The Education Equity Center of St. Louis envisions a transformed education system that is free of racism and harmful practices, policies and systems negatively impacting black and brown students. To that end, we build the anti-racist leadership capacity of educators through intersectional and collaborative events, workshop series, DEI cohorts, and intensive fellowships. Our work amplifies the collective voice of educators and encourages connected partnerships between students, families and organizations across the region.
Supporting EEC means:
1. You share a vision of an equitable education system for St. Louis children of all races
2. You agree that the inequitable distribution of funding and resources must be rectified by collective action
3. You want to empower educators to become anti-racist advocates and influence necessary changes in their schools and classrooms
4. You are horrified by statistics found Forward Through Ferguson's Still Separate, Still Unequal Report
5. You believe in the full potential of well-educated & protected children building a better tomorrow
2021 Impact Highlights:
- We are building the anti-racist education capacity of educators: 3000+ total people participated in EEC workshops, luncheons, fellowships, and cohort experiences.
- We are activating educators toward systems change: EEC connected with 500+ educators through the Black Educator Teach-In, Emergent Strategy Workshop, Spring & Fall DEI Cohorts, ARE Fellowship, and ARE Saturday & Summer School Workshops.
- We are convening educators across the region: EEC has made a significant impact with School Administrators, Educators, and organizations to build up equity in our region. 30 schools, districts, and organizations are represented in our connections and growing relationships grounded in anti-racist education.
- We are highly recommended by our educators: 97% of participants in Anti-Racist trainings and DEI Cohorts reported saying that they are very likely to recommend the EEC workshop or cohort they attended to someone else.
Read our 2021 Impact Report for more!
Alumni Fellow Testimonials
"My experience as a fellow has changed my life forever! The wealth of knowledge, experiences, training, environment, honesty and centered black voices and excellence pushed me to where I am now. Had I not encountered Sherita or the fellows, I honestly don't know if I would have continued to do the work... I feel empowered! These are my people for LIFE" - Arsenia Tate, CARE+
"The ABAR training was a big changing point for me in my life. There was so much I was unaware of. Another high would be all of the spaces I was able to be a part of and the people I've been able to meet. The trip to New York opened my eyes to the different possibilities in
education." - Tavonda Palmer, Game Changers
Cynthia Chapple, is the founder of Black Girls Do STEM, an organization that focuses on engaging black middle school girls with intention to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics across multiple industries. Students conduct hands-on experiments in workshops designed to have them think and problem solve like real world scientists while creating products and imploring the scientific method. By engaging these young women to experience new outlooks of their world and providing them more opportunities the landscape for the STEM field changes creating a normalcy of more black and brown women in the scientific fields. Chapple states that by being an Ed Equity fellow she was able to experience a series of trainings and had the opportunity to travel to other places to see how other organizations in different regions are imagining educational equity. Chapple goes on to say that by being a fellow her ability to critically examine how racism and white supremacy may show up in her practices and policies and how to be mindful of that as she continues to build her organization.
Kelli Best-Oliver is the founder of LitShop, an organization that provides afterschool and summer programming that pairs engaging literacy opportunities with building and making for girls ages 10-14. By intentionally creating a supportive space where girls can take risks, explore creatively, build skills, and connect with other girls, LitShop fosters leadership and confidence our girls can use through adolescence and early adulthood. Best-Oliver states that by being an Ed Equity Fellow she realized that: "It's okay to prioritize equity and to throw out the playbook on how a nonprofit has to operate. We can build organizations that center our values as opposed to historical patterns that lead to inequitable outcomes." She goes on to share that: "The most valuable part of being a Fellow is the opportunity to be in community with other folks who are working towards equity for kids in St Louis. I love our cohort so much. It was so valuable to have a dedicated office space to support my LitShop work, but also to have a community to be a part of."
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