I was first introduced to Teaching for Change in November 2010, when I started my volunteer consulting project thru the George Washington University Net Impact Board Fellows program. Teaching for Change’s mission to support schools in inspiring young people to be better citizens via multicultural education, motivated to me. Thru its publications, professional development programs, and Tellin’ Stories Project Teaching for Change uniquely engages all of the stakeholders involved in a child’s education. I am excited to be assisting an organization which not only believes that multicultural education needs to be taught in schools but also provides tactical and practical ways to introduce it into the curriculum.
My first introduction to Teaching for Change came when I interned there over 10 years ago. The resources I was introduced to improved my practice and transformed my teaching. With the materials and guidance I received from the staff and materials, I was able to engage students who were from diverse backgrounds. Their motivation and achievement increased significantly. It has been been an invaluable asset.
I have been in education for almost 30 years, working with struggling learners and then preparing graduate students who wanted to teach in high poverty schools with students with high needs. Teaching for Change (TfC) is an organization dedicated to improving the lives of those who often do not have easy access to power and resources. Through the use of TfC's amazing publications and professional development I have been able to reach young students and graduate students to enrich and empower their educational experiences. With a very small dedicated staff this non-profit is a great resource for ideas, materials, dialogue and continued reflection on making education and lives better.
I raised funds then ultimately joined the Teaching For Change Board because I believed the unbiased teaching of lessons could turn a dim past into a brighter future. Growing up in the South as a Black Gay boy amounted to series of "missed opportunities"of exposure and empowerment. The full narratives of Baldwin, Rustin and Hughes, escaped me, others like me and others unlike me, all who would've benefitted greatly from the lessons of personal strength, tolerance and acceptance they taught. Exposure to these international heroes would certainly have opened my eyes to the local heroes that we saw everyday. The ideals of community stewardship, service and civic responsibility should be taught and given value, just as we teach and give value to money and the aforementioned would be the gold-standard to which we measured. This is what is most valuable to us and when you empower our teachers to teach these lessons, they plant the seeds of an informed citizenry.
Review from Guidestar
2011 marks my 8th year on the board of Teaching for Change. I choose to volunteer with the organization because I believe in its mission and the valuable work that Teaching for Change does to make schools places that galvanize communities and help children become active and informed citizens.
Review from Guidestar