African-American/Caribbean Education Association, Inc  
"Working to better the education of our children"     
ABOUT US

Highlights 2008-2009
Mission and Background
Kente Meaning:  
"Achimot--Harmony and Diversity"

                                                                             Background

   The African-American/Caribbean Education Association, Inc, also known as AACEAINC, was founded in  
   1997 by Rosalind O'Neal, who brought together teachers of African-American and Caribbean heritage to  
 
  address, and bring resolve to, educational issues impacting teachers, students, and parents in the Southeast                     
    Queens Community. Under the leadership of Ms. O'Neal, the first years mushroomed from a small
 
  committee of teacher-advocates and educators from other fields, to a base of stakeholders interested in   
   making a difference in the education of children and the advancement of community. In 2001, this group                       
    known as the African-American/Caribbean Education Association, whose cause is educational excellence,
   became chartered by the New York State Education Department and incorporated as a not-for-profit organization.           
   
 This is a 501 (C) 3 organization. Although AACEAINC's operations are based in Southeast Queens, its support
   extends to the five boroughs and beyond in its services to parents, students, families, and stakeholders.

                                                                        Mission Statement

    The mission of the African-American/Caribbean Education Association is to:
    “Provide a vehicle by which educators, parents, politicians, community, and media, may be informed about
     issues relevant to our children's educational growth and development, thereby, fostering a teaching and
   
  learning environment conducive to our students meeting the standards to compete and achieve in today's
  
   evolving technological society".

                                                                                Vision

    We at AACEAINC envision a new place in history where our children "excel" in all aspects of the  
 
   American experience.  It is our belief, that as a People, we have a moral and civic obligation to strengthen   
 
   educational services and quality of life issues --to make a difference change must first start with us and we
  
  must know what we are willing to sacrifice. Our vision embraces the success of all our children, the low   
  
  achieving, the high risk, the children with special needs, and the children that are gifted and talented.
 
   We envision an organization supportive of high quality experiences and programs that foster leadership.
  
  We see our role as that of catalyst leading the way to the fulfillment of hopes and dreams, which will
  
  mutually benefit every one of us.   
                                                           
                                                            
            Accomplishments

   Since AACEAINC's inception the organization is proud to have provided the following   
   services to the community:

  •     AACEAINC SCHOLARSHIP FUND / Scholarship Program
  •     The AACEAINC Lifetime Achievement Award
  •     Co-Sponsor Education Forum: "Working to Build a Better Future for Our Children"
  •     Co-Sponsor College Seminar and Keeping Our Children Safe Safety Forum
  •     Information on the New Regents Standards
  •     Voter Registration
  •     Community Health Fair
  •     School Safety Community Forum
  •     Juneteenth Celebration and Essay Contest
  •     Community Civic Service Program
  •     Jazz/Poetry Slam
  •     A voice in Immigrant Education and Literacy Needs
  •     Black Literature Series with a Historical Genre
  •     Parent Empowerment Workshop Series
  •     Making Education a Top Priority Series
  •     Newsletter
  •     Adopt a School Program
  •     Cultural Sponsorship Program for Students
  •     Providing support as a community based organization in the application of the U.S.         
              Department of Education Smaller Learning Communities Grant, which was successfully
           
   awarded to the Southeast Queens Community in 2002.
              Task Force 2009: Working for Human Rights in NYC Public Schools  




                                                             HIGHLIGHTS
                                                       2008-2009

                                          AACEAINC On The Move
                                                  in Partnership with
                              the Coalition Committee of Far Rockaway




                      
    
                                                 
                                               




                                            
                       
  • Community Church of the Nazarene
  • Senator Malcolm A. Smith Education Advisory Committee
  • The Center for Community Development and Education Reform
  • African-American/Caribbean Education Association, Inc. (AACEAINC)
                   
                             
 “       "Preparing for College Seminar” - October 19, 2009
                                                     
                                                       
  *  General information on the application process and SAT
                                                             prep programs
                                                       
