You are cordially invited to attend April’s Closing the Achievement Gap Series entitled SUPPORTING YOUNG MEN OF COLOR IN THEIR PURSUIT FOR A COLLEGE EDUCATION: Fulfilling President Obama’s 2020 Goal for College Achievement. National speaker and Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights Russlynn Ali will be the keynote speaker, with more dynamics speakers to be added.

Opening Remarks by Dr. Dorita Gibson – NYC Deputy Chancellor for Equity and Access.

Keynote Speaker: US Department of Education Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights - Russlynn Ali

Ms. Ali was appointed assistant secretary for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Education by President Barack Obama on March 18, 2009, and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 1, 2009. As assistant secretary, Ali is U.S. Secretary of Education Duncan's primary adviser on civil rights and is responsible for enforcing U.S. civil rights laws as they pertain to education—ensuring the nation's schools, colleges and universities receiving federal funding do not engage in discriminatory conduct related to race, sex, disability or age.