Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch
The Reverend Romal J. Tune
Steven Constantino, EdD

Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch

Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch is a community leader and founder of Educational Achievement Services. Kickbusch, born and raised in a tiny barrio in Laredo, Texas, overcame the challenges of poverty, discrimination, and illiteracy to become the highest-ranking Hispanic woman in the Combat Support Field of the United States Army.

She founded Educational Achievement Services, Inc. (EAS) in 1994 to assist with her efforts to empower youth living in impoverished communities. Through her outreach, she has worked with over one million children and their parents across the country. In 1998, Kickbusch and a team of educators created the Family Leadership Institute (FLI), a multi-faceted educational program focused on providing immigrant/migrant Hispanic families with knowledge, tools, and inspiration to help their first- and second-generation children succeed in school and in life. FLI has graduated approximately 800 Hispanic and multicultural parents in five states.

To reinforce her messages, Consuelo produced two videos entitled ¿Porque No-Why Not? and Journey to the Future. Additionally, she published a book entitled Journey to the Future: A Roadmap for Success for Youth, which provides a framework for early leadership development and practical techniques for children to develop higher self-esteem and achieve their personal goals. When she speaks to the NAEHCY audience on November 1, 2008, she will bring her message of hope, courage, and empowerment.

Reverend Romal J. Tune

The Reverend Romal J. Tune is the founder and CEO of Clergy Strategic Alliances in Washington, D.C. He is a national trainer and speaker on community empowerment, social justice, and grassroots organizing.

Tune reaches out from the faith community to encourage religious and secular partnerships that will serve at-risk youth, promote justice, and build healthier communities. He teaches organizing skills, coalition building, and issue education to provide congregations, pastors, and individuals with the skills necessary to build power and improve their communities.

Tune has worked with gang-involved youth and developed a training program on how to reclaim communities and youth for churches and other community groups. Tune will address the NAEHCY conference on November 2, 2008.

Steven Constantino, EdD

Dr. Steven Constantino is the founder and CEO of  Family Friendly Schools and a nationally recognized expert and consultant in the area of parental involvement.

Constantino is the former Principal of Stonewall Jackson High School in Prince William County, Virginia, Time Magazine's High School of the Year in 2001. Stonewall was named number one among all Prince William County High Schools in the percentage of students entering college and among the top ten percent of schools worldwide offering the International Baccalaureate Program.

Constantino has been featured in numerous publications and his first publication Making Your School Family Friendly was published in early 2003. Constantino's second book, Engaging All Families, was released in November 2003 and is available through Scarecrow Education Press. He will share his practical experience and proven strategies to engage all families at the NAEHCY conference on November 3, 2008.