Earnest Funches, Edison Senior, was selected from over 250 students to present/facilitate a workshop/conference presentation at the 14th annual Males of Color Empowerment and Retention Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. Earnest was one of two students selected to represent the Minneapolis Public Schools Office of Black Male Student Achievement (OBMSA). 

 

Earnest has been a cornerstone King in both the classroom and the Office. He has worked with OBMSA for the past two years and over this past summer, Earnest worked as an intern for OBMSA. In this role, he became a shining star, bolstering his leadership and ability to speak publicly. Earnest has become a published author, penning a piece for InsightNews, focusing on unconscious bias and the treatment that African Americans have experienced when engaging law enforcement.

 

Specific to the Males of Color Empowerment and Retention Conference, Earnest was a critical part of the team delivering a workshop on “Strategies to Engage Black Males.” This workshop was, as the conference leadership described, "the hit of the conference”.

 

The Office of Black Male Student Achievement is extremely proud of the leadership and unwavering support Earnest has and continues to display in the classroom and across the district. It is with great honor and distinction, OBMSA and its director, Michael V. Walker, recognize Earnest Funches as a burgeoning leader and established King on the rise!

 

Earnest is pictured second from the left.