Blog

Every month, 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.

Reading Partners

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Reading Partners has been working to mitigate the learning loss created by the pandemic. In partnership with AmeriCorps members, they have launched online tutoring programs and are providing in-person literacy services when possible, advancing solutions to ensure that all students – especially students of color and students from low-income communities – have the support they need to continue learning during COVID-19 and beyond.

Encore.org

Encore is committed to keeping communities connected throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Their online resources for Encore leaders offer tools to help those who are interested in engaging others in social purpose work, starting their own Encore program, or exploring additional approaches – including access to the Encore network and information about their #Gen2Gen programming. Through their online resources for Encore seekers, they provide information for those interested in Encore careers, volunteering, transition programs, and other ways to get involved.

New Classrooms

The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred a “growing educational crisis in at least three specific areas,” according to New Classrooms: “1) pandemic learning loss is particularly severe in mathematics; 2) tudents who struggled the most are those who were in upper elementary school grades and transitioned into middle school; and 3) educationally marginalized student groups are most vulnerable to the impacts of the pandemic.” Their memo to the Biden-Harris transition team, The First 100 Days and Beyond: How the New Administration Can Advance a Student-Centered and Equitable Vision for k-12 Education, lays out their proposed solutions to these challenges, including greater support for research, as well as innovative learning models.

Freedom Project WA

The combination of COVID-19-related public health concerns and severe economic instability has left families and communities across the country vulnerable and in need of vital resources. To help, Freedom Project has created an Open COVID-19 Community Resources List – a crowd-sourced document that serves to connect people with the tools, services, and resources they need to navigate this difficult moment.

Third Sector

The COVID-19 crisis continues to squeeze local and state government budgets at a time when communities are relying on public services and support more than ever. Third Sector is working to prevent disproportionate and inequitable outcomes and improve the impact of public support by enabling “local and state governments to make informed resourcing and implementation decisions,” leveraging their own experience and tools to offer solutions to a variety of government challenges.