  *   Local college information
                                                         *
 One-to-one consultation with NYCDOE guidance counselors
                                                         *   Financial Aid and college loan information
                                                         *   Local scholarship opportunities

                         



























  The seminar educated parents and students on course of study and entrance requirements, the  SAR (Student
  Aid Report) and EFC (Expected Family Contribution) relevant to financial aid, the application process including
  the common application, the importance of meeting deadlines, SAT prep, and strategies in applying to college.  
  The seminar also provided resource information and representatives from local colleges, Princeton Review,
  and local scholarship organizations. In addition, the following representatives not shown above participated:
  David Hooks, Director Far Rockaway SUNY Queens EOC, Nakita Vanstory, Director CUNY on Wheels,
  Division of Adult and Continuing Education, LaGuardia Community College, and Janice Weintraub, Princeton
  Review.

                            "Understanding the college process can fulfill dreams for a brighter future."  
                                                                                   Rosalind O’Neal
  Ernestine Washington,   
AACEAINC Executive Board,  
providing scholarship information.
From left to right: Linda West, Guidance
Counselor, and
Rosalind O'Neal,Coalition
Coordinator, setting-up for  one-to-one
personal graduation and college
advisement.
From left to right: Svetlana Hamlet, College Adviser, Vanessa  Sparks  and
William McDonald from E & T Education Access, Information &  
Opportunity, Inc.,
Linda West, Guidance Counselor, and Sharon
Sweeting-Lindsey
from the Senator Malcolm A. Smith Education  
Advisory Committee.
                                                            
                                                          
            Philosophy   
  
  Our purpose is to provide parents and educators with tools that will enable youth to learn and  
 
   thrive within an environment that respects their culture, gender and the communities in which
  
  they live. We believe this can be accomplished with information that will allow greater access to
 
   economic, social, and political resources, necessary to academic excellence. Our Forums are
  
  held at the Community Church of the Nazarene; and designed to remove barriers.
        Education Conference- "Working to Build a Better Future for Our Children"
                                                      Part I - November 2008  and  Part II - April 2009   
   The Coalition made its debut in November 2008 when, together, they co-sponsored Education Conference  
   Part I, “Working to Build a Better Future for our Children.”  Part II was hosted in April 2009. November’s
   two day conference facilitated a youth forum, panel discussions, and workshops that addressed issues of
   bullying, drug abuse, mayoral control, the public school system, no child left behind, parent advocacy,
   policing, putting children first, standardized testing, and youth employment. April’s two day conference
 
  provided tangible and substantive resources on the transition from middle school to high school, middle and
 
  high school graduation requirements, promotion in doubt letters, navigating the NYCDOE and parent
 
  engagement, parent resource information, and the honoring of PA/PTA Presidents of District 27.The  
 
  forums brought together students, parents, parent leaders, elected officials, community leaders, NYCDOE
   and District 27 Representatives, Guidance and College Counselors, NYPD School Safety Division and a  
 
  blue-ribbon panel of experts, among them NYC Comptroller William Thompson and  Associate
   Commissioner, NYC School and Community Services NYSED, Dr. Sheila Evans-Tranumn.  
                                                                                                                  
Click on Link to Forum '08

   SCHOOL SAFETY FORUM:  “Keeping Our Children Safe” -  December 5, 2009

  The School Safety Forum: “Keeping Our Children Safe” offered crucial information relevant to the safety
  and security of youth living in the Far Rockaway community and beyond. Areas explored by expert panelists  
  Jesse Sligh and Lt. Clark from the Queens District Attorney’s Office and School Safety, NYPD, respectively,
  covered an overview of school safety, gang intelligence, and impact of penal laws 240.10 and 240.20. The
  panel was joined by NYCDOE staff, SAVE Teacher, and LCSW that covered the importance of maintaining
  teaching and learning in the classroom, safety issues after leaving school grounds, and psycho-social
  environment and its impact on learning.