Special event honors Legends of Urban Education

A special evening event on Tuesday, May 6, during the International Reading Association's Annual Convention honored Legends of Urban Education. The event, which was initiated by IRA's Urban Diversity Initiatives Commission and organized by IRA, was held at the King Center in Atlanta.

In the College Section, the Reading Faculty of the Atlanta University Center was honored: Ruby L. Thompson, Gloria Mixon, Charles Davis (posthumously), Lynette Sain-Gaines (posthumously), Addie Mitchell, Mildred Freeman (posthumously), Isabella T. Jenkins, and Miriam H. Jellins. Over the past 40 years, the Atlanta University Center has prepared scores of teachers, and its faculty also instituted the Atlanta University Reading Conference—a unique celebration of researchers and writers of color.

Christine King Farris, Asa G. Hilliard III (posthumously), and Mary Eleanor Rhodes Hoover (posthumously) also were honored in the College Section. King Farris was honored for her lifetime of dedicated service in the preparation of students at Spelman College for teaching. Hilliard was cited for his advocacy for children, especially the poor and underserved. His many books include The Maroon Within Us: Selected Essays on African American Community Socialization. Hoover enjoyed a distinguished career at Howard University. She was a founder of the National Association of Black Reading and English Language Arts Educators and coeditor of the IRA book Teaching Reading to African American Learners: Perspectives and Practices.

In the Public School Section, Alonzo A. Crim, Benjamin Elijah Mays, and Gertrude Williams were honored posthumously. Crim was cited for his leadership and guidance of the Atlanta Public Schools through the turbulent times just after the Brown v. Board of Education decision in what became known as "The Atlanta Compromise." Mays was honored for his keen insight and fatherly wisdom, and specifically for his service as president of the Atlanta Board of Education. Williams founded and served as the first president of the Concerned Educators of Black Students Special Interest Group of IRA, and she actively promoted minority participation in IRA.

In the Public Section, Jean Young and Coretta Scott King were honored posthumously. Young, a former reading specialist, was cited for her support of numerous charities and causes and political and social issues. Throughout her career, she was devoted to literacy, education, and the mission of IRA. Scott King was honored for her lifelong dedication to civil and human rights, as well as for her establishment of the prestigious Coretta Scott King Book Awards, presented each year by the American Library Association to honor quality literature written and illustrated by people of color.

The International Reading Association acknowledged and thanked the Pearson Foundation for its generous support of this event, and representatives of the Foundation presented information about the Jumpstart initiative and Read for the Record event. For further information, visit the Jumpstart website.