Sarahi Romero-Suarez’s Post

🌟 Empowering Communities: Bridging the Gap Between Corporations and Non-Profits 🌟 As professionals, we often find ourselves deeply committed to fostering positive change in our communities. Today, I want to share a vision that holds immense potential for impact: the powerful collaboration between corporations and non-profit organizations. Regardless of our roles within our respective companies, we possess the ability to forge meaningful partnerships that can uplift and empower those in need. If there's a non-profit you deeply resonate with, take a moment to envision the transformative impact that could be achieved by joining forces. For me, that organization is Cradles To Crayons Inc, specifically their Philadelphia Chapter. Their dedication to providing essential resources and educational support to children in need resonates deeply, particularly in a city like Philadelphia, where over 300,000 children grapple with poverty. It's crucial to recognize that these children are not just statistics; they are the future of our community. By empowering them with the tools they need to thrive, we're investing in a brighter tomorrow for everyone. So, I urge you: if there's a cause close to your heart, don't hesitate to reach out. Forge connections between your company and the non-profit sector. Together, we can create a ripple effect of positive change that reverberates far beyond our individual efforts. Let's work hand in hand to build a future where every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. Together, we can make a difference. 💫 #CommunityEmpowerment #CorporateSocialResponsibility #PartnershipsThatMatter https://lnkd.in/dw4VTbUs

* HBCUs make up only 3% of the country's colleges and universities, but enroll 10% of all African American students. * HBCUs confer 24% of Bachelor's degrees earned by African Americans. * 80% of all African American judges graduated from an HBCU * More than 50% of African-American professionals (doctors, lawyers, engineers) graduated from HBCUs. * 70% of African American physicians graduated from an HBCU. * There are 100+ HBCUs located in 19 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. Virgin Islands. * HBCUs' economic impact is $14.8 billion dollars annually. * 1 in 4 African American STEM graduates come from HBCUs. * More than 50% of African American public school teachers graduated from an HBCU. However, the the Racial Inequity Wealth Gap affects African American students and their ability to pay for college. Ninety percent of all undergraduate students at HBCUs received some type of financial aid in 2019–20. True Blue 1881, Inc. seeks to close the gap by removing food, shelter, and economic insecurities that prohibit students from graduating. Currently, we are fundraising for our Save Our Seniors initiative and we are less than $1000 away from meeting our fundraising goal! Please click on the link and watch the video of one of our graduating Seniors, Jeremiah - Morehouse Senior and future astrophysicist- who faced homelessness but is now able to graduate with his balance paid! Please donate to help us reach our goal of helping more students! We humbly thank you for your support. https://lnkd.in/edP8XiUj

A transformative vision is taking shape in Saginaw County, one that is set to transform the very fabric of our community. Led by a coalition of passionate community leaders from education, business, healthcare, and community non-profit, the Community Engagement and Inclusion Council (CEIC) is poised to create a brighter, more inclusive, and equitable future for all in our county. From grassroots conversations to impactful action, 2021 marked the genesis of a movement in Saginaw County. Community leaders, driven by a collective ambition for progress, spearheaded the creation of a robust diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice (DEIBJ) vision and strategic plan. This strategic plan provides a roadmap that promises to propel Saginaw County toward a future where diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice are cornerstones, not aspirations. For questions or to receive additional information, email the CEIC at ceic-info@saginawfoundation.org. Read more about the CEIC strategic plan introduction: https://lnkd.in/gB65qwFK

Announcing one of our top awardees from the 2023 grant cycle, IN! Pathways to Inclusive Higher Education! We are overjoyed to support this organization for the third year whose mission is to create inclusive college opportunities in Colorado for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to foster academic growth, social development, career advancement, and independence. DB's grant will help IN! to fund outreach, engagement, and mentorship that supports students with IDD in southern Colorado on inclusive pathways to achieve self-growth, academic and career advancement, and independent living. "Studies show that students with IDD who were given opportunities to attend and complete higher education achieved a 72-80% employment rate. When given the opportunity, students with IDD benefit greatly from post-secondary education and experience increased access to meaningful socialization, community belonging, independence, and employment" (Tracy Murphy, Executive Director of IN!). You can learn more about IN! Pathways to Inclusive Higher Education at https://lnkd.in/eXTMke2 #grantawardee #disablingbarriers #inclusivecollege #inclusivehighered #grantannouncement #iddcommunity #nonprofitsupport #ruralcommunities #iddsupport #grantrecipient #communitysupport #unmetneeds #inclusiveeducation #southerncolorado #resourcesforchange

Maryland: "One of the centerpieces of his administration is the newly established Department of Service and Civic Innovation, which includes a public service program with two arms, the Service Year Option, for Maryland residents within three years of high school graduation, and Maryland Corps, which is open to a range of applicants. Each provides access to entry-level positions at nonprofits and state agencies, as well as a small number of businesses with a strong service component, such as public health or community development. Participants are paid a minimum of $15 per hour and provided help with transportation and child care, which could otherwise keep out those with fewer support systems. At the end of the minimum nine-month term, all participants get a $6,000 stipend toward college or to cash out for a down payment on a car, for example, or a home." https://lnkd.in/eP5mDzXs

