Respect, Integrity, and Success through Education

Mr. Dixon emphasized the national crisis in education, particularly affecting African American and Hispanic youth, highlighting high dropout rates in cities like Pittsburgh, Boston, and New Orleans. Project RISE, an initiative started in 1993, focusing on respect, integrity, and success through education. Statistics showed that black males represent 85% of students in special education classes, and 60-75% of black and Latino males in the system come from single-female-headed households. The program aims to empower young people from early grades, emphasizing self-respect, identity, and academic success, to help them make better choices and contribute positively to their communities.