Since its inception 4 years ago, ALI has taught 500 individuals the art and science of engaging parents as participants in their children’s education in free classes at Rutgers University Newark. This year alone another 1162 people were reached at churches, conferences and other special events where Engagement in schools and education policy and practices is the watchword of the event.

Included in the classes and other events are parents, grandparents, community advocates, Rutgers college students (undergraduates and student teachers), Montclair State college students (student teachers), local middle and high school students, School Board members, teachers, school administrators, union representatives, and incarcerated youth.

With the launching of NEW, ALI will begin its Digital Information Campaign with conversations about education issues, policies and practices as they pertain to Newark schools. Integral to this new venture is the inclusion of our young people and so ALI launched a series of workshops during June and July, 2006, designed to teach teenagers how to find their voice through digital technology, including computers, video & still photography, and editing.

As we continue to grow, we welcome you to the ALI family and look forward to the exchange of even more Information, building more partnerships, producing more "Abbott Advocates", and bridging the ever-expanding Digital Divide.

ALI Achievements:

• Established an on-going tradition of "Saturday parent classes" at Rutgers University. People know this is the place to be every other Saturday, for food, fun and the exchange of Information! People come just because they heard it through the Grapevine...."
• Developed Pedagogy and PowerPoint presentations for Forums (small events) and Extravaganzas (large events). ALI Director Junius W. Williams, has created a number of unique approaches to teach parents and education professionals how to improve the quality and quantity of parent organizations.
• Created a Network of churches called the Parent Child Learning Centers (PCLC Network). We have involved 500 people in this manner and covered topics such as" Derailing the Jailhouse Train" and "Are we still in Bondage?" These PowerPoint presentations, along with such ongoing tools as the "Dynamic Triangle of Change" have evolved as educational favorites for hundreds of people throughout the community.
• Produced a community of "Abbott Advocates". Abbott Advocates are parents and educational professionals who understand and speak up for the remedies associated with the NJ Supreme Court decision known as Abbott vs. Burke. The Abbott case brought parity education spending by the state between wealthy suburban and 31 urban districts, along with supplemental programs for student well being.
• Constructed the Newark Education Website to cross the Great Digital Divide. ALI is in process of developing an interactive website to begin its Digital Information Campaign with conversations about education issues, policies and practices as they pertain to Newark schools. (See abbottleadership.org)
• Developed Partnerships emphasizing parent Engagement with the Newark School District. ALI and the Newark school officials often share the same goals with respect to parent Engagement; The School Superintendent asked ALI to train Parent Liaisons in techniques for parent engagement around the Abbott program, and permitted ALI to recruit high school juniors and seniors as volunteer tutors for its PCLC tutorials.
• Introduced Parents and education professionals to Data Based Advocacy. The common thread running amongst all entries above is the belief that parents and their supporters must learn how to use information and data to bring about change in their children’s schools.
• Designated as Administrative Entity for the Committee of Advocates, a coalition of non-profit agencies, philanthropic organizations and community groups dedicated to advocacy for school reform for Newark’s Schools. ALI is helping COA lay the groundwork for collaboration amongst the many stakeholders in Education, around common interests.