Racial Equity in Motion, a report of The Momentum Fund written by The Moriah Group, shares the three key facets they identified to ensure that organizations in communities of color had the capacity they needed to manage their COVID-19 response and mitigate the impacts of the crises among people of color. These learnings were not only important during the height of the pandemic, but they are also useful today in upholding racial equity in grantmaking.

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Impact of COVID-19 in Communities of Color

The Forward Promise Village of grantees have pivoted in these past few weeks to respond to the rapidly unfolding, multi-faceted crises created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our most vulnerable communities and populations have been hard hit by this disaster. Forward Promise coordinated several approaches to gain a deeper understanding of our grantees’ needs and what they are doing to effectively support boys and young men of color (BYMOC) and their families during this time. This document outlines the challenges emerging in their communities and solutions they are developing to ensure that BYMOC and their villages continue on the path to healing, growing, and thriving.

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Disrupting Dehumanization and Affirming the Humanity of BYMOC and Their Villages

What is dehumanization? It is the persistent invalidation of humanity through perceptions or actual treatment. At the center of dehumanization is the pervasive idea that people of color do not need, and are not worthy of basic human dignities. Dehumanization threatens the healthy development of BYMOC and their villages and manifests in the narratives, policies, and practices that impact them.

THE VICIOUS CYCLE OF DEHUMANIZATION
Dehumanization is the cause of generations of historical trauma. The cycle begins with negative narratives that label people of color—particularly boys and young men—violent, criminal, and animalistic. To combat the perceived threat, dangerous actions are taken by the majority culture and systems which further dehumanize BYMOC. As a result, BYMOC and their villages often hold harmful internal feelings of unworthiness taught by their oppressors. It is not uncommon for them to engage in various forms of self-harm or to harm others. These destructive external reactions are not explained as normal responses to trauma. Stories of their negative reactions become justification for more negative narratives and the cycle begins again

Source: Forward Promise National Program Office

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I remember very clearly when I first became aware of educational inequity and structural racism. Just before I entered middle school, our family moved to the suburbs of Montgomery County, Maryland, which boasted one of the top school systems in the nation. I tested into a STEM magnet program and was excited for all that 7th grade would bring. As a naïve 12-year-old, I assumed my school experience would mirror the vast cultural and ethnic diversity of my new neighborhood that I loved. I was in for a huge surprise.

While my school’s overall enrollment was very diverse, the magnet program was filled mostly with White students. As the students in this elite program housed within the school, we had separate classes and totally different educational experiences than the other students. In those two years, I saw over and over again how my opportunities were vastly different from that of the other students of color in my school. Back then, I didn’t know the desegregation policy requirements placed on school districts or their implications. I didn’t know that this program was designed to integrate our schools according to the letter of the law, but not the intent. All I knew was that it didn’t make me feel good.

I guess I was supposed to feel “lucky” or “fortunate” because I got to be one of the few Black students participating in the education that White students were receiving. But, even as a 12-year-old, it didn’t feel right. I was getting a great education, but I felt isolated. I remember being voted “Most Likely to Succeed” as an 8th grader, but it didn’t feel like it was an accomplishment at all. Because although I was excelling academically, I didn’t have a connection or real friendships with the kids who looked like me — or the White kids in my magnet program either, for that matter. I wanted to be Black and gifted, not gifted and isolated. But my school did not offer the opportunity to embrace both my Blackness and my genius at the same time. I’ve carried that experience with me for decades, and it angers me that Black children are still struggling with the dehumanizing, hurtful experience of structural racism in our schools.

“I wanted to be Black and gifted, not gifted and isolated. But my school did not offer the opportunity to embrace both my Blackness and my genius at the same time.”

Nowhere in the United States do students feel this struggle more deeply than in the South. The dark history of deep-seated racism and violence over the integration of Southern education serves as a backdrop for the problems that continue to have impact today. Schools are mired with issues of structural racism and inequity. This affects Black people deeply, as this is the region of the country where the majority of Black children live. According to NCES, in 2015, 59% of Black school children were enrolled in school in the South. The United States is also experiencing a reverse migration, as many Black families are returning to the South. Ironically though, it’s not a region of the country often studied for the impacts of education on its residents.

Since the 1990s, the South has rapidly returned to the segregated, unequal schools of its past. Fully half of Southern comprehensive high schools are extremely segregated, with enrollments either being more than 75% Black or more than 75% White. Nearly 60 percent of White public high school students in the South attend an extremely segregated White school, while more than one-third of black high school students attend an extremely segregated Black school. To be clear, this does not happen without intentionality on the part of policymakers that draw school district boundary lines and establish school feeder patterns.

A look at these segregated Black Southern high schools reveals several key disparities. In these schools, 1 in 14 teachers are not certified, as compared to White high schools where the ratio is 1 in 100. These schools are less likely to offer algebra 2, advanced math, calculus, chemistry, and physics classes. According to the United States Department of Education, there are approximately 5,000 secondary schools with high Black and Latinx enrollments that offer mathematics and science classes at a lower rate than the overall population of high schools. Nationally, only 57 percent of Black students in all types of schools have access to a full college preparatory curriculum. In the South, less than one-third of Black students enrolled in these segregated Southern high schools have access to a full college preparatory curriculum. And beyond the issue of access is the matter of opportunity to actually participate in these courses, which was the struggle of my childhood school. Research tells us that having certified teachers and participation in a rigorous college preparatory curriculum in high school impacts whether a student enrolls in college, requires remediation, or completes their degree.

