Grantmakers for Education’s Post

we move further faster when connecting across shared beliefs. A shared belief in centering students academic needs to ensure economic and social mobility and preparation for the world of tomorrow is something we can all agree on. Our latest blog shares reflections from Aspen's recent paper, Crossing the Partisan Divide in Education Policy. Give it a read!

William & Mary has long been a hot spot for thinking deeply about our democracy. It’s as true today as it ever was. The most recent article in the alumni magazine covers this and I’m glad to be one of the many mentioned in the story. Also nice to see my friend and teammate on redistricting reform, Jill Vogel, in there, too. “We’re a government of the people, and if we remove the wrong incentives for people, then they will be able to do what’s in the best interest of the country,” Cannon says. “Some of the corrupting influences are gerrymandering, money in politics and the ‘first-past-the-post’ way we vote, which penalizes third-party candidates and forces one side to tear down the other to eke out a win. #DemocracyReform #CivicEngagement #PublicService #LeadershipInLaw #EthicsInGovernment #NonprofitLeadership #RankedChoiceVoting #FairElections #ElectionSecurity #RedistrictingReform #PublicPolicy #GoodGovernance #DemocracyInnovation #FreeAndFairElections #InclusiveLeadership #GovernmentReform https://lnkd.in/dP9NUvSX

As the general election comes closer to fruition, contributing to non-partisan investments in young voters is an ongoing necessity beyond educating them to register to vote then to do secure voting. For example, this recent entry of the info session series that I co-lead for continuing an effective collaboration between University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy and United Nations Association-National Capital Area. One of the main purposes of each session is to give public policy students access to overlapping their academic learning in policy topics with numerous opportunities to service and/or advocate for marginalized groups of the DMV public under any involvement they would want to have under or with UNA-NCA before they graduate. For those interested in empowering the growth of youth leaders: UMD’s SPP: https://lnkd.in/eejtegS3 UNA-NCA: https://lnkd.in/eaR_Rc34 Voter Registration: https://vote.gov Voting Locations By Each State: https://lnkd.in/dw3CEHN

Grateful to serve on the Official Transition Team for Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell who is advancing justice for our Commonwealth. Last month, I was grateful to join a room full of brilliant members of the Transition Team (pictured) who were provided the opportunity to learn more about what the AGO is doing to fight for those who deserve fair and just representation under the law. Check out the strategic plan announced last week, which will guide the work of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (AGO) through 2027. Prioritizing values such as equity, accountability, and dignity, the strategic plan lays out goals and strategies to advance justice and expand opportunity for all across the Commonwealth. The plan builds upon the existing work and legacy of the Office in key areas and emphasizes the Attorney General’s commitment to advancing economic mobility and consumer protection; combating hate while standing up for diversity and safeguarding civil rights; and ensuring safe and healthy communities.  There are five defined goals - read below: Goal 1: Advance economic opportunity and consumer justice for all Goal 2: Protect and promote public health and safety throughout our state, with particular attention to closing gaps in healthcare access and environmental health Goal 3: Protect and strengthen the health, safety, and well-being of our youth Goal 4: Defend and embody the good of Massachusetts government, while holding the powerful to account, particular those who misuse roles of authority or public trust  Goal 5: Expand the reach of the AGO and make sure that our legal and advocacy work is informed by and reflects the needs of communities and residents in every part of the state. Onward and upward, justice, equity, accountability, and dignity for all. Link to plan here: https://lnkd.in/gr2fcG_u

Next Wednesday, join me and my colleagues from the Today's Students Coalition as we present our newest policy resource, the Equity Now Toolkit. Focused on how we can advance racial equity in higher education through federal policy for today’s students, this webinar is one you don’t want to miss! bit.ly/TSCequity #highereducation #racialequity #federalpolicy

