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Affirmative Action Decision Scapegoats Black and Brown Students

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For Immediate Release

June 29, 2023

ATLANTA – Today, Kendra Cotton, executive director of the New Georgia Project and member of the Black Southern Women’s Collaborative, issued the following statement on the Supreme Court decisions in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina:

“With its rulings in Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina and Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College, the U.S. Supreme Court just reified the racist structures that our country was built on and that still permeate nearly every facet of our society. While Black Americans and other Americans of color have made huge strides, especially in education and college admissions, no one can deny the fact that affirmative action has been a critical safeguard in ensuring Black and brown students, who already face so many systemic barriers, do not continue to get left behind. So-called colorblind practices exist solely to ease the guilt of the more privileged and pay lip service to the fantasy of a post-racial society that, unfortunately, too many people in this country wrongly believe is reality. 

“Instead of scapegoating Black and brown students by digesting the sour grapes propagated by a few more privileged students who did not get into the schools of their choice, the Court should have demurred and made a strong statement encouraging these elite institutions to dispense with legacy admissions and special preferences for the children of the monied class, because THAT is the real source of inequality where college admissions is concerned. 

“As a former academic and the mother of a recent college grad, an entering college freshman, and a soon-to-be college applicant, I’d much prefer to live in a world where I felt reassured that my Black children could rely solely on their stellar academics and extracurriculars to gain admission into our country’s best universities. Unfortunately, that’s not the world in which we live. My kids and so many others like them already must work twice as hard in school to overcome the systemic barriers placed before them, and now true equity in our higher education system is even farther out of reach.”

 

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Affirmative Action Ruling an Attack on Equal Protection, Further Undermines Democracy

Posted on

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 29, 2023

In the Same Way Our Ancestors Persisted and Prevailed, We Too Will Persist and Prevail

NEW YORK – Following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina, Race Forward, a leading racial equity organization,  issued the following statement: 

“Today’s Supreme Court decision on affirmative action makes clear the current U.S. Supreme Court is intent on undermining the Constitutional framework of civil rights by refusing to recognize and address the systemic nature of racism,” stated Glenn Harris, President of Race Forward.  “By taking the position that only in the most extreme of circumstances can an institution directly address racial differences in a targeted fashion, the decision ultimately undermines the basic tenets of equal protection and ignores the reality that race shapes every life outcome, including access to higher education.”  

Specifically, this decision reduces the question of racism to mere individual experiences, a direct attempt to subvert the historic promise of the 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause transforming the court from a protector of equality to an enemy of progress. The Court exploits the profound need to address discrimination of Asian students in order to reverse decades of civil rights and further create obstacles for redressing inequalities faced by Black and Latino students.  

It should not go without notice that today’s decision leaves intact the advantages afforded to legacy candidates and children of donors –  a stark system of racial inequality that advantages white applicants. “The only precedent the Supreme Court seems committed to upholding today,” noted Harris, “is its slide towards a cynical use of the law to maintain racial hierarchies.” 

This decision will be utilized by the forces of exclusion to pit communities of color against one another. Leaders of an inclusive America however, understand that at its core this ruling seeks to negate the fundamental responsibility to address racism in all its forms. We remain committed to advancing a society where all benefit from tangible racial equity rather than suffer the consequences of the legalistic contortions of a renegade Court.

We also applaud the dissenting opinions and intellectual leadership of Justice Jackson and Sotomayor that recognize our deep and pervasive racial equity gaps across society. These dissenting opinions today must represent the court of our future with a jurisprudence with integrity that dismantles the systemic racism that affects all communities of color.

 

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Early Childhood Education Advocates Celebrate $3 Million Gift from MacKenzie Scott 

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For Immediate Release

June 28, 2023

WASHINGTON – The Raising Child Care Fund (RCCF) today announced a $3 million gift from MacKenzie Scott. The Raising Child Care Fund is an initiative of the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative (ECFC) that pools private foundation dollars to give grants to groups that amplify the voices of families, early educators, and allies. The Fund works alongside leaders to build powerful coalitions to transform child care and expand equity in states. The one-time gift will support the RCCF’s goal of raising $12 million by 2025 to increase investments in current and future partners. 

