At the Vernon John Middle School, New Orleans community members and youth are coming together to design a community-led effort to improve education. Community and Site Development consultant Dr. Doris Williams led the March 15^th meeting to reach the following goals:

• To inform parents what the Algebra Project can add or bring to Petersburg
• To ensure that every child Kindergarten through 12^th learn math/Algebra
• To ensure that each parent is involved with what is best for his/her child
• To ensure that there will be some kind of evaluation for the high school AP program
• To clarify what can be done to help others
• To disseminate information concerning AP classes to parents

Funded by the Ford Foundation, this work will continue into the remaining school year. Next meeting is scheduled for April 19^th, 9AM to 1PM. If you are interested in attending, please contact Ernest at ebrooks@algebra.org.

On January 10, 2008, ninety parents, community members, civil rights activists and educators assembled at the Medical Mall in Jackson, Mississippi with great anticipation of the demonstrations in mathematics which would be led by the Algebra Project students of Lanier.

The demonstrations highlighted the concepts of distance and displacement and how these ideas are applicable in everyday life situations such as the relay race. As teachers Demetrica Gorden and Herbert Brown outlined the rules of the relay race the students anxiously awaited their turn to display their knowledge of mathematics in a unique way. It was now time for the students to take center stage. As they hurriedly began stacking their cubes, they captivated the audience as R. Ferguson outlined the step by step process involved in a dynamical system at the end of the demonstrations, many questions and positive comments were made of learning math.

Frank Figgers, AP Parent Liaison, strongly reminded the audience of their role to be a village for these students. He stated that their presence was an indication that they care.

This event was made possible through the teamwork from the community at large- current and former AP students, parents, members of the Medical Mall Foundation, radio, churches in the Lanier feeder pattern, barber and beauty salons, teachers and administrative staff of Lanier and mentor groups. The event was a great success. More “Family Math Night” will be planned for the future.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Click here for PDF 

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2008 4:30 P.M. CST
CONTACT: David J. Dennis, Sr., (601) 668-6473, Algebra Project Site & Community Development consultant

Renowned actor and humanitarian Danny Glover will be in New Orleans visiting Recovery School District schools tomorrow, Thursday February 14 and Friday February 15, continuing his involvement in efforts to bring officials, schools and community together to create effective solutions toward raising the quality of public school education.

Mr. Glover will meet with students and faculty members of schools involved with the Algebra Project. These events seek to highlight the progress of the collaboration between the Vanguard Public Foundation and the Algebra Project—Mr. Glover sits on the Board of Directors of both organizations—with New Orleans schools.

In October 2005 the Vanguard Public Foundation initiated intensive support of work in New Orleans to assist the rebuilding efforts, particularly in the critical areas of public school education and housing. Vanguard partnered with the Algebra Project to provide professional development to math teachers from James Singleton Charter, Eleanor McMain and Frederick Douglas High Schools. AP trainers worked with the math teachers using the Algebra Project methodology at these schools throughout the 2005-2006 school year.  In the summer 2006, the teachers at Singleton charter were officially trained to implement the Algebra Project for the next school term.

One of the goals of the Algebra Project - and national math standards - is to offer algebra at the eighth grade to all students, a year before it is officially offered in the New Orleans public schools.  During the 2007-2008 school year, this work has expanded to additional RSD schools.

Dr. Raynard Sanders of Vanguard is pleased with the Algebra Project trainers and with the level of participating teachers’ commitment, evidenced by the start of the first eighth grade Algebra class at Singleton.  He underscores these contributions as demonstrations of the kinds of educational improvement efforts available to the city. “This is quite an accomplishment, given the academic challenges of the Singleton students, who do not have academic admission requirements.”

On Thursday, February 14th, Danny Glover will be present at a reception for community leaders and parents at the James Singleton Charter School at Dryades YMCA on 2220 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard between 4:30PM and 6:00PM.  Later that evening at 6:30PM, he will attend a Community Reception open to the general public at The Wisdom Hall on 1359 St. Bernard Ave.

Also, at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 15th, Mr. Glover will visit John McDonogh High School, 2426 Esplanade Ave.  During this return visit Mr. Glover will be meeting with school officials to better understand the current challenges and opportunities facing New Orleans students and teachers.

If you have any questions, please contact David J. Dennis, Sr., Algebra Project Site & Community Development consultant at 601-668-6473.

On the morning of December 8th, the Algebra Project board members and staff were welcomed by Peabody Middle School, who hosted a Community Rally. Danny Glover, current Algebra Project board member, spoke passionately to an audience half comprised of high school and college students.

Petersburg People’s News

The Progressive Index

Where: Jackson State University, Jackson, MS

When: July 24-27, 2008

Registration:

http://www2.jsums.edu/forms/algebraconference/

Schedule (as of 6/17/08):

http://www.algebra.org/articles/APconfsched_20080617.pdf

Questions? Please contact Ernest Brooks: ebrooks@algebra.org

For over a quarter century, the Algebra Project has been working at the forefront of a civil rights struggle against one root cause of racial inequity in the United States: math education. This academic year heralds the 25th anniversary of AP, as well as a few other significant anniversaries:

150th Anniversary of Dred Scott v. Sandford

50th Anniversary of Civil Rights Act of 1957

50th Anniversary of Public School Integration of Little Rock 9

15th Anniversary of the Algebra Project in Jackson, MS

From July 24 to July 27, 2008 (save the date!) AP will hold its inaugural anniversary conference in Jackson, Mississippi: hosted by Jackson State University and partnering with Florida International University.

The National conference seeks to synthesize and mobilize the 25-year history of the Algebra Project for a broad national audience. The meeting will provide an opportunity for AP veterans to reconnect, celebrate our work together and invite the participation of other groups and individuals. We will re-affirm our common vision, highlighting both current programs and other organizations inspired by the AP such as QECR and YPP, and use these to motivate and frame our future work. Anticipated outcomes include both networking among participants, who are likely to find new ways of working together, and mobilization of resources for the future work of the AP.

AP started from one parent’s desire to see his child understand algebra in middle school so that she could enter high school and enroll in college-preparatory math courses. In doing so, he saw the need to change youth culture around math education – to get them excited about math – and to break down institutional barriers to a quality public education.

That is exactly what AP students are doing: overcoming obstacles and spreading the excitement to be in the classroom. How often do you hear your high school students say they want to take math – 90 minutes a day, five days a week – and fully attend all year long? Calculate the minutes of class time that students are engaging themselves and each other, becoming agents of their future.

AP currently seeks a national response to establish a fundamental right that every child be guaranteed a quality public education; and you are part of this conversation!

Please join us in celebrating math literacy and youth action for a quarter century and beyond. And, if you find that you cannot attend our conference in 2008, please consider making a contribution toward a student travel scholarship by clicking on the “Donate Now” link above, or join our email list, also found at the top of this page.