We all need to get RADICAL about the education of black youth.

Symbolizing radicalism at any age Angela Davis was in town last Friday thanks to Karanga Crews “Teaching with a Purpose” and company aka Imani Muhammad.

Here’s what Michael Grice who participated said about the event:

“The fall professional development day on Friday, October 13 featured “Teaching with Purpose” at the newly designed Lincoln High School in Portland, Oregon.  Conceived and delivered by Karanja Crews, the  highly regarded professional development conference showcased university professor and renowned author and intellectual, Dr. Angela Davis.  Primarily aimed for teachers and administrators, the event was attended by approximately 400 education professionals, including district level administrators as well as its featured Speaker Dr. Angela Davis who was introduced by the newly appointed Director of Oregon Department of Education, Dr. Charlene Williams, the first African-American to hold that position.  The all-day conference featured workshops in the morning and afternoon with a tasty supply of box lunches.  The afternoon concluded with a panel discussion led by Dr Charlene Williams and featuring the world-famous author and activist Angela Davis in a living room setting that was described as a “conversation” between Angela Davis and three high school student “Ambassadors” for the convention.  They presented a series of questions that gave Professor Angela Davis an opportunity to offer insight and clarity to her highly regarded career as both an activist and an author. The “Teaching with Purpose” convention guided veterans and young professionals alike a unique opportunity to expose the intelligence and mindful compassionate approach to problem solving in public education that was diverse, inclusive, equity-centered, candid, and robust.  The attendees were likewise treated to keynote presentations by Dr. Adrienne Dixon and Dr. Sandy Watson, whose articulate and incisive analyses drew several standing ovations.  in all, the attendees were as enamored with the “purpose” and content of the event as they were with the progressive architectural accomplishment of the new school facility.  In all, attendees appeared to be very proud to have shared in the celebration of the pursuit of “pedagogy” as a key ingredient in any solution to achieving the “excellence” in public education for “children with the greatest need. ”