LeadHERboard’s Post

Today marks the start of Black History Month. We look forward to sharing some of our favorite resources with you to celebrate the culture and contributions of Black people in the US, particularly in early childhood education, and to help your organization continue to ensure that all cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds are represented, included, and served in your work. In education and childcare, in particular, we have many layers of people to consider: the movers and shakers at the systems level, the educators in the classrooms, the administrators, the families, and, of course, the children. So where to start? Well, as we continue our work in building better systems for all children, we need to understand our history and follow the money. It does little to lift up voices if the voices are falling on deaf ears…or ears who don’t understand the context and history. This is one of the points raised by Dr. William (Billy) Johnson on this episode of Impacting the Classroom. He and Keami Harris discuss the roots of early childhood education in the US, and how Black women shaped its evolution and the policies that ensued. They also discuss funding and the barriers families and child centers face. It is helpful history and context as we evaluate how to build better systems and distribute funding. #funding #earlychildhoodeducation #childcare #blackhistorymonth https://lnkd.in/erdf9RWi

“Critics of conversation-based bridging programs worry that selection bias is at work: Only people already concerned about divides may opt to participate. Some efforts aim to get around this: In Unify America’s college programming, for example, professors make participation mandatory in their classes." Thanks to The Chronicle of Philanthropy for diving into the art of bridging divides and the full picture of critiques and evidence behind the work. #unifychallenge #bridgebuilding https://hubs.li/Q02t3LXZ0

Resource from Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (report and webinar): "How to Talk Bridge-y" Since 2019, PACE has been leading research on the impressions and relationships American voters have with various civic terms, surveying thousands and gaining rich insights about the power of words to connect and divide us from people different than ourselves. Along the way, we were compelled by the challenge many face in philanthropy and in civic life broadly: finding ways to appeal to a broad audience without sending unintended signals that halt a conversation before it even begins. In this groundbreaking report ... [Read more!] https://buff.ly/3vmeqU0

First, thank you Mia Hooper for connecting me to this opportunity. Last week, I facilitated Equity Training for the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division, where I'm serving as one of their Equity Facilitators for the Thrive and Elevate Grant Panels from late August into September. These grants fund creative, administrative, and operational expenses for cultural organizations, individual artists, and creative businesses that produce culturally vibrant and diverse artistic content for the public. Funding priorities include: 🌍 Serving and/or being accountable to communities at immediate risk of cultural erasure and displacement. 🌟 Representing communities experiencing institutional marginalization. 📊 Demonstrating a measurable commitment to equity in leadership and programming. 🚀 Overcoming barriers to access. As a biracial queer person from a low-income background, my journey is deeply intertwined with the pursuit of equity. I feel a responsibility to uplift others, ensuring the arts are seen as essential to human development. I'm committed to enforcing social justice within the arts, believing everyone has the right not only to arts education but to the arts as a whole. The power of community in catalyzing transformational change is immense. Collaborative efforts often yield greater impact. It’s a privilege to do this work, and it’s exciting to see this role in philanthropy, a field that can perpetuate oppression in communities that face marginalization. Equity is a journey, not a destination. As society evolves, so must our understanding and implementation of equity. In granting, equity ensures resources and opportunities are distributed to address historical and systemic inequities. Philanthropy, historically dominated by wealthy white individuals, must evolve. This involves dismantling traditional power structures and redistributing decision-making power. Authentic equity is achieved by creating spaces where communities can shape the systems that impact them, ensuring their voices have a tangible influence on outcomes. Addressing racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, xenophobia, and other forms of marginalization is essential. The value of collective benefit reminds us that the wins of the oppressed are wins for us all. I look forward to advancing equity through this grant process to authentically actualize dreams. #Arts #Culture #Philanthropy #Equity #Grants #Facilitation #SocialJustice #CommunityEngagement #DEI #Nonprofit #ArtFunding #CulturalEquity #CreativeCommunities #Austin #Texas

always with vision and wisdom, Maheen Kaleem

It is important for all of us to advocate and champion diverse groups to ensure a culture of inclusion and that diverse voices are heard. I am so proud of the work the whole Auspicious Group does in the space. This film from Blue Chalk Media highlights why equality matters in the formative years and as the films says - 'when education is equitable, students become leaders'. Research also tells us that diverse teams produce better results. But cultivating a truly inclusive culture takes ongoing commitment. In today's rapidly evolving global landscape, a strong DEI strategy isn't just admirable - it's essential for long-term success. Unlocking the power of diversity starts with building a culture where everyone belongs. https://lnkd.in/eudramP4

