Current Projects
Equity in Schools
Beloved Community is studying best practices, accountability measures, and trends in eliminating structural racism & bias in schools across the US. One purpose of this study is to identify the ways that school communities respond to, and prioritize change via use of the Awa Equity Audit. As a result of this research, federal, state, and local agencies would be able to adopt research-based tools and standards to audit the DEI practice and progress of charter schools in their portfolios. This study has been made possible by a 3-year research grant from the Walton Family Foundation to contribute to the growing body of research on Diverse-by-Design (DbD) charter schools.
NOLA C.A.R.E.S.
Through NOLA C.A.R.E.S. (Creating Access, Resources and Equity for Success), Beloved Community is engaging at least 500 women in participatory research, and coordinating public policy to provide low-cost facilities to child care centers, and increase public subsidies & worker compensation in New Orleans. The project seeks to align policy and practice across sectors so Black & Latinx mothers working in caregiving professions are valued and build wealth as the entrepreneurs, workforce, and beneficiaries of high-quality employer-supported child care. NOLA C.A.R.E.S. was developed by a cooperative of twelve organizations, led by Beloved Community.
Youth Participatory Action (YPAR) Academy
The YPAR Academy is a 3-week online summer program for high school students (ages 14-18). Students join class sessions 5 days a week for 3 weeks. They will conceptualize, design, carry out, and analyze a research question that is important to them as youth in the community and to their community. After successful completion of the program, participants will have the option to continue as paid school-year researchers for Beloved Community for additional projects.
YPAR is an innovative approach to positive youth and community development based in social justice principles. Through participatory action research, young people are trained to conduct systematic research to improve their lives, their communities, and the institutions intended to serve them.
