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 MSR has hosted this dinner celebration for the past 17 years.  More than 9,500 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 MSR, along with its sponsors, can publicly acknowledge African and African American high school graduates for their achievements.

Graduates, click HERE to fill out our online graduation form to apply for scholarships and the community yearbook.

 

 

Click the link below to make a donation 

SUPPORT the 18th Annual MSR High School Graduation Celebration!

Your donation will help provide:

• Meals for graduates and their guests,  ($50 per meal)

• Scholorships for deserving graduates,  ($750 per scholorship) and/or

• Support for the entertaiment and program for the evening. (all donations approeciated)

Please note: Requests for designation of funds should be indicated in the “request for designation of funds” box on the Paypal page, or send check to P.O. Box 8558, Mpls., Mn. 55408 or call 612-827-4021 for more info.

 

 

Dear Friends of Minnesota’s African American Youth,

 

The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) has, for 17 consecutive years, offered our African American graduates and their parents an annual Graduation Celebration honoring their educational success. Sadly, this year we find it necessary to request support from the community to continue this event, since many of our former corporate sponsors now tell us they are unable to provide financial support — this in spite of a Minnesota economic recovery that leads the nation and is clearly benefiting them while growing educational disparities just as clearly continue to disadvantage our youth.

 

This withdrawal of corporate support has jeopardized our plans for the 18th Annual High School Graduation Celebration this year, and this is why we are requesting your help. If local corporations no longer care about encouraging educational success among young African Americans, our hope and belief is that the community will step up and in their place demonstrate the value and importance we place on such recognition of our children’s educational success. We ask for your support by means of a donation to this very important occasion proven to make a positive difference in the lives of our local African and African American graduates. Your thoughtful consideration of the event described below and how you can provide support to make it possible may ensure that this positive influence does not disappear like so many of our other community resources.

 

Planned Graduation Celebration

On Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 7 pm, the Spokesman-Recorder 501(c)3 nonprofit, in conjunction with theMinnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR), plans to host its 18th Annual High School Graduation Celebration at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center.  The theme for this event, “Education and Graduation: It’s a Family Affair,” honors the Twin Cities’ African and African American high school graduates and the people in their lives who helped them obtain their degrees.

 

History of the event

The MSR has hosted this dinner celebration for the past 17 years with support and encouragement from local public school districts. More than 10,500 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. All have acknowledged the event’s importance when one out of three African American students in Minnesota is dropping out of high school according the Minnesota Department of Children, Families & Learning.

 

How you can make a difference

Through this celebration, the MSR, along with our supporters, publicly acknowledge African and African American high school graduates for their achievements. 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. Your financial support will help us ensure that this event continues to give young adults and their families the recognition and the encouragement so vital to their continued success and our continued well-being as African American people.

 

In today’s environment, the obstacles and challenges facing young people, particularly students of color, can be as difficult as navigating a minefield. While we may regret there is not more corporate generosity for such efforts, its absence does not discourage us from going forward. We believe in the strength and resilience of our community, especially when it comes to our youth and their education as our best hope for the future. Please join us in our efforts to encourage the young people of our community to pursue educational excellence.

 

Thank you for taking the time to consider our appeal. If you have any questions about our Graduation Celebration, please do not hesitate to call me at 612-827-4021. Your donation in any amount will go a long way in contributing to the continued success of this event. Simply click DONATE  and follow the easy step-by-step instructions.

 

Your donation will help provide:

 

• Meals for graduates and their guests,  ($50 per meal)

• Scholorships for deserving graduates,  ($750 per scholorship) and/or

• Support for the entertaiment and program for the evening. (all donations approeciated)

 

Please note: Requests for designation of funds should be indicated in the “request for designation of funds” box on the Paypal page.

 

Thank you

 

Sincerely,

Tracey L. Williams-Dillard, Publisher/CEO

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

Click the link below to make a donation

SUPPORT the 18th Annual MSR High School Graduation Celebration!