WSFS Bank’s Post

✊🏿 Happy Juneteenth SBAN Network! Today we honor the symbol of freedom that 250,000 freed enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas represent while recognizing that true freedom requires a persistent, collective commitment to embedding racial justice in all our work. For SBAN, that means supporting research and efforts on the ground that secure the future of Black-led businesses through community ownership. ------- 📍 One of our Community Ownership Case Study Awardees, Partnership in Property Commercial Land Trust (PIPCLT) is securing commercial property to hold “in trust” indefinitely in Minneapolis so the land will remain affordable to BIPOC business owners in perpetuity. In PIPCLT’s words, their vision is to “create neighborhoods that reflect the economic, cultural, and social wealth of the community, where local BIPOC businesses can thrive, residents have decision-making power and ownership of land, and together build a vibrant, human-centered economy. This approach disrupts systems of racialized capitalism that have historically marginalized BIPOC communities from property ownership and economic opportunities.” 👏🏿 SBAN is proud to be a part of this growing movement and looks forward to sharing more in-depth stories from these case studies later this year! #antidisplacement #Juneteenth #communityownership

The call for reparations for the American Descendants of Slaves (ADOS) is justified by the historical evidence of failed policies that have disproportionately harmed this community. Exhibit C: Education One of the key areas where this historical evidence can be seen is in education, specifically in the form of the school-to-prison pipeline that has plagued urban communities, particularly those predominantly African American, for decades. This pipeline refers to the direct and indirect pathways that push students out of schools and into the criminal justice system, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and incarceration that disproportionately affects black students. One of the most profound examples of the school-to-prison pipeline can be seen in the megalopolis from the 1960s to present day. In the 1960s, as the civil rights movement gained traction and efforts were made to desegregate schools, black students were met with fierce resistance. Rather than being granted equal access to quality education, many black students were subjected to substandard resources and discriminatory practices that hindered their academic success. This lack of investment in black communities laid the foundation for the disparities that continue to exist today. As the War on Drugs was declared in the 1980s, punitive measures were implemented in schools that disproportionately targeted black students. Zero-tolerance policies were put in place, resulting in the increased suspension and expulsion rates for black students compared to their white counterparts. Instead of addressing the root causes of disruptive behavior, these policies pushed black students out of the education system and into the criminal justice system, setting them on a path towards incarceration. The consequences of these failed policies are evident in the statistics. In the megalopolis, black students are more likely to attend underfunded schools with fewer resources and qualified teachers. According to a report by the U.S. Department of Education, black students are more than three times as likely to be suspended or expelled compared to white students. This disparity starts as early as preschool, where black children are disproportionately disciplined for minor infractions, setting them on a trajectory towards involvement in the criminal justice system. To conclude, to effectively tackle the systemic barriers that have impeded the educational and economic progress of black individuals, reparations can pave the way. #civicengagement #policychange

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The #NAACP dropped a resolution on charter schools, and some folks are acting like Black people can’t have a mind of their own. You can be Black. You can be proud. And you can DEFINITELY want to choose your child’s school. #SorryNotSorry this ain’t just about charter schools, it’s about choice. For Black families, opportunity hasn’t always been abundant. We’ve had to fight for everything we have, including the right to choose what’s best for our kids. This isn’t about abandoning public schools, it’s about having options. The narrative around charter schools used to have me singing the same tune. Grandparents were educators, I led racial justice movements – the anti-charter school message was all I knew. Times change, and education needs to evolve too. Some public schools are amazing, some... not so much. Choice empowers parents to find the environment where their child can thrive. This isn’t about blind support for charter schools – it’s about demanding quality education for ALL kids, regardless of zip code or race. #EquityInEducation So, let’s move beyond the stereotypes. Black families deserve a seat at the table, a voice in their child’s education, and the right to choose the path to success. What are your thoughts on school choice? Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments! #UnitedWeEducate #BlackExcellence #SchoolChoiceForTheFuture #PowerToThePeople #EveryKidThrives #BreakingTheCycle https://lnkd.in/eh8qWXB8

Systemic Barriers to Literacy It's crucial to address the reading struggles of our children, especially our Black children, who often face systemic barriers to literacy. Silence or inaction can perpetuate the gap and hinder their future opportunities. Now is the time to: 1. Acknowledge the issue and its root causes 2. Provide targeted support and resources 3. Foster a love for reading and learning 4. Address systemic inequalities in education 5. Empower parents, educators, and communities to advocate for change By speaking out and taking action, we can help ensure our Black children receive the literacy support they deserve and thrive in school and beyond. Some potential solutions include: 1. Culturally responsive teaching practices 2. Diverse and inclusive reading materials 3. Early intervention and reading support programs 4. Community-based literacy initiatives 5. Policy reforms addressing systemic inequalities Let's work together to create a more equitable and literate future for all our children!

