Blog

Even as we await official certification of the election’s results, Former President Donald Trump is projected to be the next president. 

The stakes of this election could not have been higher—for our communities, for our humanity, for our priorities, and for our democracy. We have carried the heaviness and the anxiety of this election for many months; many in our Network were deeply engaged in advocacy and turnout efforts, contributions we recognize and honor even in the face of this outcome.

I may not call myself a political person, but that doesn’t mean I’m not an advocate. I’m actually more political today than I’ve been in my entire life—though it’s not a primary part of my identity and only shows itself outside of my professional life.

I like to call myself a Jane of all trades—I’ve worked in U.S. K-12 education for close to 15 years, including as an Operations School Leader, a founding member of an education tech startup, and a Director of Talent Development for an education nonprofit. I’m also a parent.

Many of us vividly remember getting our first paycheck as a postgraduate, it really felt like finally hitting it big—until realizing how much of it goes towards paying off student loans. Student loan debt is a widespread experience, and disproportionately impacts people of color, individuals from low-income households, and first-generation college students. As leaders of color, we are uniquely positioned to understand that student loan debt is one of the biggest barriers to economic prosperity for our communities. Pursuing higher education is meant to open doors and opportunities, not shut them.  

Marvin Smith, Policy Council Member 

Transitional phases throughout one’s life can result in a significant amount of financial hardships. When I graduated college in Chicago, after a move from the greater Boston area where I grew up, I was fortunate to receive an inheritance of $5,000 left to me by my grandmother, Nidia de los Santos. She was a hard working and loving woman who moved her life from the Dominican Republic and diligently saved money for years, amassing a small nest egg of which I benefited from when she passed away. It was this gift that allowed me to secure an apartment and purchase the basic necessities to get me through my first few years as a young adult. These funds helped me begin a new life in a new city. 

The attacks on education over the last few years have left parents and educators exhausted, scared and searching for answers. Education will continue to be a key voting issue in 2024, and we know that extremist politicians and groups will continue to manufacture fear and use divisive rhetoric when it comes to our students’ education.

Ensuring every student in our country, especially students of color, have access to honest, inclusive curricula is essential to the successful functioning of American democracy. That’s why we are so pleased to welcome Dr. Heather Harding as an Executive in Residence for EdLoC.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) was overhauled this year, and some new changes are posing challenges for mixed-status families. The main issue is the requirement for all contributors to have their own StudentAid.gov account, known as the FSA ID, to complete the FAFSA. Contributors need a Social Security Number (SSN) to proceed with this process, posing a significant obstacle for mixed-status families where some contributors may not have an SSN.

On January 31, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a markup of H.R. 6951, the College Cost Reduction Act, which was introduced by Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC). The Committee voted to report the bill favorably on a party-line vote (22-19), and the bill now awaits consideration on the House floor. 

In June 2021, our former State Superintendent of Education made a statement that, at the time, we thought would elicit some pushback from organizations and or individuals who were working in partnership or alongside communities of color regarding education. In this public statement, she spoke about how standards should not be “handed down” from Washington DC, New York, or Los Angeles and she also stated that “Critical Race Theory ideology has no place in South Carolina schools or classrooms.” 

In the shadow of today’s decision, we remain committed as ever to multi-racial solidarity and to realizing our vision of a world in which young people and communities of color have the support to capitalize on opportunities, build generational wealth, and thrive. That vision may seem farther today, but that is why our work cannot stop. Those who seek to oppress and divide us will only continue to do so, designing and redesigning the system to exclude us from its benefits. And so, we continue to demand, disrupt, and dismantle. 

Today, nine innovative national leaders of color were awarded grants (over $110,000 each) to further their vital work to end disparities in education, build generational wealth, and reduce systemic barriers for children of color. This year’s grantees will use the funds to continue working on recruitment, retention, and support for educators of color, support for youth of color including workforce development, leadership training, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and other programs aimed at breaking cycles of poverty.

Amid news of declining math and reading scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) following the pandemic, Krupa Desai, Chief Strategy Officer at Education Leader of Color (EdLoC), released the following statement:

“While we are concerned about declines in student performance following the pandemic, we urge stakeholders involved in the education ecosystem to take a holistic approach to recovery that accounts for a variety of student needs and circumstances. 

As Angelenos who represent a multi-racial network of leaders of color on a mission to ensure our diverse communities can thrive, we are deeply saddened and appalled. We condemn in the strongest of terms the disgusting racism that has shown up in the beliefs and political motivations of some of our city leaders. 

This week marks the start of the Supreme Court’s new term and the historic beginning of Justice KetanjiBrown Jackson’s tenure as the first-ever Black woman to hold a seat on the Court. As an organization dedicated to ensuring that young people of color have the support they need to thrive, capitalize on opportunities, and build generational wealth, Justice Jackson’s presence on the Court gives us hope in the possibilities our work can foster.