The "What": A Confrontation with History

During our visit, we used a frame for evaluation provided by Dr. Dudley Flood, a legend and namesake of the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity: “What? So What? Now What?”. It’s one of the simplest frameworks of reflection–by moving through three reflective stages, you can think about an experience, its implications and what that means for the future.

Dr. Flood encouraged us to use this lens to determine how we can make a difference in our communities based on what we learned during our visit.

The experience was visceral. As I read the narratives of enslaved people at the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park and took in the names of lynching victims at the National Memorial of Peace and Justice, I was moved to tears. I felt a crushing mix of anger, sadness and anxiety, but also profound gratefulness and pride. I was confronted with the weight of being a living legacy of a horrific moment in American history, while simultaneously rejoicing that I live a life of civil liberties that my ancestors could not have imagined.

My “what” became clear: I must live a life that honors their struggles by pushing for a high-quality education system where income and race no longer determine the quality of a child’s future. The intentional lack of access to opportunity that defined slavery and segregation continues to impact our progress today, which is why I must be all-in on ensuring our education system prepares every child for the life they deserve.

The "So What": Turning Ideas into Results

So, what does this mean for our work? At Education First, we know that redesigning a racist and inequitable education system is necessary to create a society where everyone can thrive. We prioritize dismantling racism with an intersectional lens to design systems that no longer disadvantage students and leaders of color.

We have a unique approach that bridges policy, practice, and philanthropy to drive equity-centered change across the education landscape. At Education First, we believe that education initiatives succeed by turning innovation into impact. My participation on this trip was evidence of this commitment. Years ago, I led a North Carolina Racial Equity and Social Impact Community of Practice which focused on collective actions to improve educational funding in North Carolina. As a result, those leaders began aligning their funding efforts to be more impactful collectively than they were individually. This very trip was funded by two of those philanthropic leaders from Burroughs Wellcome Fund and the Conway/Holderness Family Fund who saw this journey as an opportunity to partner and advance the state’s commitment to an equitable education system through the leaders working in service of it.

The "Now What": A Path Forward

Since returning from Montgomery, I continue to contemplate: “Now what am I going to do differently?”. Moving forward, I am committed to three key actions:

• Remaining Rooted: I will stay grounded in my reason for doing this work, recognizing it as a privilege and a responsibility to ensure no student is disadvantaged by race or income.
• Tapping into Tenacity: I will be uncompromising when it comes to the values that undergird student progress. I am inspired by our work to help leaders move from innovation to impact and build progress that survives leadership transitions, funding cycles and shifts in political climate. By designing equitable and coherent systems, we are steadfast in our commitment to serve students, educators and leaders of color.
• Cultivating Connections: Dr. Flood reminded us that we are not alone in this work. When we focus on doing the right thing for children, others will come alongside us. Deepening our connection to those leaders and organizations is key to our success at Education First. Ultimately, these commitments are how we honor the enduring spirit of Juneteenth, ensuring that the hard-won freedom it represents is realized in every classroom across the country.

Your Turn

I invite you to consider your own “What? So What? Now What?”. In these times of shifting landscapes, how will you remain rooted, tenacious, and connected?