The Power of Investing in Black Communities: Nurturing Our Greatest Assets Discover the true value of investing in Black communities and the importance of being a positive influence on our children. Explore the impact of education, building businesses, and empowering our youth for a brighter future. Join the conversation on nurturing and valuing our greatest assets. #BlackCommunityInvestment #YouthEmpowerment #BuildingBusinesses #EducationMatters #PositiveInfluence #InvestingInOurChildren #EqualityAndOpportunity #EmpoweringFutureGenerations #ImproveOurCommunities #CreatingABrighterFuture

Happy Saturday Community, I am posting this picture to get your attention! Yes, I am! Why you ask? Two reasons: Firstly, I want to let you know that OISE will be hosting an open house on Oct 5th for ALL programs, and I will have a session to talk about #BFEP. This is your chance to register and pull up (Please don't send me private messages to talk to me about the program - I don't have the capacity - #selfcare #worksmart. I also have some fantastic Black folks in the community who ask me about doing their masters at OISE - come get the information. I will also host very special #BFEP outreach sessions ONLINE on November 12th at 6 p.m. and again on November 16th at 10 am. Look out soon for those posters and registration links. Tell the FUTURE BLACK TEACHERS to come and listen, even if they are not interesting in attending OISE for their training, let them know I am addressing Black community and so it is going to a #POURING in - periodT!!! Secondly, I want you to be very #mindful ( not necessarily #demure) and know that when you see programs like these, they are about access. Why? Many of our universities for years and still today have systems in place that have prevented Black folks and others from gaining access. Many today still have oppressive practices that even when Black folks show up, they find it hard to thrive, so we are constantly in #resilence mode. I had a deep chat in my class a few nights ago to explain why many of us, as Black folks, are in constant #resilnce mode. Yes, I have a bow, and many deserving bows, to be exact. These are the things I have accomplished based on my #resilence. However, I want to be very clear that systematic racism and #antiblackness and associated practices have caused us to be in that constant mode. Imagine a life where barriers are removed and a life where #rest and #access and #love and #care and #respect and #opportunities and #fairness are provided. Just know when you desire to be in spaces like these, never question if you deserve to be there - yes, you do! #wedeservesoftness

🎒 NEW CASE STUDY: The Black Mothers Forum (BMF), established in 2016 to combat institutional racism in Phoenix-area schools, responded to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic by creating a network of microschools. With Black leadership and a focus on racial justice, BMF fills a unique niche in a region where Black families are often underrepresented. In 2022, CRPE documented BMF's efforts to launch these microschools.  Our newest case study from Travis Pillow and Eupha Jeanne Daramola revisits Black Mothers Forum, with an eye toward the pedagogical tensions and questions of sustainability. From a single location, the BMF’s network has grown to five microschools across two locations, with plans to start more microschools in the 2023-24 school year. Arizona’s school funding laws provide support for these microschools to operate, but are they sustainable? Learn more:

💡 The educational landscape for Black boys in America is fraught with systemic challenges that create barriers to success. To create a more equitable system, we must implement tangible policy changes. Here are the focus areas I believe to be paramount: ✔️ Restorative Justice Practices: Replace zero-tolerance policies with restorative justice practices. These practices focus on mediation and agreement rather than punishment, reducing suspension rates and keeping students engaged in their education. This ideological framework ANTI-CARCERAL. Follow me to learn more. ✊🏾 ✔️ Equitable Funding: Advocate for equitable funding in education. Schools in predominantly Black and low-income communities often receive less funding, resulting in fewer resources and opportunities. We need policies that ensure all schools have the funding they need to support their students. 💰 ✔️ Teacher Diversity Initiatives: Promote policies that aim to increase the diversity of the teaching workforce. Diverse educators can provide relatable role models for Black boys and help to create a more inclusive and understanding school environment. 🌐 By focusing on these policy changes and others, we can create an educational system that supports and uplifts Black boys, helping them to reach their full potential. Check out my TEDx talk here: https://lnkd.in/e4h6t-5i #EducationalEquity #PolicyChange #RestorativeJustice #EquitableFunding #TeacherDiversity

Building Bridges, Not Just Checking Boxes: Rethinking Youth Engagement in Under-resourced Communities After 50 years of engaging with youth of color in under-resourced communities, I've seen what real mentorship can achieve. From my beginnings in a predominantly Black community to roles in the City of Carson, California Youth Authority, and beyond, the real victories are not in the accolades I've received but in the lives, we've changed. Yet, too often, our approaches fail these young minds. Instead of genuine connection, we see transactional interactions—quick checks on a list rather than building relationships that foster trust and growth. This isn't just flawed; it's a systemic issue rooted in biases that see these young individuals more as problems than as potentials. Our current systems prioritize numbers over impact, with short-sighted metrics that overlook the true needs of these communities. We see preventive and even punitive program designs that stem from misguided perceptions of Black youth, perpetuated by stereotypes that only serve to lower expectations and squeeze funding. The nonprofit sector, despite its best intentions, can aggravate these issues by spreading resources too thinly, opting for short-term "pop-up" engagements that destabilize rather than build trust. In the Black community, trust is not just about performance; it's about consistency and predictability. At Bridge Builders, we're doing things differently. Our summer camps serve as a beacon of trust for parents checking if we are the right fit for their children. By committing to be "of the community and for the community," we've become a trusted pillar, supported by over 70 dedicated volunteers who help us nurture over 700 youths annually. The path forward is clear: we need long-term investments in the ecosystems surrounding our youth. This means not just engaging with the youth themselves but supporting their families, schools, and communities to foster sustainable growth and change. Our youth are not problems to be managed but potentials to be nurtured. Let's commit to meaningful, long-lasting relationships that empower rather than stifle. Let’s build more bridges with long-term commitments and check fewer boxes with short-lived solutions. It's time for change. The future of our communities depends on it. Join us in this mission. #YouthEmpowerment #CommunityBuilding #bridgebuildersla