City Year to Host National Leadership Summit: In School & On Track

WASHINGTON, May 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Approximately 500 thought leaders, education stakeholders, and professionals will convene this week for City Year's 2012 National Leadership Summit - In School & On Track. The event, held Tuesday, May 15 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C, will focus on the organization's efforts to impact the urban education challenge and dramatically increase the graduation pipeline in America. Joined by Secretary Arne Duncan, City Year will unveil its Long-Term Impact strategy, a plan to challenge the urban graduation status quo in America and impact the futures of thousands of students who attend America's highest-need schools.

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"Our National Leadership Summit brings together influential leaders who care deeply about education reform in the United States," said Michael Brown, Co-Founder and CEO of City Year. "We look forward to sharing the tremendous progress that City Year has made as part of our In School & On Track campaign and our future goals to maximize our impact on the graduation pipeline and reach the students, schools and cities facing the greatest challenge."

The event will also feature appearances by Comcast Corporation's Executive Vice President David L. Cohen, America Achieves Executive Chairman and co-founder Jon Schnur, Corporation for National & Community Service CEO Wendy Spencer and CSX CEO Michael Ward, among many other leading partners in school turnaround.

"Comcast and City Year's missions are well-aligned to prepare our youth to participate in the 21st Century economy and contribute in a positive way to the communities in which they live," said David L. Cohen, Executive Vice President of Comcast and National Trustee of City Year. "City Year not only provides a critical resource in high-need schools, but it also is a unique and effective leadership development tool where young, energetic youth can focus their energies to make a positive difference in communities that need them. We look forward to the stimulating discussions on ways we can work together to dramatically improve the graduation pipeline in America, and help develop a path of leadership for young people ready to serve."

"CSX is proud to support City Year and the communities where our employees live and work," said Michael Ward, CEO, Chairman and President of CSX and National Trustee of City Year, Inc. "We believe in the power and impact these young leaders are having with students and in their communities every day. In each city in which CSX and City Year share a common footprint, CSX sponsors a team of City Year corps members."

Highlights from the Summit will include:

• Launching City Year's Long-Term Impact Strategy: Arne Duncan, U.S Secretary of Education; Michael Brown, CEO of City Year, Inc.; Jim Balfanz, President of City Year, Inc.; and David L. Cohen, Executive Vice President of Comcast.
• Developing Multi-sector Strategies & Community-based Efforts to Improve High School Graduation Rates: Panelists Mayor Alvin Brown, City of Jacksonville; Dr. Robert Balfanz, Johns Hopkins University; Michele Cahill, VP for National Program & Director of Urban Education, Carnegie Corporation of New York; John Gomperts, President and CEO of America's Promise Alliance; Jon Schnur, America Achieves; and Stacey Stewart, United Way Worldwide and will discuss the progress being made among cross-sector collaborations.
• Partnering with National Service Organizations to Advance Critical School Reform Efforts: Panelists Chris Meyer, Founder and CEO of New Schools for Baton Rouge; Dr. Heidi Ramirez, Chief Academic Officer, Milwaukee Public Schools; and Nikoali Vitti, Deputy Chancellor for School Improvement, Miami-Dade County Schools will explore how different school districts are leveraging full-time, well-trained and near-peer national service members to accelerate goals and raise student achievement.
• The Most Powerful Weapon to Change the World: Unleashing the Potential of Young People through Education and Service: Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, and John Bridgeland, CEO of Civic Enterprises, will discuss how national service can provide the needed resources to turnaround low-performing schools.

"The Summit presents a special opportunity for us to recognize City Year's work, our corporate partners and the community leaders who make it possible for us to make lasting changes in our communities and the lives of students across the country," said Stephen G. Woodsum, Chair of City Year's national Board of Trustees.

About City Year

City Year is an education-focused, nonprofit organization founded in 1988 that partners with public schools to provide full-time targeted intervention for students most at risk of dropping out.  In more than 20 communities across the United States and through two international affiliates, our teams of young AmeriCorps leaders support students by focusing on attendance, behavior, and course performance through in-class tutoring, mentoring, and after school programs that keep kids in school and on track to graduate.

SOURCE City Year