GESU SCHOOL’S 23 ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM: RD
November 11 at 5 p.m. on Zoom th
A NOTE FROM GESU SCHOOL’S PRESIDENT AND CEO Welcome to Gesu School’s 23rd Annual Symposium on Transforming Inner-City Education. As a pioneer in urban education, Gesu continues to seek new approaches to better serve all students and to confront the tough issues in the field, while remaining committed to sharing key learnings. Our Symposium has become a time-honored tradition for these purposes. Our Gesu community serves 99% Black students, and we celebrate our community with pride. Gesu is honored to host Ibram X. Kendi to dialogue on antiracism at this critical time in our nation. We must tackle the effects of centuries of systemic racism and understand how this reality impacts our students. We must strengthen our communities of learning, amplify the voices of students of color, and advocate for racial justice for all. We must empower students to recognize, reject, and speak up against racism. And, we must do this ourselves. Now is a time for conviction, courage, and collaboration. Thank you for being an important part of today’s dialogue. I hope that our work generates hope and spurs further discussion and positive action in your own school communities. Let us resolve to continue working together to ensure a just future for all students. Peace and blessings,
BRYAN CARTER | GESU SCHOOL PRESIDENT AND CEO
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Gesu School, an independent Catholic school located in North Philadelphia, is recognized as a national model for inner-city education. Codirected by the Jesuits and the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), Gesu serves 450 children in grades Pre-K through 8.
Gesu School embraces the Jesuit ideal of cura personalis — care of the whole person — and the IHM belief that every child can learn by providing resources to build academic and soft skills across a range of ability levels. In a city where approximately 69 percent of public high school students graduate in four years, nearly 90 percent of Gesu alumni graduate high school on time. Of those graduates, 86 percent go on to college or post-secondary education. Many Gesu graduates attend top college preparatory, independent, Catholic, charter, and magnet high schools. Approximately one in three Gesu families has an annual income of less than $30,000. Tuition covers only a fraction of our costs. Gesu provides substantial financial aid and scholarships to all qualifying students. Critical financial support from donors provides our students with a top-notch education and support they need to succeed.
To learn how you can make an impact on Gesu School or support events such as the Symposium, contact the Development Office at 215.763.9077 or development@gesuschool.org.
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I HAVE A DREAM BY BREYONA | 7
TH
GRADE
I HAVE A DREAM THAT I WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL. I HAVE A DREAM THAT I WILL GRADUATE AND GO OFF TO COLLEGE. I HAVE A DREAM THAT I WILL MAKE A FRIEND THAT WANTS THE SAME AS ME. I HAVE A DREAM THAT I WILL GRADUATE MEDICAL SCHOOL AND BECOME A SURGEON. I HAVE A DREAM THAT I WILL MAKE ENOUGH MONEY FOR MYSELF AND TO SUPPORT OTHERS. I HAVE A DREAM THAT I WILL BE THE MOST LOVING AND CARING PERSON.
LEARN, HONOR, AND CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY “It is important for our students to learn that even during the horrors of slavery and the unfairness of segregation, African Americans were changing the world for the better, even if we have never heard their names. I want our students to idolize scientists, mathematicians, and entrepreneurs alongside well-known Civil Rights leaders and activists. Students need to learn about the accomplishments of Black scientists and inventors who have improved our lives. If we increase awareness of their contributions, students will know that they, too, can create something life changing.”
SIERRA WILSON | GESU SCHOOL ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER
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Wake Up Everybody by John Whitehead, Gene McFadden, and Victor Carstarphen
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ABOUT GESU SCHOOL’S ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM Always seeking to improve education for all of America’s inner-city children, Gesu School launched our Symposium in 1997 to bring together educators, policymakers, and other stakeholders to tackle the tough issues in urban education. The annual event welcomes top thought leaders to stimulate productive conversation, as well as empower educators and the community for our work in the field.
PAST SYMPOSIA INCLUDE: Social Justice & Education:
The Role of Educators in Building a School’s Capacity to Meet Student Needs Keynote by Pedro Noguera (2019)
Everyday Heroes:
Unveiling the Power of Educators Keynote by Steve Pemberton (2018)
Our Kids Are Not Broken:
Empowering Traumatized Youth Keynote by Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg (2017)
SEE FULL LIST OF PAST EVENTS HERE.
IBRAM X. KENDI Ibram X. Kendi is a #1 New York Time ’s bestselling author, the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University, and the founding director of the BU Center for Antiracist Research. Kendi is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a CBS News correspondent. He is also the 2020-2021 Frances B. Cashin Fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. Kendi is the author of Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America , which won the National Book Award for Nonfiction, and The Black Campus Movement , which won the W.E.B. Du Bois Book Prize. He is also the author of the #1 New York Time ’s bestsellers, How to Be an Antiracist , and Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You , a young adult remix of Stamped from the Beginning , co-authored with Jason Reynolds. He most recently authored the #1 Indie bestseller, Antiracist Baby , available as a board book and picture book for caretakers and little ones. For more information on Ibram X. Kendi, please visit www.prhspeakers.com.
