 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Events / Keynotes
Pedro Antonio Noguera, Ph.D.
Expert on the State of Education in America
Pedro Noguera is the Peter L. Agnew Professor of Education in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Development at New York University. He also serves as the Director of the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education and the Co-Director of the Institute for the Study of Globalization and Education in Metropolitan Settings (IGEMS). Noguera is an urban sociologist whose scholarship and research focuses on the ways in which schools are influenced by social and economic conditions. From 2000 to 2003, Noguera served as the Judith K. Dimon Professor of Communities and Schools at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. From 1990 to 2000, he was a Professor at the Graduate School of Education and the Director of the Institute for the Study of Social Change at the University of California, Berkeley.
Pedro Noguera has published over 150 research articles, monographs and research reports on topics such as urban school reform, conditions that promote student achievement, youth violence, the potential impact of school choice and vouchers on urban public schools, and race and ethnic relations in American society. His work has appeared in several major research journals and many are available online at inmotionmagazine.com. He is the author of several ground-breaking books, including:
- The Imperatives of Power: Political Change and the Social Basis of Regime Support in Grenada
(Peter Lang Publishers, 1997) - City Schools and the American Dream
(Teachers College Press, 2003) - Beyond Resistance
(Routledge, 2006) - Unfinished Business: Closing the Achievement Gap in Our Nation's Schools
(Josey Bass, 2006)
Pedro Noguera will be speaking about Challenging Racial Inequality in Our Schools.
As a leading urban sociologist, Noguera examines how schools are influenced by social and economic conditions in the urban environment. What are the challenges they face in providing safe, academically rewarding environments? What is the state of race relations, racial inequality? What is the role of diversity? What is the impact of violence, parents, and school vouchers? What factors promote student achievement? Which detract from it? What is the impact of immigration and migration? A realistic, hopeful speaker, Noguera shows you the hurdles we face in providing equal education to all, and then unveils the solutions that are already working to overcome them.
Dholrhythms and Non Stop Bhangra
Dholrhythms is an organization dedicated to raising awareness and educating people about the cultural and artistic heritage of India. It hosts classes, workshops, performances, and events all dedicated to sharing the folk dances of Punjab, India known as Bhangra and Giddha. Dholrhythms was created as a work of love by Vicki Virk who was born and raised in Punjab, India and Suman Raj who was born and raised on the Fiji Islands. Though raised on opposite sides of the world, destiny brought them together to share their passions. Their love for community, culture, outreach, dance, the arts, and empowerment of women gave birth to Dholrhythms in 2003.
They offer regular weekly classes teaching bhangra to both adults and kids at different studios, as well as afterschool youth enrichment programs, and camps. In addition to their weekly classes, their workshops are also featured at all kinds of events and organizations ranging from festivals, cultural shows, fundraisers, galas, all dedicated to preserving the arts and culture. Since its inception, Dholrhythms has had the privilege of colloborating, performing, and sharing the stage with some of the most innovative and well known artists and organizations in San Francisco Bay Area ranging from World Arts West, Yerba Buena Center For The Arts, Stern Grove Festival, Pier 39, De Young Museum, Sony Metreon, San Francisco Magazine, Yoga Journal Conference, Asian Art Society, Michael Franti, Anoushka Shankar and many more. Their vision is to cultivate Dholrhythms into a boundless, undefined, and unique platform for people of diverse backgrounds to come together, learn something new, express themselves freely and dance in a non-competitive and positive environment.
They will be joined by their team, Non Stop Bhangra (NSB), featuring DJ Jimmy Love, DJ Concerned, Rav-E (Dhol Drum), Mista Chatman (Emcee), and Mandeep Sethi (Emcee). Voted "One Of The Most Inspiring in a Decade of Music" by San Francisco Bay Guardian, and "The Best Bollywood Hot Spot" in San Francisco by 7x7 Magazine, Non Stop Bhangra (NSB) is a unique experience that celebrates the beautiful and vibrant spirit of Bhangra, a traditional folk music and dance from Punjab, India.
Imagine a scene from a Bollywood movie - the swirling colors, the rhythm of pounding feet, and the relentless energy of brilliant beats - that's Non Stop Bhangra. Non Stop Bhangra is a non-stop party, featuring dance lessons with Dholrhythms Dance Company, followed by dance performances, live music sets, visuals, live painting, and Resident DJs Jimmy Love, DJ Concerned, and Rav-E spinning an eclectic mix of Bhangra, Hip Hop, Reggae, and Electronica.
