Greetings!

We graduated our first Sims-Fayola Foundation Equity Academy (SFFEA) cohort on January 21st. It was such an emotional, challenging, but worthwhile journey. We are now announcing the start of our second cohort of 30 to occur between SEPTEMBER 28 - DECEMBER 14. SESSIONS WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY EVENINGS VIA ZOOM FROM 5PM - 7PM MST. 

The SFFEA was designed to fill a need for people working with students of color in multiple areas (educators, mentors, non-profits serving youth, parents, policy makers, curriculum writers, school resource officers, juvenile justice professionals, etc.) for sustained support in building their capacity to support students of color.

Our Goal: The SFFEA is designed to increase the capacity of educators and advocates to deliver a quality learning experience for students of color and to build authentic relationships through an equity lens.
 
What we address: Over 12 online sessions (for out of town participants), we increase the capacity of our participants to deliver a quality learning experience, through an equity and cultural lens, that help students of color build their social and intellectual capacity and become independent learners. We also have a leadership track within sessions for school administrators, teacher leaders, program managers, etc.  These sessions are focused on leading through an equity lens and a focus on understanding their personal leadership style and how it shows up as a hindrance or asset. During the 12-week course, each participant will identify two new skills to implement and will receive real-time support from the Sims-Fayola Foundation on a real issue they are currently facing.

What participants are saying: 
a. The Equity Academy provided me with in-depth knowledge and actual tools and strategies to implement in my classroom to diminishing the day to day inequalities that contribute to the opportunity gap between white and students of color.
b. I no longer want to be standing in silence. With what I have learned I must continue to find my voice and participate in the real conversation of change. I am very aware that retreating to your comfort zone is real and I will go back. I also know that I have found a resource in the Academy and that I MUST push myself to do the work.
c. The most useful part of the Academy was that it provided me with a path and the support to begin a personal journey. Knowing that I was not going to be judged by Dedrick gave me the courage to be real with myself. His appreciation and understanding of the real work, the hard and difficult (often emotional) work allowed/forced me to be honest with myself.
d. I love how Dedrick made us uncomfortable and then had us examine how uncomfortable we are.
e. The class has afforded me the opportunity to wrestle with assumptions, beliefs, and even views that I held as absolute truth. It has forced me to really think about some points of my faith and politics and to really sift my world view through those lenses.
f. I am thankful for the lens I have gained through which I can view my student and my curriculum to make lessons that connect to the culture they are part of. I am excited to take this back to my classroom. This lens also gives me insight into building meaningful relationships with my students.
g. Dedrick is so passionate and open about his life and own experiences as a person of color and as an educator. His passion is both something that I look up to and strive to have in my field. I like the use of all of the music and lyrics. The only change I would make, is a little bit more time for group discussion during the classes.
h. Equity Academy has been an eye-opening and character building addition to my teaching career. I believe every educator, novice to veteran, primary to university, person of color to caucasian should attend and immerse themselves in Equity Academy if they truly want to reach ALL of their students in a productive and positive way.
i. I have changed the way I write my lesson plans, teach my lessons, look at my kids, treat my kids, and how I look and treat others outside of the walls of my school. 

NOTE: SCHOOLS CAN PAY FOR THIS USING TITLE II DOLLARS

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS/CLOCK HOURS WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM