The Black Church and Economic Empowerment: An Ecumenical Collaboration in The Revitalization of West Dayton

The Black Church and Economic Empowerment: An Ecumenical Collaboration in The Revitalization of West Dayton

By Speare-Hardy, Benjamin E.K. II (2021) -- "This thesis is about an Ecumenical Collaboration of the Black Church to address the disparities in the education of Black students in Dayton (Ohio) Public Schools. These disparities include unjust discipline practices, poor academic performance in reading and mathematics, and low graduation rates. Blacks in West Dayton, Ohio experienced significant gaps in education, economic opportunities, and healthcare services. Education, however, provides a foundation for our growth and is the bedrock upon which much of our economic and social wellbeing is developed. To build the case for collaboration, I conducted several interviews with a cross-section of community stakeholders. Three questions were asked of each interviewee:1) In your opinion, what do you consider to be the disparities in education?2) What should be done to close the education gap between Blacks and Caucasians?3) Which role should the Black Church play in closing the gap? ...
My insights gleaned from an analysis of the answers, using qualitative research methods, led to a commitment from three Black Church ministerial organizations. Members of those groups signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that invested in a summer education program for Pre-K through 3rd-grade students in West Dayton....The collaboration of the three Black Church ministerial organizations was a crucial first step in attempting to close the education gap for at-risk Black students in Dayton Public Schools" -- Introduction.

Speare-Hardy II, Benjamin E.K.

Virginia Theological Seminary

Copyright Benjamin Speare-Hardy, 2021.

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