On this day, March 12, 1956: 19 Senators and 82 Representatives Sign Southern Manifesto Opposing #Integration of Schools. By March 12, 1956, Senator Harry Byrd of Virginia convinced 101 of the 128 congressmen representing the 11 states of the old Confederacy to sign "The Southern Manifesto on Integration." In total, 19 Senators and 82 Representatives—almost one-fifth of Congress—signed their name and declared their opposition to integration. The document claimed that the U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared #raciallysegregated #publiceducation unconstitutional, constituted an abuse of power in violation of federal law. Learn more about how a campaign of massive resistance to integration by white politicians and the broader white community succeeded in keeping schools segregated for years after the decision in Brown v. Board of Education from the Equal Justice Initiative: https://ow.ly/K2BR50QRzVi

Learn about the Building Civic Bridges Act, aimed at fostering bipartisan collaboration and strengthening democracy. Discover how this legislation promotes dialogue and cooperation across party lines in this article from TheFulcrum.US #BipartisanAction https://ow.ly/wLkP50QVyFm

On this day, 237 years ago, the Constitution of the United States was completed and signed at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Founding Forward is proud to celebrate Constitution Day. Even more, we are proud to work year-round to educate students, teachers, League members, and the general community on the Constitution, which serves as a core component of our mission. Our civic education programs enable citizens across the country to understand, appreciate, and practice the principles, rights, and responsibilities of American citizenship. Together, we are all working to make our country a more perfect union. Tonight, at our annual Constitution Day celebration, one of Founding Forward's teacher seminar participants, Candelle Richman, addressed supporters, partners, and volunteers of Founding Forward with a speech that expressed the belief in the vital importance of our programs. Candelle Richman shared, "...Founding Forward’s teacher programs are vital to the professional development ecosystem. They provide teachers with the tools to do what we do best: to bring history alive for our students; make it relevant to their lives; offer a space for constructive, civil discourse about hard topics; and demonstrate that we are more alike than we are different, regardless of where we were born. When I look back to our country's founding documents, I consider the meaning behind the three familiar words that lead off the Constitution - We the People. I take them to mean that the responsibility is ours. We are the ones our founders tasked with upholding the tenets of our democratic system. We do this by ensuring that our students have access to the kind of civic education that will support them in becoming educated, engaged, and responsible citizens. So, reflecting on my students' recognition of the preamble, I am optimistic about the future because civic literacy is being taught in our classrooms, and we are, as Founding Forward’s tagline states, building “a future rooted in liberty.” We invite you to read Candelle's full remarks, and we hope it will inspire you to continue supporting Founding Forward and our work: https://lnkd.in/efhjDJCg. #ConstitutionDay #FoundingForward

Although many of us are justiably disappointed and surprised by the outcome of this election cycle, however, the fight for equality and democratic values remains, and is even needed more at this time, requiring us to dig deeper into our pockets to support organizations that remain, and will be invaluable in fighting to protect our rights, especially as minorities, from the potential onslaught of extremist laws and regulations. Those invaluable organizations include the NAACP Legal Defense Fund of which Justice Thurgood Marshall (of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case that ruled in favor of racial integration in schools), was its long-term Director, and the ACLU. Accordingly, I decided today to begin making monthly recurring contributions to these two organizations in addition to multiple other wonderful organizations I already make monthly recurring contributions to, including, but not limited to the NAACP in general, Doctors Without Borders, the Equal Justice Initiative, Philabundace, and Save the Children. We are obligated, especially as minorities, to ensure that bigotry and other forms of injustice, do not match forward unchecked and unchallenged. No matter how gloomy the present situation may seem, there is always the hope for a better and brighter future.

Last month, we discussed in depth about Brown v. Board of Education's multi-community impact in the first of our webinar series, "What Now: The After Effects of the Brown v. Board of Education Ruling." Pheng Thao, Executive Director, ManForward, speaks to the importance of knowing the issues affecting your community — at the federal, state, and municipal levels. Civic engagement is one way we can show care for each other. Follow us to be notified when we release the past webinar recordings and register for the last live webinar on August 15 at the link in our bio! #BrownVBoard #RacialJustice #EducationEquity #Education #PolicyChange #Webinar #SocialJustice #YPOC