Advancing Communities for Equity

Grateful and proud to work with community partners who want to improve early education access and care for and with Latino and MLL families. @Lafayette Ready Start LA Voz de la Comunidad Coalition. It’s a long and bumpy road, but Louisiana is my home and I’m in it for the long haul.

Education powerhouse Gary Briggs is looking for the next place to make an impact. Gary’s principles, passion, and energy make him a strong fit for mission-driven, community-related, strategy work. Meeting up with him is always a treat. I’ve known Gary since I was his 6th then 8th grade Language Arts teacher. Since then. I’ve watched him push limits (in good ways), pursue degrees, (most recently an M.Ed from Harvard), lead extraordinary work, and develop an enviable network. I can’t wait to see what he does next.

We are thrilled to share that Emmy O'Dwyer has been selected as a New America adviser for the 2024 Learning Sciences Exchange fellowship! Emmy’s expertise and passion for advancing education will undoubtedly make an impact in this role.

As the new school year begins, it’s a time full of exciting opportunities and fresh starts. Whether you're aiming to integrate innovative teaching methods or enhance classroom inclusivity, the potential for growth is endless. I’d love to hear from the education community: What’s one thing you’re eager to incorporate into your classroom this year? And, how can ACE support you in making that vision a reality? Let’s collaborate to create a dynamic and supportive learning environment for all. Share your ideas below or send us a message.

Advancing Communities for Equity will be closed until the end of the month for a period of rest and relaxation. Please expect a delay in responses, I appreciate your patience and look forward to connecting with you all soon.

This week, we presented the Equity Talks Train the Trainer for First Steps Kent. The resources and training we developed are built around the powerful Equity Talks film series that FSK produced and features early childhood leaders from Kent County sharing stories and perspectives on a variety of equity-related topics.

On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas with the news that the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free. This day came to be known as #Juneteenth, now officially a federal holiday. Learn more here: https://buff.ly/45Fxv0E

Parent leader @Benita Cochran introduces ACE principal Emmy O'Dwyer (she/ella) O’Dwyer as we share the findings of the evaluation of the Parent Leadership Collaborative’s Standards Implementation. Ten organizations participated in the pilot, which resulted in organizational action plans. Most organizations chose to expand their parent engagement and improve language access as a result of the data and process. Urban League Of Louisiana

#WisdomWednesday ACE helps organizations on their journey to improvement. One way is to start by evaluating current practices to identify strengths and areas for growth. If you’d like to learn more, we’d love to speak to you. Please reach out

Excited to present our landscape work for the early childhood Ready Start Networks guided by Volunteers of America.