Johnson C. Smith University News July 21, 2014 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Awards JCSU for Civil Rights and Social Justice Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., honored Johnson C. Smith University with its Presidential Award for Civil Rights and Social Justice during the sorority's 66th national convention in Charlotte on July 13. The award was presented before an audience of nearly 12,000 to President Ronald L. Carter by Carolyn House Stewart, Esq., international president of AKA, for the university's foster care initiative. The initiative features the Guardian Scholars Program, which offers college access support to youth who are phasing out of the foster care system. "As these students phase out of the system, they find a culture of community at JCSU that enables them to phase up to new possibilities," said Carter. "I see so many grand possibilities these young women and men grow into their dreams and aspirations and make them a reality." Since its inception in 2008, the program has served 135 students. the retention rate of students in the program is as high as 75 percent. More than 80 percent of the students are African American and nearly 60 percent are female. "The comprehensive support services we can offer to these students significantly increases their chances of succeeding in college and in life," said Dr. Helen Caldwell, dean of the college of professional studies. According to Cynthia Moreland, executive director of the nsoro Educational Foundation, only about two percent of students who grow up in foster care typically attend and finish college. "It is a fact that too often these students lack the support, confidence and resources needed to pursue education beyond high school," added Patricia Newell, director of the Foster Village Network Center. During the AKA awards ceremony, JCSU shared the stage with several notables including Anthony Hamilton, Grammy Award winning singer, who received the Presidential Award for Emerging Young Leaders for his work to raise awareness of the growing number of African-American children in the foster care system. Wendell Pierce, accomplished actor who appeared in HBO dramas such as "The Wire" and "Tremé," received the Presidential Award for Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability for his work to reconstruct Pontchartrain Park in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He was also cited for his work to alleviate the food desserts in New Orleans and raise awareness of food desserts across the nation. "I am so appreciative to the AKA's for honoring us with their Presidential Award during their 66th National Convention," said Caldwell. "Words cannot express the impact JCSU's Foster Care Initiative continues to have on the larger community." More information about JCSU's Foster Care Initiative may be found at www.jcsu.edu/about/foster-care-initiative<http://www.jcsu.edu/about/foster-care-initiative> SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2014meeting-form.html for the October 26-28, 2014 HBCU Library Alliance 6th Membership Meeting in Atlanta GA!