$12 Billion in Education Cuts at Stake
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Public schools are the bedrock of a strong, multiracial democracy. We must protect and uphold these vital institutions that shape future generations, bring people together across diverse communities, develop critical thinking, and create engaged citizens who strengthen our democracy.
As students and teachers return to the classroom, public education in the United States faces major threats which could fundamentally reshape its future, including budget cuts to essential programs, attacks on inclusive curriculum, and expansion of voucher programs that would further deplete funding for public schools. These systemic challenges require our communities to come together to fight for fully-funded public education that serves all students.
The stakes have never been higher for our children’s future.
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Fortunately, our communities aren’t standing by idly in the face of these challenges. From Idaho to North Carolina, students, parents, and educators across the country are taking action with Public School Strong to fight for the needs of their communities. Their local organizing around public education is reverberating on a national scale.
Right now, Congress is considering a proposal of $12 billion in cuts to public education, which would eliminate afterschool and summer programs, arts and technology classes, emergency preparedness, mental health services, and more. These potential federal budget cuts would affect school districts across the country. For many of us, these cuts will hit close to home. We encourage you to use this resource from Public School Strong partners to find out how much funding your school district is likely to lose.
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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s insights in "Where Do We Go From Here" reveal a critical link between adequately funded and equipped public schools and the health of a multiracial democracy. He recognized that under-resourced schools, particularly affecting communities of color, were not coincidental but rather part of a deliberate system to perpetuate economic inequity and limit upward mobility, thereby undermining the very foundation of a just society.
We believe that all communities deserve fully-funded public schools that teach the complete truth of our history, uphold the dignity of children of all races, genders, and backgrounds, and have the resources to unlock the full potential of every child so they are prepared to be the leaders of tomorrow.
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Are you ready to get started? Click the map on the Public School Strong organizing platform to connect with like-minded advocates in your community through local groups, petitions, and events. The majority of Americans support public education, but to protect and strengthen public schools we need more of us taking action together.
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Strengthen Our Public Schools
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Join the Public School Strong organizing meeting every Tuesday. This monthly meeting includes updates on federal advocacy, ways to plug into the campaign locally, and breakouts for new members to get oriented and learn how to officially join.
Register here, and don’t forget to invite a friend!
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Student organizer Shaniya Taylor of Florida Student Power, a HEAL Together partner, shares words of wisdom to organizers trying to build locally. Watch her video for encouragement to keep going, or get started!
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Housing Trust Funds as a Tool for Racial Equity
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Did you know there are over 750 Housing Trust Funds (HTFs) operating in local governments across the nation? Together, they generate nearly $2 billion annually for local housing needs.
HTFs can help communities most impacted by systemic housing inequities. Once established, these locally controlled funds support long-term housing plans to address displacement, disinvestment, and segregation.
Our latest Housing and Land Justice brief shows best practices for creating and running HTFs effectively. See examples of HTFs at work and get advice on how to get started in your community.
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Announcing the Cultural Week of Action 2025!
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Arts and culture have always been at the heart of American identity and progress. But as our communities fight erasure in our public institutions, it is more important than ever that we come together to celebrate ourselves, protect our cultures, and reclaim our narratives.
Race Forward is proud to announce the return of the Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy! From Saturday, November 8, through Sunday, November 16, communities across cities, towns, and in virtual spaces will come alive through music, storytelling, movement, and collective learning to bring into view the vision of a just, multicultural democracy that serves ALL of us.
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Three Ways You Can Participate
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In this moment of backlash, it’s more important than ever that we come together in solidarity to build narratives that uplifts our vision of a just, multiracial democracy that serves all of us.
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Just Narratives attendees will attend breakout sessions organized and curated within these tracks:
Narrative Strategies to Build Solidarity and Governing Power—Sessions will explore frameworks, models, praxis, and real-world examples of how strategic use of stories, messages, imagery, and the arts in a purposeful way can increase the governing power of those most impacted by racial inequities and shift organizations and communities toward greater solidarity for racial justice.
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Building Narrative Power to Resist and Dismantle Authoritarianism and Racism—Sessions will explore how we can build narrative power to resist, block, and dismantle authoritarianism, fascism, and white supremacy in our policies, institutions, and systems.
Strengthening and Growing the Narrative Ecosystem and Infrastructure—Sessions will focus on how we, as a collective, can deepen, strengthen, and grow the narrative ecosystem to advance our vision for a racially just world. We define a narrative ecosystem as a network of connected individuals and organizations that can share knowledge, expertise, skills, ideas, capacities, and work to advance a narrative system across a diversity of fronts along different timelines.
In addition to these interactive breakout sessions, attendees will hear from our keynote speaker, Alok Vaid-Menon, an internationally acclaimed poet, comedian, and artist whose work sits at the intersection of creative expression and movement building.
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#RaceAnd Ethics in Government
Thursday, September 18
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Ethics in civil service is more than following rules—it’s about upholding principles that protect integrity, prevent abuse, and serve the public good. In today’s shifting political climate, civil servants face new pressures that test these principles.
Join the Federal Initiative to Govern for Racial Equity (FIRE) for its upcoming event, #RaceAnd Ethics in Government, Thursday, September 18. Hear from former federal agency leaders as they discuss how ethics in government must evolve to meet today’s challenge, informed from their own experiences.
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This conversation will explore:
- How government ethics can evolve to address racial equity
- Why ignoring equity creates blind spots in ethical frameworks
- The role of personal and institutional integrity in support of the Constitution and the public
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Racial justice isn't history. Racial justice is happening every day.
Shop online at our new store and choose from an array of products like shirts, water canteens, hats, and sweaters. No matter the weather, we make history together!
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Follow us on Bluesky!
Given the current political climate and our declining engagement on Twitter, we have made the decision to remain inactive on Twitter until further notice.
To keep the conversation going, we encourage you to join us on Bluesky. Be a part of an ever-growing network of racial justice advocates as we continue to share engaging content that moves the needle to a just, multiracial democracy.
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Services for Organizations
Race Forward is committed to transformational, sustainable change for racial justice. We provide services to help organizations develop and advance racially equitable policies and practices.
Our services are developed and delivered by a multiracial and multigenerational team of experts with extensive knowledge and experience in various areas, including policy and program development, leadership development and strategic coaching, community organizing, and racial equity.
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