On
Friday January 30th, 2002, Miami-Dade County School Board
Member Dr. Robert B. Ingram hosted a town hall meeting
to address the importance of establishing an Africa Sister-School
Partnership and student exchange program with Miami-Dade
County Public Schools.
The
objective of this initiative is to create an enabling
environment that allows students in Miami-Dade County
school district to develop an appreciation for African
culture. The meeting featured a community panel of educators
that included Dr. Albert Smith, President Florida Memorial
College, Prof. Joseph McNair, Miami-Dade Community College,
Mr. John Doyle MDCPS, Dr. Romain Dallamand, Community
Activists Adora Obi Nweze, Chief Udo Kalu Ukpai, Mr. Charles
Ogugua, Dr. Gershwin Blyden, and Business Leaders Mr.
T. Willard Fair, Col. B. Hartley and Mr. Dwayne Wynn of
the Afro-Caribbean Trading Group. Miami-Dade County School
Board Member Dr. Solomon C. Stinson moderated the panel
discussion. Dr. Naomi Tutu, coordinator of the Race Relations
Institute at Fisk University was the invited guest speaker.
In her remarks she affirmed that “we must not be
shortsighted by the economic and historical significance
of this initiative, but capture the holistic value of
this partnership to our students and our world.”
The
Town Hall meeting was held at Miami Carol City Senior
High School. The Carol City feeder pattern has been designated
as pilot for this initiative. The community is invited
to participate in this educational endeavor.
For
more information on this Miami-Dade/Africa Sister-School
partnership and Student Exchange program, please contact
305-995-1340.
