Advocating for students is at the top of LEE member Kimberly Green’s (KIPP) priority list.
“I am advocating for the equity needed for our schools which serve majority black and brown students in both rural and urban areas,” she said. “I’m advocating for funding, keeping the schools open, making sure our schools have fair opportunities for enrollment and renewals to keep our charters.”
Kimberly is able to carry out this important work as a KIPP North Carolina Public Charter Schools Board member. As a board member and an engaged community activist for both healthcare and education, she works on a strategic level to make decisions and gain funding for KIPP schools.
“The impact I’ve had thus far, collectively with the rest of the KIPP NC board members and KIPP foundation, is implementing new and better literacy and math programs into our schools,” she said. “We created a teacher’s institute where we are approved by the state to train and certify teachers.”
“This is huge because it will help retain teachers and assist with decreasing teacher attrition numbers in this state,” she added. “I’ve also created civic engagement opportunities this year for our seniors in the high school by partnering with We All Vote organization, which will help the students increase their experience and offer visibility for college opportunities.”
Kimberly joined LEE after becoming more involved with the KIPP Foundation’s advocacy group. “I’ve been able to learn the ‘who’ and ‘what’ LEE is and is all about,” she said. “I went to a meeting and signed up online for my membership. I took LEE’s online orientation course and it piqued my interest even more. From there, I started taking advantage of the benefits and other training that LEE offered. It matched my passions and my beliefs in education equity.”
As a new member, Kimberly has already attended LEE’s People of Color Political Leadership Program (PLP) in Houston, TX. “There, I learned that I have spent my life organizing and grassrooting around the educational rights for others, especially the disabled and those on the spectrum–but I never thought about it as a career in public service,” she said. “The PLP program was an eye opener. I will participate in other LEE programs as I begin this journey of discovering what LEE has to offer.”
In May, LEE brought together 126 LEE members and partners for a three-day event–the Courageous Leaders Conference–focused on networking, professional training, and wellness. Members from more than 90 organizations and 36 states convened at the Austin gathering, and were greeted with inspiration from partners and fellow LEE members.
The conference was an invitation-only event designed for LEE senior leaders who are influencers and decision makers from across policy, advocacy, and elected leadership. Participants were able to connect with a community of fellow experts and senior leaders from across the LEE network; build knowledge around current challenges and opportunities facing senior leaders today; discover how to prioritize their well-being as senior leaders; and explore the future of civic leadership. Discussion themes included well-being and the power of connection in courageous leadership and developing a courageous leadership mindset and skillset.
Members left the conference feeling recharged in their leadership journey, with one participant saying, “Loved the conference! Key for me was the opportunity to connect with people who have been part of my life for 15-20 years and to realize that we’ve grown up together and continue to do the hard, right, and courageous things together. It was inspirational and uplifting and so critical at this moment in time.”
The event featured a conversation with Chancellor of the State University of New York and Former United States Secretary of Education John King, Jr.
Exploring Austin TX
Our work with young adults (ages 18–22) is expanding rapidly, and we’re proud to be piloting three new programs that support and empower this next generation of civic leaders.
We’re energized by the momentum and committed to creating even more opportunities for young leaders to grow, connect, and lead change.
The People of Color Political Leadership Program cohort
In June, LEE welcomed members to two events for an exciting weekend full of energy, purpose, and community.
First, LEE’s annual People of Color Political Leadership Program hosted a record 74 members from 16 partner organizations to a 3-day, hands-on program designed for leaders of color who are serious about running for office in the next year or so. Attendees learned how to navigate the unique challenges of leading in politics; how to own their story; and how to build the foundation to launch a strong, values-driven campaign. They left as a part of a professional learning community of like-minded individuals dedicated to advancing values-aligned leadership and with a step-by-step plan to take action and move closer to office.
The Texas Inspire Summit was one-day event for alumni (ages 18–22) from YES Prep, KIPP, IDEA, and DREAM. 26 young leaders convened to grow their leadership, expand their network, and engage in hands-on workshops to help develop the kind of skills that stand out on resumes, applications, and interviews.
Member reflections on the Summit described the opportunity as engaging and educational, with one attendee saying, “It was meaningful being able to identify my values and reflect on how they show up in my role as a leader. I felt moved by the way each session was part of an overall effort to connect internal reflection to practice and really making change in our world. I felt heard and seen by all the individuals in the room and hope to stay connected.”
LEE continues to look for new and meaningful ways to engage with members through our partnerships. Check out just a few examples of our collaboration with partners over the past few months.
Latinos for Education members celebrating Massachusetts’ Educator Diversity Act
Please visit our Events page to see all the upcoming regional and national opportunities for members. If you have not yet set up your LEE account, you can do so here using a personal email address.
July 30: Leading Our Schools Forward
August 7: New Member Welcome Session
August 7: Poder: Voices of Impact Learning Series
If you have any upcoming events or opportunities you’d like highlighted in a future Partnership QuarterLEE, or you just want to get in touch, please feel free to email me at sarah.sandoval-mohapatra@educationalequity.org.
We look forward to continuing this quarterly opportunity to collaborate, connect, and celebrate our work together.