At 318 Foundation, we do something. We don't sit back and watch—we take action to create opportunities for young girls who need it. Michelle Obama's words at the 2024 DNC resonate deeply: "Our responsibility is to give more than we take. Don't just sit down and complain—do something!" These words remind us of the critical role each of us plays in creating meaningful change. Advocacy isn't passive—it demands active participation in building a better future for the communities we serve. At 318 Foundation, we aim to close the opportunity gap for Black girls and historically marginalized communities. Through our transformative programs—318 VISION, 318 ACTION, and 318 SPORTS—we offer immersive experiences, mentorship, and transformative training to equip young women with the tools they need to succeed. We empower these girls to confidently navigate academic and professional pathways by fostering self-expression, leadership, and elite athletic development. Voting is a fundamental part of this empowerment. Encouraging civic participation, especially for underrepresented groups, is critical in shaping policies that affect our communities. At 318 Foundation, we advocate for this level of engagement, teaching the next generation that their voice matters in every arena, including at the polls. Partners like you make this possible. Your support is an investment in our programs and the future of these young women. We create opportunities to ensure a brighter future for those historically overlooked. Join us in empowering the next generation—donate now at https://hubs.li/Q02PxxSM0 #318Foundation #VotingAdvocacy #ClosingTheGap #DoSomething #SocialImpact

Measuring the impact of our work is fundamental to what we do at Chapter One. We are determined to provide robust evidence of the efficacy of our reading volunteer programme for our school partners, our corporate partners and our funders. Hear what Julie Bennett, our Evidence and Impact Manager, has to say about what’s next for Chapter One in terms of impact, including our plans to: 🗣️ Capture the voices of our children 📍 Collect place-based case studies 🔎 Refine our Theory of Change Read our Impact Report report: https://bit.ly/3Ueme4g #ChapterOne #itallstartswithliteracy #employeewellbeing #socialvalue #socialimpact #socialmobility #literacy #corporatepartnerships #corporatevolunteering #employeevolunteering

After several weeks hosting our passive program where kids could vote for dragons or unicorns (and learn about the magical candidates, explore voting resources and activities, talk with their caregivers about voting, and get their "I Voted" sticker), the results are in. 371 ballots were submitted. 160 ballots were cast for unicorns. 211 ballots were cast for dragons. The winner is .... dragons! Fortunately, your library has books about unicorns, dragons, and all your favorite magical creatures and cryptids to explore! Thanks to Canva, we created several kinds of charts to make the results visible - and show the impact of every vote. Both the voting booth - and our results display - offer opportunities for caregivers to have conversations with their children about the election, civic engagement, their voting plans, their local polling place, and how they can raise their voice. As Tufts University’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Engagement 2022 report states, “Social connections and a sense of belonging are foundational to civic engagement… It is never too early to start building civic responsibility: Talk in children’s and teen programs about voting as one of the tools people use to improve our communities.” Source: https://lnkd.in/gZB-UCBQ #LibraryProgram #CivicEngagement #CommunityEngagement #Literacy #Civics #Nonfiction #LooktoLibraries

The economic impact of Milwaukee's arts nonprofits totaled over $330,000,000 in 2022, according to a recent study by Americans for the Arts. "That is more than the spending in some entire states in the country," says Lafayette Crump, Commissioner of Milwaukee's Department of City Development. "It's a fantastic boost to our economy...and opportunity to grow and impact our built environment even more." These findings prove that deliberate investment in the arts has the potential to make a substantial positive impact on our city's future. How can we rally our local leaders to commit to this important investment? Americans for the Arts City of Milwaukee Partners: Associated Bank Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation