On this Thursday, May 21, 2009 – the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder will host The 14th Annual Cecil E. Newman Graduation event titled, “Education and Graduation: It’s a Family Affair” Celebration.
This prestigious event will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel located at 1300 Nicollet Mall, in downtown Minneapolis. The celebration starts with registration and a photo corner from 5:45 - 6:45 p.m.; The Dinner, Program and Entertainment will start promptly at 7 p.m.
This year’s keynote speaker is Hill Harper of CSI: NY. With degrees in law and public administration from Harvard University, Harper is also the New York Times bestselling author of letters to a young brother: manifest your destiny and letters to a young sister: define your destiny. An intelligent and active member of the black community, he inspires and empowers youth with his message of hope.
On behalf of our community’s graduates, we are asking you to join us in supporting this event. This event is free and open to the public – you must RSVP.
Like you, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder values education as an essential component to being successful in life. In today’s environment, the obstacles and challenges facing young people, particularly students of color, can be as difficult as navigating a minefield. This is especially important when you consider that more than one out of three African American students in Minnesota drop out of high school, according the Minnesota Department of Children, Families & Learning.
Young people in our community need inspiration, encouragement, support and role models from people other than their parents or teachers when it comes to understanding the value of education and the choices it affords them.
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder has hosted this dinner celebration for the past 13 years. Past keynote speakers for this event have been L.L. Cool J; Tavis Smiley, Nick Cannon, AJ Calloway and hometown favorite Larry Fitzgerald
More than 7,000 people have attended-including graduating high school seniors, their parents and other family members, plus high school and college officials, community leaders and corporate sponsors.
It is through this celebration that the Spokesman-Recorder, along with Medtronic, Best Buy, Fairview Hospitals to include sponsorships by the Target Foundation and the Pohlad Foundation we can publicly acknowledge African and African American high school graduates for their achievements. Our event sponsors support will help to insure that this event is successful. More importantly, your support helps to give young adults the recognition and the encouragement that is so necessary for their continued success.
We hope you will join us in our efforts to encourage the young people of our community to pursue educational excellence. Thank you for your time, if you have any questions about our Graduation Celebration, please call us at (612) 827-4021 for more information.
Read the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder at www.spokeman-
