The Skillman Foundation

Angelique Power shared the stage with Monica Moser, president & CEO of the Jackson Community Foundation, at the Council of Michigan Foundations Annual Conference to discuss why and how #philanthropy can engage in policy advocacy. The session explored ways foundations can contribute #time, #talent, and #treasure to #policy #advocacy efforts. “The strongest way to work on policy is in coalition,” said Power. This is the key to creating more equitable and effective policies, she said. “With policy in action, each step is like a new clue to solving the mystery of #equity.” Read more here: https://bit.ly/4dZUczC

Each year, the Michigan Legislature and Governor allocate billions of dollars for the state’s #public #schools, but many districts face significant challenges in accessing these funds. Launch Michigan, a nonprofit dedicated to reinventing Michigan’s public education system, announced a new tool designed to provide transparency regarding the public school grant distribution process and hold the state accountable for efficiently distributing funds for classrooms. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3UolFDX

"Catchafire is a liaison and a bridge to so many critical nonprofit organizations we could never reach on our own,” says Angelique Power, President & CEO of The Skillman Foundation. “They…understand what nonprofits need and then give it to them–customized–so they can be successful." We are fortunate The Skillman Foundation has welcomed an innovative solution to #CapacityBuilding to help transform the education system in Detroit. ⬇️ See how Catchafire is helping youth-focused nonprofits carry out their bold goals. 🤝 https://hubs.la/Q02SFW0p0

Launch Michigan created the Grants Clock to provide transparency regarding available public school grant opportunities, the grant distribution process, and to hold the state accountable for the efficient distribution of funds for classrooms. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gnWPcjkQ

Submissions are open for our annual Skillman Float Design Contest until Friday, October 4th! Imagine a neighborhood of people working #together to make it beautiful. Imagine what it would look like if we were always #kind and #helpful. Imagine different people coming together, hand in hand. We are inviting students to let their imaginations soar and to share a float design depicting what ‘Better Together’ looks like to them. Students currently enrolled in 4th through 8th grade at a #Detroit #public or #charter #school are eligible. The Skillman Foundation is proud to partner with The Parade Company for the 98th annual America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Gardner White. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4gD29NK

We have seen in our own history that, despite the politicization and divisiveness of the times, #Detroiters can come #together to re-imagine a strong #education #system for all students. Punita Dani Thurman, vice president of strategy, shares some things to know about education systems change here: https://lnkd.in/g7A7-iyu

President and CEO Angelique Power reacts to the Fearless Fund settlement and closure of its grantmaking program to support Black Women entrepreneurs: “In order to change lives, we need the freedom to identify those who are marginalized and then invest like we want them to win. The good news is that the attack on civil liberties is as old as time and yet we continue to outbox, outwit, and move forward against small-minded attempts at censorship." Read more here: https://bit.ly/4d7b7zS

Real Talk... this political moment can feel like riding a mechanical bull. Just when you think you understand the direction and how things are moving, it seems to lurch in new surprising directions. Our President & CEO Angelique Power shares a promising perspective on how we can move forward together for our collective future. Read here: https://bit.ly/4eaM8g4

We are thrilled to welcome Sarida Scott to The Skillman Foundation as vice president of program! In this role, Sarida provides both strategic and operational leadership to the Foundation’s program team, guiding and implementing grantmaking totaling more than $20 million annually in alignment with the organization’s mission, values, and People Powered Education strategy. As a native Detroiter, ensuring that Detroit has an equitable recovery and returns to its once-legendary vibrancy is a professional and personal passion for Sarida; she has worked for the betterment of children and communities throughout her career. Sarida is a licensed attorney, engineer, and community development practitioner. Her legal work includes the roles of city attorney, child advocate, and nonprofit legal director. She has extensive nonprofit management experience from serving as the executive director of Community Development Advocates of Detroit (CDAD) as well as serving on multiple boards and in numerous fellowships. Sarida also worked as a senior program officer for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, supervising its Detroit team and the deployment of more than $10 million in grant funds. Most recently, she held the roles of assistant professor and director of the Community Development Department at the University of Detroit Mercy. Sarida continues to live with her family in Detroit. We are excited to have her on our team! 🌟 #team #staff #detroit #michigan #youth #education #philanthropy #community #PeoplePoweredEducation

To learn more about how #Detroit's #education system is deeply connected to the city’s economics as a Black American city, we sat down with Andre M. Perry, a leading voice on racial and structural inequality, education, and economic #inclusion. Listen in on the conversation: