Press Release - The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Civil and Human Rights Coalition Applauds Appointments to Education Equity and Excellence Commission
For Immediate Release
Contact: Shin Inouye, 202.869.0398, inouye@archives.civilrights.org
February 18, 2011
Washington, DC –Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement in response to Thursday’s appointments to the Department of Education’s Equity and Excellence Commission, which include five Executive Committee Members of The Leadership Conference:
“Secretary Duncan showed strong and thoughtful leadership in his appointments to the new Equity and Excellence Commission. These appointees are eminently qualified to examine the disparities in our educational systems and advise the department on ways to narrow our country’s stubborn achievement gap.
I’m especially encouraged to see the appointment of five members of The Leadership Conference’s Executive Committee: Benjamin Jealous, president of the NAACP; Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League; Thomas Saenz, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund; Dennis Van Roekel, president of the National Education Association; and Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. I’ve worked very closely with many of the other appointees, including Co-Chair Christopher Edley, the highly respected dean of the University of California Berkeley’s School of Law.
Education is the foundation that enables all of us to achieve the American Dream. The new commissioners share a common perspective that the future of our country depends on our ability to make that idea a reality for every single child regardless of his or her zip code. At a time when America’s standing in the world is being challenged on many fronts, education is a critical component in rebuilding our economy and preparing our children for the jobs of today and tomorrow.
The true test of our greatness as a society will be whether or not we rise to the challenge and do what’s right for our children today and the generations that will follow. These appointees will help our nation rise to that challenge.”
Wade Henderson is the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit archives.civilrights.org.
