On August 18, 2003 I was appointed as the Director for the Center of Minority Teacher Development and Training at Dowling College. I entered into the field of education twelve years ago after leaving the corporate world. I wanted to fill the gap for my children who did not have teachers that looked like them. Within my own childhood experiences, I had a well-rounded perspective and a choice of good role models and mentors.As a by-product of the decision of Brown v. Board of Education, integration in the South was fairly new but the level of respect remained high for educators of African-descent, as did the notion that education was the key to success. I have been given a charge to bring a personal dream to fruition.

Langston Hughes reminds us, "Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly." Dreams are not impossible when there is determination, compassion, cooperative spirits, action and faith. Mary McLeod Bethune once said that: "Without faith, nothing is possible . . . with it, nothing is impossible."

The challenges facing our nation and our school children are definite outcries for positive education reform. Our children are bombarded with false idols and the media has had a reverse effect on the innocent minds of our youngsters that no one had anticipated. High dropout rates, teenage pregnancy, homelessness, high under- and unemployment, drug-infested communities and high mortality rates are social ills that we are combating on a daily basis. The eyes of hope can seldom be found in the eyes of our children. They do not envision "tomorrow"; their dream is deferred. We must begin to undo all the wrongs of the past through education, social programs, economic relief, and genuine outreach to our fellowman.

At the Center for Minority Teacher Development and Training at Dowling College, we seek to provide quality education for teachers who will instruct our children. As we serve them, we serve our community in every facet of life. The effective education of our children is the cornerstone of our nation's economy. For we know that good teachers create good students who eventually become good employees. We have a critical task ahead, however, the possibilities for success are endless. We have the ability to turn negative numbers into positive numbers, negative nightmares into possible dreams.

Lizette M. Washington