https://www.fcd-us.org/turning-back-the-clock-on-civil-rights-and-student-success-attacks-on-immigrant-families-and-education/
Please join us on Tuesday, January 20 at 1:30 p.m. ET for a robust conversation about how today’s attacks on children in immigrant families affect student success, the well-being of our communities and the nation, and the future of public education.
Moderated by Vivian Tseng, President and CEO of the Foundation for Child Development, the webinar will feature a panel of education and policy leaders bringing diverse perspectives from philanthropy, advocacy, and public education.
Panelists:
- Monique Darrisaw-Akil, Superintendent of the Uniondale Union Free School District
- Sophie Fanelli, President, Stuart Foundation
- John H. Jackson, President and CEO, Schott Foundation for Public Education
- Lisa Sherman Luna, Executive Director, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC)
The panel will explore the direct effects on students and national implications of a broad effort to turn back the clock on civil rights and education access. They will “connect the dots” between specific threats to education for children in immigrant families - threats to attendance, mental health, educational success, family stability and safety - and the overall climate for public education and its future in a multiracial democracy.
Bridging the day-to-day practical experience of educators and community organizers, the panelists will share broader perspectives on the implications for education access and civil rights, for child and youth development, and for the success and stability of communities. With experience supporting educators and advocates in both “red” and “blue” political contexts, panelists will also offer concrete suggestions for how funders can meet this moment from both philanthropic and grantee perspectives.
This session is designed for education funders, leaders of education organizations, researchers, and advocates, as well as others interested in understanding how threats to immigrant families and communities affect education today and tomorrow, potentially affecting educational access and opportunity in the years ahead. Because the issues cut across so many policy domains - early childhood, post-secondary education, health, economic stability, racial justice, and many others - in addition to K-12 education, we also welcome participants who bring one of these closely related perspectives.
Speaker Bios
Dr. Monique Darrisaw-Akil is a transformative educational leader committed to affirming the unique genius within every child. As Superintendent of the Uniondale Union Free School District, she serves more than 6,000 students through a lens of equity, culture, and authentic leadership, leading the district to national recognition including designation as a “My Brother’s Keeper” community by the Obama Foundation and the College Board’s AP Spotlight. With nearly 30 years in education, she has served as a classroom teacher, founding principal, staff developer, and Assistant Superintendent, and has led a five-year strategic plan and the launch of a dedicated College and Career Center. A nationally recognized speaker and writer, she serves on the AASA Governing Board, has been named a “Superintendent to Watch,” and was the Uniondale Herald’s 2023 Person of the Year. She holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Seton Hall University and BA and MA degrees in History from Brooklyn College, and mentors aspiring leaders through the AASA/Howard University Aspiring Superintendents’ Academy.
Sophie Fanelli is President of the Stuart Foundation, a family foundation that has worked for four decades in California and Washington state to cultivate the conditions for adolescents to thrive. Sophie has spent her entire career working for social change as an advocate, a coalition builder, and now in philanthropy. Trained as a lawyer in France, Italy, and at the University of Texas, Austin, Sophie is guided by her belief that public education is the best platform for helping young people reach their potential and for strengthening communities. She serves on the boards of the Philanthropic Collaborative for Education, and the National Center for Youth Law, and is on the Advisory Board of the Center for Effective Philanthropy.
Dr. John H. Jackson is President and CEO of the Schott Foundation for Public Education, where he leads efforts to advance equitable and meaningful learning opportunities for all students. He previously served as Chief Policy Officer and National Director of Education at the NAACP and as Senior Policy Advisor in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Dr. Jackson has also held academic and research roles at Georgetown University and Harvard University and has served on numerous national boards and commissions focused on education and civil rights. A product of Chicago’s public schools, he holds advanced degrees in education, law, and public policy from Xavier University of Louisiana, the University of Illinois, and Harvard University.
Lisa Sherman Luna is Executive Director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC). She previously served as TIRRC’s policy director and has led successful advocacy campaigns advancing pro-immigrant policies, expanding services for immigrant communities, ending a local ICE detention agreement, and championing the Education for All campaign to ensure the right to public education for every child, no matter where they were born. Prior to joining TIRRC, Sherman Luna worked on human rights and child protection issues at the United Nations and Amnesty International. She holds a master’s degree from King’s College London and is fluent in Spanish and English.
Moderator
Vivian Tseng is President and CEO of the Foundation for Child Development, a private foundation advancing social justice for young children through research, policy, and community engagement. Prior to FCD, she served as Senior Vice President, Programs, at the William T. Grant Foundation, leading initiatives to advance evidence-informed policy and practice. She is recognized for her leadership in promoting equity-centered research use, expanding research-practice partnerships, and mentoring the next generation of scholars and nonprofit leaders. Dr. Tseng holds a Ph.D. from NYU and a B.A. from UCLA and serves on several national boards focused on education, equity, and child development.