“RCCF has been an invaluable partner investing in grassroots groups with multi-year general operating grants and then getting out of the way so we can do the work we were entrusted to do,” said Mary Ignatius, Parent Voices CA. “The funding from MacKenzie Scott will only strengthen and expand this model; adding depth and breadth to RCCF’s current and future partners.  We hope others join in funding grassroots child care organizing led by families and providers of color.” 

“Since launching in 2019, RCCF has become a learning laboratory for centering racial equity and changing funder practices to better support power building in communities,” said Early Childhood Funders Collaborative Executive Director Shannon Rudisill. “This investment will go a long way in supporting our work and mission.”

The gift comes at a critical point as grassroots organizers work to build momentum for greater state and federal investments in child care. Federal pandemic relief funds, due to expire later this year, helped keep 70,000 child care programs open. The Century Foundation estimated that 3 million children will lose child care if the child care funds in the American Rescue Plan Act are not extended. 

“All children and families deserve access to quality and affordable childcare, and all early educators deserve compensation that honors their role in society and the economy,” said Rachel Schumacher, director of the Raising Child Care Fund. “This gift is a testament to their work.”

The RCCF will regrant the bulk of the gift to state partners.   

“RCCF brought us closer to grassroots organizers and local leaders, and has illuminated the important role they play to build power and strategically shift systems so that children,parents, and child care providers can thrive,” said Marie Hocker, a member of the RCCF Executive Committee and a Principal at Imaginable Futures, a venture of the Omidyar Group

“This significant investment in our work reaffirms our shared commitment to empowering families and child care providers through grassroots organizing,” said Erin Clark, organizer with 9to5. “Our work is rooted in the experiences of our members, who lead and shape our campaigns, building communities where all families can thrive. We are deeply grateful to the Raising Child Care Fund for recognizing the impact of grassroots organizations like ours and for their dedication to fostering positive change led by those most impacted.” 

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Supreme Court Affirms Power of Voting Rights Act, Signals Support for Lower Court Ruling

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For Immediate Release

June 26, 2023

BATON ROUGE, LA – Following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling restoring a federal court’s decision that Louisiana’s congressional lines may have diluted the power of Black voters in the state, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, a litigant in the case, released the following statement:

“For years, redistricting and voting rights organizers have advocated for fair and equitable legislative maps,” said Ashley K. Shelton, president and founder of the Power Coalition for Equity & Justice, and a member of the Black Southern Women’s Collaborative. “Today, the Supreme Court affirmed the importance of fair maps and sent our case back to the lower court, a move that could mean the creation of a second minority-majority district.”

“This decision proves that when we fight, we win. It proves that when we dare to defend democracy, we build power not just today but for future generations,” Shelton added. “Certainly, we still have a long way to go but this ruling is a step in the right direction. We must continue organizing, educating our communities, and preparing to vote en masse each time we can do so.”

 

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Dallas Native Named General Secretary and CEO for United Women in Faith

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For Immediate Release

June 21, 2023

New York, NY – United Women in Faith (UWF) announced the election of Sally Vonner to the position of General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, effective June 1, 2023. The May 22 board vote culminated a six-month nationwide search. Vonner is a native of Dallas and will be installed in Dallas on July 29.

Ms. Vonner joined the organization’s national staff in 2010 as Assistant General Secretary of Membership and Leadership Development. Following a reorganization in 2018, she became the Transformation Officer, coordinating the organization’s visioning and strategic development to positively impact the lives of women, children, and youth. She oversaw an organizational rebranding that opened new ways for women to join, introduced program innovations and initiatives, and rolled out United Women in Faith as the new public-facing name.

“Sally is not just a woman who knows this organization but also a visionary who possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience,” said ‘Ainise ‘Isama’u, UWF board president. “She is the kind of leader who understands where we’ve been, where we are, and where we need to go.”

“Sally’s grasp of the current strategic plan will enable her to lead United Women in Faith boldly as we live out our belief that love in action can change the world,” said Cynthia Rives, board vice president. “Equally important, she brings stability in a time of change as she is well grounded in our organization, knowledgeable of our history, and today’s United Women in Faith.”

Vonner is ready for the new challenge.

“My primary focus is to continue and expand the mission and reach of United Women in Faith as we put our love and faith in action to change the world, and work to improve the lives of women, children, and youth around the world,” Vonner said. “I commit to lead with faith and trust in God, the support of the directors, the Program Advisory Group, my colleagues, and most of all, the members of United Women in Faith.

