Help Us Go the Distance for Our Students

Posted on July 8, 2020 in CEO Updates

Thank you to all who have generously donated to our Go the Distance campaign! Your support builds alignment in our community, drives system change and raises a hand in solidarity for racial equity in education.

 

Dear Friends of All Hands Raised,

We hope you are staying safe and well as the school year ends and summer begins.

Students of color have always experienced a greater level of learning loss over the summer than their white counterparts. Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing schools and teachers to adapt to distance learning, those gaps are on track to widen even further due to barriers like access to technology and reliable internet connections — as well as more complicated barriers, like how parents of color are more likely to be essential workers.

This is why summer learning programs like Ninth Grade Counts are so important, and why we need your help to go the distance.

Our work at All Hands Raised has always been focused on racial equity in education— and with your help, we will be able to continue to do the important work of collaborating for the systems change we are all hungry for. With your support, my small and nimble staff and I will be able to continue to:
  • Convene community-based organizations and other community leaders together to elevate the needs and recommendations of students and families, and use this on-the-ground information to advocate for funding, resource allocation, and systems change with all of our partners.
  • Work with superintendents and school district staff to understand the realities of distance learning, and help them collect data to better understand the tangible impacts for students of color.
  • Support our cohort of Ninth Grade Counts programs to hold online and in-person summer programming that gives students access to a crucial 0.5 credit and a head start towards graduation.
As a former Principal, I see these challenging times in schools and in the world through the lens of our students. We must work together to ensure all children, youth, and young adults have access to an education that prepares and supports them into productive and fulfilling careers (hopefully, in Portland!). And All Hands Raised is in a key position to help — we have a long history of transformational collaboration in service of our community, and together with countless partners across the business, education, government and nonprofit sectors, we remain dedicated and committed to all of our students, from cradle to career.

Thank you in advance for your kindness and support!

We have set ourselves a fundraising goal of $15,000 — Please consider joining me in donating today to go the distance for all of our students!

 

Sincerely,
Lavert Robertson
CEO, All Hands Raised