INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Black Expo has announced two keynotes for the 12th Annual Indiana University Education Conference presented by Indiana Civil Rights Commission and the Indiana Department of Child Services. The Education Conference, themed “Raising the Bar – Transforming Education through Access and Equity,” provides administrators, faculty, educators, policymakers and others in the education field with resources, best practices and professional development training on pedagogy, effective behavior models, classroom management, social justice, student supports, retention and graduation rates and career connections in higher education.
The conference keynote speakers include Dr. Shaun Harper, founding executive director of the USC Race & Equity Center and Regina Louise Kerr-Taylor, author, child advocate, and subject of the Lifetime Network’s movie I Am Somebody’s Child: The Regina Louise Story. Dr. Harper was recognized in Education Week as one of the 10 most influential professors in the field of education. He is an expert on race, campus climates, and student success in higher education. He is also the founding executive director of the USC Race & Equity Center at University of Southern California.
Regina Louise is the author of the memoir Somebody’s Someone. Regina’s story has been featured on The BBC World Service, Narratively Literary Magazine and the Epoch Times; NPR’s All Things Considered, The CBS Early Show, PBS’s Tavis Smiley Show and NBC11. Ms. Louise’s story has received nationwide attention in newspapers and magazines including The San Francisco Chronicle, Shanghai Times, Los Angeles Times, Hallmark Magazine, Philadelphia Tribune, and The Chicago Tribune. A biopic of Regina’s memoir is the subject of the Lifetime Network film called I Am Somebody’s Child: The Regina Louise Story.
The conference will take place on Thursday, July 18th from 7:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. A Meet & Greet Reception hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University will take place immediately following the conference. This year’s theme for the conference is “Raising the Bar – Transforming Education through Access and Equity.”
“We are excited to have Regina Louise and Dr. Harper for our 12th Annual Education Conference,” says Tanya Bell, Indiana Black Expo President & CEO. “With more than 800 published studies and 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and publications, I cannot think of anyone more qualified than Dr. Harper that can share best practices with our educational institutions on inclusive campus environments, college student engagement, and support services. Our partners will also be inspired by the story of Regina Louise and her works in the trauma-informed space,” added Bell.
IBE will offer Professional Growth Plan (PGP) points to conference attendees. Early Bird Registration for the conference is $45.00. To register, visit www.SummerCelebration.net and choose “Education Conference” under the Events category. Conference partners include Indiana Commission for Higher Education, Indiana Department of Education, Indiana University, Indiana Civil Rights Commission, Strada Education Network, Lumina Foundation, Lilly Endowment, Central Indiana Community Foundation, U.S. Army, Indiana Department of Child Services, Children’s Bureau and Indiana Wesleyan University.
To get full conference information and register, please visit: https://summercelebration.net/education-conference/
About Indiana Black Expo, Inc.
Indiana Black Expo, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) statewide organization with 12 chapter affiliates. The mission of IBE is to serve as a voice and vehicle for the social and economic advancement of African-Americans. IBE is known for its two major fundraisers, Summer Celebration and Circle City Classic®. IBE provides year-round youth and family programs, including its recent Performing Arts Academy, Education Day (college fair), Summer Internship Program, Circle City Classic® Scholarship Fund, State of Our Black Youth Report and Initiative, Parent Leadership Academy, Statewide Anti-Tobacco Initiative, Education Conference, Youth Leadership Summit, Employment Opportunity Fair, and Minority Business Conference. IBE was recently recognized as “A Community to Watch” by the Obama Foundation for its work to eliminate barriers for African American males.
