OF NOTE
A Bi-Monthly Update from The Nellie Mae Education Foundation
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Persisting with Love and Pride |
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The past couple of months have been difficult for all of us who are working towards racial equity and justice. The mass shootings in Buffalo, Dallas, and Southern California, followed by the school shooting in Uvalde, are examples of the violence that is endemic to white supremacist culture. And we know that the overturning of Roe v. Wade, transphobic legislation, anti-Asian violence, and other instances of oppression are connected to this violence as well. Centering love and pride is critical as we stand up against these connected oppressions and reaffirm our commitment to equitable, excellent education for all New England youth. In May, Nellie Mae’s Senior Program Officer Ellen Wang spoke at a panel about promoting equity for Asian American students, and our grantee, Outright Vermont, hosted their 2022 Queer and Allied Youth Summit. These are just a couple of examples of the necessary work our partners are doing to face adversity with solidarity, love, and pride.
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WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? FEATURING NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES |
In a world where there is legislation prohibiting that truth be taught in schools, and where young people learning about the true founding of this nation as it relates to slavery, white supremacy, and oppression, is considered a divisive topic, where do we go from here? Join Nellie Mae for the next event in our #EdEquityTalks series, featuring Nikole Hannah-Jones, Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of the 1619 Project. |
CREATING LIBERATORY EDUCATION SYSTEMS IN THE MIDST OF COVID-19 |
Nellie Mae interim President and CEO Dr. Gislaine N. Ngounou writes about the importance of incorporating the voices of students and educators as we reckon with how to rebuild our education system, both in response to Covid-19 and the injustices that affected marginalized students even before the pandemic. |
Our grantee Educators for Excellence have launched a campaign aimed at changing the narrative of education censorship to bring attention to the attacks on teaching truth educators are facing. Check out their website and watch their PSA video to learn more. |
ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MA LATINOS
Massachusetts is among the wealthiest states in the country, but Latino communities in the state face disproportionate poverty and economic mobility. This report, from Boston Indicators, the Gastón Institute at UMass Boston, and the Latino Equity Fund at the Boston Foundation, delves into some of the challenges facing Latino communities in Massachusetts and possible opportunities for prosperity.
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RAPID RESPONSE FUND: CENTERING JOY |
The Foundation is offering a Request for Proposals that seeks to support projects that center joy and provide space for LGBTQIA+ youth; space to take a deep breath, to celebrate, to rejuvenate, to connect with allies, to experience solace and community, to belong and be affirmed in their full humanity, and to build a vision for the future.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The deadline for proposals is Thursday, July 21, 2022 at 5:00 P.M. EDT, or until the limited pool of resources is exhausted.
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In This Issue
Supporting Mental Health in CT Schools
As we continue to deal with the social and emotional impact of the pandemic, educators are bringing attention to the crucial role of mental health in education. In Connecticut, there are mental health bills moving through state legislature attempting to address this critical moment.
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Retaining Educators of Color in New England Schools
Nellie Mae grantee Prism goes in-depth on New England schools' struggles to retain teachers of color, featuring the story of Karla Vigil, Nellie Mae Community Advisor and Co-Founder of our grantee Equity Institute.
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Banning Exclusionary Discipline for Young Students
Exclusionary discipline measures, like suspension and expulsion, are correlated with more negative academic outcomes and disproportionately affect students of color. Educators are speaking up about the need to ban these discipline practices for young students.
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How One District Won Ethnic Studies
Amidst a national wave silencing people of color and their histories, students, alumni, educators, and more community members came together and won ethnic studies in this California school district. Here's how they did it.
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Teaching AAPI History in Schools
Several states, including Connecticut, have passed laws requiring that public schools teach Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) history, in response to longstanding efforts from AAPI community members. Learn more about this critical step towards culturally competent education.
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Processing News of School Shootings in the Classroom
In the wake of national tragedies, educators may not know how to facilitate discussions about the sensitive topics these catastrophes bring up. This resource from Nellie Mae grantee LiberatED offers guidelines for educators and students to process and heal together.
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Reimaging Freedom, Reimagining Ourselves
Nellie Mae Interim President and CEO Dr. Gislaine N. Ngounou participated in this virtual panel about "The Four Pivots" and how shifts in movement strategy can lead to transformational change, hosted by the Marguerite Casey Foundation.
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