Sigma Delta Tau’s Post

Educational choice empowers the Black community by providing alternatives to under-resourced public schools, fostering economic progress, self-confidence, and personal initiative. School choice policies enable parents to select optimal educational settings, benefiting students and communities. #EducationalChoice #Empowerment #BlackCommunity #SchoolChoice #EconomicProgress #SelfConfidence #PersonalInitiative #ImprovedOutcomes #ParentalInvolvement #CommunitySupport #OptimalSettings #StudentSuccess #SocialStability #PersonalizedLearning #EducationReform #EqualOpportunity #InnovationInEducation #EducationalEquality #DiverseLearningOptions #BuildingAFuture #SocialJustice #EmpowermentThroughEducation #OpportunityForAll #ProgressThroughEducation #SupportingCommunities #EducationIsKey #InvestInYouth #PromoteSuccess #EducationMatters #EmpowerThroughKnowledge

During our Executive Director, Kellie Simmons, a recent trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina, she and our student mentor, Ena, met with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) regarding 2025 collaborations. Here are a few of the collaborative in the works for our students: - Arts Integrative Education workshops: These workshops will use theater as a tool to process trauma and craft narratives related to conflict and adversity. - Youth Policy and Advocacy: Students will learn to identify global issues affecting them, how policies address societal problems, explore why advocacy is crucial for driving change, and how students can engage in advocacy efforts. - Campaign on 30th Anniversary of Peace: Jericho scholars will create a campaign that voices the stories of young people affected by discrimination and violence."

I recently revisited Ta-Nehisi Coates' "Between the World and Me," specifically the first chapter, a poignant letter to his son. Coates describes a place that, despite its physical distance, mirrors my childhood. He is not from Oakland, but the spaces he describes are so similar to it. This reflection brought me to realize how my experiences growing up have shaped my perspective on the persistent dangers faced by Black & Brown bodies. The way that I lead, and certainly my views on education, are also shaped by these experiences. I understand the power of schools to do great harm, & importantly to be spaces of transformation, healing, & ingenuity.In reflecting on the trauma in Gaza, we are consistently confronting the numbness and helplessness that stems from continuous exposure to such tragedies. Reading Coates, I was starkly reminded of another numbness, as we watch videos every day- of harm, & we try to convince the world that our lives matter. Coates reminds us that a Black body can be endangered for simple acts: for selling cigarettes, a child buying skittles, for browsing a department store, for playing music too loudly, for a minor traffic violation, a baby playing pretend in a park. These heartbreaking realities have unfolded during the lifetimes of our children, of your children. This awareness is essential as we navigate our space at Pear Tree. We might find comfort in numbness as a defense, but becoming inured is not a solution. We stand as the buffer for our children, & our vigilance allows them their childhood and a very different path of growth and development - a path many of us were denied as children.Our recent Black Heritage Event was a testament to this path. It was a celebration of our children’s authentic identities, free from the burden of questioning their worth or their safety. Witnessing their creativity and spirit, we glimpse what could be possible in a world unlike any that we adults have known. This witnessing offers healing for our own fragmented educational journeys. Of course we are also plagued with anxiety. Are we doing enough? Are our children prepared? Are they ready to inherit this world?What does it mean to grow up in a Black and Brown body and be reflected, loved, witnessed, supported? What does it mean to know with absolute certainty that you matter, that your life is valuable, that you are a star- just because you’re you? I am blessed to be immersed daily in a space where these questions are being answered.With these reflections, we continue to strengthen and nurture our community here at Pear Tree. We are committed to love, resilience, & to the protection and uplifting of our children. In turn, we get to see what kind of world they can imagine when they are not expending energy defending themselves from the othering that they experience in many spaces. We get to witness what love can do when it is not shackled by fear. PS- Catch a Glimpse of Love in Action Below: https://lnkd.in/gBNX9_jj

Health disparities are an unacceptable reality. ACAP applauds member L.A. Care Health Plan for its dedication to reducing inequities and investing in community. Read more on L.A. Care’s work below and how Safety Net Health Plans are advancing equity here: https://bit.ly/3nqnIXg      #SDOH #HealthEquity #HealthCareInnovation 

