Teachers don’t get enough recognition, but one Black-owned, female-led business in New York City is trying to change that, and be a model for others.
Elite Media announced an initiative to help a public school in Harlem — and gave its staff a very special surprise with Gayle King.
We all know that teachers don't get enough recognition. Now one black-owned business here in New York City is trying to change that. Add agency. Elite Media is a name. They just launched the schoolies program. It's an initiative to help a public school in Harlem. So we were invited to Teachers College Community School for the announcement and a very special surprise just for the staff. Here's what happened yesterday. Marker. Underline. This quote absolutely feels like a family banana. We're a very small school, so we do have challenges sometimes, but everybody shows up and brings their best 123. I do not feel that I have adequate resources to be able to meet the needs of my staff. Do you agree or disagree? I do my best, but there's always choices. If I spend money one way, it takes away from something else. Elite Media approached me with this great idea about like what do you need where a local business? And we really want to give back to our school community. And we just started brainstorming ideas about what could we do within the partnership. We believe that the school Lees could be a model for other corporations, other brands, other foundations to actually make an impact in their community. And I think a challenge can be put down to say how can we all as companies, small businesses and big corporations. How good each other, how impact each other. I'm so excited because we are about to surprise all of my staff. They do not see this coming. We're going to receive this huge grant or $150,000, which will equivalente around 3000 per staff member and they're going to find out that this grant money is allotted to them. When they walk in, they're thinking they're here for another show for the students. And to find out that all of this, it's all for them. The staff are going to lose their mind. What you do matters. From the bottom of this Harlem communities heart. Thank you. And I have a bit more help for what we have in store next. GAIL, could you help me out with this part? I'm the special surprise. Look what Chris has here. What we want the teachers and the staff to do is reach under your seats. I hear there's a check for $3000 for each of the teachers and the staff. That this gift, this surprise comes with some strings attached. And the strings are you have to spend it on yourself. You have to spend it on yourself. First of all, can we say GAIL King? Hello, it's GAIL King. That was amazing. And then the $3000 from my lead media comes out and then he purchases and we're like, we're still trying to figure out if it's real or not, but it's super, super exciting. The recognition means a lot because as a teacher we do a lot for the community and the kids and people don't understand that it takes a village to raise kids. And every day it is a difficult challenge, but this is something that we love, so we come and put our best foot forward. And as long as we have one kid, we achieved for the day. Wow, I know that is how they feel. This money for the school staff is only the 1st of several phases of elite media schoolies go elite media. This is amazing what you're doing. They plan on beautifying the school, enriching the curriculum and even providing their own staff is grant writers so the school can secure even more resources. And Mrs. V, who's a principal, yesterday was her birthday. Oh my God. So in addition to all of that, they brought out a cake and cupcakes and saying happy. So she was caught off guard by that. It was like surprise after surprise after surprise, but all of us. Have teachers that my sister's a teacher. Your mom was a teacher, you know, and love it. Yeah. We can all remember all the work they did, our lives, the teachers that impacted us. And I love what you said, GAIL, about there being no strings attached because you know that teachers sometimes when they get a little extra money, where do they give to others? They give to others or they spend on their kids. Yeah. And so the idea of spending it on yourself is such an important. That was a wonderful parent. You get to do a lot of cool things in your life, living the Gayle King life, but that's a very special. I thought that was really nice, really cool. They asked us if we wanted to participate and we went, yes, yes, please. Can we do? Can we do Also, the beautifying the school thing is a big deal. It's kind of like if you have new uniforms, you play better, you look good, you play good. Yes. So how does it go? If you look good, you feel good, play good, and you get paid and you get paid good, right? That's right.
I agree with everything Ted Hulick says in his response to maniacal Joe Biden. you can counter everything with one sentence.
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In 2008, back when elections were mostly pure, a country we call the United States who now is supposedly the most racist on the planet, elected a black (biracial, but that is the devil in the details) man to be President. Debate over.
