I begin by asking you to close your eyes for a moment and picture a kindergarten classroom. 25 eager 5-year-old 5-year-olds fill this room. They're running, laughing, running around as much as they possibly can and finally find their space down on the carpet where they anxiously await to learn something new.Can you see them. Now shift your focus to the doorway where five or more students stand outside, peering through the glass. Their tiny fists bang desperately at the door.They're crying, pleading for the ...

A new HUD memo tells staff to focus on discrimination against individuals, not neighborhoods, in a potential threat to redlining cases https://t.co/JBYlZvaqF1 ...

Educational Inequity & Systemic Barriers - The education sector faces significant inequities due to race, poverty, immigration status, language access, and disability, creating barriers for many students [2] - Redlining, a racist housing policy, has led to segregated communities and unequal school funding due to reliance on local property taxes [9] - Under-resourced communities often have schools with inadequate funding, outdated materials, inexperienced teachers, and disproportionate disciplinary policies [7][8] Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic - The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep cracks in the education system, with disparities in access to laptops, internet, and tech support [10][11][12] - Students with disabilities experienced loss of critical support, hindering their learning and growth [12] Solutions & Strategies for Equity - Investment in high-quality early education yields a $7 return for every $1 invested, resulting in better health, higher wages, lower crime, and improved educational outcomes [14] - Culturally responsive teaching, which incorporates cultural references in learning, can transform student engagement and achievement [15] - Creating inclusive spaces where students feel safe and celebrated is crucial for their success [18][20] Call to Action - Parents should treat every child's education as their own and build communities of belonging for educators [22] - Policymakers must fund and allocate school resources equitably, not based on neighborhood wealth [22] - Educators should champion truth and culturally responsive curriculum to see and celebrate every child [23]

Education System Inequality - The education system is rigged, with zip code significantly impacting educational trajectory [1][2] - Local property taxes drive public school funding, leading to unequal resource distribution based on zip code [3] - Segregation in schools has worsened by 64% since the 1980s, despite the Brown versus Board of Education ruling [6] - Black and Latino students are four times more likely to experience under-resourced schools and inexperienced teachers [8] - Redlining and funding schools through local property taxes contribute to concentrated poverty and unequal educational opportunities [9] Systemic Harm and Consequences - Underfunded schools lead to negative consequences in incarceration, income, and health [11] - 70% of incarcerated adults in America read below a fourth-grade level, highlighting the impact of educational failure [11] Solutions for Equity - Real equity involves providing schools with equitable resources based on need, not just equal resources [12] - Equity-based funding can increase graduation rates by up to 30% [12] - Community-driven leadership and culturally relevant curriculum are essential for lasting change and student engagement [12] - A $1 billion voucher program in Texas may further drain money from public schools in need [10] - Districts serving mostly white students receive $23 billion more annually than those serving mostly students of color [10]

Racial Justice and Mapping - Maps have historically been used to establish and perpetuate racism, and continue to pose risks to communities of color if race is not considered [3][4][5] - Organizations should prioritize conversations about race and racial equity in their work to ensure the safety, health, and prosperity of every community [7] - Colonizers used maps to exploit Africa's resources and enslave its people, highlighting the historical misuse of maps for oppression [9][10][15] - Redlining practices in the US, supported by racist maps, led to segregation and limited opportunities for Black communities [19][20][21] - During disasters like Hurricane Katrina, racial disparities were evident, with Black people disproportionately affected [22][23][24] - Colorblind maps during the COVID-19 pandemic failed to address racial disparities, but some organizations used maps to highlight these inequalities, revealing that Black people were two to six times more likely to die [24][25][26] Action and Change - Change requires action, not just time, in the fight against racism and other systems of oppression [32] - When creating and using maps, it is crucial to involve Black people and other marginalized groups in the process [34] - Maps and policies should be designed to advance racial justice from the beginning, not as an afterthought [34] - The Northstar of GIS promotes mapping practices rooted in racial justice and highlights the work of the melanated and mapping community [30][31]