Letter from the HBASNY President

Dear Friends, 

“What will I do to ensure that America’s children lead successful lives?”  In September 2009, the Harvard Black Alumni Society of New York launched an initiative on public education based on our conviction that access to a quality education for our young people stands as the civil rights issue of our generation.  An education system that works for our children is an integral beginning to a child’s life of success; and that system must be founded upon promoting excellence in all students.  

View a 6 minute video from the event above.  See the full discussion here.  

For so many young people in America – and more than half of Black and Hispanic children –  graduating from high school is an unfulfilled promise in a country where high school graduation is a leading predictors of a student’s future income, likelihood of being employed, and likelihood of being imprisoned.  In order to ensure that the fundamental promise to our children of an equal and excellent education is kept, citizens of all backgrounds must take an active role in making engaged and successful students the ordinary rather than the extraordinary.     

We ask you to approach your coming days, weeks and months with a simple guiding question -- “What will I do to ensure that America’s children lead successful lives?” There are as many reasons and ways to serve as there are people to serve; and through this discussion and our related service activities, the Harvard Black Alumni Society of New York seeks to illustrate the need for service in support of education and to inspire you to do your part – whatever that part may by.  Share your time, share your experience and share your skills in support of this urgent national priority.   

The Harvard Black Alumni Society of New York looks forward to working with you to realize a vision of an education system rooted in equity and excellence for all children.   

Yours in partnership,  

Enoch Woodhouse AB’07 
President, Harvard Black Alumni Society of New York