Centering Racial Equity in Schools at the Ballot Box
As we get closer to this year’s midterm elections, I’m reminded of the lingering impact all elections have — especially for Black, Brown, Indigenous, and Asian American communities.
An End of Year Reflection from Nellie Mae Interim President & CEO, Dr. Gislaine N. Ngounou
Posted by Nellie Mae Ed. Fdn. Photo by Allison Shelley for EDUimages When our organization sat down to write an end-of-year reflection in December of 2020, I felt a flicker of light and hope to shine in the distance. After one of the most challenging years for many of us, 2021 promised a light:…
Open Letter: Teach Us Everything
Posted by Julita Bailey-Vasco Here at Nellie Mae, we are committed to equitable public education and teaching the truth, and those values are under attack from special interests who do not actually care about our students. We are taking a stand in support of education alongside our partners in this week’s Sunday edition of…
Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month: Our Stories Part One
Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month: Our Stories Part One Posted by Chiara Wegener As Latinx Heritage Month comes to a close, we’d like to share some reflections from Nellie Mae’s staff and board members on what their heritage means to them. Read these personal and important stories below. DELIA ARELLANO-WEDDLETON, DIRECTOR OF ENGAGEMENT…
Funders, It’s Necessary to Support Healing and Rest
Posted by Dr. Gislaine N. Ngounou and Nellie Mae Ed. Fdn. In a year unlike any other, marked by a global pandemic and persistent racism and violence, we must reckon with what it means to not simply go back to “the way things were.” The way things were was not working for far too…
Examining Student-Centered Learning Through a Racial Equity Lens
Posted by Nick Donohue Over the past decade and in partnership with many educators, organizers, and communities across the region, the Foundation has played a part in advancing personalized, student-centered approaches to learning across the New England region. This approach has been rooted in assumptions that traditional approaches are not sufficient to address the…
A Letter from Our Youth Advisors
Photo by Juan Carlos Becerra on Unsplash, Posted by Nellie Mae Ed. Fdn. To the United States Secretary of Education Dear Secretary of Education Cardona, Congratulations on your confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Education, and the wonderful opportunity to support young people nationwide. We attend public schools in Lawrence, Mass. and are members of Elevated Thought, an art…
Hope for a Brighter Future
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash, Posted by Chiara Wegener This new year has caused me to pause and reflect over the past 12 months. The events of the past year have made me even more aware of hope that I have for a brighter future for me, my family, and the youth that I have…
Protecting Our Democracy
Posted by Nellie Mae Ed. Fdn. Today, runoff races in Georgia reminded us of what is possible when the extraordinary power of organizing and voting is exercised. However, those outcomes were met by the sobering reminder of the fragile state of democracy in our country. We want to acknowledge the pain and distress many…
Reflections and Hope
Photo by Adi Goldstein on Unsplash, Posted by Nellie Mae Ed. Fdn. 2020: a year unlike any other, plagued by a pandemic, death, job loss, evictions, and the continued murders of Black people at the hands of law enforcement. And at the same time, we have seen communities come together, respond with strength and love to…