The nation is in the midst of an ongoing conversation about how the country’s history of racism is—or is not—taught in schools. Many states and communities are considering formal legislation or other policies to limit these discussions, while others are working to more proactively educate students about the country’s roots of oppression. America’s Promise sat down with three high school students who attend three different schools in an area that has been directly affected by a recent incident of police violence to learn their perspectives on this question.

America’s Promise Alliance Youth Trustee Maria Salmeron-Melendez sat down with CEO Mike O’Brien to learn more about his background, values, and vision for the Alliance’s next chapter. Read the interview here.

The following grants and funding opportunities are currently accepting applicants. These grants are not offered through America's Promise Alliance, but they each relate to our Five Promises. If you have questions about these opportunities, please follow the links provided in each item.

In mid-March, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.

In recent months, our nation has been gripped by uncertainty and fear.

How can parents, caregivers, and families ensure that young people’s social and emotional needs are met in an at-home learning environment?

This piece originally appeared on LinkedIn and has been posted here with permission. Read the original posting here. George Floyd’s last breath breathed new life into a movement.

In the hot seat today: Tim Finchem, the retired third commissioner of the PGA TOUR, whose contributions to the PGA TOUR, its tournaments and players, and the broader world of golf catalyzed a remarkable commitment to the positive development of children and youth

From his own experiences as a community college graduate to the daily experiences that keep him going and provide inspiration, Chancellor Salgado reflects on what’s shaped his life of service for young people.

From 2011 to 2018, something remarkable happened in Chicago: graduation rates skyrocketed from 56.9 percent to 78.2 percent.  This inspiring 21 percentage point increase in young people earning a dip

In anticipation of America’s Promise Alliance’s fifth annual Promise Night, we’ll introduce you to each of the night’s honorees, who are all outstanding individuals helping to deliver the American dream to young people across the country.

“We actually don’t have the answers, the answers are in communities and in the people we are investing in.

Are you working to advance young people’s social, emotional, and cognitive development? Are you poised to extend those efforts through intentional crosssector collaboration? Is your organization trusted in the community to represent and honorits young people?

When I first started teaching, I could not have guessed that my understanding of human development, psychological responses to trauma and cultural nuance (I was a sociology and psychology major in college) would so strongly inform my approach to managing my classroom and connecting with my students. Without this baseline knowledge, I may have never discovered the true value of Trauma Informed Practices (TIP) in schools.

Join two School District of University leaders – Gary Spiller, executive director of the Office of Student Support and Innovative Services, and Nancy Cambria, director of communications – as they discuss the district’s use of social-emotional practices, prioritization of youth voice, and its emphasis on supporting the health and well-being of all children.

Last month, we publicly launched the YES Project with a panel at ASU + GSV that focused on the power of connection and how the business community, educators, policymakers, and philanthropists can help link youth to new opportunities.