Over 100 “Millennial” students came together at a summit in Miami earlier this month to discuss their concerns and suggest solutions concerning the high rate of minority students who are dropping out of college.
As part of the Target 2020 Community College Summit, which is a gathering of students and civic leaders, administration officials, and faculty revolving around college completion, attending students had the opportunity to submit solution-based plans for college completion and the chance to win a part of the $25,000 prize.
The topics and solutions discussed address President Obama’s 2010 plan to raise the college graduation rate by 60% by the year 2020.
Educational and political leaders from around the nation addressed the students throughout the summit. Some of them included Dr. Eduardo Padron President of Miami Dade College, Bob Graham former Governor of Florida, and Alberto Carvalho Superintendent of Miami Dade County Public Schools. The focus of their speeches was the college completion crisis and encouraging students to be more civically engaged.
“You have evolved, and the systems around you have not… We need to fix public education… But don’t expect people to rise up all at once… it just takes one. You know what stops an elephant in its tracks? Not lions. Not large bodies of water. A pebble. It all starts with you being a pebble in someone’s foot,” said Carvalho.
Mobilize.org, in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Lumina Foundation and the Knight Foundation held the Summit from June 1- June 3 2012 in Miami, Florida.
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