Transforming Our One World: Harlem Preparatory School – an answer to racial inequality in education

Presenter: Hussein Ahdieh

Session Outline:

In the 1960’s, America faced a similar racial crisis to today. An enthusiastic group of Bahá’ís, Catholic nuns and Black leaders took steps to help disadvantaged Black high school dropouts to go to college. Their efforts led to the establishment of the Baha’i-inspired, world famous Harlem Preparatory school, which became a model for the modern charter schools in the country.

Our presenter, Dr. Hussein Ahdieh, has had a distinguished career in education in New York. His proudest achievement is to have been one of the founders and Assistant Headmaster of the Harlem Prep School. The school is credited with helping numerous people to rise from poverty to a better life.

In the session Dr. Ahdieh will speak to:

• Why Harlem Prep? A Way out of No Way
• The powers behind the formation of the school
• Racial crisis in 1960s – pushouts not dropouts
• The motto of the school – Mojo Logo
• Profiles of students, teachers and donors
• Harlem Prep legacy

Benefits to participants:

In view of the present social crisis, this talk provides a vision of how a small number of devoted people can provide solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems.

Date and Time:  Feb 11, 2021 5:00 PM Pacific time, 6:00 PM Mountain, 7:00 PM Central , 8:00 PM Eastern.

Duration: 50-minute presentation followed by a 30-minute Q&A

Free Admission

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A song will be provided by Clyde Heering

Presenter Bio:

Dr. Ahdieh was born and raised in Nayriz, Iran, He is a sixth-generation Bahá’í, his ancestors figuring among the first in Nayriz to accept the Bábi and later Bahá’í Faith. Hussein immigrated to the United States as a young man of 17. Like many immigrants seeking a better life in America, he worked and attended college in the New York area. Hussein eventually completed a Masters degree in European Intellectual History and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Massachusetts.

Dr. Ahdieh has had a distinguished career in education in New York. His proudest achievement is to have been one of the founders and Assistant Headmaster of the Harlem Preparatory School -a world-renowned charter high school for disadvantaged students. The school is credited with helping numerous people to rise from poverty to a better life. Dr. Ahdieh also served as Director of Educational Programs at Fordham University.

Hussein has been a resident of New York City for all of his adult life. He served as Treasurer of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the City of New York for many years and several times has represented his area at the U.S. Bahá’í National Convention.

In addition to ‘Awakening’, which has been translated into 6 languages, Dr. Ahdieh has co-authored; ‘Abdul-Bahá in New York’ (translated into three languages), a concise, informative history of; Abdul-Bahá’s activities during his visits to the area and ‘A Way out of No Way: Harlem Prep  –Transforming Dropouts into Scholars-1967-1977’. His latest book: ‘Foreigner: From an Iranian village to New York City’ tells the story of an Iranian Baha’i immigrant to the United States in a series of moving and humorous episodes set against the backdrop of a changing Iran, the plight of Baha’is there, and the tumult of the ’60s and ’70s in the U.S. It is a comprehensive study about the life of Tahirih and her American contemporaries in English and Persian languages

For further info please visit www.HarlemPrepSchool.com