In the Spring 2003, several of us began meeting to discuss how we might bring together individuals from public schools, from colleges and universities, and from community organizations to discuss how we might promote high academic achievement for Boston's multiracial and multiethnic student population. We wanted to create an opportunity for representatives from all of these institutions to talk together, to learn together, and, most importantly, to think together about what we might do as a community to help all of our children reach their highest potential. It became clear to us that this conversation would be greatly enhanced if it were informed by the knowledge of some of the leading scholars in the field. We therefore decided to convene the 2004-2005 Race, Culture, Identity and Achievement lecture series. This was a modest effort designed to begin to create a common knowledge base among a group of concerned citizens.


The co-conveners for the 2009/2010 Race, Culture, Identity and Achievement seminar series are:

Tara Brown
Assistant Professor of Education
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA

Connee Counts
Former Professor
Lesley University
Cambridge, MA

George Cox
Director
Center for Leadership Development
Boston Public Schools
Boston, MA

Ceronne Daly
Director of Community Engagement Initiatives
Office of Academic Affairs
Wheelock College
Boston, MA

William Dandridge
Former Vice President for Urban Initiatives
Lesley University
Cambridge, MA

Marya R. Levenson
Professor of the Practice in Education
The Harry S. Levitan Director of the Education Program
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA

Theresa Perry
Professor
Africana Studies and Education
Simmons College
Boston, MA

Ruth Rodriguez
Family and Community Outreach Coordinator
Boston Day and Evening Academy
Roxbury, MA

Virginia Vogel Zanger
Boston Children's Museum
Vice President and Director
Harcourt Teacher Leadership Center
Boston, MA

Ila Deshmukh Towery
Director of Policy Analysis & Research
Boston Plan for Excellence
Boston, MA