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The man, BHO had the perfect storm to take this country to a place in race relations that were already the best they had ever been to stratospheric levels, and make lives better for everyone along the way. Instead, he divided the country like no other President before him and was protected under the shroud of the very race card he used and still does. He embedded Marxist followers in every level of government that are doing great harm today and if we are to save the country, major disrupting changes to government have to occur.
The difference is BHO was clever, and intelligent enough to go just to the edge with his rhetoric and his visible actions protected every step of the way because they relied on and still do the fact that most Americans are trusting and very naive to think the government has turned against them. But they are waking up now.
Joe Biden is the front man, and the players simply don't care about the destruction or the perception along the way. They break laws every day or ignore them. They think the stars have aligned to get to the goal line of total control and power.
They are sadly mistaken. Joe Biden is a disgusting human and represents everything I can possibly disagree with that matters. As someone who spent over 20 years in uniform defending what this country is supposed to stand for, I feel betrayed to the core for what has happened to it in the last 17 years.
Expert Full Stack Observability Product Architect (Performance and Security) - Patent Committee Chairman - Board Advisor - Mentor - Innovator - Entrepreneur -
Veteran - Christian - Patriot - my views are mine only...
Probably one of the most anti-American and de-motivational speeches I've watched - and it's from a man who wants 4 more years in office - on what is supposed to be a very special day...
He is giving a graduation speech - normally these speeches are supposed to be upliving - painting a picture of a bright future in America just waiting for you.
But not Joe Biden - he essentially tells these new graduates that America is an awful and racist country - that they have to work 10 times harder (due to their race) than the average American to get a fair shake - then he moves on to talk about how high the risk is that they will be killed in the streets of America.
Wow - that's America? That's my country? Why would anyone want to live here?
As for them - they spent all this time in college to build a career - and now he's telling them they wasted their time - it's hopeless - they can't succeed in this country - it's just too racist for them to overcome.
It's really a disgrace - I think every American should listen to this speech - it is absolutely a "smear" on this country....
And my question to him would be - he's been president almost 4 years now - what has he done to improve their chances for success in this country? I mean he acts like he is just a bystander - powerless to do anything to help when he's been the president for 4 years - if he really thought things were this horrible - what's he done to fix it?
From his speech (these are the words that really stand out):
The pandemic robbed you of so much. Some of you lost loved ones -- mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, who were -- aren’t able to be here to celebrate with you today -- today. You missed your high school graduation. You started college just as George Floyd was murdered and there was a reckoning on race.
It’s natural to wonder if democracy you hear about actually works for you.
What is democracy if Black men are being killed in the street?
What is democracy if a trail of broken promises still leave Black -- Black communities behind?
What is democracy if you have to be 10 times better than anyone else to get a fair shot?
And most of all, what does it mean, as we’ve heard before, to be a Black man who loves his country even if it doesn’t love him back in equal measure? (Applause.)
Back to me:
Wow - that's your graduation message? You love your country - but sorry it does not love you back. You have to work 10 times harder? A trail of broken promises is leaving you and your community behind? Democracy does not exist as black men are killed in the street?
Very uplifting - what a nice motivational speech for these new graduates to get them ready to go tackle their dreams...
What a disgrace for a sittiing US president to say these things to these young men on a day where they should be on "cloud 9"....
Views are mine only....
We need to get real about the impact of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision.
Lifting up the the triumphs of Black educators, the strategies from our legacy trailblazers across communities of color, and our collective healing, we honor the decision during the 70th anniversary. What do we need to do now for education equity, and how can we do that as a collective?
Join us for a 3-part webinar series to understand intergenerational and intercultural wisdom, and get candid about policy progressions and regressions 70 years later. Together, we can mark a healing path forward.
Register at bit.ly/WhatNowWebinar1#BrownvBoard#RacialJustice#EducationEquity#Education#PolicyChange#Webinar#SocialJustice
"Fifty years ago, a federal judge ordered Boston to integrate its public school system through busing. Black families hoped the decision would lead to better educational opportunities and fairer outcomes for their children. But it never happened. Instead, Boston’s public schools remain segregated and the academic outcomes of the students they serve are unequal. It is the biggest broken promise in the city’s modern history."
