Ventures

The Teachers’ Lounge seeks to drive unprecedented student outcomes by greatly diversifying the people, thoughts, and actions of the educational workforce in the greater Boston area by building a connected experience for educators of color. They are focused on three primary efforts: (1) convening, supporting and developing a growing network of educators of color; (2) addressing the silos among the various teacher recruitment and development program in Boston so the journey of an educator of color from recruitment, to preparation, to hiring, to induction, to teaching, to leadership development is more intentional and seamless; and (3) developing a Diversity in Education Fellowship where teachers of color can gain the skills and experience to advance in their professional careers.

Urban Ed Academy (UEA) has a vision for every student in San Francisco to have a male teacher of color before middle school. UEA leverages community-based partnerships to provide culturally reflective experiences for elementary school students of color in our city.​ Man the Bay is UEA’s vehicle for recruiting, developing, and housing Black men to become elementary school teachers in San Francisco.

Watts of Power Foundation aims to strengthen families and communities in Los Angeles through a focus on education and community revitalization. The Teacher Village Initiative (TVI) is Watts of Power’s newest program focused on addressing the teacher diversity gap in South Central Los Angeles. TVI is a multifaceted program that builds a bridge for undergraduate students and paraprofessionals to complete teacher education programs, and settle into teaching careers. The initiative will supplement existing teacher education programs with professional support, peer and community connections, and training in the soft skills needed to build effective relationships with students. The entire program will be rooted in South Central Los Angeles where teachers will also be provided housing near the school where they will train and ultimately work.