Raymond Pierce President & CEO, Southern Education Foundation Letter from the CEO As we mark another year of the Southern Education Foundation’s commitment to advancing equal access and opportunity in education, I am proud to reflect on the progress we’ve made and the challenges we continue to confront. Our mission to ensure that all students, regardless of race, income, or background, have access to a high-quality education remains as urgent as ever. Over the past year, SEF has stood firm in its advocacy for public education, opposing policies that divert resources from the students who need them most. Public education is the foundation of our democracy. We must continue to invest in it and strengthen it, not diminish it. We have also worked to shine a light on the systemic inequities that persist for Black and underserved students. Our recent report highlighted ongoing challenges, including achievement gaps and lower college enrollment rates. These data points remind us that our work is far from finished. SEF remains steadfast in advocating for policies that dismantle barriers and expand opportunity.
Our work is not limited to policy advocacy. From securing fair funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities to ensuring compliance with ethical governance in education, SEF has played a pivotal role in shaping policies that promote fairness and equal opportunity. For two decades, SELI has cultivated and empowered the next generation of changemakers, providing aspiring leaders with hands-on experience in education policy, research, and advocacy. As we recently commemorated the 71st anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education , we were reminded that the fight against segregation and systemic racism in our schools is not over. We must stay vigilant in advancing policies that bring us closer to educational opportunity for all. This year also marks a major milestone: more than 20 years of our Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI). This milestone represents just one chapter in SEF’s long tradition of leadership development that dates back to the organization’s founding in the late 1800s.
| ECHOES OF EXCELLENCE |
3
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker