CONTACT: Ramona Parks   (202) 822-7823

June 28, 2006

Minorities and Women Equipped To Take Action for Public Education

Conference provided concrete tactics to address race and gender in schools 

WASHINGTON—Hundreds of current and retired education employees explored opportunities, shared challenges and received expert advice on ways to confront issues of race and gender in schools.  The 2006 NEA Human and Civil Rights Joint Conference on the Concerns of Minorities and Women armed participants with viable strategies and solutions to immediately take action in classrooms, communities, politics and within the National Education Association.

"NEA members can use what they learned to help close achievement gaps, address stereotypes, effectively communicate with and teach English language learners, the list goes on," said Reg Weaver, president of the 2.8 million member association.  "The world around us is changing.  We need to be equipped to serve diverse student bodies.  This conference is a tremendous resource."

The Joint Conference featured more than three dozen workshops, hands-on learning labs and mini-plenary sessions.  An estimated 1,000 attendees also heard three energizing, inspirational keynote speakers.

The director of the New Mexico Leadership Institute, Regis Pecos, provided tips on ways educators can take action on issues facing Native Americans.  AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson discussed the struggle for justice.  The president and founder of the Building Community Institute Clifton Taulbert shared ideas from his award winning book, Eight Habits of the Heart.

The Joint Conference recognized the 40th anniversary of the merger of predominately white NEA and the predominately Black American Teachers Association through an interactive forum.  Attendees heard from trailblazers from both groups about the challenges they faced and the legacy of the historic merger.  Other sessions featured probing discussions on ways to address stereotypes about Asian Americans; confront gay, lesbian and transgender issues; and stop vouchers in minority communities.  Participants explored the portrayal of women and girls in advertising during a session called "Killing Us Softly."

The Joint Conference on Concerns of Minorities and Women was part of the National Education Association's Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly in Orlando, Fla.  The Representative Assembly is NEA's highest decision-making body and the world’s largest democratic, deliberative body.  More than 9,000 delegates representing teachers, education support professionals, higher education faculty and other education employees will meet in Orlando, Fla., to share experiences and shape NEA's policies on key issues Friday, June 30 through Wednesday, July 5, 2006.

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 2.8 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.