Rep. Fattah Addresses GEAR UP Conference, Receives Award for Higher Education Leadership

WASHINGTON, July 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Chairman of the Congressional Urban Caucus, was featured in three education-related activities today – including receipt of an award -- that highlight his advocacy and leadership for young people aspiring to and succeeding in higher education.

Fattah keynoted the annual conference for GEAR UP, Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, the college readiness program that he created and guided into law. The Conference of GEAR UP and NCCEP (the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships) at the Washington Hilton brings together over 2,000 college access professionals, business leaders and students.

"There is no higher calling than working to improve the college dreams and life chances of young people who may not have even considered higher education because of their family's modest income and difficult circumstances," Fattah said. "Whenever I travel to your states I am pleased to meet GEAR UP students and the dedicated professionals who are readying them for success."

Fattah is the architect of GEAR UP, enacted by Congress in 1998. Over the past 10 years, more than $3 billion in federal funds have been appropriated to serve approximately 12 million students in 49 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. GEAR UP provides college-readiness programs for low-income students and their families starting in the middle grades. It includes tutoring, scholarship assistance, campus tours, counseling on how to apply for admission, scholarships and financial aid. It tracks entire classes of students for six years through low-income middle and high schools where college attendance is often considered a distant dream.

In addition, Fattah received the "Urban Serving University Congressional Champion Award" from the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities during ceremonies on Capitol Hill.

The Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (USU) presented its signature award to Congressman Fattah "in recognition of your efforts to champion the important and unique role that urban universities play for our cities and greater metropolitan regions," said Nancy L. Zimpher, Chair of the USU Coalition.

The Urban Serving Universities cited Fattah's leadership as Chairman of the Congressional Urban Caucus in highlighting the work of urban universities and other anchor institutions --hospitals, libraries, sports facilities, and performing arts and cultural institutions -- and his advocacy for an Anchor Institutions advisory committee as part of the Urban Caucus.

Fattah, in a Congressional Urban Caucus briefing today for House members and staffers on this topic, called for developing a national toolkit for urban universities to build capacity, leverage resources, and improve their ability to engage in productive and sustainable partnerships within local communities.

Fattah said Anchor Institutions "serve as major job developers and employers for their cities and metropolitan areas. They are the economic engine driving recovery in many of our great cities."

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah

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