The Jewish Community Relations Council’s Newmark Institute and the University of Missouri-St. Louis will present “Strengthening Urban Education, Healing Our Community” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20 at the J.C. Penney Building on the UMSL campus. 

Marvin W. Berkowitz, UMSL’s inaugural Sanford N. McDonnell Endowed Professor of Character Education and co-director of UMSL’s Center for Character and Citizenship, will present the keynote address. The discussion will look at ways to promote a culture for diversity, to build character as a foundation for a quality education, as well as ways to get everyone involved, including teachers, social workers, civic, religious, cultural and youth organizations, resource officers, counselors, parents and community members.

Berkowitz, who is also a University of Missouri Thomas Jefferson Fellow, earned his Ph.D. in Life-span Developmental Psychology at Wayne State University in 1977. His scholarly focus and expertise is in character education and development. He is author of “Parenting for Good” (2005) and more than 100 book chapters, monographs and journal aiticles. He is founding co-editor of the “Journal of Character Education.”

Berkowitz received the Sanford N. McDonnell Lifetime Achievement Award from the Character Education Partnership in 2006. 

Visitors should park in the Millennium Student Center (MSC) South Parking Garage.