The Education of Black Male Youth
Third Annual Lecture and Workshop Series
Sponsored by Wheelock College and the Aspire Institute of Wheelock College
Presenter Biographies
Rory T. Edwards
Curt Green
Rita-Renée Hunter-Graham
Tim King
David Miller, M.Ed.
LaMarr Darnell Shields
Rory T. Edwards
Rory T. Edwards is the president of Edwards Educational Consulting LLC, a consulting firm that designs and implements proven methodologies and solutions which increase the academic and social advancement of students, schools, parents, and communities. He also is the national director and founder of “The Once a Man, Twice a Child” Academy in New Britain, Conn., The academy concentrates on educational and social empowerment for African-American and Latino males in grades three through eight. Prior to starting his own business, he was the dean of the highly-regarded Amistad Academy in New Haven, Conn. Before joining the Amistad staff, Mr. Edwards taught high school, middle school, and elementary school.
Mr. Edwards has conducted numerous workshops, lectures and keynote addresses in over twenty states and abroad. He also served as the president of the New Britain, Conn. branch of the N.A.A.C.P. from 1996 until 2005, and was instrumental in the process of changing many of the community’s concerns. He also served on the National N.A.A.C.P. Education Committee in 2000.
Mr. Edwards holds a B.S. in Human Services from Springfield College, an M.Ed. in Urban Educational Leadership from Cambridge College, and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Urban Education Policy Development. Above all, his greatest honor is his role of father to his beloved three adult children, Rick, Sharde, and Aja and grandfather to his two grandchildren, Ricky Jr. and Saniah.
Curt Green
Curt Green has over 12 years of experience working in public education with the last three years as a principal of boys’ academies. Currently Mr. Green is the principal of the Business, Engineering, Science, and Technology (BEST) Academy at the Benjamin S. Carson Preparatory School in Atlanta, Ga. Opened in 2007 in conjunction with the Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy, the BEST Academy was the first boys’ academy to open in Atlanta in more than 50 years.
In 2005 Mr. Green helped to convert a Baton Rouge, La. high school into two single-gender academies—the Capitol Pre-College Academy for Boys and its sister school, the Capitol Pre-College Academy for Girls. The schools were founded in partnership with Southern University Baton Rouge, the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship College Redesign Network, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Mr. Green served as principal of the boys’ academy from 2005-2007.
Mr. Green is a graduate of Louisiana State University where he earned a Bachelor of General Studies degree with an emphasis on social sciences. He has two master’s degrees from the University of Alaska-Anchorage in teaching secondary social studies and public school administration (K-12).
Rita-Renée Hunter-Graham
Rita-Renée Hunter-Graham is a 14-year veteran of public school education. She presently teaches English Language Arts and Theater at the BEST Academy at the Benjamin S. Carson Preparatory School in Atlanta, Ga. She also teaches English and Japanese language and culture to the students of Project Success.
In addition to her experience in education, Mrs. Hunter-Graham has worked in the entertainment industry for more than 35 years. Her experiences growing up in Harlem, New York and later living in Japan inspired her to write her soon-to-be published novel, “H2H: From Harlem 2 Hiroshima.” Prior to completion of her novel, renowned author Terry McMillan and the Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center honored Mrs. Hunter-Graham with the Doris Jean Austin Fellowship, an accolade bestowed upon new and upcoming African-American writers of distinction. She holds an education specialist degree in brain research, a master’s degree in education, and a B.A. in Black Studies with a minor in English literature.
Tim King
Tim King is the founder, president, and CEO of Urban Prep Academies. Urban Prep is a non-profit organization operating the state of Illinois’ first and only public charter school for boys: the Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men—Englewood Campus. The mission of the school, which opened in 2006, is to provide a high quality, comprehensive education that prepares young men for success in college.
Before launching Urban Prep, Mr. King was president and CEO of Hales Franciscan High School, an independent Catholic school serving African-American boys on Chicago’s south side. He was the first lay president in the school’s history. One hundred percent of the school’s graduates were admitted to college in each of the five years Mr. King served as president.
An avid writer and public speaker, Mr. King is a contributor to the Chicago Tribune and frequent lecturer. Ebony Magazine chose him as one of “30 Leaders of the Future,” in addition to his selection by Crain’s Chicago Business for its annual “40 Under 40” list. Mr. Green was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and has been recognized by President Bill Clinton for his work with youth.
Mr. King earned a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs and a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University. He completed additional studies at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, and at the University of Kenya in Nairobi, Kenya.
David Miller, M.Ed.
David Miller, M.Ed. is the co-founder and chief visionary officer of the Urban Leadership Institute, LLC, (www.urbanyouth.org) a social enterprise that focuses on developing positive youth development strategies. The ULI provides strategic planning, professional development, program development, positive youth development concepts, and crisis management services.
Mr. Miller is the architect of the Dare to Be King Project (www.daretobeking.com) a community-based intervention model that addresses anger, moral reasoning, and decision-making among African-American males ages 12-17. The project features seminars, workshops, and a comprehensive curriculum designed to empower African American males as well as motivate and inspire the professionals who work with them.
Mr. Miller is a graduate of the University of Baltimore (B.S., political science) and Goucher College (master’s degree in education).
LaMarr Darnell Shields
LaMarr Darnell Shields is the co-founder and president of the Urban Leadership Institute. As a rising star amongst his peers, Mr. Shields has been featured in numerous media outlets for his achievements in the education and motivation of young people. Before joining the Urban Leadership Institute, Mr. Shields taught at the third-oldest high school in the country, lived in Latin America, spoke at the White House, wrote several books and articles, founded the Paul Robeson Academic International School of Excellence (PRAISE), hosted a teen television show, and taught at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University.
With the creation of PRAISE, an educational and social model for working with African-American boys, and the development of innovative educational tools such as Rhyme and Reason, a curriculum developed to help educators and youth service providers use hip-hop as a means to connect with youth, Mr. Shields and the Urban Leadership Institute give a whole new meaning to positive youth development. Mr. Shields earned his undergraduate degrees from Grambling State University and La Universidad de Coahuila in Mexico, where he majored in political science and Spanish. He went on to earn a master’s degree in education from Loyola College of Maryland.
