The Schott Foundation for Public Education is pleased to announce that Diallo Brooks is joining Schott as Senior Vice President of Programs and Advocacy. In this position, Diallo will lead all programmatic efforts, working closely with grantees and external stakeholders to cultivate and support effective campaigns, cultivate social justice philanthropy and be a leading force in responding to our national challenges.

“We are very pleased to welcome Diallo, a leader in the fight for social justice and civil rights, focused on strategic collaboration with leaders, coalitions and institutions to dismantle systemic barriers and advance racial equity,” said John H. Jackson, Schott President and CEO. “Diallo’s rich background in policy, advocacy and programs will be a tremendous asset to Schott, our partners, and the philanthropic sector.”

Most recently, Diallo Brooks served as Sr. Director of Field Mobilization at People For the American Way (People For), working as a national spokesperson on issues including civil rights, voting rights, and civic engagement. Diallo also led People For’s reimagining public safety initiative to reform policing in cities across the country as well as People For’s Defend the Black Vote, a nation-wide fight against voter suppression, which successfully engaged millions of Black voters in the 2021 elections. Previously, as the Director of Legislator Relations at the Center for Policy Alternatives, Diallo built strategic partnerships with state legislators and state policy experts to advance progressive agendas.

Brooks is a board member of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and former board member of Network for Public Education Action. Brooks is a graduate of Shepherd University where he earned a B.S. degree in political science. He will begin working at Schott on August 12, 2021.

Schott Congratulates Dr. Leah Austin, National Opportunity to Learn Network Director, on Selection as NBCDI President and CEO

The Schott Foundation applauds the selection of Dr. Leah Austin as the next President and CEO of the National Black Child Development Institute.

“Leah has shared her talents with Schott in many ways, as a relationship-based grantmaker, OTL Network builder and #JusticeIsTheFoundation co-architect,” said John H. Jackson, Schott President and CEO. “We celebrate Leah’s new leadership opportunity. While we know our collaboration will continue on building systems to provide all students an opportunity to learn, she will be greatly missed.”

Dr. Austin has been a key leader in the progress of Schott’s National Opportunity to Learn Network. She will be joining NBCDI in August.