Upcoming Events
Tue., Sep. 16, 2008DFER Happy Hour with Chris Gabrieli
Join us for a special evening with Chris Gabrieli, co-chair of the National Center on Time and Learning.
Location: Galway Hooker, 7 E. 36th St., Manhattan, NYC
When: 6:30 PM
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Tue., Sep. 23, 2008
Education BBQ With Stig and DeShawn
Reforming public education, one hamburger at a time. Join us for an evening with Stig Leschly and DeShawn Wright, of the Newark Charter School Fund.
Location: Home of Ken Hirsh, 114 W. 13th St., NYC
When: 7:00 PM
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Thu., Sep. 25, 2008
Kevin Johnson Night
Join us for this special event for former Phoenix Sun's star Kevin Johnson, candidate for Mayor of Sacramento, Calif.
Location: The home of Brian Zied, 188 E. 64th St., Apt. 3501, NYC
When: 7:00 PM
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Thu., Oct. 16, 2008
Ed BBQ With Zeke Vanderhoek
Reforming public education, one hamburger at a time. Join us for an evening with Zeke Vanderhoek, founder of the Equity Project Charter School.
Location: Home of Ken Hirsh, 114 W. 13th St., NYC
When: 7:00 PM
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June 20, 2007
San Diego Celebrates Brian Bennett Day
Democrats for Education Reform was on hand to honor a living legend on Tuesday, as the San Diego City Council and Mayor Jerry Sanders officially declared it "Brian Bennett Day" in the city.
This story from the San Diego Union Tribune from early May describes the situation. Bennett is a nationally-known education reformer and social activist (he ended up in the Watts race riots, was once arrested trying to desegregate a recreation center, campaigned for Robert F. Kennedy and was at the Ambassador Hotel when the senator was shot and killed, eventually became a strong supporter of school choice, etc.)
A year ago, Bennett, who is one of the sharpest/funniest people I've ever met, was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, which has robbed him of his quick tongue and sturdy stature, but hasn't slowed his mind. He continues to work for the National Association of Charter School Authorizers.
I couldn't help but note that Brian Bennett Day coincided with graduation ceremonies at Gompers Charter Middle School in San Diego, a school born out of parental and teacher frustration several years ago. Bennett, then working for the San Diego City Schools, helped organize the long failing school to support its conversion to an independent charter school.
Bennett is a warrior's warrior, perhaps best known in San Diego for his work as principal of Blessed Sacrament School and for his work to improve the surrounding neighborhood as an activist. Check this out from the earlier story:
With Bennett at the helm from 1979 to 1997, Blessed Sacrament School flourished, and he flourished along with it. Enrollment grew. Academic achievement improved. Bennett became a community activist.
He campaigned against prostitution, drug and gang problems on El Cajon Boulevard near Blessed Sacrament.
Bennett battled skinheads who threatened him because of his support of a Jewish school's expansion. His school became a target of harassment, and police increased patrols around his home and the campus.
“Brian did not take well to bigots or racists of any kind,” said Morris Casuto, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League in San Diego. “Unlike most people, he was totally unafraid to stand up to these individuals.”
Bennett supported placing a community health clinic at Hoover High School to serve the poor, even though the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego initially opposed it for fear it would provide contraceptives and abortion referrals.
In 1994, he opposed Proposition 187, which would have denied most social services and education to undocumented immigrants. While serving on the San Diego Human Relations Commission, he questioned the appointment of a commissioner with anti-gay views.
Thanks Brian, for continuing to fight the good fight.
