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Congressman Evans Visits Cheyney University during National HBCU Week

September 20, 2017

This week in celebration of National Historically Black College and University (HBCU) week Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-02) visited Cheyney University to speak with students about the future of their school and the importance of HBCUs in our Commonwealth and nationwide.

Established in 1837, this year Cheyney University is celebrating its 180th anniversary. Located just outside of Pennsylvania's Second Congressional District, Cheyney is the oldest HBCU in the country.

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9.18.17 Congressman Dwight Evans Cheyney University Visit

Congressman Dwight Evans, Representative Jordan Harris, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, Representative Jake Wheatley, Representative Isabella Fitzgerald, Representative Carol Hill-Evans, Tiffany Wilson, staff to Senator Vincent Hughes, Kendra Brown, staff to Congressman Dwight Evans, Representative Joanna McClinton, Representative Jim Roebuck, Representative Stephen Kinsey, Representative Chris Rabb, and Representative Vanessa Lowery Brown with Cheyney University students.

For years, Cheyney was known as a teachers college and played an incredibly viable role within the Commonwealth by ensuring the elementary school, middle school and high school teachers at schools in the City of Philadelphia and across our Commonwealth were well-prepared and had the necessary skills in order to train our students for success in the classroom and beyond. Now, after years of heartbreaking financial and enrollment trouble, Cheyney University is in great danger of losing its accreditation.

"Just like our neighborhoods, our schools compete for people," Congressman Evans said. "We have the power to redefine and reshape Cheyney's legacy. Cheyney did not get into the situation it is in today by itself and it will not get out of this situation by itself. We stand together, united to send a message that we recognize the challenges facing Cheyney, we know it is going to take a lot of work to get our school back on track, but we are ready for the challenge and believe this is what Cheyney needs in order to succeed for another 180 years."

Representative Jordan Harris, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, Representative Jake Wheatley, Representative Isabella Fitzgerald, Representative Carol Hill-Evans, Tiffany Wilson, staff to Senator Vincent Hughes, Kendra Brown, staff to Congressman Dwight Evans, Representative Joanna McClinton, Representative Jim Roebuck, Representative Stephen Kinsey, Representative Chris Rabb, and Representative Vanessa Lowery Brown were all part of this week's conversation at Cheyney University.

In August 2017, Congressman Evans and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) sent a letter to Frank T. Brogan, Chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education outlining what is at stake and why we must do everything we can to protect Cheyney University's accreditation. The full text of the letter can be found here: /media-center/press-releases/casey-evans-send-letter-support-save-cheyney-university.

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Media Contact: Becca Brukman, 202-225-4001, Becca.Brukman@mail.house.gov

Issues:Education