NCAE Plans Special Events for Martin Luther King Day

RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 11, 2006 -- NCAE will celebrate Martin Luther King Day on January 14 at the NCAE Center in Raleigh with a tribute to two North Carolinians who are working to preserve education history, another for dedicated service to equity for all people and with a special address from the national leader of the PTA.

"This will be a very special celebration for NCAE and its guests," said NCAE President Eddie Davis. Keynote speaker, National PTA CEO Warlene Gary -- draws from her more than two decades of advocacy for children and families to further National PTA's mission to be a powerful voice for children, a relevant resource for parents, and a strong advocate for public education. Davis said, "We have a long and fruitful working relationship with Ms. Gary, who is a former director of the NEA (National Education Association) Office of Human and Civil Rights." NEA is the parent organization of NCAE.

The Association will also recognize former State Auditor Ralph Campbell for his long-standing service and leadership in the quest for equity for all people in our society. He will be presented the NCAE Excellence in Equity Award.

This year there are three recipients of this award. NCAE President Eddie Davis will additionally honor two outstanding citizens for their efforts to restore Rosenwald Schools, which educated thousands of African American children during the first half of the 20th Century. North Carolina had more of these schools than any other state. The two recipients are Claudia Brown, architecture survey coordinator for the NC State Historic Preservation Office, and Nyony Collins, director of the Sankofa Center in Wake Forest.

NCAE's annual Minority Arts Contest winners will also be announced and recognized at the banquet.

The banquet is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the NCAE Center, 700 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh. Media coverage is invited.

A percentage of proceeds from the banquet will fund scholarships, presented by the NCAE Minority Affairs Commission, to help deserving high school seniors continue their education.

                   For more information on Warlene Gary
            visit www.pta.org//aboutpta/pressroom/pr031014.asp

             For more information about The Rosenwald Schools
                      visit www.rosenwaldschools.com

NCAE is the state's largest education association, representing more than 65,000 active, retired and student members.