Racial Equity Council

Through the Racial Equity investment area, NewSchools is investing $1.5 million in innovators with bold ideas to alleviate racial inequities in education. Instead of a traditional grantmaking approach, this is the council, comprised of parents, students, and education innovators, making the decisions.

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Elani Lawrence

Elani Lawrence

Principal

Elani is an educator with over 20 years of experience in public schools. She is the Principal at the Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School Sonia Gutierrez Campus. Elani started her education career as a community education promoter in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic. She has taught ESL and Spanish in elementary, middle, and high schools in New York and Washington, D.C. and has experience as a school administrator in secondary schools and adult basic education programs. Elani is a native Washingtonian and a proud graduate of D.C. Public Schools. She lives in Brightwood, Washington, DC with her husband, a special education teacher, and their two sons. 

“I am so excited about the opportunity to have a seat at the table to make decisions about which projects will be funded… There are so many innovative and talented leaders of color that deserve a real shot.”