Parents from around the San Francisco and the North Bay will gather on the campus of Sonoma State University to attend a "parent empowerment conference" entitled "Parents Determined to Make a Difference" on Saturday, April 16.
This 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. conference offers workshops on parent advocacy skills, financial aid awareness, college preparation and health. Many of the parents attending the conference have children participating in the federal pre-college programs Upward Bound and Talent Search, and GEAR UP. These are programs which have been identified for elimination in President Bush's 2006 budget proposal.
The conference will provide parents with the skills and knowledge necessary to be advocates on behalf of their children.
Speakers at the event include Sonoma State University President Dr. Ruben Arminana, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey and Hydra Mendoza, 2005 California Association for Bilingual Education "Parent of the Year" Award Recipient.
The event is sponsored by Northern California Chapter of the Western Association of Educational Opportunity Personnel in collaboration with Sonoma State University.
For further information, contact Susan Wandling, Academic Talent Search, (707) 664-3122.
