Message from the President
I tire so of hearing people say,
Let things take their course.
Tomorrow is another day.
– from Democracy, by Langston Hughes
When I was 25, working as a researcher for the ACLU of Southern California – my first full-time job out of law school – a fellow summer intern gave me a collection of Langston Hughes poems. The gift of that book was almost like a coming home for me. It reconnected me to the soundtrack of my childhood, spent listening to the jazz poetry of Charlie Parker and John Coltrane with my parents. Although I was thousands of miles and an ocean away from my family in France, that small but deeply meaningful gift made me feel that the United States was, in fact, a place I could make my home.
That anthology also sent me looking for more from the Harlem Renaissance poet whose work spoke to the passion that animated my work as a young advocate. A quarter of a century later, that book is well worn, having traveled with me across many homes and offices. And while over the years I have gained a deeper understanding of the long arc of systems change, I remain driven by that same sense of urgency that motivated my younger self and that infused the poetry and prose of Langston Hughes.
As I write this, I am struck by the pain and uncertainty that dominates the news. The United Nations’ annual climate change conference (COP28) is taking place in Dubai, where policymakers, scientists, and young activists are grappling with the need to dramatically reduce carbon emissions; wars and armed conflicts are being waged on four of seven continents; and democracy and democratic principles are under attack in the United States and elsewhere. Add to that the cumulative impact of a global pandemic that interrupted learning and relationships for students and undermined the physical and economic health and well-being of the most marginalized families and communities. Is it any wonder that Youth Truth reports that “depression, stress, and anxiety” is the most prevalent obstacle to learning for students in sixth through twelfth grade?
I think a lot these days about how the current state of the country, the world, and the planet weighs on today’s adolescents. With so many young people and their families focused on just getting by, thriving – the central focus of the Stuart Foundation’s work – can seem like a pipedream. But what is the alternative? To tell young people that “Tomorrow is another day”? Young people don’t think so. We don’t either. At the Stuart Foundation we believe there is no better time to be focused on this singular goal. To recommit ourselves and our resources to creating schools of belonging, to supporting young people to bring their full and powerful selves to addressing the complex challenges that face their communities, and to listening to what they say they need to heal, to remain hopeful, and to find joy.
Through their work and words, young people, with the support and encouragement of teachers and mentors inside and outside of school, are pointing the way. Up and down the state, they are addressing the challenges in their schools and communities. They are leading circles of healing and belonging and supporting a culture shift in their school communities rooted in restorative practices; they are stepping up to address the existential threat of climate change; and they are using essays, poetry, and podcasts to make meaning of the world around them and shape public understanding on critical issues. In South Los Angeles, Black and Brown students participate in Community Coalition’s four-week Freedom School, where they learn about and celebrate their community and cultures and are supported as learners and leaders. And in Oakland, through a collaboration with UC Berkeley’s Y-PLAN, students in Oakland High School’s Law and Social Justice pathway researched the student homelessness crisis and presented recommendations for school and district action.
These are just a few of the examples throughout the state of students charting a new way for their schools and larger communities. At the Stuart Foundation, we are learning from young people and the adults who support them, and we are looking to them for inspiration and guidance about where and how to focus our energy and resources. We’ve assembled a talented team that is energized and ready to meet the opportunities and challenges of the year ahead — and there will be plenty of both.
Unprecedented state investments in community schools, behavioral health supports, dual enrollment, and college and career pathways can serve as a catalyst for reimagining how young people engage in powerful learning that nurtures their thriving individually and collectively. We should support and center the leadership of students as we work to transform systems, creating opportunities for them to “practice” democracy within the institution of school as we prepare them for a successful transition to rich post-secondary opportunities. A presidential election and scores of local and state races and initiatives provide additional real-time opportunities for young people to experience democracy. Alongside these opportunities are significant challenges: public education is under attack; productive conversations about candidates and issues are rare; and significant decisions are expected from the U.S. Supreme Court, including related to Brown v. Board, which turns 70 next May.
Against this backdrop, we’re doubling down on thriving – today and everyday – and invite you to do the same.
As the year winds down, we are deeply grateful for the work of our grantees and the collaboration of our partners. We hope you have time to rest and reflect as we prepare to meet the year ahead with hope that is grounded in an unflinching look at where we are and the promise of where we can go together.
In solidarity,
Sophie
Foundation News
The Stuart Foundation is pleased to announce the addition of a new staff member to our team. Peter Ross has joined as managing director to lead the Foundation’s increased focus on fostering educational experiences that support California’s adolescents to thrive. Peter has spent his career working to create educational systems in which all students engage in deeper learning and are well-known by educators. We are thrilled to have him as a colleague. We are also delighted to announce that Joe Herrity, who joined us last year as interim Senior Manager, Partnerships will continue in this position, leading the Foundation’s work focused on advancing opportunities for youth in foster care, unhoused youth, and youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Alexia Everett will continue for another year in her temporary role as Strategy Advisor on Special Populations for the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), where she is supporting the Department’s efforts to elevate and address the educational needs of students in foster care, students experiencing homelessness, and those involved with the juvenile justice system.
Artwork by Sindha Agha