City of Chicago. I would like to extend the invitation for you and your students to participate in an event that will help continue the great work that each of your are doing.




This event has been approved as an activity that your young people can engage in and can be covered through the activity budget for the Culture of Calm initiative. I have attached a description of the program and a flyer of the concert. Please see below and I hope that you can contribute to our ongoing efforts to teach the youth of our community how to become a "Piece of the Peace"





What: 2011 "Piece of The Peace" Youth Forum and Concert: The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Partners with K.L.E.O. Community Family Life Centerto Address School Safety and Black Male Achievement by holding a "Piece of the Peace" Forum to talk about the effects of High School dropout and Black Male achievement. This event will feature the following segments:



- Youth Forum – "Black students are nearly 500% more likely to pass through a metal detector when entering school," noted Dr. Ivory A. Toldson "Yet black males are significantly more likely to feel unsafe at school. Further, black males who report feeling safe at school have significantly higher levels of academic functioning." Dr. Toldson is Senior Research Analyst for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Associate Professor at Howard University, and author of "Breaking Barriers: Plotting the Path to Academic Success for School-age African American Males" – a report released last year at a forum at the U.S. Capitol Building hosted by Rep. Danny K. Davis. The Youth Forum will address these and other issues that affect the growth and development of our black youth.



- Film Screening –To generate a national conversation on the plight of Black men and boys, Twenty-First Century Foundation (21CF) has partnered with actor–director Mario Van Peeples and producer Karen Williams to create BRING YOUR "A" GAME a documentary film that, in Van Peebles' words, "sheds light on the resilience and influence of Black males." BRING YOUR "A" GAME uses screenings and accompanying community discussions as a catalyst to transform the lives of urban youth. Using a cinematic style influenced by popular culture and employing innovative technologies, the film details strategies that have improved the lives of Black men and boys. It underscores how essential educational achievement and high school graduation are to survival and success in today's world.



- Moderators - This film screening and discussion will be moderated by Dr. Ivory A Toldson and Rev. Torrey L Barrett. Dr. Toldson is a Senior Research Analyst for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Associate Professor at Howard University, and author of "Breaking Barriers: Plotting the Path to Academic Success for School-age African American Males". Rev. Barrett is the founder and Executive Director of the K.L.E.O. Community Family Life Center and a world leader in the field of creating innovative ideas to reduce violence and increase academic achievement in Black students.



- Peace Concert – Following the Screening there will be a concert to culminate the day's activities and provide positive reinforcement and motivation to the students that attend. The artists to perform in the concert are as follow: Mikkey Halsted, Ben One, Hot 2 Deth, Miracle, Avery Smith and Dirty Harry





Where: Harold Washington Cultural Center - 4700 S. King Drive



When: Sunday, February 20, 2011 from 4pm – 9pm (No School Monday)



Cost: $15 per student - includes Curriculum Discussion, Guide, Movie Screening, Lunch, and Concert (Curriculum Discussion, Guid and Movie Screening are FREE) - All Proceeds will benifit the 2011 HBCU College Tour



Contact: Please contact Jasmine Howell at 708.620.9496 by cell or email at jhowell@kleocenter.org.



Event Objectives: Participant objectives include the following:



• Understand and explore how fear effects academic performance in Black students



• Understand and analyze the results of academic achievement across racial lines



• Explore how dropping out of high school effects the quality of life for Black students



• Reduce suspensions among students, especially black males, in middle and high schools



• Teach social-skills and positive behaviors to reduce students' involvement with delinquency and improve school performance, particularly among Black males



• Establish priorities and best practices to control gang-related activity in schools, specifically highlighting strategies to cultivate an environment to help student overcome violence-related stress and enjoy higher levels of academic success



• Help students with a history of juvenile justice system involvement reenter the school and achieve their highest level of academic potential



• Reinforce family, community, and school-based programs to reduce involvement in the juvenile justice system and promote higher participation in school

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Torrey L Barrett - Executive Director

K.L.E.O. Community Family Life Center

119 E. Garfield Blvd.

Chicago, IL 60653

www.thekleocenter.org

"Building a better world, one community at a time!"

K.L.E.O. (Keep Loving Each Other)

http://digital.mindfulmetropolis.com/publication/?i=45682&p=18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rbdx-qqaEI