Featured every month at the Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco, Non Stop Bhangra has made this traditional style a serious dance floor craze, drawing Bay Area's most diverse crowds to join in the frenzy. NSB is a destination creating sold out nights and write-ups as one of the best dance floor nights in San Francisco.
In addition to the monthly event, Non Stop Bhangra continues to raise awareness and share this beautiful energy with the masses. NSB has performed at San Francisco's Stern Grove Festival, Power to the Peaceful, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, and shared the stage with artists such as Anoushka Shankar, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Karsh Kale, Delhi 2 Dublin, State of Bengal, B-Side Players, Dengue Fever, and more.
Friends Without Borders
With the humblest of beginnings, Friends Without Borders (FWB) has remained an all-volunteer project funded mostly by the volunteers themselves. FWB is a non-religious, non-political organization and is an impressive demonstration of just how much a small group of truly dedicated people with enough heart can accomplish. With a fairly small core team, their volunteers have numbered in the thousands, and they are particularly thankful to all the love the children have put into this project, which is really what keeps it going.
They are motivated to helping people to realize that despite our differences, we all share the same core commonalities and basic experiences. They encourage everyone to broaden their definition of "us" to one that includes us all.
John Silliphant and Mark Peters have wanted to give back to the country of India. The two tall Americans have been greeted with garlands and huge crowds upon their arrival at train stations, have addressed large gatherings to discuss the importance of amity between India and Pakistan, and have even been endearingly addressed as "angels of peace". The initiative - taking letters and cards advocating peace from children across India to children in Pakistan - is certainly a unique one, and has been reverberating in the hearts of children across India, as reflected in the thousands of letters and cards they have collected.
Though their aim is greater peace among peoples, the two are not diplomats or ambassadors, and neither are they in India in any formal capacity. They are there, they say, "simply to do seva; to serve". In their six months in the city of Ahmedabad, the two were involved in numerous activities ranging from opening a Seva Café to tree-planting - until the government told them in early August that they had to leave India within the next few days. The order stunned the two. They were in India on six-month tourist visas, and were told by a local nonprofit that they would be able to bypass the expensive exit and re-entry requirement because of their affiliation.
John and Mark arrived at a Gandhian solution to their predicament: why not go to Pakistan, carrying gifts and messages of peace from children in India? Within two days, they were able to collect thousands of peace letters and cards from children in Ahmedabad, after which they moved on to Delhi in preparation for their departure.
In Delhi, they continued their intensive campaigning in private, public, and slum schools. Children embraced the idea and took to colors and paper with selfless ardor. Teachers and principals lent them unstinting support. Within a few weeks they had collected over 15,000 letters and cards. Says John, "Whether we get 10 letters or cards or 10,000 doesn't matter. What does matter is that, for each and every child who sits down and writes from their heart to another child, an internal connection will be made, and a seed of hope for a harmonious future will be planted." Given the success of the program and the fortuitous receipt of a three-month visa extension, the two realized that they could take this program to children across India.
With the help of a few more friends, the campaign grew much bigger with the creation of the "World's Largest Love Letter" made by the kids of India for the kids of Pakistan. The letter was created and displayed at large events in major cricket stadiums across India. They also created a Public Service Announcement that was aired for months on all the major television networks across India and in Pakistan. With the media attention escalating, phase one of their project culminated in the delivery of tens of thousands of letters along with the World's Largest Love Letter in Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan.
When asked why they chose children to be messengers of peace in a politically sensitive matter, John replies: "The key to bringing change in this world is through our children. If seeds of peace are implanted in them, it is peace they will sow. They will usher in a better, more loving world."
Lois Davis, Ph.D.
Dr. Lois M. Davis is a Senior Policy Researcher at RAND Corporation in Los Angeles, with expertise in the areas of public health and public safety. She has extensive experience in both qualitative and quantitative analysis, program evaluation, and in conducting in-depth case studies with stakeholders involved in service provision, policymaking, or administration of programs. Dr. Davis is currently conducting a multi-year study on the Public Health Implications of Prisoner Reentry in California funded by The California Endowment. A California Assembly Select Committee on Reentry has been charged with addressing the issues raised in the RAND reentry report. Dr. Davis also recently completed a commissioned report for The California Endowment Foundation that provides a comprehensive look at disparities in the life chances of boys and men of color in California in four domains: health, education, public safety, and socioeconomic outcomes. She is currently leading a comprehensive assessment of correctional education for adults and youth in the United States. Past research includes the health status of returning prisoners, improving coordination among public health responders, an examination of exemplary practices in public health preparedness, evaluation of Los Angeles County's Long-Term Family Self-Sufficiency Plan, evaluation of the Comprehensive Youth Services Act, and the evaluation of a comprehensive, five-year violence prevention initiative in California.
