Black Lives Matter. We are outraged by the recent racially motivated murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Tony McDade — and by the countless other acts of violence and injustice that have occurred over the course of our country’s racist history. Today and always, Education Pioneers stands in solidarity with the Black community — those on our staff, in our network of Alumni and Fellows, and in the communities we serve.
This moment again shines a light on white supremacy and its imprint on our society and our systems. Our schools are not immune: massive inequities exist for Black students and other students of color. We do our work because we believe public education can be a powerful lever for equity. But our current education system perpetuates opportunity gaps, privileging white students. This must be upended. We need to pursue transformative, systemic, and structural change. This moment calls us to examine the ways in which racism and the protection of power and privilege pervades every aspect of our lives — in our schools, our homes, and our communities.
EP is committed to the structural transformation that is needed in this country to ensure safety, well-being, and educational opportunities for all Black lives. Equity is essential.As a leadership organization, we recognize our responsibility to the students and communities we serve to develop diverse leaders who can disrupt historically racist structures. These leaders must be anti-racist, inclusive, and equipped to unpack their identities and raise their own consciousness. There is so much more work to do. We are proud to partner with organizations and individuals who will support and challenge us to be better as we collectively work to advance racial equity on behalf of students and families everywhere.
