The African Leadership Group has been chosen as one of 24 nonprofits from three states to take part in an initiative led by a philanthropic organization to “have a meaningful impact on K-12 students not just for short-term recovery but also for necessary long-term transformations of our education systems in service of equity.”
The Equitable Education Recovery Initiative (EERI) is a project of New Profit, Boston-based venture philanthropy organization that backs social entrepreneurs who are advancing equity and opportunity in America.
EERI’s first cohort includes eight nonprofits from the Fresno, Oakland, and Sacramento metro areas in California; eight from Metro Denver; and eight from Memphis, Tennessee.
EERI will focus on:
Tutoring: Engaging with students on rigorous math and ELA academic content in 1-on-1 or small group formats.
Whole Child Supports: Developing deep relationships with students to provide a structured and integrated combination of mentoring relationships and social-emotional support while partnering with educators to enhance school and classroom environments.
Postsecondary Advising: Supporting students to successfully navigate from high school to various postsecondary pathways, including conventional two- and four-year higher education institutions and alternative and innovative pathways to credentials and careers.
“We sought out community-based, proximate organizations that—with the right strategic support and resourcing—have significant potential to advance transformational ideas and solutions in K-12 education,” said New Profit Managing Partner Shruti Sehra.
ALG was chosen for the initiative primarily because of its pandemic-era tutoring program and learning pod inititives.
Over the next two years, each social entrepreneur in the cohort will receive leadership and strategic coaching to help them build organizational capacity and take aim at changing the broader systems in which they operate—as well as $200,000 in unrestricted funding. Members of the Cohort will continue to engage in regular convenings and benefit from their peer learning community.
“We are honored and excited to be a part of this initiative,” said Papa Dia’s ALG’s founder and executive director. “We can learn a great deal from the organizations that are part of this cohort.”
Since its founding in 1998, New Profit has invested over $350 million in 130+ organizations and, through the America Forward Coalition’s collective advocacy efforts, has unlocked over $1.7 billion in government funding for social innovation.
