Honoring the Voices of Yesterday The Legacy of Leadership Development at the Southern Education Foundation
by Dr. Amber C. Davis SEF Director of Leadership Development
For over a century and a half, the Southern Education Foundation (SEF) has been a driving force in advancing education opportunity and justice across the South. The Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI), established in 2004, was born not as a new mission but as a continuation of
SEF’s unwavering commitment to nurturing visionaries who dare to dream of a better future. As we celebrate 20 years of SELI, we pause to honor the voices of those who came before—voices that resonate through the corridors of time, carrying with them the weight of sacrifice, resilience, and purpose. SEF’s investment in leadership development long predates SELI, as the foundation has consistently sought to cultivate individuals who could transform education for the better. Among those voices is the profound scholar and activist W.E.B. Du Bois, SEF’s first known fellow. It was under SEF’s wing that Du Bois worked on his seminal masterpiece, The Souls of Black Folk , a collection that laid bare the soul of a nation divided and called forth the courage to confront its inequities. His time with SEF reminds us that leadership is not merely a role but a responsibility—to illuminate injustice and inspire change.
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