Khalilah Harris, deputy director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, will give remarks during an empowerment summit hosted by the North Jersey Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. In the afternoon, she will participate in a roundtable with students. The events, which are part of the North Jersey Chapter's Legislative Advocacy Day, will take place on Saturday, Nov. 14, in Orange, New Jersey.
Harris will discuss a series of topics, including the Initiative's role in helping to improve and accelerate African-American students' academic success, and the role of family and community engagement in supporting that success. In addition, she will encourage students to reach their full potential through college access and completion so that America can again become the first in the world in college completion.
She also will highlight First Lady Michelle Obama's Reach Higher Initiative, which encourages every student in America to take charge of their future by completing their education past high school, whether at a professional training program, a community college, or a four-year college or university. Harris also will discuss the Let Girls Learn White House campaign aimed at helping adolescent girls around the globe attend and complete school. These two initiatives, along with My Brother's Keeper, are among the many the Obama Administration has launched to ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education.