Congratulations to CLPHA members Elm City Communities (the Housing Authority of New Haven) and INLIVIAN (the Charlotte Housing Authority) for being selected as inaugural members of The Bridges Collaborative, a nationwide initiative to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in education.
The Bridges Collaborative, an initiative of The Century Foundation, is a first-of-its kind grassroots initiative to advance racial and socioeconomic integration and equity in America’s schools. Members of the inaugural cohort include 27 school districts, 17 charter schools and charter management organizations, and 12 housing organizations. The collaborative spans more than 20 states and includes representatives from three of the five largest school districts in the country, along with other organizations of varying size, geographies, and student demographics. Over the next two years, the collaborative will serve as a hub for practitioners from across the country, providing school and housing leaders the opportunity to learn from one another, build grassroots momentum, and develop successful approaches for integration.
"Often, people see housing and public education as separate and unrelated entities—but this is not the case. Our agency has always recognized the intersectionality and fought to desegregate both to create equitable opportunities and outcomes,” said ECC President and CLPHA Board Member Karen DuBois-Walton in a press release. “Joining this innovative collaborative with [New Haven Public Schools] and other districts/agencies in Connecticut could very well be the beginning of a bridge that will connect and create a statewide impact that catalyzes the change that has been needed for far too long."
CLPHA congratulates ECC and INLIVIAN for taking part in this groundbreaking initiative and seeking creative approaches to increasing racial and socioeconomic integration and equality in their communities.