The Youth Leadership Summit on Race was planned by a steering committee of65 high school students from schools in the tri-county area. The young peoplemet bi-monthly, from June to September, framing the theme, deciding on contentand contributing speakers for the event.

The planning committee's diverse representation ranged from suburbanschools such as Seaholm High School in Birmingham and Roeper School inBloomfield Hills to urban schools such as Detroit's Chadsey High School andHamtramck High School.

"The diligence and unity of these young people is extraordinary," saidShirley Stancato, President and CEO of New Detroit, Inc. "Not only did theyplan the event, but the committee rallied their friends and classmates to joinin the conversation. As a result, the summit is not only sold out, butcurrently is maintaining a waiting list for potential participants."

The keynote for the morning event is Dr. Robert W. Simmons, III, anassistant professor in the College of Education at Eastern Michigan Universitywho has devoted extensive research to the issue of race and education. Thetwice-nominated National Teacher of the Year has taught in the Detroit andMinnesota public school systems. He has also gained international experiencethrough his work in Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and Japan. Dr. Simmons isalso a contributing author of White Teachers in Diverse Classrooms: CreatingCommunity, Combating Racism (2006).

In addition his keynote Dr. Simmons will conduct a question and answersession with the youth summit participants. They will then view shortdocumentaries on race relations among youth, followed by break out discussiongroups to evaluate their awareness on issues involving race.

In between sessions the Summit will feature InsideOut's Citywide Poets, aperformance poetry team, offering their voices of spoken word. The grouprepresents Detroit in national competitions called Slams, where they performtheir own poetry expressing hard, sometimes edgy issues they experienceeveryday.

"Our young people face these issues during one of the most crucial timesof their lives," said Stancato. "They should be armed with vigilance to keepan open mind to the cultural differences they encounter as they grow."

The Youth Summit is set to precede the acclaimed National LeadershipSummit on Race set for Sunday, October 12 to Tuesday, October 14.

New Detroit, Inc. is a coalition of leaders from civil rights and advocacyorganizations, human services, health and community organizations, business,labor, foundations, education, media and clergy. It is a private, non-profit,tax-exempt organization.

The mission of New Detroit is to work as the coalition of Detroit arealeadership addressing the issue of race relations by positively impactingissues and policies that ensure economic and social equity.

For more information visit: http://www.newdetroit.org

SOURCE New Detroit, Inc.