“Less than one-third of Black students enrolled in segregated Southern high schools have access to a full college preparatory curriculum.”

Our current education system places Black students in the South at a clear disadvantage. Southern education in many states, as currently constructed, is either maintaining or widening the educational and economic divide between Blacks and Whites. This is supported by the persistent gaps in college matriculation and completion, as well as household income between Blacks and Whites in the South. And we are kidding ourselves if we think that Black students don’t see these inequities and internalize the horrible message that it sends, just like I did in middle school— “Black students are not valued. We are not good enough to be invested in equally. Our education matters less.”

Black students internalize a horrible message: “Black students are not valued. We are not good enough to be invested in equally. Our education matters less.”

A quality education is touted as the great economic equalizer, providing everyone access to the American Dream. But what happens when structural racism takes hold and the education isn’t high quality for every child? What happens when the vestiges of a Jim Crow era maintain a chokehold on the educational structures of an entire region of the United States? What happens when those in power put all their weight behind preserving the status quo because they want their children to maintain advantage, to the detriment of Black children in their communities? Then education is not the equalizer, but instead it is the preserver of white supremacy.

The ability to move from poverty to the middle class in a single generation, build wealth, and change the trajectory of the family is denied most Blacks in the South, and it begins with inequities in how we teach the children. The solutions to this problem exist — and have existed for decades. What does not exist is the real will to change.

Those who hold the purse strings of education and make decisions about policies and practices implemented in Southern schools must care about what happens to Black students and Black families. This caring must be demonstrated in the form of real action — a commitment to true racial equity analysis of school and district structures, a timely plan for implementation of just and fair policies, and true accountability for making Southern schools equitable for Black students.

It is the absolute right of Black students to have a quality, equitable education.We cannot continue to allow the majority of our nation’s Black children to be neglected by an education system that only pays lip service to equity and academic progress for all. We must fight to end the unchecked systemic racism in Southern education.

[vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ align_horizontal=”align_center” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h1″ text_size=”h1″ text_color=”color-136386″]Education Minute #11 – Choosing Child Care[/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”7″ top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”0″ back_image=”463″ back_position=”left center” parallax=”yes” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ shape_dividers=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”5″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”5″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”5″][vc_single_image media=”464″ media_width_percent=”100″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”7″ top_padding=”3″ bottom_padding=”7″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”p” text_size=”h6″]

Today, I’d like to talk with you about choosing a quality early child care program. If you’re like me, the thought of putting your precious little one in a child care program gives you serious heart palpitations! I’d like to give you a few tips to help you find the right program to put your mind (and heart!) a bit more at ease.

It is important to go visit and observe a program before choosing it. When you go to visit, there are 8 things to consider:

• Space and Furnishings
• Personal Care Routines
• Staff Education Level
• Use of Language and Reasoning
• Varied Classroom Activities
• Teacher/child Interactions
• Program Structure
• Parent Supports

Remember too, that the results from a child care program’s state licensing visits are public records, so you can get a copy of a program’s licensing assessment to double check their track record.

And finally, trust your gut. You are your child’s first teacher. You know your little one best, and if an environment will be a good fit.

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[vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ align_horizontal=”align_center” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h1″ text_size=”h1″ text_color=”color-136386″]Education Minute #10 – Critical Thinking[/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”7″ top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”0″ back_image=”460″ back_position=”right center” parallax=”yes” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ shape_dividers=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”5″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”5″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”5″][vc_single_image media=”461″ media_width_percent=”100″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”7″ top_padding=”3″ bottom_padding=”7″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”p” text_size=”h6″]

Critical thinking is a crucial skill for living life. It is the ability to think independently, form your own opinions, and draw your own conclusions. Fostering this skill in your children is essential to their success in school, in careers, and in navigating society.

So how do we raise critical thinkers?

1. Create a foundation of knowledge. Children can’t think critically if they do not have the information they need. Exposure to knowledge about a variety of topics equips them with the information to engage in critical thinking.
2. Consistently engage your child by asking open-ended questions. This inspires them to brainstorm, analyze, and problem solve. Encourage them to ask questions also.
3. Encourage Roleplaying. Becoming someone else requires children to stretch both their analytical and creative minds.
4. Ask kids to consider alternative explanations and solutions to problems. It’s nice to get the right answer. When kids consider multiple solutions, they may become more flexible thinkers.
5. Ask children to put concepts in their own words. This helps them understand, and to make concepts more concrete for them.
6. Don’t confine critical thinking to just factual or academic material. Encourage children to reason about ethical, moral, and societal issues. This is important for raising conscious, socially responsible children.

