Advancing racial healing, education and community pride

RACIAL EQUITY

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has partnered with Academy Award-nominated actor Colman Domingo to promote the National Day of Racial Healing, observed annually on the Tuesday following Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The partnership advances the foundation’s aim to inspire year-round conversation and action to advance racial healing. Associated Press reporter James Pollard shared this story, which was featured in the Washington Post, too. Ebony and Rolling Out also highlighted the partnership.

HAITI

The co-founders of grantee Anseye Pou Ayiti (Teach for Haiti) were awarded the 2024 John P. McNulty Prize, as reported by the Haitian Times. Nedgine Paul Deroly and Jean-Claude Brizard founded Anseye Pou Ayiti in 2014 with the mission of working with local civic leaders to improve the quality and cultural relevance of Haiti’s education system. The McNulty Prize “honors breakthrough leaders for their moral courage, bold vision, and deep, lasting impact.” Deroly and Brizard are the first Haitians to receive the prize since it began in 2008. They were recognized alongside two other organizations: The Solutions Project and Resilience Force.

MICHIGAN

WKKF’s hometown of Battle Creek has launched a new tagline: ” Our City. Your Home. Battle Creek,” to reflect the community’s energy, unity and pride. Developed with input from more than 80 diverse local residents, including leaders of many WKKF grantees, the campaign aims to elevate the city’s identity and attract new residents and businesses by highlighting Battle Creek as a welcoming and vibrant place to live and work. The tagline is designed to be adaptable, allowing various community groups to customize it to fit their needs, fostering a sense of ownership and pride in the city.

EDUCATION

The Bearcat Advantage program is boosting enrollment in Battle Creek Public Schools (BCPS) by offering full college tuition coverage to eligible graduates at Michigan public and private colleges and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) nationwide. This initiative, aimed at increasing educational access and opportunity, supports racial equity by providing greater access to higher education for a district made up mainly of students of color. BCPS has seen a nearly 70% increase in scholarship recipients in the Bearcat Advantage’s second year, demonstrating the program’s growth and positive impact in the community.