Geoffrey Canada, the president and chief executive officer of the Harlem Children’s Zone, will discuss childhood literacy as part of a two-day symposium for area early childhood professionals.

Canada, who leads the community-based organization that has become a national model for childhood literacy, will speak at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, kicking off a two-day event hosted by the Duquesne University School of Education, with the financial backing of a PNC Foundation Grow Up Great grant.

The symposium, Creating Success Through Literacy, will meet at the Doubletree Hotel & Suites-City Center on March 24 and March 25.

“Mr. Canada provides for us a model of how we can have a positive impact on the lives of children at an early age,” said Dr. Julia Williams, coordinator of the event and an assistant professor in the Department of Instruction and Leadership in Education within Duquesne’s School of Education. “He has demonstrated that he is aware of the educational needs of children in his area and at large. He is aware of the social and cultural context in which the educational needs can be met, and he has provided a holistic structure that includes the child, parent and community as partners in educating the child.”

Canada’s lecture is free and open to the public; however, registration is required and will close once capacity has reached 300.

The all-day Friday session on March 25 features keynote speaker Dr. Rita Bean, professor emerita from the University of Pittsburgh. Throughout the day, Duquesne faculty members will hold break-out sessions on literacy across the content areas, science, math and drama; assessment; and trauma/stress.

Registration for this event is at capacity.

“Dr. Bean is an international educator in the field of literacy,” said Williams. “She is one of our champions in preparing teachers to effectively teach reading and writing to young children.”

This marks the third year the School of Education has hosted an event through the generous funding of the PNC Grow Up Great grant, with the goal of educating early childhood teachers on effective practices in literacy development.

Duquesne University
Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic research universities for its award-winning faculty and tradition of academic excellence. The University is nationally ranked by U.S. News and World Report and the Princeton Review for its rich academic programs in 10 schools of study for 10,000-plus graduate and undergraduate students, and by the Washington Monthly for service and contributing to students’ social mobility. Duquesne is a member of the U.S. President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction for its contributions to Pittsburgh and communities around the globe. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges acknowledge Duquesne’s commitment to sustainability.

This release was posted on Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 at 10:22 am and is filed under Events.