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[vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ align_horizontal=”align_center” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h1″ text_size=”h1″ text_color=”color-136386″]Education Minute #9 – Encouraging Science[/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”7″ top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”0″ back_image=”456″ back_position=”right center” parallax=”yes” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ shape_dividers=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”5″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”5″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”5″][vc_single_image media=”457″ media_width_percent=”100″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”7″ top_padding=”3″ bottom_padding=”7″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”p” text_size=”h6″]

Today let’s talk about science. Children are naturally curious. My kids ask me a million questions about every imaginable topic as they experience things in the world around them. You can take advantage of that curiosity to teach them about interesting scientific facts and wonders. A science-friendly household is one where children are encouraged to ask questions, think critically, experiment, create, and explain their reasoning to expand their learning.

• It’s important to know that you don’t need to have answers for all of your child’s questions! Encourage children to develop their own science thinking skills by coming up with theories and testing them to get the right answer.

• Engage your children in conversation about what they think about a scientific topic, and encourage them to explain why they think that way by asking open-ended questions.

• If your children say something scientifically incorrect, help them discover for themselves what is correct rather than just giving them the right answer.

• Do simple experiments at home using things you already have in your house.

• Model curiosity by wondering out loud: “I wonder what will happen to this carrot top when we put it in water for a few days?”

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[vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ align_horizontal=”align_center” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h1″ text_size=”h1″ text_color=”color-136386″]Education Minute #8 – Summer Learning Loss[/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”7″ top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”0″ back_image=”454″ back_position=”right center” parallax=”yes” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ shape_dividers=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”5″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”5″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”5″][vc_single_image media=”453″ media_width_percent=”100″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”7″ top_padding=”3″ bottom_padding=”7″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”p” text_size=”h6″]

Did you know that on average, students lose the equivalent of one month of learning during the summer? This phenomenon is called “summer learning loss.” Schools generally spend the first several weeks of the new school year re-teaching old skills so that students are prepared to learn new material. I have a few quick tips that will help you support your student to retain learning over the summer AND still have fun.

• Utilize your local library! Set a goal for reading a certain number of books over the summer.
• Go on field trips! Take the kids to your local art, history, and science museums, to the zoo, the farmer’s market, bakeries, or even factories that offer tours. Ask them to draw pictures or write stories about the favorite parts of their trips.
• Cook together! Cooking provides great opportunities to reinforce math skills.
• Have family game nights! Games like Taboo, Pictionary, Scrabble, and Boggle are tons of fun and keep kids’ minds sharp.
• Travel the world without leaving home! Pick several countries to explore. Learn about their culture, history, and traditions. Try to cook an authentic recipe. Discuss what they’re most known for in the world.
• And finally, take advantage of all the free and low-cost outdoor festivals and children’s learning activities happening in your city over the summer.

There are so many more things you can find to do with your children during the summer; this list is just the tip of the iceberg. Get creative, and enjoy the summer without sacrificing learning!

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[vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ align_horizontal=”align_center” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h1″ text_size=”h1″ text_color=”color-136386″]Education Minute #1 – Teaching Culture[/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”7″ top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”0″ back_image=”446″ back_position=”right center” parallax=”yes” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”5″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”5″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”5″][vc_single_image media=”447″ media_width_percent=”100″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”7″ top_padding=”3″ bottom_padding=”7″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”p” text_size=”h6″]

Learning to appreciate and respect the culture and backgrounds of others is an extremely important value for our children to learn. You can expose your children to the beauty and significance of other cultures in several ways:

• Expand their knowledge by reading books

• Go to cultural events sponsored by organizations in the community

• Encourage friendships with those of different races, ethnicities, religious backgrounds, and abilities

• Watch movies set in other cultures

• Learn about positive influencers in different countries

• Host an exchange student

Remember though that the most influential role model of cultural sensitivity and respect is YOU. Children become culturally sensitive and respectful when they see adults who display these same characteristics, and who are willing to stand against bias. Your actions can help to make the world a better place for everyone for generations to come.

Here are some great resources on teaching children about culture, race, and mutual respect:

Teaching Tolerance

PBS

PBS Learning Media

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[vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ align_horizontal=”align_center” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h1″ text_size=”h1″ text_color=”color-136386″]Education Minute #2 – Study Skills[/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”7″ top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”0″ back_image=”443″ back_position=”right center” parallax=”yes” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ shape_dividers=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”5″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”5″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”5″][vc_single_image media=”444″ media_width_percent=”100″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”7″ top_padding=”3″ bottom_padding=”7″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”p” text_size=”h6″]

Today, let’s talk about strong study habits for high school and college students. As students get older, school gets more rigorous. Learning how to study effectively sets you up for success. Here are 10 pointers for improving study time.

1. Don’t attempt to cram all your studying into one session. Plan more frequent, shorter study periods.

2. Plan when you’re going to study, and never procrastinate your planned study time.

3. Create a consistent daily routine by studying at the same time.

4. Set specific goals for each study session based on your upcoming assignments and tests.

5. Start with the most difficult subject first.

6. Review your notes before starting an assignment.

7. Eliminate distractions while you are studying.

8. Take short breaks to stretch, get fresh air, or grab a snack.

9. Use study groups effectively.

10. Review your notes, schoolwork and other class materials over the weekend to prepare your mind for the coming week.

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