Contact: Michelle Hudgins   (202) 822-7823

June 28, 2007

Educators Explore Diversity Issues in Education

Joint Conference on Concerns of Minorities and Women Addresses Challenges

PHILADELPHIA -- More than 900 delegates from across the country converged on the Philadelphia Marriott on Wednesday, June 27, to take part in the 22nd National Education Association Joint Conference on Concerns of Minorities and Women. The two-day affair included several learning labs and workshops that served to engage, inspire and uplift the attendees.

The conference theme, One NEA: Many Diverse Voices - “Let Freedom Ring!”, challenged educators to look at how to level the playing field and address the treatment and needs of students regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, social class, sexual orientation, language or disability. As many of the educators have witnessed, significant gaps in academic attainment and achievement still persist. NEA President Reg Weaver has made closing those gaps a top priority for the Association.

The opening plenary session included a keynote address by the Honorable S. Haunani Apoliona, chairperson of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, who challenged conferees to continue to fight the tough battles and defend the basic rights of all students to quality public education. Newsweek Contributing Editor Eleanor Clift keynoted the luncheon plenary session, offering a “Washington insider’s” assessment on politics, government and pop culture while relating their impact on education and challenging educators to help all students succeed. Closing out the two-day session, author and poet Gary Soto reflected on his own experiences as an immigrant from Mexico and provided inspiring food for thought when he challenged delegates to “think locally.”

“Take into account that not all students are the same, they have different reasonings, histories and experiences. See them as the individuals they are,” said Soto. “Large can seem unachievable. Thinking locally, working in your community with one kid, over time, will help and inspire children across the country.”

In addition to the many professional development and educational opportunities available, conference attendees  were privileged to hear from several high profile newsmakers and leaders. Among the most notable were  prominent civil rights attorney Julius Chambers and Carlotta Walls LaNier, one of the original nine students who integrated Little Rock’s segregated Central High School in 1957. In their session, “Desegregation and Resegregation: Reflections From the Little Rock Nine to 21st Century Public Schools,” both Chambers and LaNier challenged educators to forge new paths and not run from difficult tasks because there’s still work to be done.

Following the conference, participants joined more than 9,000 educators as delegates to the National Education Association Representative Assembly, an annual meeting of the organization’s governing body. This year NEA celebrates 150 years of advocating for children, educators and public education.

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators
and students preparing to become teachers.