It's official! The Trust for Civic Life has launched! An exciting day for folks building civic infrastructure, particularly in rural communities. From Hollie Russon Gilman, Ph.D.: The Trust is a new philanthropic collaborative and learning network with a simple mission: support local efforts that bring residents together to solve challenges they decide are most critical for their community to thrive. In times of polarization, we believe this is one critical step in the process of rebuilding trust in each other and forging a deeper democracy. https://lnkd.in/gQwUbPPH #democracy

🎉 Big News from the Student Basic Needs Coalition! 🎉 We’re excited to share that SBNC has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. This grant will enable us to expand our peer navigator program to more community colleges, helping thousands of students gain access to SNAP benefits and tackle food insecurity. Community colleges are a vital gateway to education for students from low-income backgrounds, yet many eligible students still face barriers to receiving SNAP benefits. The SNAP gap—where students miss out on benefits they’re entitled to—can have serious consequences, from increased stress to lower academic performance. Thanks to this generous grant, we’re expanding our peer navigator program, where student leaders with lived experience guide their peers through the SNAP application process. These peer navigators play a critical role in reducing stigma and making the process more accessible. We’re also creating a new full-time Campus Program Manager role to oversee these efforts and ensure more students get the support they need. This initiative is about more than just increasing SNAP enrollment—it’s about creating a sustainable model that can be replicated across other schools, amplifying our impact. We’re incredibly grateful to the Annie E. Casey Foundation for their commitment to this crucial work. Stay connected with us as we continue to push forward in our mission to make college more affordable and accessible for all students. Learn more about this initiative and how you can get involved: https://lnkd.in/gsYfE7dz #SocialJustice #StudentAdvocacy #SNAPGap #FoodInsecurity #CommunityColleges #StudentLeaders #SBNC #HigherEducation #CollegeAccess #PeerSupport #NonprofitOrganization #EducationEquity #StudentSuccess #CampusCommunity #AdvocacyWork #SocialImpact #StudentAffairs

On healing Detroit: This week we hosted a roundtable in Detroit with local leaders and practitioners from government, philanthropy, non-profit, educational and faith-based organizations. Capita Senior Fellow Ian Marcus Corbin was joined by members of U.S. Senator Chris Murphy’s team for a conversation on why policy makers should focus on community and common good for a healthy, connected and flourishing America. Here's what we heard: • Hyper-individualism is a shared concern, often leading to isolation and struggles for communities, families and individuals in Detroit. • Mental health is a community-wide issue to be approached through a community well-being lens, rather than a health care lens. • To build solidaristic relationships, mistrust has to be overcome. People often assume relationships are transactional by default. This extends to politics. Government needs to trust people, and make an effort to build bridges between national political leaders and local communities. So, what can political leaders do? • Convene community members, empower them as key stakeholders in their own communities, and listen to their concerns and ideas. Demonstrating interest in what community members have to say and listening to the cause of their struggles will build trust and, in turn, encourage them to become civically engaged. • Start by using public schools as spaces both for education and for community building. • Honor the histories and legacies of cities like Detroit. Place and connection are intertwined and, while historic institutions might be repurposed, their foundations can be preserved.

Today is Giving Tuesday, a day for radical generosity! Every $20 donation helps to provide life-changing information to one more young adult. Megan’s Foundation is a very young tax-exempt 501c(3) non-profit & catalyst for real change & are laser focused on this one thing. Those closest to this issue (Title IX, Counselors, Student Wellness staff) know how desperately this is needed. Having distributed more than $107,000 to colleges and non-profits for programs to prevent relationship violence BEFORE it starts. A few results: at one school, 93% of participants said they now can recognize an unhealthy relationship & would stop it before it escalates. At another school, 87% of young men said they would intervene in a disrespectful situation to prevent it from escalating. Our website has more results: Megansfoundation.org. YOUR gift can empower young adults to hold each other accountable & stop it before it starts!

As a husband, father and professional I share many of the same aspirations as many of you. A future that’s bright and full of good health, prosperity and promise for the generations that follow. As many of our youth become of age to vote, most have little understanding as to how public policy is woven into every aspect of life in America. Like me, you have likely noticed a lack of policy education in schools across the US. There is an immediate need to provide America's youth with a quality civics education, yet most students never learn about the critical systems and policies that shape their lives. To build a better future our team has been hard at work to join forces as a community - to be intentional in our effort to ensure young people have access to the tools they need to understand and engage with policy. In addition to supporting policymakers and engaging the general public on policy matters, our mission is also focused on providing civic education to high school students across America. Our Policy Education Program is active in 15 schools spanning 12 states, in both well-funded rural settings as well as under-served urban districts. Among other fundraising initiatives, we’ve also launched a Giving Tuesday campaign to continue the expansion of the program to 50 schools by Summer 2024. Several members of our community have agreed to match the first $10,000 raised. So, every $35 means $70, every $100 means $200…and so on. This Giving Tuesday, please consider donating to help educate and inform our future generations of voters. We have a big hill to climb and can’t do it without you. I hope you’ll follow us on social media, sign up for our content and support our efforts to make a real difference. Easy to digest, short form information and data without any political spin or bias directly in your inbox. Know the Source - You Decide. #givingtuesday #policyvspolitics #pvp https://lnkd.in/dmv7Kg5e