Summer | Issue 23 | Date: June 29, 2022
Funding Great Schools. Rooted in Community. 
FaithBridge Supports Students Year-Round
Students in the FaithBridge John R. Lewis Community Academy—a summer academic intensive program—are learning powerful lessons. 

“We want them to leave with confidence; to know that who they are and what they do is enough,” says Janet Matthews, a retired Denver Public Schools educator and teacher for the FaithBridge summer academy.

“We want them to know they have a purpose, and to know the importance of education; to feel totally liberated and to have a desire to read and learn and continue to grow and develop.”

The FaithBridge summer academic intensive programs—hosted in partnership with the Center for Community Innovation and Impact in Park Hill—are free, two-week cohorts for second through fifth-grade students. The first cohort ended June 16 and the second is July 11-22. 
The program name honors John R. Lewis, the civil rights activist who served in the U.S House of Representatives, and who died July 17, 2020. John. R. Lewis was instrumental in preserving gains made during the civil rights movement, and in honoring and celebrating Black history. He shared a phrase that has become popular with activists: “Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble."

That resonates with the teachers and students in the FaithBridge program. 

“We want the students to know they have a voice; that they should stand up and speak out,” said Andrea Lewis, a retired Denver Public Schools educator and teacher for the program. “We want them to know their voice matters, to say, ‘I am somebody—and I make good trouble.’”

The students in the cohorts spend days learning literacy, the arts and history. They also learn about and engage in wellness activities, including mindfulness practices.
The literacy lessons have been particularly important because literacy is the foundation for other parts of a child’s education, Matthews said. Matthews and her colleagues want the students to know that literacy can be fun. That’s helped by having bookshelves filled with books by Black and brown authors that feature Black and brown main characters. 

The academic intensives are powerful, too, because for many Black students enrolled, it’s the first time they have teachers who look like them. The same is true for teachers, said Lewis, who was the only teacher of color in her schools for 28 years.

When summer ends, Lewis hopes the students take their lessons with them back to school. 

“I hope when their teachers ask them, ‘What did you do this summer?’, they say they discovered literacy is liberation, and they share all the wonderful things they learned and all the wonderful experiences they had in the academy,” Lewis said. “And I hope the other kids say, ‘Wow, tell us more!’”
The Power of Storytelling: Meet Latia Henderson
Storytelling has—and continues to—shape Latia Henderson’s career.
 
“Stories have remarkable power to drive change,” says Henderson, partner of communications and strategic initiatives for RootED. “Stories are an important part of change because they have the power to shape the way that people think and feel about their worlds and how they act in them. Stories provide an opportunity for people to paint a picture of their journeys and experiences, which often inspire action for the community.”
 
Over the past decade, Henderson has met many inspiring, resilient and talented student leaders—including Daniel Ramirez.
 
She remembers Ramirez's night in the spotlight vividly. Onstage, he shared his story with nearly 1,000 people. He was authentic, vulnerable and passionate as he told the crowd how his family and his education had shaped him into the young man he had become. After weeks spent with Ramirez, developing trust and friendship, and connecting with the people closest to him, Henderson worked with Ramirez, to identify parts of his own story that told more about his interests and values.
“Daniel's story touched so many that evening, so much so that many who were in that room continue to be in touch with him to support him on his endeavors,” Henderson says. “Daniel had the platform to amplify his voice to inspire—an opportunity more people need.”
 
In her role with RootED, Henderson helps amplify the story of our grantees and partner organizations.
 
“Stories connect RootED grantees, partners and community,” Henderson says. “RootED works to unite groups that have held opposing viewpoints to advance a shared vision of equity and opportunity for all Denver Public Schools students.”
 
In the past year she has worked with RootED, she has helped bring some of our most powerful and impactful stories to life; stories that showcase how students in autonomous school models lead powerful conversations and ignite change; stories that show how students in schools with unique models have their needs met by specialized programming; and stories that uplift the voices of our educators, particularly women and leaders of color in Denver’s innovative school models.
 
In her role, Henderson says a top priority is to continue to share more stories from RootED grantees, partners, students, educators and families. If you have a story to share, email lhenderson@rooteddenver.org
Lead with Denver Families
Are you ready to lead?

Denver Families for Public Schools is launching LEAD Denver, a program aimed at building a bench of diverse, values-aligned education leaders who are interested in learning what it takes to lead or support campaigns for local office.
 
Participants in LEAD Denver will learn about local education policy and how to effectively communicate on issues that matter; be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and execution strategies; and meet civic leaders, former and current elected officials, and other local voices.

For more information, email Lance Hostetter, Director of Communication and Public Affairs with Denver Families, at lance@denverfamilies.org, or visit www.denverfamilies.org to learn more.
Welcome Charmaine Lindsay,
New District 5 DPS Board of Education Member
The Denver Public Schools Board of Education voted 4-2 to appoint Charmaine Lindsay, a family law attorney, to the District 5 seat that was vacated by Rev. Bradley Laurvick. 

Lindsay will serve until 2023, when voters will select a District 5 representative. Lindsay will be eligible to run for the seat. 

In one of her first votes on the board, Lindsay joined Tay Anderson, Scott Esserman, Michelle Quattlebaum and Dr. Carrie Olson for a 5-2 vote to reverse parts of an executive limitation that had widespread and damaging effects on Denver’s 52 innovation schools. The vote provides much-needed guidance and flexibility for innovation schools

“Innovation schools deserve some resolution,” Lindsay said, according to Chalkbeat

RootED welcomes Lindsay to the Board of Education!
*Photo courtesy of Denver Public Schools (dpsk12.org)
ICYMI: A Conversation on Healing Justice in Mental Health Conversations
Thank you to all who joined us for our Facebook Live discussion on centering healing justice in mental health conversations.

A special thank you to Chanelle Jones, Y Incubator and Public Health Intern at Young Aspiring Americans for Social and Political Activism (YAASPA) who shared her experience leading healing justice sessions and the impact she has seen in her community.  
If you missed the conversation, watch the full video on YouTube and or view resources compiled by YAASPA interns.
We're Taking a Short Break
We hope summer provides time for our partners, grantees, educators, students and families to refresh and rejuvenate. We are taking a short break and will plan to resume the monthly newsletter in August. Enjoy your summer!
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