Civic Ventures Aimed to End Educational Inequity

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - January 12, 2016) - Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE), a non profit leadership development organization, is excited to announce the first cohort of Venture Fellows. Nine highly qualified and driven education entrepreneurs were recently awarded a fellowship that provides strategic support for their efforts to end educational inequity.

/EINPresswire.com/ -- The ventures' missions range from engaging and empowering families to lead school and district-level change, to advocating for education policy changes for adjudicated youth, to driving school system and policy change in innovative ways. The recipients are:

Milagros Barsallo, RISE Colorado
Claire Blumenson, School Justice Project
Nicole Baker Fulgham, The Expectations Project
Eric Leslie, Union Capital Boston
Frank McMillan, New Jersey Together
Veronica Palmer, RISE Colorado
Richard Pelayo, GO West Contra Costa County
Jessica Stewart, GO California
Amber Welsh, Austin Kids First

Fellowship recipients were selected after a rigorous application and interview process that assessed both the potential impact for children around the country; and the participants' leadership competencies, growth mindset, and entrepreneurial determination to move the needle on educational equity for every child.

"The challenges we face in education are as complex and diverse as our communities," said LEE Executive Director Michael Buman. "The idea isn't to find a single solution, but rather to assist LEE members in forging alliances and identifying community-driven solutions. We are proud to do our part to provide leadership development and financial support to entrepreneurs bold enough to pioneer dynamic models in the civic space to meet this need." 

During the 11-month program, commencing in October, fellows will take part in an executive director boot camp, intensive coaching sessions, site visits, peer-to-peer networking and other wrap-around supports. The fellowship will conclude with a closing ceremony in which all nine fellows will present their ventures to potential investors and partners in the hopes of attaining new capital.

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Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE) is a non-profit leadership development organization working to end the injustice of educational inequity by inspiring and empowering a diverse movement of leaders with classroom experience to engage civically and politically on behalf of children in their communities. Through one-on-one coaching, fellowships and workshops, LEE inspires its members individually and collectively to engage civically within their communities and across the nation. LEE membership is free and currently open to all Teach For America corps members and alumni.

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Stacey Jackson
Leadership for Educational Equity 
https://educationalequity.org
Washington, DC 20001
Stacey.Jackson@educationalequity.org
323-806-1435

Leadership for Educational Equity

First row, from left: Amber Welch (Austin Kids First), Milagros Barsallo (RISE Colorado), Veronica Palmer (RISE Colorado) Second row, from left: Jessica Stewart (GO California), Claire Blumenson (School Justice Project), Nicole Baker Fulgham (The Expectations Project) Back row, from left: Eric Leslie (Union Capital Boston), Richard Pelayo (GO West Contra Costa County) Not pictured: Frank McMillan (New Jersey Together)