Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu, education consultant and author, will be the keynote speaker at the North Carolina Central University School of Education Symposium on Saturday, March 26, in the H.M. Michaux Jr. School of Education building. The theme of this year’s symposium is “Reigniting the Passion…Redefining Education for Our Children.”

A reception and live auction, hosted by Rep. and Mrs. H.M. “Mickey” Michaux, will take place on Friday, March 25 at 6 p.m., with WTVD news reporter Anthony Wilson as the master of ceremonies.

Kunjufu has dedicated his career to addressing the ills afflicting black culture in the United States. The main thrust of his work has been directed toward improving the education and socialization of black youths. He is the founder and president of African American Images, a Chicago-based publishing company that sponsors workshops designed to help educators and parents develop practical solutions to the problems of child-rearing in what he perceives to be a racist society.

Kunjufu has written more than 33 books, including Black Students: Middle Class Teachers; Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education; An African-Centered Response to Ruby Payne’s Poverty Theory; Raising Black Boys and 200-Plus Educational Strategies to Teach Children of Color. His latest title, Understanding Black Male Learning Styles, is a resource guide for teachers on the challenges minority males face in the classroom.

Since 1974 he has delivered lectures and workshops targeting the problems facing black educators. Recently, he expanded his work to include video and film production. His work has been featured in Ebony and Essence magazines, and he has been a guest on BET and Oprah. He is also a frequent guest on the Michael Baisden show.

Kunjufu attended Illinois State University at Normal and received his bachelor’s degree in economics. He earned a doctorate in business administration at Union Graduate College.

Additional panelists and speakers at the symposium include Kamau Ptah, program coordinator, Sankofa Passages Project, The Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color; Alexandra Zagbayou, director of operations, Student U; Dr. Eric Becoats, superintendent, Durham Public Schools; Kristy Moore, president, Durham Association of Educators; Maria Rosa Rangel, senior administrator, LEP (Limited English Proficiency) Family Outreach Services in Wake County, and Leonardo Williams, N.C. Foundation for Public Schools Children.

Cost of the event is $50 for the auction and reception ($25 for students) and $50 for the symposium ($25 for students) or $75 for both the reception and symposium. For more information, call (919) 560-6466. Proceeds from the auction support the Cecelia Steppe-Jones Scholarship. Proceeds from the Education Symposium benefit the SOE Professional Development Fund.

Founded in 1910, North Carolina Central University was the first publicly supported liberal arts college for African-Americans. Today, this dynamic campus has a diverse student body of 8,600 enrolled in academic programs including law, biotechnology, library science, business, nursing, education and the arts. For two years in a row, U.S. News & World Report has ranked NCCU as the best public historically black college or university in the nation.