An Achievable Dream was honored to host a visit from U.S. Secretary of Education John King Jr. and Congressman Bobby Scott on Thursday, May 5, 2016 at the Middle and High School for a discussion on youth violence prevention. During the discussion, King was briefed on An Achievable Dream’s programs and efforts by Newport News Public Schools and other organizations to prevent violence in the city.
“The key is thinking about education as a way to prevent violence from happening,” said King. “Students who are in quality educational programs, students who have quality extended-day programs, students who are involved in summer opportunities, are students who are generally going to be safe and are going to be prevented from getting involved in the things that are going to get them in trouble.”
During his visit to Hampton Roads, King also visited Norfolk State University’s Child Development Lab and Heritage High School.
Participants in the discussion included:
- Alan Archer, Newport News Assistant City Manager
- Kathy Edwards, President and CEO of An Achievable Dream
- Christine Harris, Director of the Virginia Office of Humanities & Early Childhood
- Steve Kast, former President and CEO of the Boy & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula
- Ashby Kilgore, Superintendent of Newport News Public Schools
- John King, U.S. Secretary of Education
- Bobby Kipper, Founder of the National Center for the Prevention of Community Violence
- McKinley Price, Mayor of Newport News
- Eric Randall, Newport News City Police Department
- Bobby Scott, U.S. Congressman
- Marylin Sinclair-White, Principal of An Achievable Dream Middle and High School
