Gesu's 16th Annual Symposium on Transforming Inner-City Education:
The Hidden Power of Character

What do kids and some cars have in common? “Unibody construction,” moderator Dr. John J. DiIulio, Jr. explained to the crowd of approximately 250 educators, policy makers, funders, parents, and concerned citizens packed into Gesu School’s gymnasium for Gesu’s 16th Annual Symposium on Transforming Inner-city Education: The Hidden Power of Character. Throughout the afternoon, the theme emerged over and over: we have to educate the whole child – not just the intellect – to set them up for a successful life. Everything is integrated.

Author Paul Tough anchored the conversation with a keynote address on the subject of his book How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity and the Hidden Power of Character. Tough posits that we have been emphasizing the wrong skills and abilities as predictors of success.

• View the program and the panelists' bios

Panel

Jeanne F. Brady, Ph.D.
Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Associate Dean of Education, Saint Joseph's University 

Mark Gleason
Executive Director, Philadelphia School Partnership

Keith L. Leaphart, D.O.
Chairman, The Lenfest Foundation; Owner and Brand Manager, Replica Creative

John J. DiIulio, Jr., Ph.D., Moderator
Frederic Fox Leadership Professor of Politics, Religion, and Civil Society, University of Pennsylvania

We thank our 2013 symposium sponsors:

Cozen O'Connor
Glenmede
ModSpace
Morgan Lewis
Saint Joseph's Preparatory School
Saint Joseph's University, Center for Catholic and Urban Education
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Solomon
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP
Wells Fargo
Mr. Craid White