Please Read - Urban Prep Update
View as Webpage February 15, 2023
Greetings!

Please see the below update from Urban Prep's Chief Academic Officer, Dennis Lacewell.

COAL encourages its members and greater community-of-interest to call into tomorrow's Illinois State Board of Education meeting, in support of Urban Prep receiving charters from the State.

Respectfully,

COAL Board of Directors
_____________________________________________
"The time to work seriously and collectively, to improve the state of our Community, is upon us..."
Let Us be intentional in all aspects of the Work that must be done.
COAL Strongly supports the education of our Black boys and young men; COAL strongly supports Urban Prep
Good Afternoon [COAL],

Thanks for your call yesterday afternoon. To follow UP on our conversation, I wanted to provide you with information regarding this week's Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Meeting. The meeting takes place on Thursday, February 16th at 10am in Springfield, IL. I have attached the agenda which outlines the public participation portion of the meeting, which will allow for individuals to call-in to make public comments (UP to 3 minutes). 

We would definitely appreciate members of COAL calling in on Thursday, February 16th to participate in the Public Comment portion of the ISBE Meeting agenda to express their support of Urban Prep Englewood & Bronzeville Campuses having the opportunity to exist and operate under the authorization of the State of Illinois (ISBE). Over the next several weeks, ISBE will be making a final decision on whether or not to approve our appeals, so they certainly need to hear from members of the community about how very important it is for Urban Prep to remain a viable educational institution that is Black operated & managed for young Black boys in our communities.  

Below are the details to participate in Thursday's ISBE Board Meeting as well as a link that provides the names and information of the current ISBE Board Members:

Public Participation A. Individuals who wish to sign up for public participation may complete 1) an online form that will be available from 8:30 a.m. until the start of the meeting on February 16, or 2) sign in on a public participation sign-in sheet that will be available at 100 N First Street, Springfield, IL from 8:30 a.m. until the start of the meeting. Participants will be able to review the guidelines and indicate if they wish to speak in person or via phone. Phone participants may dial 571-317-3112; access code is 919-127-637.  

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Thanks,

Dennis Lacewell
Chief Academic Officer
Urban Prep Academies
420 N. Wabash Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60611
P: 312-276-0259 ext. 1105
F: 312 -755–1050

PS Join the fight to help #SaveUP! Visit www.urbanprep.org/saveup to sign our petition and send a letter of support to saveup@urbanprep.org. Thank you!
We Believe.

COAL is planning follow-up sessions with Urban Prep execs, teachers and parents/students.
About COAL
COAL is an umbrella organization founded by 13 of Chicago's historic African American mens clubs. COAL's overarching mission is to identify, examine, illuminate and find resolution to issues impacting the greater community. We strive to use our collective experience, expertise and resources to improve the quality of opportunity, quality of preparedness and the quality of outcomes (expressed as 'quality of life') for our Community.
Founding Member Organizations
100 Black Men Of Chicago ■ Chicago Assembly ■ Chicago Connection ■ Druids Club ■ Frogs Club ■ Lunch Bunch ■ New Committee ■ Original 40 Club Of Chicago ■ Rat Pack ■ Royal Coterie Of Snakes ■ Saints ■ Sigma Pi Phi Beta-Boule ■ UIC Male Forum (now Chicago Good Health Group)
What We Believe
The Coalition of African American Leaders believes that it is important to examine the critical issues confronting the African American community where injustice, inequality and the absence of access and opportunity continue to prevail, thereby negatively impacting us as a people.

COAL is an assemblage that advocates and organizes for appropriate and responsible public policy change, system behavior change and equality of opportunity. We aim to achieve for all of our people the fullness of the life experience without any form of racism or exclusion as a deterrent.

We believe we must prepare ourselves for the opportunity of this full participation, thereby achieving the necessary education and training to participate.
Contact: Clarence Wood, Chairman 312.404.8269 - Craig K. Wimberly, President 773.350.9315
Email: publicpolicy@coalchicago.com
COAL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in Illinois, USA.
Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by U.S. law.