Equitable Outcomes and Community Schools

Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking webinar focused on the transformative power of community schools in fostering equitable outcomes. During this session, we will explore the critical role that community schools play in addressing systemic barriers and promoting inclusive education. We will delve into the principles and practices of community schools, highlighting successful models and best practices from around the state and provide an overview of the pilot project happening here in San Diego. Hear from experts from the Center of Policy Initiatives and Eric Morrison-Smith, Executive Director and Dr. David C. Turner from the Alliance for Boys and Men of Color as we explore how philanthropic organizations can leverage their resources to strengthen community-school partnerships, empower local communities and make a significant impact on educational equity.

Target Audience

This program is designed for members of Catalyst and open to other funders, educators and administrators interested in educational equity.

Speakers

Dr. David C. Turner III | Senior Advisor at Alliance for Boys and Men of Color

Dr. David C. Turner III joins the ABMoC team as a Senior Advisor, working with the team to further develop internal infrastructure and on campaigns to uplift community schools, transform school discipline, and decriminalize youth and communities of color. Prior to joining the ABMoC team in an official capacity, Dr. Turner was a partner with the Alliance as the manager of the Brothers, Sons, Selves Coalition in Los Angeles, a part of the inaugural ABMoC Data Fellowship with the Tableau foundation, and as a staff member with the Social Justice Learning Institute in Inglewood, CA, his hometown.

Dr. Turner brings years of experience to the team, having successfully co-led and supported campaigns to reinvest resources from carceral institutions to life-sustaining ones, driven large-scale participatory action research projects, and worked to change youth and education policy at both the local and state levels. Notable campaigns include the movement to reallocate school police dollars to a Black student achievement plan in LAUSD, eliminating willful defiance for grades K-8 at the state level, and working to collect and analyze over 24,000 surveys as a member of the Research team with Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles and the People’s Budget LA Coalition.

Eric Morrison Smith | Executive Director at Alliance for Boys and Men of Color

Eric Morrison-Smith is the Executive Director for the Alliance for Boys and Men of Color (ABMoC). He formerly was the Policy Director for the Alliance and supported the network’s operations and communications. As the Executive Director, Eric works to center directly-impacted people and grassroots organizations to translate their vision and aspirations into structural change and works with network partners to build power to abolish systems of oppression and transform the material conditions of Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color.

Eric has worked at PolicyLink, San Diego Workforce Partnership, and RISE San Diego, where he focused on strategy, communications, and youth organizing for policy and system change efforts. He currently sits on the boards of Mid City-CAN and Center for Policy Initiatives and the Policy and Advocacy Committee for Catalyst San Diego. In his free time, he loves to read, work out, cook/eat good food, and will watch anything and everything comics-related

Dr. Kyra R. Greene | Executive Director, Board President at the Center on Policy Initiatives 

Dr. Kyra R. Greene joined the Center on Policy Initiatives’ staff in 2014 and became the Executive Director in June 2017.

Dr. Greene earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from Stanford University. She also holds a B.A. in Social Sciences from Bard College at Simon’s Rock. Her past research has focused on social movement messaging/framing, legislative processes, and public policies affecting the lives of people of color and people with disabilities.

Before joining CPI, Dr. Greene was an Assistant Professor of Sociology at San Diego State University. She served as an instructor in sociological courses on public policy at both Rider University and Stanford University.

Presently, Dr. Greene serves on numerous boards. She is the Chair of the Engage San Diego Action Fund and Board Chair of PowerSwitch Action.