2020 | Father and daughter doing homework | Photograph by FluxFactory via Getty Images.
2020 | Teaching during COVID-19 | Photograph by Miodrag Ignjatovic via Getty Images.
2020 | Mother and son laughing together | Photograph by SDI Productions via Getty Images.
2020 | Students coloring with their teacher | Photograph by Fat Camera via Getty Images.
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A Focus On Student Well-Being

Mental well-being is an essential foundation for learning. COVID-19 caused unprecedented disruption and stress for more than 50 million students, their families, and their teachers. As schools and communities rebuild, attending to the social emotional well-being of children must be our priority. At CZI, we are committed to accelerating a whole child approach to learning that integrates what we know about the science of human development and learning into education.

Supporting School Recovery

The lives of millions of students, teachers, and families were disrupted overnight following the shutdown of US schools in early 2020 - exacerbating existing inequities and disproportionately affecting low-income communities of color. In response, CZI awarded five community-based organizations $170,000 to partner with schools that served primarily Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities and help develop reopening plans. Learn more about the project and key learnings from these case studies.

Beloved Community

Beloved Community partnered with Libertas College Preparatory Charter School in Los Angeles who empowers the community through development of school’s diversity, equity, and inclusion practices on an organization level.

Beloved Community
Beloved Community

DC Pave

DC PAVE worked with Thurgood Marshall Academy in Washington, D.C. who offers families agency over decisions made in school through a four-step process: Inform, Engage, Organize, Activate.

DC PAVE
DC Pave

EOS/AAMI

Equal Opportunity Schools’ African American Male Initiative (AAMI) partnered with Crete-Monee High School in Crete, IL to help support the mental health of students by centering belonging, healing-centered engagement, and positioning students as agents of change.

EOS/AAMI
EOS/AAMI

Kingmakers of Oakland

Kingmakers of Oakland worked with Piedmont Ave Elementary School in Oakland, CA to provide community activities and material provisions to support families’ sense of belonging and connectedness.

Kingmakers of Oakland
Kingmakers of Oakland

RISE Colorado

Village East Elementary in Aurora, CO partnered with RISE Colorado to help develop a sense of belonging among students and families using RISE’s 3-part approach: Educate, Engage, Empower.

RISE Colorado
RISE Colorado
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Meet Educators & Communities Leading the Way on Student Well-being

Gradient Learning

A nonprofit organization led by educators, Gradient Learning partners with communities, schools, educators to meet the holistic needs of every child while fostering success for all.

Gradient Learning

Van Ness Elementary

Van Ness Elementary in Washington D.C. aims to cultivate critical thinkers and develop a generation of confident, curious, and compassionate members of society.

Van Ness Elementary

Downtown Boxing Gym

Through education, athletics, mentorship and intervention, the Downtown Boxing Gym empowers Detroit students to be positive and productive members of society.

Downtown Boxing Gym

The Leadership Academy

The Leadership Academy builds the capacity of educational leaders at every level of the system to disrupt systemic inequities and create the conditions necessary for all students to thrive.

The Leadership Academy

Peer Health Exchange

Peer Health Exchange empowers young people with the knowledge, skills, and resources to make healthy decisions.

Peer Health Exchange

Village of Wisdom

Village of Wisdom is closing the academic opportunity gap by working with Black families to protect Black genius.

Village of Wisdom

Equal Opportunity Schools

Equal Opportunity Schools ensures that students of color have equitable access to academically intense high school programs and succeed at the highest levels.

Equal Opportunity Schools
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Priscilla Chan Interview with NBC’s Sheinelle Jones

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