Introducing 7 Dimensions: Empowering the Next Generation 🌟 At 7 Dimensions, our mission is clear: We empower underserved, marginalized, foster-care, and at-risk youth by providing comprehensive education and equitable opportunities across emotional, physical, social, and intellectual domains. Our nonprofit is dedicated to bridging the educational divide, unlocking potential, and fostering personal and professional excellence. Through collaborative partnerships and innovative approaches, we create sustainable solutions that ensure access to quality education and the tools needed for success. Together, we strengthen families and build more equitable communities. Our Vision: We envision a strong, sustainable platform that delivers comprehensive education to underserved and at-risk Black youth, addressing their emotional, physical, social, and financial needs. By providing tailored educational and mental health resources, we aim to bridge the educational divide and unlock the full potential of the youth we serve, striving to become a leading nonprofit dedicated to empowering them to achieve personal and professional excellence. Join us on this vital journey as we work tirelessly to uplift and empower the next generation! 🌍✨ #7Dimensions #Empowerment #Education #Equity #YouthDevelopment #Nonprofit #Community

Imagine scaling a 30-foot flagpole to take down a symbol of hate. That's exactly what Bree Newsome Bass did in 2015, when she bravely removed the Confederate flag from the South Carolina State House. With each step, she defied centuries of oppression and sparked a national movement for racial justice. Things we can learn from her courage: 💡 Direct action CREATES change. 💡 NEVER give up on justice. 💡 Your VOICE matters. So, what can YOU do to resist oppression? Get our 100+ Community Organizing Resource Vault™ with guides, templates, and inspiration to help you secure the win: https://lnkd.in/eqp7FNP9 Did we mention it's free?

CCPH Engagement Lead Emily Finley has co-authored an article recently released in The Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship. "Reflections on the Development of a Nationwide Community-Engaged Resource Center During the COVID-19 Pandemic." This article describes the creation of the RADx-UP Engagement Resource Center, a collaboration between CCPH, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill CHER, and DCRI, as part of our work with the RADx-UP CDCC. Read here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g6mRNQRq

Five WKKF grantees share their invaluable insights on centering racial equity within their organizational structures, practices and operations. In part one of this series, we dive into the internal racial equity journeys of diverse organizations: 🌟 ACCESS - Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services , a Michigan-based organization serving the Arab immigrant community. 🌟 Center for Children’s Law and Policy (CCLP), A Washington D.C. policy organization focused on juvenile justice reform. 🌟 Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, A community foundation in Buffalo, New York. 🌟 The Corps Network, A nationwide network of service organizations. 🌟 Union for Reform Judaism, A global faith-based organization. Each of these organizations provides unique perspectives and strategies for embedding racial equity into their core functions. Their stories inspire us to reflect on our practices and to take actionable steps towards fostering inclusive environments. https://wkkf.co/njke

Dr. Clinton Boyd, Jr. and Larry Washington M.A., recently held an online event where they explored how recognizing and building on the strengths of Black fathers can transform communities. In this clip, Larry describes how Become's approach to community evaluation and transformation truly considers the perspectives of those we serve, using the example of the Father Advisory Group. Stay tuned as we will share more clips from this powerful presentation so you can watch as they discuss the power of asset assessment in empowering fathers and fostering family & community resilience. 💪🏿✨ #EmpoweringFathers #CommunityStrength #chicagophilanthropy #southside #changemakers  #communityevaluation #communitytransformation

In 2020, Funders Initiative for Civil Society (FICS) carried out interviews with over 150 civil society activists, academics, and funders seeking to understand the deeper drivers which were closing civic space around the world. The abuse of national security powers was identified as the dominant driver set to further shrink civic space this decade, yet few funders focus on this issue. Our partner, Civic Futures, was co-founded by FICS and The Fund for Global Human Rights, to change this. Learn more about Civic Futures in the carousel below and at civic-futures.org.