This week the Schott Foundation held a funder’s briefing and reception at the Ford Foundation in New York City. More than 30 funders attended a panel discussion and group conversations with our partners about the importance of grassroots organizing for education justice. Kicked off with framing remarks by Schott President & CEO Dr. John H. Jackson and Vice President Edgar Villanueva, panelists included Step Up Louisiana’s co-founder Maria Harmon, Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools Director Keron Blair, and Schott Board member & Youth on Board Director of Special Projects Carlos Rojas Álvarez, moderated by Schott’s Director of Programs & Advocacy Marianna Islam. Sanjiv Rao, Director of Civic Engagement and Government at the Ford Foundation, closed the session by emphasizing Ford’s partnership with Schott to build increased support for grassroots groups.

“For 400 years, Black people have been tethered to a traumatic ecosystem… The chains may have been removed, but the tethers remain.” – @DrJohnHJackson #FundEdJustice pic.twitter.com/ms642tck1j

— Schott Foundation (@SchottFound) August 21, 2019

“We know what has happened over the last 25 months and the oxygen that has infused Racism. Racism cannot be cured in one grant cycle.” @DrJohnHJackson
I’ll add or 2 or 3 or 5@SchottFound #FundEdJustice

— Joanne N. Smith (@JoanneNSmith) August 21, 2019

Maria of @StepUpLA taking about how she started organizing at the age of 16. #FundEdJustice pic.twitter.com/iJKgeEh2pC

— Schott Foundation (@SchottFound) August 21, 2019

“Schott has been a family where youth organizers can have real power and space” #FundEdJustice #FundPublicEducation

— Schott Foundation (@SchottFound) August 21, 2019

@SaysCarlosRojas #FundEdJustice @SchottFound “We (Youth on Board) have incubated a space where parents, teachers, and students can all hold hands and walk in unity.” pic.twitter.com/xDmgoGQFjB

— JusticeWarrior (@RealAnikaWhit) August 21, 2019

.@MariannaIslam asking @Keronblair what are the most important building blocks of the education justice movement. #FundEdJustice pic.twitter.com/cLpnhbFmrG

— Schott Foundation (@SchottFound) August 21, 2019

#FundEdJustice @SchottFound
Thanks to the Ford Foundation for Social Justice for being great hosts! Schott Foundation for Public Education NOTL pic.twitter.com/aJ6hEiHMbc

— JusticeWarrior (@RealAnikaWhit) August 21, 2019

The funder’s briefing was preceded by a two-day intensive training for our grassroots partners in fundraising and navigating the philanthropic world.

Learn more here