Poverty’s impact on educational opportunity brings together a diverse lineup of speakers as UNL’s Department of Educational Administration hosts its Critical Issues Forum, at Southeast Community College, 8800 O Street in Lincoln. The forum on poverty will attract more than 200 K-12 and higher education administrators, teachers, service providers, graduate and undergraduate students, community leaders, media, educational organizations and others.

Anyone with an interest in the affects of poverty on educational attainment is encouraged to attend. Attendance is free, but participants are asked to register by contacting Kathy Najjar at knajjar60@yahoo.com or 402-719-6471.

“We expect people will discover new information, strategies and contacts,” said one of the forum organizers, Marilyn Grady, professor in the College of Education and Human Science’s Department of Educational Administration. “If you’re interested in making an impact and taking action, you will get instant ideas.”

“The program is an array of people who represent different points on the compass to talk about how students are impacted by poverty.” Grady said speakers will present during the morning, and the afternoon will focus on opportunities for participants to discuss the issues in more depth through smaller groups.

Presenters are Carolyn Rooker, executive director, Voices for Children, Omaha; John Jeanetta, president and CEO, Heartland Family Services, Omaha; Theresa Barron-McKeagney, director of social work and associate dean, University of Nebraska at Omaha; Sharon Hoffman, assistant professor, Educational Leadership and Technology, Southeastern Louisiana University; Del Burns, director, GMK Education Services, Columbia, South Carolina and former Wake County (NC) Public Schools superintendent; Ted Stilwill, director and CEO, Douglas and Sarpy County (NE) Learning Community and former assistant commissioner of education, state of Iowa; Carolyn Fiscus, head woman, Warrior Heart Women Educational Consultants, Winnebago, NE; and Barbara LaCost, associate professor, Educational Administration, University of Nebraska–Lincoln.