“I look forward to connecting with members, soon to be members, and The United Methodist Church family in the weeks, months, and years to come. Get ready for the awesome future God has for us.”

The Texas native has served The United Methodist Church in several other capacities including women’s retreat leader, and jurisdictional conference delegate and alternate in 2008, 2016, and 2020 representing the North Texas Annual Conference. Ms. Vonner was an organizer for the denomination’s work on immigration assistance, community development initiatives, and dismantling racism work. She was commissioned as a U.S. missionary by the General Board of Global Ministries in 2000 to serve in the North Texas Annual Conference as the Communities of Shalom Coordinator. Ms. Vonner also served as the Associate Director of Connectional Ministries for the North Texas Annual Conference, 2005-2010.

Vonner serves on the boards of The Wesley campus ministry at her alma mater Texas A&M Commerce and is vice president of the New York Justice For Our Neighbors. She is a longtime member of Black Methodists for Church Renewal at the conference, jurisdiction, and national levels. She is also part of a women’s leadership cohort with J.P. Morgan Chase’s Community Development division, since 2021.

She  is a graduate of Perkins School of Theology with a Master of Divinity and Women’s Studies Certification and Texas A&M Commerce with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

A longtime member of First United Methodist Church of Grand Prairie, Texas, she regularly attends Teaneck United Methodist Church in New Jersey, where she is a member of the local United Women in Faith group. She is an active member of the Bergen County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Vonner enjoys spending time with her adult children, Wesley and Lessie, reading, walking, and traveling.

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What Makes A Good Spokesperson?

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If you’ve ever been enthralled with a news program or advertisement, it’s because the person delivering the message or the message itself captured your attention. Once your interest was piqued, you couldn’t turn away. This begs the question, ‘what makes a good spokesperson?’ In this video, I share a tips to help you become a great spokesperson.

First, a good spokesperson knows their audience. Before they speak, they know who they’re communicating to, and what their audience needs to hear.  When they receive interview requests, they vet the requests from the standpoint of who is the audience and is this an audience I should be communicating with; or is someone else better positioned to do so. Good spokespeople do not speak just to be speaking, but rather to deliver an impactful message.

Next, a good spokesperson avoids jargon and speaks in plain language. Do you have a friend who loves the ‘big words?’ In his book, “On Writing,” author and screenwriter Stephen King advised writers to ‘never use a big word when a small one will do.’ I agree with the sentiment believes it applies to writers as well as communicators. Jargon or poorly selected word choices – when your audience doesn’t use those words – could complicate understanding. Since we communicate to be heard, its important to eliminate anything that makes it harder for our audience to hear us. Why? Because in organizing, we want our audience to hear us and then act. So, make it easy for them to do so. 

A good spokesperson understands that its not what they say, but what their audience hears that makes a difference. They take time to research their audience as well as the current political environment. They are mindful of the contemporary meanings of words, and how those words can trigger support or upset. They speak so that their audience understands and hears.

For other tips, see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFD-IuFz1fY&t=10s.

Be sure to go to this YouTube page and like, subscribe and share if you find this content helpful.

Grassroots Organizers Celebrate Ruling in Allen v. Milligan Redistricting Case

Posted on

For Immediate Release

June 8, 2023

WASHINGTON – Grassroots organizers across the South today celebrated the Supreme Court’s ruling in Allen v. Milligan, declaring that Alabama diluted the power of Black voters. Organizers feared the case would further compromise the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by undermining Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The Black Southern Women’s Collaborative issued the following statement:

“We are clear that this decision is partly the result of the tremendous work of grassroots organizers across the country,” said Phyllis Hill, founder of the BSWC and national organizing director for Faith in Action. “It is an indication that we can win if we persist and refuse to give up.”

“While a step in the right direction, we know that the fight to preserve democracy is ongoing,” said the Rev. Rhonda Thomas, executive director of Faith in Florida and a BSWC member.

“We will continue to organize, state by state, to ensure all communities have equal and fair maps; and to ensure we clear barriers to the ballot box for all,” said Nsombi Lambright, executive director of One Voice in Mississippi.

The ruling comes 10 years after the Shelby County v. Holder decision which gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by striking down Sections 4 and 5 of the landmark measure.

