Nearly 100 parents and students were in attendance at Oak Park-River Forest High School for the annual National African American Parent Involvement Dinner, which this year came at the close of Black History Month.
The dinner is billed as an opportunity to celebrate African American culture, and emphasizes the need for parents to get involved in their children’s academic life.
Pamela Ellis, the keynote speaker at the Oak Park-River Forest annual National African American Parent Involvement Dinner Feb. 27, 2024, speaks about achieving her educational goals. The event was held at the school in Oak Park.
The Kuumba Kids dance troupe perform traditional West African and Caribbean dances Feb. 27, 2024 at the annual National African American Parent Involvement Dinner at Oak Park-River Forest High School in Oak Park.
Oak Park-River Forest School District 200 Superintendent Greg Johnson thanks parents for attending the annual National African American Parent Involvement Dinner Feb. 27, 2024, at Oak Park-River Forest High School in Oak Park.
In addition to dinner, there was an African dance demonstration, and an address from Pamela Ellis, a national public speaker, education researcher and author with a background in helping parents ready their high school students for college.
“We are happy to offer this as a platform or as a springboard to get more involved in your child’s activities here at school,” Principal Lynda Parker said about the dinner, held Feb. 27
