While we are all weathering the same storm, we are in different boats, and some of us are far more equipped than others. As we look ahead to the next several months and particularly the start of next school year, it is critical that the education space be rooted in the voices and needs of our communities most impacted by inequity. In DC, organizations have been conducting research, doing surveys, and holding virtual focus groups to deeply listen to and understand the multifaceted reality that students and families face as we navigate this uncertain time. The themes being raised from that listening underscore the importance of not just education supports, but also mental and social health supports, food, housing, and employment – things we all need to get by.
On May 20, 2020, Justin Jones of the Flamboyan Foundation virtually convened a group of DC stakeholders to better understand what communities are telling us. DC parent Andrea Henson, Maya Martin Cadogan of PAVE, and Patrick Corvington, ConnectEd/DCSRN, discuss the current realities students and families are facing and reflect on the path forward. No matter where you are from or what your role, we hope this webinar sparks ideas to support students and families as schools prepare for summer and start of school.