Multi-award-winning actor, director and education advocate LeVar Burton will be the special guest of honor tonight as One City Schools hosts a rally at The Sylvee in downtown Madison in celebration of its 10-year anniversary.
One City Schools, a public charter under the University of Wisconsin System, operates schools from preschool to 8th grade. One City Schools’ model includes a two-generation community impact approach, according to its website, where they provide affordable, accessible and high-quality preschool and community programs, and tuition-free grade schools that partner with parents and the community to prepare young children for school and life success.
The anniversary celebration, “Rally for Our Future,” will bring educators and advocates together for a discussion on how Wisconsin can become number one in education for all children.
Kaleem Caire, founder and CEO of One City Schools, never put together any large community event for the school, but plans to go big with its decade anniversary party.
“We’ve done a few smaller fundraisers in One City, and a lot of house fundraising type activities, and it’s largely because the cost of running schools is so much, we’ve never felt like we could justify spending money on an event,” Caire told Madison365.
One City Schools had previously considered hosting a fifth anniversary in the summer of 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the plans. After patiently waiting, One City now plans to finally get the community together to celebrate its success and look towards the future as to how it can continue to better serve its students. 
The rally will feature renowned educator Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings, the former Kellner Family Distinguished Chair in Urban Education with the School of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction, who is recognized across the United States and beyond as a pioneer in her field. Her work on culturally relevant pedagogy and critical race theory has altered how educators approach their teaching. Dr. Ladson-Billings also sits on the board of One City Schools.
Perhaps the highlight of the night for many will be Ladson-Billing’s talk with Burton, the actor, director, writer, producer and longtime advocate for literacy and education, about the future of education. Burton is famous for playing Kunta Kinte in the ABC miniseries Roots in 1977 and later portraying Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation from 1987-1994. Burton was the host of the PBS Kids educational television series Reading Rainbow for 23 years (1983–2006) where he earned 12 Daytime Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award as host and executive producer.
Dr. Noble Wray, the former chief of police for the Madison Police Department and James Howard, a former member of the MMSD board of directors and the current chair of the One City Schools board of directors, will also speak at the event.
Along with the special guests, tonight’s event will feature a cocktail hour and presentations and live performances. The evening will conclude with an energetic musical performance by DJ Pain 1 from 8:30-10:30 p.m.
“Kids have to be our number-one priority. I mean, we hear people say it, but if you want to change the future, your children are so important. When you ignore them, that shows up in adulthood.” Caire said. “Kids who weren’t raised well, weren’t taught well, weren’t given opportunities to grow and excel and identify themselves, are young people that end up depressed, lost or selfish.”
Caire adds that he is focused on the outcomes of students and that investment now paves the way to brighter futures for everyone.
Rally for Our Future will be held tonight from 6-10 p.m. at the Sylvee, 25 S. Livingston St. Tickets are currently on sale. A special discount for educators is available.
