Blog Archive for Teach For America News

Mark Osborne taught in the 2009 D.C. corps.

Since I started on staff in 2009, by-in-large my identity has been that of a white gay male from a low-income background. As such, that was largely the perspective that was often solicited from me. However in my personal life, when I am asked to define myself I generally first, very proudly, identify as a Puerto Rican or as my cousins would jokingly call me, “ a blanquito Puerto Rican.”

This week Pass The Chalk features posts from contributors who learn, teach and work in Native communties in honor of Native American Heritage Month.

Hau Mitakuyapi, Anpetu waste. Robert Cook emaciyapi yelo, Oglala Lakota hemaca yelo. Na iyuha cante wasteya nape ciyuzapi yelo.  (Good Day relatives, my name is Robert Cook, I am from the Oglala Lakota Nation and I shake your hand with a good heart.)

Each year since 1990, the sitting President of the United States issues an official Proclamation declaring November Native American Heritage Month.  American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians are the indigenous people of the United States. In fact, archeological evidence shows inhabitants living in this country for over 50,000 years.  My own Lakota ancestry has oral stories that place our origin in the sacred Black Hills of South Dakota, the heart of the Great Sioux Nation where we continue to live and honor our cultural identity. 

Photo courtesy Turn685 via Wikimedia Commons

Amanda Fernandez is the VP of Latino Community Outreach at Teach For America. 

I often talk about educational inequality in our country and the fact that Latinos now have the highest poverty rates in the nation and the lowest educational attainment. What I don’t often talk about are those of us who have made it, that small percentage of us who beat the odds and got that college degree. We may be the first in our families to have done so and so we struggle for a seat at the table, for our voices to be heard, our leadership to emerge and for the ability to forge strong connections and build community when operating in a mainstream environment.

I was reminded of the importance of shared experiences when just weeks ago Teach For America brought together all Latino staff members to Washington D.C. to spend time exploring these three areas and also to participate in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institutes’ 35th Anniversary Conference and events. Why make such an investment?

We have an organization-wide commitment to diversity and we have put a focus on the growing force of Hispanics in our work as an education organization.  We act on the desire of our people to be part of a community of individuals who share similar experiences. One shared experience that is truly binding is that of being educated Latinos navigating predominately white work environments.  We know firsthand the challenges and opportunities of biculturalism and we have the strong desire to change the game for children in poverty through education.

Photo by U.S. Department of Agriculture via WikiCommons

Domonique McClendonis the director of national and diversity marketing at Teach For America. 

While an education is essential in life, having dreams and a champion for those dreams is no less so. And that champion, for many kids, is their teacher. Our teachers, or shall we call them what they really are—heroes—have the chance to play such an important role in the lives of young people. They can help young people see their uniqueness as individuals, recognize their potential, and embrace their dreams.

Earlier this week, I attended Teachers Rock—a concert to celebrate and benefit our country’s educators—alongside TFA Los Angeles corps members, staff members, and thousands of fans. Musicians like Carrie Underwood and Josh Groban performed, and celebrities including Viola Davis and Meryl Streep spoke. Teach For America, along with Donorschoose.org and Feeding America, was acknowledged for the work we do to improve the lives of people in this country. It felt great to have our organization’s work recognized alongside so many other compassionate and committed leaders and groups.