Learn more about the history of busing and school segregation in Boston: https://lnkd.in/ez_6bqVm
And, if you want to learn more about the nation's history of school segregation and how funders can get involved in school integration, check out our work on Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive K-12 Public Schools: https://lnkd.in/eHpr9eUa
Let's switch up perspective a little bit from #CustomerService (but not really)...
Last night, I attended the African-American Council Board Meeting in my son's school district to learn more about the district and its resources. While great initiatives were discussed for black and brown students, I found myself in tears, consoling a Black educator and two parents of black and biracial children, all of whom had been called the "N-word"—by staff members and parents. One parent even shared that their 8-year-old child was physically attacked and called the "N-word" by another parent.
The responses from the specific school in the district were minimal, with no meaningful resolution and no accountability for the staff involved. These incidents are being escalated, but current policies lack enforcement and consequences for hate speech. And remember, we’re talking about children.
Only 6% of the district's students are Black, including my son—around 2300 students. Hearing these stories in what is supposed to be a safe space was heartbreaking, & triggering.
It reminded me of moments I’ve spent sitting with customer support agents & leaders who were subjected to racist remarks from customers. Consoling them, advocating for them, and working within systems that too often fail to protect their humanity over revenue. Then having to finish out their shifts & serve with a smile.
Definitely needed the outside air today to do my work. Choose kindness & self-awareness.
Powerful data, powerful commentary.
Pew Research Center found that 71% of teachers feel they don’t have enough influence over the curriculum. 58% of teachers felt the state has too much influence. 64% said that students should learn about how slavery still affects Black people in America today while a quarter think they should learn about slavery, but don’t think it has an impact on Black people today.
This is why organizations like Crayons & Culture exist! Through parent/educator/community partnerships, we co-create curriculum that is relevant to the optimal success of our students.
✅ Educators are empowered
✅ Families are empowered
✅ Students are empowered
Visit: www.crayonsandculture.com to learn more! Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on our current and future programs!
Consultant|Urban Educator|Change Agent|Educational Speaker|Forever A Teacher|
Co-Author of Unpacking the PA Culturally Relevant Sustaining Education Competencies
Remembering Stephen Lawrence: A Day of Reflection and Hope
Today, on Stephen Lawrence Day, we honour the life and legacy of a young man whose tragic death sparked a pivotal moment in race relations.
Stephen Lawrence was a black teenager who lost his life 31 years ago in a racially motivated attack. His story serves as a stark reminder that we must continue to address racism and promote equality in our society.
Why Stephen Lawrence Day Matters
Remembering Lives Lost: Stephen’s death is not just about him; it’s about all the lives lost due to prejudice and violence. Let’s remember them, even if we don’t always know their names
Inspiration from Tragedy: Despite the injustice of his death, Stephen left an indelible impact on British society (and me on a personal level). His legacy inspires us to live our best lives and create opportunities for others
Hope and Joy: Stephen’s legacy reminds us to find hope and joy even in tough times. Let’s celebrate our young people and their futures.
Learn More Visit the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation (https://lnkd.in/esj5FtVr) to learn how you can contribute to a fairer and more inclusive world.
#PowerOfLearning24#StephenLawrenceDayPledge#SLD24#StephenLawrenceDay#StephenLawrence#BecauseOfStephen#ALegacyOfChange#LiveYourBestLife#HPmulticulturalBRG
The Complex Tapestry of School Selection: Navigating the 'Head vs. Heart' Dilemma Faced by Black Parents
Navigating the complex journey of school selection isn't just about academics—it's a heartfelt decision, especially for Black parents. Join the conversation on the "Head vs. Heart" dilemma, exploring the challenges, trade-offs, and proactive strategies to create more equitable and inclusive educational environments.
https://lnkd.in/eyGVtgdk
According to the Hechinger Report, Black male teachers can play a pivotal role in reducing disciplinary disparities in turnaround schools. Their presence can lead to more culturally responsive teaching and better student-teacher relationships, which are essential for creating supportive and effective learning environments. Let’s advocate for more Black male teachers in our schools. #CulturallyResponsiveTeaching#DisciplineDisparities
This is a wonderful initiative!