At last year’s parent-teacher conferences, Ohio third-grade teacher Kristy Jensen heard parents say that reading was their child’s favorite subject for the first time. 🌟 This shift comes after Superintendent Ed Kurt introduced #ScienceofReading curriculum, focused on phonics and decoding skills, in Margaretta Local School District. The initial results are promising, but also highlight the need for funding to support curricula implementation and equip teachers for success. Explore more in a report from our grantee, The Thomas B. Fordham Institute. https://bit.ly/3UQq7eZ.

With support from the CARE Fund, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Family Values @ Work, MomsRising.org, National Women's Law Center and Paid Leave for All are coordinating efforts to improve wages and working conditions for #caregivers. Their work spans polling, messaging and research on how caregivers are talked about in the media and connects care with broader issues like #reproductivefreedom and #immigrationrights. Discover how their work is advancing grassroots efforts and strengthening the care movement. ➡️ https://bit.ly/3YDPtxG.

"The least we owe the people who have fought for so long to create a more equitable society and school system is to make sure that our kids are endowed with literacy—that very, very powerful skill—so they can lead truly free lives." In a recent podcast interview, Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras highlighted our responsibility to ensure every child enjoys access to #literacy as a fundamental skill and lever of power. By doing so, we honor those who long sought to build more equitable societies and continue to carry their torch forward. Hear more from Superintendent Kamras: https://bit.ly/4ey89Vv

It is said that democracy is never guaranteed; in each generation, we must work to preserve it. This Tuesday, we have the chance to join millions of Americans who have already cast their ballots to carry forward this generational work. We hope all who can will exercise their right to vote, support efforts to ensure all eligible votes are counted, and consider other ways to engage in our democratic process! In this polarizing time, we are deeply grateful for our grantees who are working tirelessly on the ground and with their communities to strengthen the democratic process, mobilize voters and protect our rights and freedoms. We are proud to stand with these organizations and follow the pathways they are building to expand opportunities for all Americans. This election has been a stark reminder of the important work ahead to reclaim the shared values that unite us as Americans. No matter the outcome of the election, we at Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies remain dedicated to this work, to our portfolio areas and to our mission to advance just and inclusive societies.

Across the country, states and school districts are transforming early #literacy instruction to give students the strong reading foundation they need to thrive. This #podcast episode highlights one district at the head of this shift: Richmond Public Schools. In a recent Good Things episode, host Gloria Riviera speaks with Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras and Literacy Coach Megan Siepka about literacy as a means to empower students and the dedicated, everyday work of educators to make it happen. Listen to Good Things by Lemonada Media wherever you get your podcasts. https://lnkd.in/ekVweqww. 🎧

The practice of offering comfort and support to those in mourning is an important tradition in Jewish culture, rooted in the belief that together, we can bear the heavy weight of grief. Since October 7, 2023, students involved with our grantee, Hillel International, have organized efforts across college campuses to create safe spaces for mourning, promote open dialogue and provide avenues for collective action. We are proud to witness these students embody these Jewish values and honor this incredibly difficult moment in community with each other. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3UfiWNh.

Thank you Liz Schrayer of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) and OLAM Board member Lisa Eisen of Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies for your powerful words, at our recent event in Washington, DC to commemorate #October7 and reflect on its impact on our field. Some 3 dozen OLAM partners, members, and Jewish international development practitioners took part in the event, where new connections were made and we tackled issues such as staying steadfast in our global commitments while navigating the complexities of being Jewish in the field in these challenging times. If you know a Jewish individual working in the global development or humanitarian aid field who would benefit from joining our supportive community, tag them below!

Gun violence is not just a criminal justice issue; it is a preventable public health issue. This past summer, the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Firearm Violence reaffirmed what many of our grantees have long advocated: ➡️ By identifying potential risks, intervening early and strengthening support systems—as we do for other public health issues—we can more effectively address #gunviolence. Learn from the leaders advancing this critical work in a new video series by The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention, featuring Joseph Griffin, DrPH of Youth ALIVE! and more: https://bit.ly/40nBFtR.

Are you ready to hear some #GoodThings from around the country? 📢   In a special four-part miniseries of the Good Things podcast, our grantees leading community violence intervention efforts in Baltimore, Newark, Baton Rouge and Indianapolis discuss strategies for preventing and intercepting violence—and what's proving effective in their own communities.   Discover how they are building safer futures for each of us. Get started here: https://lnkd.in/eUEuX9RJ. 📲   Thank you to our grantee, The Coalition to Advance Public Safety (CAPS), and partners including Cities United, Life Bridge, The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention, Community Based Public Safety Collective, New Directions, Recycle Force, The National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR) and Lemonada Media for making this series possible.  #PodcastRecommendations #ViolencePrevention #CriminalJusticeReform

The pandemic set student learning back, but a 200-day school year is helping these students catch up. 💡 In Richmond, where the majority of #publicschool students live below the poverty line, adding 20 extra days to the school year has been critical in addressing COVID-19 #learningloss. Discover how our grantee, Richmond Public Schools, is expanding this transformative initiative in the 2024-25 school year. https://bit.ly/48qDHvd