Education, Business And Community Leaders Focus On Leadership At United Way Education Summit

CHICAGO, Oct. 31, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A cross-section of more than 400 of greater Chicago's education, city, business and nonprofit leaders will convene at UIC Forum on Thursday, November 3, to highlight innovative and effective efforts in K-12 education across the Chicago region, and discuss how to lead together through challenging times.

United Way of Metropolitan Chicago's second region-wide Education Summit will identify what's working and where challenges remain in the region's efforts to prepare young people for success in and out of school.  Speakers and panels will discuss successful efforts in the classroom, in the community and in policy that are helping kids and families along the educational continuum and toward high school graduation. 

"It takes genuine leadership from individuals and organizations across sectors to make sure every child has the support of community partners and the opportunity for a quality education," said Wendy DuBoe, President and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Chicago.  "Together, we have tremendous assets to mobilize on behalf of kids, and part of United Way's job is to help coordinate those assets and efforts to lead more children toward graduation and successful futures."

Arne Duncan, managing partner of Emerson Collective and former U.S. Secretary of Education, will provide the morning keynote address and Janice Jackson, chief education officer of Chicago Public Schools, will provide the afternoon address. Throughout the day, panels of leaders and practitioners from government, nonprofit, business, research and philanthropy will hold breakout sessions.  Session topics include corporate volunteer mentorship and involvement; community responses to violence and youth trauma; improving equity and access; parent peer engagement and leadership; STEM skills and workforce pathways; and teacher leadership development.

The Education Summit is co-sponsored by America's Promise Alliance as part of its GradNation campaign, a national movement of dedicated individuals, organizations and communities working together to raise the national high school graduation rate to 90 percent by 2020. It is one of 100 GradNation events being held around the country.  

"The progress we are seeing toward the national goal of raising graduation rates is based on communities coming together to support and insist on better outcomes for young people,"  said John Gomperts, President and CEO, America's Promise Alliance. "Summits like the event in Chicago are rallying points for communities.  America's Promise is delighted to support this effort and work with the leaders in Chicago and communities across the country to help advance this campaign." 

For a full event timeline or more information on confirmed speakers and experts, please visit www.LIVEUNITEDchicago.org/education-summit-2016 or contact Karyn Ruhl at [email protected] or 312-906-2291.

SOURCE United Way of Metropolitan Chicago

Related Links

http://www.uw-mc.org