Episode 12: Real Talk with Parents of Newark School Children

Join us tomorrow 7pm–8pm for some RealTalk with a few Newark parents who are making tough decisions about how to best educate their children.

Khadijah Kemp?: She’s 44 years old and a grandmother of 6. Khadijah currently has custody of 4 grandsons ages 3,6,7, and 9. She is a substance abuse counselor and a full time graduate student. Khadijah is originally from Passaic, NJ but has been a resident of Essex County for close to 20 years.

Khadijah’s has 3 grandsons currently attending North Star Alexander and the youngest will begin Head Start in East Orange in a few weeks.

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Tawanda Dowdell-Sheard?: She’s a single mother of two.  Tawanda’s daughter attended Bragaw Avenue School from kindergarden to fourth grade.  Last year she learned that the District and Cami Anderson planned to close Bragaw and that Life Academy known as Team Academy Charter School which offers k-4 would replace it.  Tawanda has chosen to send her child’s education at Hawthorne Avenue School—a  traditional Public School.

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Rob Carpenter: He’s a father of four children. He’s got a daughter who’s a Rutgers graduate and who’s currently studying for her masters. Rob’s son is a graduate of Kean University with a degree in Business. Rob’s third son will be graduating New Jersey City University and his 8 year old daughter attends a Charter School 

Rob is a Newark resident of 40 plus years is an author and entrepreneur. He attended Winston Salem where he studied Political Science and then Ho Hocus College where he studied electrical systems. Rob sits on the board for the Central Business District and is an advocate education and community development.