WASHINGTON, D.C. – As part of the Obama Administration's Generation Indigenous (Gen-I) initiative to remove barriers standing between Native youth and opportunities to succeed, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will join Miccosukee Tribal leaders to announce an important educational achievement for Native youth.
Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn, Director of the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) Dr. Charles 'Monty' Roessel, Director of the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education William Mendoza, Miccosukee General Council Chairman Colley Billie and Miccosukee Indian School Principal Manuel Varela will also be on hand to discuss important educational progress for Miccosukee youth.
According to a recent White House report , Native youth have the lowest high school graduation rate of students across all schools. To address the critical educational needs of these students, the Administration's Blueprint for Reform , an initiative of the White House Council on Native American Affairs chaired by Secretary Jewell, is restructuring Interior's BIE from a provider of education to a capacity-builder and education service-provider to tribes. Secretary Duncan recently announced the availability of about $4 million in Native Youth Community Projects grants from the Department of Education to help prepare Native American youth for success in college, careers and life as part of Gen-I.
Who
Sally Jewell, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education
William Mendoza, Director, White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education
Kevin Washburn, Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs
Colley Billie, Chairman, Miccosukee Tribe of Florida
Dr. Charles ‘Monty' Roessel, Director, Bureau of Indian Education
Manuel Varela, Principal, Miccosukee Indian School Principal
What
Announcement regarding educational achievement for Miccosukee Tribal Youth
When
Monday, June 1, 2015
9:45 a.m. EDT – Media check-in
10:00 a.m. EDT – Press conference
Where
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street NW
Washington, D.C 20240
Media
Credentialed members of the media are encouraged to RSVP here. For those who cannot attend, the ceremony will be live-streamed at doi.gov/live.
Source: Department of Interior
