There is still time to register for the College of Education’s 1st Annual Conference on "Understanding the Impact of Poverty: A Research Symposium and Educational Dialogue" to be held at the McGregor Memorial Conference Center March 7-8. Interested individuals can register until 3 p. m. on Monday, March 5, 2012. Visit coe.wayne.edu for registration form and additional details.

This inaugural conference will provide attendees with the opportunity to explore and discuss issues and scholarly research related to the impact of poverty on the education of children. The conference will bring together scholars and practitioners with a commitment to improving the education of children living in poverty.

The conference will begin with a reception on Wednesday, March 7 at 4:30 p.m. followed by a keynote address by Dr. Pauline Lipman, Professor of Educational Policy Studies at the University of Illinois-Chicago and founder of Chicago-area Teachers for Social Justice.  Dr. Lipman’s presentation will begin at 6:00 p.m.

The following day, registrants will choose from two strands of concurrent break-out sessions, one geared towards researchers and the other for practitioners. General dialogue sessions will be held throughout the day to give participants an opportunity to converse together about challenges related to the conference theme. Featured speakers include Kenneth Donaldson, President and CEO of the Black United Fund of Michigan, and Donna Murray-Brown, Senior Director, Capacity Building and Metro Detroit Partnership for the Michigan Nonprofit Association.

There is no charge to attend the reception and keynote address on Wednesday evening; however, pre-registration is required. The registration fee to attend the full conference (includes Thursday breakfast and lunch) is $95. WSU students may attend for $25. For additional information, including the registration form and conference agenda, visit coe.wayne.edu or contact Dr. Chavon Jackson at al8046@wayne.edu.