Committee to Save North Lawndale Schools

Save Our Schools

Media Alert:
For Immediate Release: March 18, 2013 Contact: Valerie F. Leonard, (773) 521-3137 valeriefleonard@msn.com

North Lawndale Stakeholders Close Ranks, Provide Alternative Plan to Avert School Closings
Who: The Committee to Save North Lawndale Schools (CSNLS) is comprised of North Lawndale stakeholders who have come together to provide an alternative plan to avert school closings. Members of the ad hoc committee include elected officials, local community-based organizations, and engaged individuals . To date, the group consists of the following members: Congressman Danny K. Davis, Representative Arthur Turner, Commissioner Robert Steele, Alderman Michael Chandler, Dan Cantrell, Congressman Danny K. Davis' Office; David Evers, Commissioner Robert Steele's Office; Trina Mangrum, Alderman Chandler's Office; Dr. Betty Green, North Lawndale Community Advisory Council; Darren Tillis, North Lawndale Community Advisory Council; Debra Wesley, Sinai Community Institute, Annetta Wilson, Sankofa Safe Child Initiative; Mary Visconti, Better Boys Foundation; Sherneron Hilliard, Family Focus-Lawndale; Michael Trout, Y-MEN, Billy Brooks, Better Boys Foundation; Lorenzo O'Bryant, Family Focus-Lawndale, Michelle Young, Action Now; Gladys Woodson 4300 West 21st Place Block Club; Willie Mae Bowling, 4200 West Cullerton Block Club; Windy Pearson, Action Now; Mariame Kaba, Project Nia; Cheryl Francis, Chicago Area Project; Valerie F. Leonard, Lawndale Alliance. Willie Cole; Margaret Davis, Lawndale Resident; Nicole "Nikki" Harvey, Eden Advocacy CDC/ WSBNAACP, Benard Clay, WSBNAACP CSNLS will be holding a press conference to provide a detailed alternative to closing schools in Chicago's North Lawndale Neighborhood. The Community Advisory Council will outline school level plans to improve academic achievement, while members of the Committee to Save North Lawndale Schools will provide a comprehensive community strategy to provide wrap around services and capacity building for schools targeted for closure. Members of the CPS board and staff, including David Vitale and Barbara Byrd Bennett have been invited. Thursday, March 21, 2013 9:00 am Better Boys Foundation 1512 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL CPS could close between 80 and 129 schools in the City of Chicago, including 10 from the North Lawndale community. This represents half of the elementary schools in North Lawndale. Massive closure of public schools could be detrimental for all stakeholders involved. Communities lose valuable anchors and safe havens. School violence, student mobility and dropout rates have increased as a result of past school actions. The de-stabilizing effects could last for years to come.

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