For two decades, Dr. Fletcher (“Fletch”) has been teaching in Los Angeles urban schools where she is now the principal of Augustus F. Hawkins High School.  In her keynote, she will focus specifically on the learning and life-needs of children of color.  Issues of culture and conflict will be explored, including ways that boys of color escalate anger, and are not understood.  Dr. Fletcher will feature success strategies for helping young men and women de-escalate after being involved in a conflict, and identify triggers that make things worse.

Emboldened by her work with GI in the Greater Phoenix Urban League’s Head Start Pilots in Phoenix, Arizona, Fletch will integrate early childhood strategies with K – 12 strategies.  Overall in her professional work, Fletch is a master at supporting students of all ages in building resiliency.  A testimony to the power of relationships herself, Fletch will share part of her own personal story.  

A youth football coach, mentor, and child advocate, Marion Hill has worked with children and educators throughout his professional life.  He currently serves as an administrator for Head Start and a Gurian Certified Trainer with the Greater Phoenix Urban League.  Dynamic, visionary, and deeply committed to giving back, Marion is the founder of M.A.N.C.A.V.E. (Men All Need to be Caring Actively-Engaged, and Encouraged), a fatherhood program designed to encourage fathers/male role models to be actively engaged in their child’s growth and development.

In his morning keynote, Marion Hill will focus specifically on how to bring fathers, male role models, and other essential men into the learning experiences of boys and girls.  As he tells his own powerful story, Marion will bring to life compelling anecdotes from his two decades of work in this field.  He will also provide success strategies based in successes M.A.N.C.A.V.E. is having as it works to help boys and girls, especially in under-resourced neighborhoods and classrooms, get the paternal nurturing that they need.