Rep. Fattah Will Address GEAR UP Conference, Receive Award for Higher Education Leadership

WASHINGTON, July 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Chairman of the Congressional Urban Caucus, will be featured in two education-related activities on Monday July 19 in Washington that highlight his advocacy and leadership for young people aspiring to and succeeding in higher education.

WHAT: Rep. Fattah will keynote the GEAR UP Annual Conference

WHERE: Washington Hilton Hotel

1919 Connecticut Ave. NW

Washington D.C.

WHEN: Monday July 19 at 8:30 a.m.

WHAT: Rep. Fattah will receive the "Urban Serving University Congressional Champion Award" from the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities

WHERE: Rayburn House Office Building (Foyer)

Capitol Hill, Washington D.C.

WHEN: 5:30 p.m.

Background

GEAR UP: Congressman Fattah will be keynoting the annual national conference for the program which he created and guided into law. The NCCEP/GEAR UP conference brings together over 2,000 college access professionals, business leaders and students from Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) and the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships. The Opening Ceremony begins with the GEAR UP Roll Call of the States.

Fattah is the architect of GEAR UP, enacted by Congress in 1998. Over the past 10 years, more than $3 billion in federal funds have been appropriated to serve approximately 12 million students in 49 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. GEAR UP provides college-readiness programs for low-income students and their families starting in the middle grades. It includes tutoring, scholarship assistance, campus tours, counseling on how to apply for admission, scholarships and financial aid as it tracks entire classes of students for six years through low-income middle and high schools where college attendance is often considered a distant dream.

Urban Serving Universities: The Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (USU) is presenting its signature award to Congressman Fattah in recognition of his efforts to champion the important and unique role that urban universities play for their cities and greater metropolitan regions. USU cites Fattah's leadership as Chairman of the Congressional Urban Caucus in highlighting the work of urban universities and other anchor institutions. The USU also cites the Congressman's interest in an Anchor Institutions advisory committee as part of the Urban Caucus and in developing a national toolkit for urban universities to build capacity, leverage resources, and improve the ability to engage in productive and sustainable partnerships within local communities.

Fattah has created and advocated for numerous programs to level the playing field so that underserved and low-income students have the opportunity to pursue a college education and improve their life changes.

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah