Education Equity
Our Education Equity team works to prepare New York City children for economic and civic engagement in some of NYC’s most culturally rich yet economically underserved communities. We know that success in school is inextricably linked to the future of communities and lasting economic mobility. We partner with community-based organizations, government agencies, and corporate partners to support parents as their child’s first teacher, engage students through culturally relevant curriculum, and increase teachers’ capacity to learn and grow.
We are striving to build a more equitable city where:
⮕ All children are healthy and ready for school.
⮕ All families are economically stable.
⮕ All teachers and principals feel supported and prepared
OUR IMPACT
# of books delivered directly to homes in the South Bronx since 2015
# of food boxes delivered via school partners in response to Covid-19
# of children and families who engaged in Black Studies via live events in the 2023 school year
SPOTLIGHT ON BOOKS FROM BIRTH
Our PROGRAMS
United Way of New York City (UWNYC) helps prepare NYC children for post-pandemic economic and civic engagement, from cradle to code. We do so across a range of programs and projects. Below is a sample of our current work.
Read & Write + Code
Read & Write + Code (RWC) is a new program launching in fall 2023. RWC builds upon lessons learned from ReadNYC, UWNYC’s decade-long literacy program in Mott Haven in the Bronx, and adds new elements to help prepare children for post-COVID civic and economic engagement. RWC continues to address children’s foundational literacy and wellness needs: increasing early literacy via home, school, and community libraries; providing out-of-school learning and wellness opportunities for children and families; and building teachers’ capacity to meet children’s literacy needs in a Digital Age. At the same time, RWC invests in students’ advanced 21st century literacy needs: innovative methods to integrate reading and writing instruction, multimodal approaches to culturally responsive pedagogy, and introducing computer science to teachers and students in humanities settings.
Books from Birth
Our Books from Birth program focuses on building home, school, and community libraries. Driven by research that emphasizes the importance of children experiencing literacy-rich environments, Books from Birth sends early literacy books directly to families’ homes, while also collaborating with community partners to build libraries in spaces where families already spend their time. Since 2015, UWNYC has overseen the delivery of nearly a quarter million books into space in the South Bronx alone.
Black Studies Curriculum
UWNYC is a proud partner of the Education Equity Action Plan Coalition, which is helping NYC officials design, refine, and implement a Black Studies curriculum for NYC schools. As part of this work, UWNYC launched over 30+ events to help educate and engage the public about Black Studies and to build citywide support. Events ranged from block parties to trivia nights to a fully stocked bookmobile that rolled up in communities across the city to share culturally responsive books and resources with families.
EDUCATION EQUITY STORIES
United Way of New York City at Somos
In March, our President & CEO, Grace Bonilla, along with a delegation of UWNYC staff, attended the 2024 Somos Inc. New York Conference hosted by...
Second Annual Black Studies: An Education For Me + You Bookmobile and Book Fair
On February 29, UWNYC proudly presented the return of the Black Studies: An Education For Me + You Bookmobile and...
53rd Annual Legislative Conference
In February, UWNYC staff attended the 53rd Session of the New York State Black Puerto Rican Hispanic and Asian...
Are you passionate about this area of work? Join us in supporting equitable education to all New Yorkers.
