Education Leaders of Color

Join us for a fireside chat on Thursday, November 14, in-person or virtually, with Emmy Award-winning journalist Paola Ramos about her new book, DEFECTORS: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America, moderated by EdLoC member Carlos R. Moreno, Co-Executive Director of Big Picture Learning and author of Finding Your Leadership Soul. This Book Talk event is free and open to active EdLoC members. Invited guests who share EdLoC’s values, are inspired by EdLoC's mission, and seek to influence change in their fields are welcome to join us in person for a nominal guest registration fee of $55. A complimentary copy of Paola’s book will be available for all participants. Active EdLoC members who cannot attend in person may join a virtual livestream at no cost, and will receive a complimentary copy of Paola’s book in the mail. We look forward to seeing you there. Register now: https://lnkd.in/gSRNDGET #WeAreEdLoC

The 2024 election may be over, but the work to build a more equitable future isn’t. Real change happens in our communities, where state and local advocacy give us the power to shape policies that impact our daily lives. Staying engaged locally ensures we’re driving progress where it matters most—from education to housing to healthcare. Swipe ➡️ to see how you can champion community-focused change and keep the momentum going beyond elections for a future our communities and young people of color deserve. EdLoC members: Download our Election Advocacy Toolkit to access resources that will help you advance policies supporting young people and communities of color: https://bit.ly/47L7kXW

Even as we await official certification of the election’s results, Former President Donald Trump is projected to be the next president. The stakes of this election could not have been higher—for our communities, for our humanity, for our priorities, and for our democracy. We have carried the heaviness and the anxiety of this election for many months; many in our Network were deeply engaged in advocacy and turnout efforts, contributions we recognize and honor even in the face of this outcome.  With this result, the fears, anxieties, and dangers become real. The forces of white supremacy will be aligned—and given full license—to undermine our policy priorities, attack our humanity, and oppress our communities.  But one thing remains certain: we will not back down.  In the months ahead, EdLoC will focus on strengthening and refining our Policy Agenda, which will be our Network’s North Star as we continue to advocate—at all levels—for the policies that enable our young people and communities to earn more, build wealth, and be cared for.  We all need time and space to make sense of this moment. It is important to be there for one another and take care of ourselves—that is the only way we can sustain as we do the work we are called to do. Together, we will stay the course on the only path forward: the one that begins and ends with multiracial solidarity.  Read our full statement: https://lnkd.in/gKc63NPi #WeAreEdLoC

Like you, we are watching closely and look forward to sharing an official response with the Network once the race has been called.     In the meantime, keep taking care of yourself and your community. #WeAreEdLoC

Election Day is here, and our Chief Policy Officer, Angelica Solis, is featured on NBC News for engaging Latinx voters in Los Angeles. Beyond the work she's doing in Los Angeles, Angelica has been at the forefront of our election advocacy work this year, spearheading initiatives like #EdLoCAdvocacyDay2024, which brought our members to the capitol to champion policies that enhance outcomes for young people of color. She also curated our EdLoC Elections Virtual Learning Series, offering expert insights to maximize our members’ impact during the election, and crafted our Road to November Election Advocacy Toolkit, arming our network with effective strategies for voter engagement, education, and mobilization. We're proud of Angelica's leadership and the collective efforts of our network to motivate voter turnout today. Discover more about Angelica's advocacy and her impact on Latinx voters in Los Angeles: https://bit.ly/3YQFbvu. Let’s keep the momentum going—make sure to vote today and encourage others to do the same! #WeAreEdLoC

Today, we’re voting 🗳️ for the future of every child, every classroom, and every community. Our votes are a step toward a future where young people of color have the resources they need to thrive and the schools we need to build strong communities. 💬 Why are you voting today? Let us know in the comments.

Join us for a fireside chat on Thursday, November 14 with Emmy award-winning journalist Paola Ramos about her new book, DEFECTORS: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America, moderated by EdLoC member Carlos Moreno, Co-Executive Director of Big Picture Learning and author of Finding Your Leadership Soul. Both members and guests are invited to join us in person and will receive a complimentary copy of Paola's book in the mail! We're also offering a virtual stream for members who aren't able to join us in person. Seats are limited, so make sure you RSVP as early as possible to secure your spot! https://lnkd.in/gSRNDGET

A huge congratulations to our 2024 Boulder Fund recipient and Executive Director at The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), Erica Phillips, on releasing a new mini-documentary, We Are Family Child Care! The documentary celebrates the dedication and impact of home-based childcare programs. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/gUCJdx3Q #WeAreEdLoC #FamilyChildCare

Today, on Dia De Los Muertos, we honor the life and legacy of our Founding CEO and Chair Emerita, Layla Avila. Your vision and passion continue to inspire us, Layla, and we carry your work forward with gratitude and love. May these offerings reach you as a testament to the impact you left in our hearts and in the world. #WeAreEdLoC

As October comes to a close, we want to highlight the incredible accomplishments of our dedicated members driving positive change in education and beyond. Our Network is more than a collective: it is a dynamic force of changemakers across 40+ states shaping solutions and driving progress to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in American life. This month, we spotlight a few of our members who have been catalyzing action: ⭐ Alexandra Bernadotte, Cheryl Watson-Harris, Ed.D, Donald Kamentz, Lisette Nieves, and Sheila Sarem were named to The Kresge Foundation's Thrive Leaders Network cohort of fellows. ⭐ Lindsey Fuller launched her podcast, Gather at the Well, in partnership with We Are For Good. ⭐  Dr. David Johns launched the first season of the Teach the Babies podcast featuring EdLoC members Dr. Christina Grant, Maia Blankenship, Naomi N. Shelton, and Entrepreneur-In-Residence Andrea Foggy-Paxton. ⭐ Maia Blankenship and Nicole Lynn Lewis spoke on the "Investing in Black Women's Leadership to Light the Way Forward on Education panel" at the Grantmakers for Education conference. ⭐ Travis J. Bristol, Ph.D. wrote a piece in Brookings on what each presidential candidate should consider as they detail their teacher policy proposals. Each story reinforces the power of our Network and the undeniable impact of our leaders who draw on their identities—Black, Latinx, APIA, Indigenous, immigrant, first-generation, and more—to create opportunities for young people of color to thrive. Join us in celebrating these member milestones, and if you're an EdLoC member, share your milestones below so we can celebrate you, too! #WeAreEdLoC #CatalyzingAction