Author: Visceral Dev Admin

On behalf of the Schott Foundation for Public Education, I would like to take this moment to congratulate Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum for being selected as the Democratic nominee for governor of the state of Florida. The media called it an upset victory, and certainly the results defied the experts and pundits. But I’ve known Andrew Gillum for close to two decades, as a friend, staunch advocate for an opportunity to learn for all students and ultimately as a colleague as a member of the Schott Foundation Board of Directors. Defying the odds is what Andrew does. Since his first election to the Tallahassee City Commission as a student, its youngest ever member, continuing throughout his career as a public servant, he has brought indefatigable energy, deep thoughtfulness, a compelling vision and courage to every organizing endeavor. Organizing — bringing people together, encouraging them to believe in themselves and what they can achieve together. Florida’s primary voters clearly saw these qualities in Andrew when they propelled him to victory.

On Thursday, August 2, Jeff Bryant of the Education Opportunity Network moderated a Netroots Nation panel on education privatization in New Orleans, and the lessons we can learn from the struggle of New Orleans residents to reclaim their public schools.

Our new office has a wonderful view of the Boston skyline, and it’s close to some of our grantee and philanthropic partners. We hope you’ll visit!

We must continue to stand with our brothers and sisters from other nations that are fighting for their human rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We also have an opportunity to use this moment and the power of our collective passion to fight against the family separation that has become common place in America over the past several decades, often unnoticed and without the same passion and resistance. Any time we lock up adults or children for nonviolent crimes, instead of showing compassion for their situation and a productive path forward, we are separating families. Instead, we need to adopt Loving Systems. Systems that take individual circumstances into consideration and create access to supports and rehabilitation that keep families together and enable them to thrive.

More than a hundred people attended the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance’s (MEJA) first statewide convening in late June. Held in central Massachusetts, organizers and representatives from community, parent, youth, and educator groups from across the commonwealth gathered for a day of strategizing, network-building and inspiration to help build a stronger network to fight for public education.

Schott has been examining the adoption of whole-child supports in schools and communities across the country as part of our newly launched Healthy Living and Learning Initiative. Schott’s SVP, Cassie Schwerner, was invited to Cincinnati to see how whole-child approaches have been adopted to provide students with health services, early learning opportunities and other needs that holistically support their learning and development. While there’s an incredible amount of public and private programs and initiatives taking shape in the city, there were three programs that really stood out as the epitome of healthy living and learning.