“We greet this ruling understanding all that was on the line,” said Tameka Greer, executive director of Memphis Artists for Change and a BSWC member. “Since Shelby v. Holder, our communities have endured an onslaught of bills that have made it harder to vote. We have resisted in part due to Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. We are relieved but not resigned to rest on our laurels. We will continue to organize to ensure that all communities can vote and elect candidates of choice.”

“We are no doubt pleased in the ruling and encouraged to continue the work our ancestors began long ago,” said Ashley K. Shelton, president and founder of the Power Coalition for Equity & Justice.

“We remain dedicated to the work before us and convinced in the prospect for change, not because of one court’s decision but because the arc of the universe bends towards justice,” said Kendra Cotton, executive director of the New Georgia Project and a BSWC member

 

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Black Southern Women’s Collaborative Remembers Victims of Buffalo Mass Shooting

Posted on

For Immediate Release

May 12, 2023

Black Southern Women’s Collaborative Remembers Victims of Buffalo Mass Shooting

BUFFALO – The Black Southern Women’s Collaborative today remembered the victims of the racist massacre at a TOPS Grocery Store in Buffalo, New York on May 15, 2022. Payton Gendron, just 19-years-old at the time, killed 10 people after targeting the predominantly Black neighborhood. Members of the Collaborative – which includes members from Florida (Faith in Florida), Georgia (the New Georgia Project), Louisiana (the Power Coalition for Equity & Justice), Mississippi (Southern Echo), and Tennessee (Memphis Artists for Change) – released the following statement:

“The continued gun violence in America has become an epidemic,” said Rev. Rhonda Thomas, executive director of Faith in Florida. “No one is safe.  Our families and children are no longer safe in schools, universities, malls, movie theaters, and grocery stores.  Many lawmakers choose to ignore or not address the safety of all Americans. I am unsure what more it would take for this matter to be resolved. My prayers and thoughts go out to the residents of Buffalo, New York.”

“We continue to send our condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the victims’ families,” said Kendra Cotton, executive director of the New Georgia Project. “No amount of time will erase the injustice of the brazen, racist attack. My hope is that the Buffalo community, and our nation in general, will experience a level of healing that includes accountability for domestic terrorists like Gendron, resources for the impacted community, and infrastructure investments which would aid Buffalo in moving forward.”

“One of the things this horrific mass shooting has taught us is that words have weight and bring consequences,” said Ashley K. Shelton, founder and president of the Power Coalition for Equity & Justice. “For years, the far right has peddled lies and racist conspiracy theories that have created an environment where Americans are fearful of their neighbors, particularly those who are Black and brown. Payton Gendron believe in replacement theory which was promoted by many conservative news hosts as well as by former President Trump. One aspect of justice is holding accountable people who profit and promote hatred and lies.”

“Our communities are tired of being hyper-vigilant in response to one instance after another of Black trauma and pain,” said Nsombi Lambright, executive director of Southern Echo. “We will continue organizing and resisting injustice in all its forms.”

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Healer From Baltimore Heading to Buffalo to Support Therapists, Others, on One Year Remembrance of Mass Shooting at TOPS Grocery Store 

Posted on

For Immediate Release

May 12, 2023

BALTIMORE – This Mother’s Day, many will celebrate with breakfast in bed, brunch at upscale restaurants, fresh flowers, much-anticipated gifts and hugs from loved ones. While these things have their place, Sabrina N’Diaye will be doing something different. For over 30 years, she has worked as a therapist. For the past 12 years, she has worked with communities in the throes of natural disasters. More recently – since 2016 – she has been in communities across the nation respond to mass shootings. She was in Florida following the Stoneman Douglass High School shooting, and so many other mass shootings, including the one in Buffalo at a TOPS Grocery Store on May 14, 2022.  In total, 10 people were killed after Payton Gendron, a 19-year-old white man, targeted the predominantly Black neighborhood. 

Sabrina understands that when a traumatic event happens to one, it happens to all.

“There is an immediate physiological response to the loss that touches us all because when one human being is murdered, all of humanity is impacted,” N’Diaye said. “In Buffalo, this was a senseless massacre, and everyone lost including the perpetrator. But people across the country are forgetting and becoming immune to something so horrific. We should never become immune to the mass killing of innocent people. We should never become immune to a young person walking into a space and saying, ‘I’m going to kill all the Black people.’ The fact that we are witnessing a society that loves guns more than humans is alarming.”

