Washington, D.C. (March 14, 2024) –The NEA Foundation is proud to announce that it will present the 2024 Student Voices for Education Award to a student-run nonprofit organization Diversify Our Narrative (DON). This award recognizes an individual student, group of students, or organization that provides exemplary leadership in elevating students’ voices in school communities, building student movements, and/or advancing efforts to advocate on behalf of students in other forums.
Diversify Our Narrative aims to empower students as changemakers for an anti-racist future through education. The grassroots organization is comprised of high school and college students throughout the country pushing for equitable, long-lasting educational systems change through diverse texts, curriculums, and teaching practices. Through DON, students work with local school boards, school administration, and educators to advocate for a more inclusive curriculum, ultimately leading to greater racial equity and decreased educational disparities. DON also develops antiracist and inclusive lesson plans and other educator resources, and supports student members in their leadership journeys.
“Student voices should be at the center of conversations on public education and educational systems change,” said Sara A. Sneed, president and CEO of The NEA Foundation. “The work of Diversify Our Narrative is an inspiring example of what student voices can bring to the table when we talk about equity, and what student-centered teaching can look like. Its network of students, which spans the nation, demonstrates a hunger for inclusive and antiracist education from all corners of the country. The NEA Foundation is honored to recognize Diversity Our Narrative with the 2024 Student Voice Award.”
The Student Voices for Education Award will be among several honors presented at the 2024 Salute to Excellence in Education on May 3 at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. In addition to recognizing organizations advancing the best in public education, the Foundation will honor 44 educators from across the country with the 2024 Awards for Teaching Excellence. The annual Salute to Excellence in Education attracts hundreds of the nation’s education leaders and supporters of public education from across the country. Join us in person or on the livestream!
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Editor’s Note: Please use our correct name, The NEA Foundation. The “NEA” is never spelled out in our name. It is not the National Education Association Foundation. Many thanks!
About The NEA Foundation
The NEA Foundation is a national philanthropic organization that invests in educators’ leadership, shared learning, and collaboration; supports partnerships and initiatives that strengthen public education; and promotes public education policy and practice improvements. Find us at www.neafoundation.org, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
About Diversify Our Narrative
Diversify Our Narrative is a student-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to empower tomorrow’s change-makers and build an anti-racist future through education nationwide. Founded in 2020 by two Stanford students, DON initially began with one goal: to change high school English classrooms to include diverse texts. Since then, DON has expanded their vision to include four core values in the fight to build antiracist policy: accessibility, curriculum advocacy, centering students and stories, and community building.