One of TIME ’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020, bestselling author, historian, professor, and leading antiracist voice
TRINA A. GARY, M.Ed. Moderator
Trina Gary is a skilled independent school educator, administrator, and leadership coach with a demonstrated history of working in schools to affirm identity, build community, and cultivate inclusive practice and policies. Trina is the CEO and Principal Consultant of Brown-Gary Associates, LLC. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Independent Trust, a professional development and social impact network of independent school alumnae/alumni of color, Director of Inner City Lacrosse, and a consultant with Diversity Directions, where she also works as the resident faculty during the week-long summer seminar. Trina serves on the Board of Trustees at The Community Partnership School in Philadelphia and Pomfret School, in Pomfret, CT. Trina has held a variety of positions during her tenure at four independent schools. She has served as Associate Dean of Faculty and Director of Multicultural Education, Associate Director of Admissions, Academic Advisor, and as an Instructor of English and history. Trina has served on the summer faculty of the Gardner Carney Leadership Institute (gcLi). Prior to working in independent schools, Trina was a commercial lender for Connecticut Bank and Trust. Trina holds an M.Ed. in Leadership in Learning and Instruction from Northeastern University, Boston, MA, and a BA in Urban Studies with a concentration in Economics from Trinity College, Hartford, CT. She and her partner, Michael Gary, are parents of three adult children.
THANK YOU FROM GESU SCHOOL’S PRESIDENT AND CEO BRYAN CARTER
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Gesu School Mission Statement: Inspired by the Jesuit and IHM traditions of social justice, faith, creative hope, and love, Gesu School helps students to transcend all forms of poverty by providing a comprehensive, innovative education. Gesu empowers students to develop their strengths, overcome challenges, and become positive, engaged members of the community and the world.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2020 SYMPOSIUM SPONSORS SYMPOSIUM VALEDICTORIAN Cozen O’Connor
SYMPOSIUM SALUTATORIAN CVS Health
SYMPOSIUM GRADUATE Merion Mercy Academy William Penn Charter School
SYMPOSIUM FRIEND Chuck & Martie Bernicker Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia CHOP The Episcopal Academy Mid Penn Bank Penn Medicine
The Shipley School Warren Claytor Architects Inc. Westside Neighborhood School Westtown School
To learn how you can make an impact on Gesu School or support events such as the Symposium, contact the Development Office at 215.763.9077 or development@gesuschool.org.
Cozen O’Connor has been a proud supporter of the Gesu School’s Symposium for more than two decades. We look forward to a dynamic and engaging conversation about the important topic of race and equality in our schools. Michael J. Heller Executive Chairman & CEO (215) 665-4141 | mheller@cozen.com
Vincent R. McGuinness President & Managing Partner (215) 665-2097 | vmcguinness@cozen.com
Thomas A. Decker Vice Chairman (215) 665-4684 | tdecker@cozen.com 750 attorneys | 31 offices
cozen.com
© 2020 Cozen O’Connor
On behalf of Gesu School’s 450 children, thank you to
CVS Health
for supporting innovative education. We your commitment to the students of North Philadelphia.
Proudly Supports Gesu School’s 23rd Annual Symposium and Mission and Salutes the Work of Ibram X. Kendi and Trina A. Gary
William Penn Charter School
Educating Students to Live Lives that Make a Difference Pre-K to 12 coed Quaker school in East Falls
www.penncharter.com
BOARD OF TRUSTEES John J. Curry, Chair Katherine H. Hovde, Vice Chair Steven S. Piltch, Ed.D., Vice Chair Keith M. Pension, Secretary Gerard J. Davies, Treasurer Bryan H. Carter, President and CEO Winston J. Churchill, Esq., Chairman Emeritus Edward F. Beckett Honorary Donna Bullock Rev. George W. Bur, S.J. Andrew Cavacos Ellen Churchill Sherri Darden Thomas A. Decker, Esq. John J. DiIulio, Jr., Ph.D., Advisory Board Member Rosemary Español, CFM Tamika Evans ‘92 Christopher C. Fallon, Esq. Peter G. Gould, Ph.D. Frances Gray James F. Higgins ’45 David Hilton II David Hilton III, Junior Board President
Rev. Daniel R.J. Joyce, S.J.
Dia Becker, Gesu Staff Liaison
Karen Lucey
Molly Belmont
Nyree S. Lyons, RN ’95
Imani Briscoe ’09
Robert M. McAlaine
Libby Ellman
Byron A. McCook, Ed.D.
Mark Garrity
Marie T. McCormick, Ph.D.
Tom Leonard
Allan C. Murphy
Mary Rose Liva
Kay O’Grady
Daniel McAlaine
Louis R. Pichini, Esq.
Caitlin Murphy
Greg Rigdon
Desmond Shannon ‘02
Sr. Stephen Anne Roderiguez, IHM
Daniel Stanek
Eilise Rouse
Sherman Washington
Erin Rodgers Schmidt, Esq. Angela Schwartz Susan Martinelli Shea
MANAGEMENT TEAM Bryan H. Carter, President and CEO
Daryl J. Shore ’94
Sr. Ellen Convey, IHM, Principal
Mark Solomon
Alana D. Lee, Vice Principal
Sr. Mary Ellen Tennity, IHM
Rev. Raymond J. Donaldson, S.J., Chaplain
Rev. Stephen D. Thorne
Carolynn Thompson, Director of Finance
Larry Wells, MD
Robert S. Weinstein, Vice President of Development
JUNIOR BOARD David Hilton III, President Kellsey Turner, Vice President Lauren Wattie, Secretary
Tammi Crummy, Dean of Students Jose Gonzalez, Director of Graduate Support Mark Smith, Director of Facilities
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