National African Parent Involvement Day

Monday, February 12, 2007 is education’s greatest day for parent involvement. Schools locally and across the nation have made special efforts to make this day “parent friendly” for America’s parents, particularly those of children of African American descent. National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID) will be observed Monday, February 12, 2007. Parents, guardians, grandparents, fictive kin, ere., will foe taking their children to school/visiting their children in school in support of this national endeavor to encourage parents to come together in a single setting to promote educational excellence for today’s youths.

While the focus of the day (during Black History month) is primarily on African Americans, the purpose and intent of NAAPID is not mutually exclusive. ALL parents are encouraged to participate. This national observation provides a vehicle to open up dialogue among teachers, parents and students that will lead to a more conducive learning environment for every student from kindergarten through college. It is one avenue for improved home, school and community relations.
Ann Arbor (MI) Schools principal, Joseph Dulin, founded NAAPID, a nonprofit 501 (C) (3), volunteer, national initiative in 1995, with the first Annual Day being held in February 1996. He conceived the idea of NAAPID after accepting the challenge made to them at the Million Man March. The men were strongly encouraged to return to their individual homes and do more to build, involve and increase their commitment to improving the quality of life for individuals in their communities. Without question, he credits the success he has experienced as an educator to parent involvement. Further, research supports parental involvement as a viable means of enhancing children’s academic successes. Dulin believes that, “Every parent wants their child to have a better quality of life than they themselves have had. It is the American dream, and for many African Americans, this dream has not been realized as a result of their child’s failure in school. Education is the key to success and parents are educators’ greatest allies.”

Schools are free to plan events and activities of their choosing. Activities range from classroom visitations to luncheons/dinners to national speakers to weeklong celebrations. Some districts have even formed a coalition to work together to present “NAAPID @ Night” in order to further extend the school day, to work together for a common goal and to allow parents an opportunity to participate who are unable to attend during regular school hours.
We ask that public and parochial institutions of learning plan to participate in this win/win endeavor. NAAPID encourages participation from the “village” as a whole, not just the academic community.

Pictured Above: Tanisha Nunn Gary