Blog

Every week, America Forward is highlighting a few examples of the vital work being done by our Coalition members to support students, families, educators, workers, elected leaders, advocates, and communities across the country. If your organization has resources, an announcement, or a story that you would like to see included, please send it to america_forward@newprofit.org.

College Forward

As schools and institutions of higher education across the country return this fall, whether in person or online, students continue to face the challenges of navigating education during a pandemic. To help, College Forward has put together comprehensive resources for Succeeding in School During COVID-19. They offer information for high school students, high school graduates, and college students, as well as general resources for young people, on everything from food, housing, and safety to mental health and emotional support services, financial assistance, employment, college applications, and more.

PAVE DC

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, PAVE compiled critical resources for families and school staff, offering key news updates; information on COVID-19 response, including distance learning, health and wellness, and meeting basic needs like food, internet, health, and unemployment; and tools to help children cope with the changes brought about by this crisis. They also provide information on relevant local policies re: food security, schools and learning, and child and health care.

Valor Collegiate

Valor Collegiate has been working with their families since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, communicating with 96% of them to figure out their needs and how best to support them during the pandemic. They connected 51 families to internet hotspots, 600 to local food sources, and worked quickly to develop and transition to a distance learning plan. Additionally, they created a live Q&A to increase communication efficiency and respond to questions from their community.

POWER

POWER is working to ensure that their communities have access to the resources and tools necessary to stay healthy and safe throughout this crisis. They’ve compiled COVID-19 resources to track the spread of the virus in Pennsylvania, as well as information on individual counties. They have also continued to host virtual events on timely and relevant issues to their communities, and provide a recording of their Multi-Faith service in an effort to “offer encouragement and solidarity to one another and our community.”

Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors

To help their communities navigate the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors (AP/OD) has put together an online database full of resources, news, and COVID-19 information. They offer mini-sessions for parents and caregivers (in English and Spanish) based on their 3rd edition curriculum; tools for facilitators to engage families, free parenting tools, videos, FAQs; and more. Additionally, AP/OD recently conducted “the most comprehensive study of Latino families regarding COVID-19,” examining the impact of the pandemic on Latino families and how they feel about returning to school in the fall, generating critical data on how to better serve communities.