N’Diaye serves trauma-impacted communities who are navigating mass shootings. Along with Dena Adler and Carol Penn, N’Diaye launched Embracing Buffalo at the Western New York Peace Center. She is also a senior faculty member and supervisor at the Center for Mind/Body Medicine, and faculty member at the School for Continuing Education at the University of Buffalo. In this capacity, N’Diaye, Penn and Adler teach communities how to process traumatic events and move forward. The trio is heading back to Buffalo on May 12 (and will be there through Sunday, the 14th) for the remembrance of the grocery story massacre.

When asked why she was going back, N’Diaye shared, “I am going to help the servants; the people who serve others yet are rarely offered an opportunity to heal. This is important because unhealed trauma manifests as inflammation, high blood pressure, diabetes, over-eating, depression and more. A part of what we’re doing is helping people heal from the event, but also bringing people back into relationship with one another. We’re also doing preventative medicine by teaching people that they matter. We’re teaching people who have had this horrific experience how to bring their bodies back into balance.”

N’Diaye understands that the people serving survivors are already under-resourced. Her goal is to teach community members how to heal from trauma. She is also raising money to support an overnight retreat for those in Buffalo who have been serving victims’ families and serving the community since the mass shooting.

For more information, contact press@spotlightpr.org.

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Communities for Just Schools Fund Moves More than $5 Million to 80 Education Justice Organizing Groups Working in and Across More than 25 States in 2022

Posted on

For Immediate Release

April 4, 2023

WASHINGTON – In a year in which threats to public education were characterized by backlash to progress on racial justice; attacks on curricula that center and celebrate identity – including book bans; attacks on LGBTQIA+ students; and backtracking on commitments to move away from police and policing tactics in school safety, the Communities for Just Schools Funds (CJSF) today released its 2022 annual report. The report, which is written as a resource guide for those on a journey toward educational environments that are holistically safe, detailed that amid intense attacks on public education, the organization exceeded its best-ever grantmaking year and directed $5.3 million to the education justice movement.

“Our work in support of our partners’ leadership has always been important, but given the unprecedented attacks on the communities we serve, on educators, and on public education overall, the work we do takes on increased significance,” said Jaime T. Koppel, co-director for CJSF. “Resourcing and collaborating with the grassroots leaders whose work and demands are the heart and soul of the education justice movement, and doing so in ways that invite our colleagues in philanthropy to authentic, sustained relationship with grassroots organizers is more critical than ever. The core issues our partners have been organizing around for decades have not changed – positive school climate, holistically safe schools, racially just schools – but the threats continue to grow and so our support for this work must do the same.”

The Communities for Just Schools Fund harnesses the resources of philanthropy with grassroots organizing to ensure that schools welcome and nurture all students, allowing them to meet their full potential. CJSF funds organizations that change schools and the system of education through community organizing. It provides multi-year general operating support to 80 grassroots organizing groups in 25 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Washington, D.C.

In 2022, CJSF grew the partner network by almost 25%. “Our partner network, which is largely Black, brown and multiracial-led grassroots organizing groups, now includes more groups in the south, more educator organizer groups, and more groups explicitly led by and focused upon building the leadership and uplifting the demands of trans and queer youth,” said Marianna Islam, Director of Movement Partnerships.

As schools reopened, CJSF also stepped back out into the world and hosted a learning exchange focused on supporting partners’ efforts to develop an affirmative vision for how culturally sustaining pedagogy is a crucial ingredient in holistically safe schools. This convening, which was part of a larger community of practice, is part of the organization’s commitment to build narrative power around a comprehensive vision for holistically safe schools.

“While this is often not measured or prioritized, we are proud to have been intentional in holding space for healing and holistic wellness,” Briana Perry, Director of Liberatory Learning & Capacity-Building said. “We know that our communities experience myriad intersecting oppressions, and it was important for us to be intentional about creating spaces for healing as well as spaces for joy. We will continue to deepen our commitment to investing in collective healing and our partners showing up in their full humanity.”

To view the full 2022 annual report, visit: https://cjsfund.pub/2022annualreport

 

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