Karran Harper Royal (@KHRoyal)
Karran Harper Royal is a nationally known education advocate. She is the Assistant Director of the Pyramid Community Parent Resource Center, an organization that advocates for special needs children, and ensuring they get the resources they need. She also is the administrator of the blog, Education Talk New Orleans, which keeps locals and non-locals connected with what’s going on in the city.
VAYLA (@VAYLANOLA)
VAYLA, standing for the Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association of New Orleans, is a organization that gathers members of the Vietnamese, Latino/a, and African American communities in New Orleans east. The organization trains young people and advocates for educational reform, at the same time educating parents and community members about how to get involved in education equity efforts.
Ashana Bigard (@AshanaBigard)
Ashana Bigard is one of the directors at the Community Education Project of New Orleans. She is an advocate for racial equality and education equity. With recent events related to police brutality in America, she has rallied others to participate and participate herself in marches around the city of New Orleans.
The New Orleans Imperative (Facebook: The New Orleans Imperative)
The New Orleans Imperative is perhaps one of the most surprising things I found on the Internet. It is a weekly show, on the radio, hosted by Dr. Raynard Sanders that talks about public education in New Orleans and reform efforts. Check it out if you’ve got some time. You won’t regret it.
Youth Empowerment Project (@YEPNOLA)
The Youth Empowerment Project seeks to empower youth coming from correctional facilities. It focuses on at-risk youth by mentoring them and educating them, attempting to prevent them from going back. The program also helps youth not in school, and offers tutoring programs, GED and other test prep, and after-school and summer activities.
Families and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children (@fflicla)
From the name, the organization is committed to raising awareness and centering discourse on Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children, many of whom have been the victims of the treacherous school-to-prison pipeline. However, the organization seeks to promote education equity. This organization was responsible for reporting that the Recovery School District did not possess the resources to teach special needs and kids with behavioral problems.
BreakOUT! (@YouthBreakOUT)
BreakOUT! is a group that promotes LGBTQ rights in the city of New Orleans. There is so much criminalization towards LGBTQ youth, especially in the inner city. This organization seeks to change the mindset of those in leadership, and raise awareness for the problems that are faced in LGBTQ youth, in terms of their behavior, social patterns, and existence.
Education Talk New Orleans is a blog that seeks to keep people informed on the latest issues in education reform and public education in the city. Check it out.
[Photo]. Retrieved December 8, 2014, from: http://apps.npr.org/the-end-of-neighborhood-schools/