Earlier this month, the Temple University Lenfest North Philadelphia Workforce Initiative (TULNPWI) hosted the "Power Up Philly" summit, a special, two-day event held on main campus. The summit was made possible through a successful partnership and collaborative effort involving the U.S. Department of Education; the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans; the Discovery Channel’s Education Division; and the dedicated staff of TULNPWI.

TULNPWI's team of Niaundria Ramseur, Michael Robinson and Shirley Moy led the local logistical planning for the event and engaged with several campus departments, administrators, students, and community leaders around Philadephia to ensure this was a deeply impactful civic event. The White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans, which launched in 2023 and is chaired by Pennsylvania State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta, KLN ’12, whose district includes most of Temple’s Main Campus, has been designed to improve educational outcomes for Black Americans of all ages. 

For Temple University, it’s a resonant cause, and according to Temple President Richard M. Englert, the university is “all in.” 

Pennsylvania State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta, KLN ’12, is pictured with Shirley Moy, executive director of the Temple University Lenfest North Philadelphia Workforce Initiative, and Michael Robinson, director of community outreach and hiring for the Lenfest North Philadelphia Workforce Initiative. (Contributed photo)

“Malcolm, you’re the best. You do so much to support both this city and the commonwealth,” Englert said during his opening remarks at the summit. “We are all in, and Temple University will always be there to support this cause in any way we can.” 

The Power Up summit was one of a series of events from the initiative that are designed to engage the community, discuss best and promising practices, and share information about local and federal resources that advance educational and economic opportunities for Black Americans. Philadelphia was the fifth city to host such an event. 

In addition to Kenyatta, several prominent speakers and legislators attended the event, including United States Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, United States Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and Tony Watlington, superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia.  

“Education is the passport to the future,” Mayor Parker said while welcoming attendees to the event. 

Secretary Cardona participated as the keynote speaker at the summit and engaged with Temple’s community throughout the day. He attended one of the university’s Well-being Week events in the College of Education and Human Development and visited an undergraduate teacher education course, where he discussed critical issues facing P–12 public education. 

Monika Williams Shealey, dean of Temple’s College of Education and Human Development, represented the college at the summit and engaged with key community stakeholders such as Rep. Kenyatta, Senator Casey and Superintendent Watlington while reinforcing the college’s dedication to advancing educational equity for all learners, including Black Americans. 

Throughout the summit, attendees took part in panel discussions and breakout sessions focused on initiatives, policies and strategies that are aimed at enhancing racial and social justice, economic opportunity, and access to essential services for Black Americans. 

The work of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans aligns with many of the recent initiatives underway at Temple, which was a point emphasized by Englert to attendees. 

For instance, last winter, Temple launched the Temple Promise, a new last-dollar financial aid grant program designed to make a world-class education at Temple University more accessible and affordable regardless of a student’s financial means.  

Temple’s incoming Class of 2028 is also richly diverse as it includes a record 62.3% students of color. Forty-six percent of the class are Pell Grant recipients, which is up from 38% last year and the highest percentage in Temple’s history. The group also includes a record 40% first-generation students, up from 39% last year.   

The College of Education and Human Development has also recently launched its mission, vision and values, which are deeply rooted in urban education. 

“The Power Up summit is an important platform that promotes collaboration among diverse communities and provides an opportunity to examine root causes of systemic inequities and creates space for solutions that will result in positive outcomes for Black students and their families,” Williams Shealey said. “The vision and mission of our college is deeply aligned to the aims of the Power Up summit.” 

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was updated on Oct. 31, 2024, to include additional context regarding the efforts of the Temple University Lenfest North Philadelphia Workforce Initiative in planning the event.