PA Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera leads RHD’s Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable forum on college access & success

Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera is the keynote speaker for the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable’s 2019 Access & Success Forum Aug. 22 at St. Joseph’s University on college access and success, helping students, families and education advocates start the academic year with professional development and critical discussions on college access and success.

Also joining the forum are Dr. Robert T. Palmer, Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, School of Education, Howard University; Dr. Janelle L. Williams, Visiting Scholar at Rutgers University’s Center for Minority Serving Institutions in the Graduate School of Education; and Rev. Michael Robinson, Director of Community Outreach and Hiring, Temple University.

“To meet the growing demands of Pennsylvania’s workforce and economy the Pennsylvania Board of Education adopted an aggressive statewide postsecondary attainment goal declaring that by 2025 60 percent of the Commonwealth’s population ages 25 to 64 will attain a postsecondary degree or industry recognized credential,” Rivera said. “While this is a challenging goal, as educators and community partners, the role you play is critical in empowering students to have the tools and resources necessary to help them navigate their own path to postsecondary opportunity and completion. Ultimately earning a livable wage and contributing to their local community.”

The PCPR 2019 Access & Success forum will be Aug. 22 from 8am-4pm at Saint Joseph’s University’s Mandeville Hall (Haub School of Business). There is no charge to attend this event, but registration is required. There will be complimentary continental breakfast and lunch.

The day will consist of the following topic sessions: “For Emerging Professionals” and “For Seasoned Professionals,” “Academic Success on the College Level,” “Becoming a College Access & Success Change Agent,” “HBCUs – The Current Climate for Enrollment and Advocacy,” and “Student Food & Housing Insecurities.”

This will be a working day of designing inform attendees gather to inform their work and PCPR’s work in the new academic program year. Additionally, PCPR members will provide insight as to the organization’s new governance structure.

“The Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable provides this annual gathering for professionals and advocates who serve people who need supports and resources to access higher education,” said PCPR director Thomas Butler. “Most of the attendees comes from community based organizations, higher education and K12 education. The focus of the Forum is to hear about current trends and updates on access to and completing college. We feel it’s important the broader community understands policies and practices that impacts the community’s awareness on the importance of a college degree.”

Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable is aNew Beginnings Nonprofit Incubator program of Resources for Human Development. RHD’s New Beginnings Nonprofit Incubator operated as a support system for several startup nonprofit organizations in the Philadelphia region. New Beginnings provides these organizations with the resources they need to develop skills and build their capacity and effectiveness.

The Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable seeks to strengthen a community of college access and success practitioners who believe in the potential of all individuals and help students navigate the path to and through higher education.

For more information, contact PCPR at [email protected]