Dr. Davis has a Ph.D. in Public Health from University of California, Los Angeles. She is a former National Institute of Mental Health Postdoctoral Fellow and a former Pew Health Policy Fellow.
Dr. Davis will be speaking about Disparities Faced by Boys and Men of Color in California: How Large are They and How Can We Address Them?
In our society, racial/ethnic disparities exist across an array of domains. A broad body of literature addresses how racial/ethnic disparities have developed and persisted over time in the context of historical and structural racism that has shaped policies, practices, and programs in ways that create disadvantage for certain groups. In recognition that many of these inequities affect boys and men, The California Endowment asked the RAND Corporation to examine and document the disparities for boys and men of color in California. Dr. Davis will present the findings from a commissioned report that identifies where the largest disparities lie for boys and men of color in California in four outcome domains: health, ready to learn, socioeconomic, and public safety. She also will discuss possible starting points for addressing these disparities.
Franklin Rossman, AKA Incomparable Shakespeare
Besides traveling the country performing and opening up for some of his musical influences such as Slick Rick, Franklin Rossman, aka Shakespeare, has been featured in many publications including "Rap Sheet", "Complex" and "Black Men". He appeared in the Ecko TV campaign shown in Macy's department stores nationwide and was a highlighted artist on MTV. He has also been prominently featured on many major Hip-Hop websites and blogs.
In addition to performing, Shakespeare is intimately involved in education. After a brief stint as a teacher's assistant, he decided to apply his knowledge of music to the classroom. Believing that Hip-Hop could be an effective learning tool that students would not only relate to, but also enjoy, Franklin created an English Curriculum that looks at the music from a literary perspective. The curriculum has three progressive movements, including an in-depth analysis of rap lyrics, Hip-Hop-based literature, and a critique of Hip-Hop journalism.
Franklin successfully implemented his curriculum at W.E.B Dubois High School in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Working alongside the faculty and administration, he developed weekly lesson plans, worksheets, and exams as a curriculum development consultant. He further expanded by holding creative writing workshops in middle schools, applying the same fundamental principles of the full-fledged curriculum, but tailored for younger students. His workshop has been incredibly popular, and he has been hired by many organizations and schools including The Boys & Girls Project, Brooklyn Friends School, and Little Red School.
To hear one of his most recent songs, visit www.youtube.com/.
Marcus Murray
Marcus Murray, the creator of the 2011 Roots Conference artwork and logo, is a native Bay Area artist. He grew up with a pencil in his hand, making him well known throughout his childhood for his drawing abilities. He was trained as an illustrator at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Over the last ten years, Marcus has applied his skills in various applications: designing innovative and interesting business logos; painting commissioned murals and illustrations; beginning his own silkscreen apparel production; and volunteering as an art instructor to youth in juvenile hall. He is the resident artist for the Bay Area's Non-Stop Bhangra, creating live paintings each month.
Marcus will be creating live paintings during the conference, capturing the energy of the event through his medium.
SCMX Dance Academy
SCMX Dance Academy was established by Charles Montgomery in 1995. In his early years, Charles competed throughout California as part of the Climax Crew. After winning several competitions, Climax Crew joined forces with Soul Control, taking their dancing skills internationally. Charles' passion for dance has taken him many places, and he continues to have the desire to progress and teach others the art of B-boying. As an innovator of B-boying moves that are now utilized by many hip-hop dancers, Charles has generously dedicated himself to sharing his skills with others. His experiences have included teaching locally at one of the top studios in the central San Joaquin Valley to teaching other aspiring dancers from across the globe. After returning home to Fresno, Charles established SCMX Dance Academy in order to share his knowledge of dance.
Danny Salas
The 2011 Roots Conference welcomes the energetic and charismatic Danny Salas as the event's Master of Ceremonies. Danny is a Fresno native who has spent many years working with local schools, businesses, and other organizations within the community. With an on-air radio career beginning at Fresno State's campus station, KFSR, he has been a fixture on Central California airwaves with long stretches on the Art Laboe-owned KKPW and Hip Hop station, KBOS. Salas currently produces and hosts "Ruthless Radio," a West Coast specialty show he started in 1997.
Stephen Mayu, Jr. & Devoya Mayo
Also performing at the conference will be spoken-word artists, Stephen Mayu, Jr. and Devoya Mayo.
 |
|||
 |
 |
 |
 |