Latest News | Black Alabamians for Education

How to Effectively Advocate at Your Local Alabama School Board Meeting

admin2026-08-24T12:17:07-05:00

How to Effectively Advocate at Your Local Alabama School Board Meeting There is a room in your city where decisions about your child's education are made every single month. It is usually not filled with parents. It is usually not filled with students. It is a school board meeting — and the people who attend it shape everything from how schools are funded and staffed, to what curricula are adopted, to which schools get new facilities and which ones keep leaking roofs. Your presence in that room is not just your right. It is your power. For Black parents across Alabama [...]

How to Effectively Advocate at Your Local Alabama School Board Meetingadmin2026-08-24T12:17:07-05:00

A Short History of Black Education Advocacy in Alabama: From ASTA to BA4E

admin2026-08-24T12:16:40-05:00

The story of Black education in Alabama is not a story of waiting to be saved. It is a story of building, protecting, and fighting — generation after generation — for the right of Black children to learn, grow, and thrive. Long before federal civil rights legislation forced open schoolhouse doors, Black Alabamians were creating schools, training teachers, and organizing communities around the transformative power of education. To understand where we are today, and where Black Alabamians for Education (BA4E) is heading, we must understand where we have been. The Pre-Civil Rights Era: Building Education from Nothing After Emancipation, newly freed [...]

A Short History of Black Education Advocacy in Alabama: From ASTA to BA4Eadmin2026-08-24T12:16:40-05:00

Fighting for District 72: STEM Opportunities, Overtime Pay & Representation with Rep. Curtis Travis | Th Advocate’s Chair Ep.18

admin2026-09-03T10:27:47-05:00

https://youtu.be/-ploOPMrZVQ Welcome back to The Advocate's Chair! In this special sit-down episode in Tuscaloosa, host Neonta travels directly into the living room of Alabama State Representative Curtis Travis (District 72), alongside his beloved rescue dogs, Emma and Mila. Rep. Travis opens up about his journey from growing up in Hale County and serving as an assistant pastor and 21-year veteran leader with the Alabama Education Association, to navigating the halls of the State House in Montgomery. In this episode, we dive deep into: • The Black Belt STEM Camp: Creating life-changing flight, robotics, and science opportunities for over 200 rural [...]

Fighting for District 72: STEM Opportunities, Overtime Pay & Representation with Rep. Curtis Travis | Th Advocate’s Chair Ep.18admin2026-09-03T10:27:47-05:00

Understanding the Alabama State Report Card: What Black Parents Need to Know

admin2026-08-24T11:34:04-05:00

Understanding the Alabama State Report Card: What Black Parents Need to Know Every year, the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) publishes a School Report Card that grades every public school in the state using an A through F scale. This report card is one of the most powerful tools available to parents, guardians, and community advocates — yet it remains one of the least understood. For Black families across Alabama, from Birmingham's Southside to the Black Belt counties of Wilcox and Lowndes, learning to read and use this document is an act of empowerment and civic engagement. What Is the [...]

Understanding the Alabama State Report Card: What Black Parents Need to Knowadmin2026-08-24T11:34:04-05:00

State Rep. Ontario Tillman on Voting Rights, Data Centers & Alabama Politics | The Advocate’s Chair

admin2026-08-11T13:46:23-05:00

https://youtu.be/kB-8T_yGAZA Welcome back to The Advocate's Chair! On this episode, host Neonta Williams (Black Alabamians for Education) travels to her hometown of Gadsden, Alabama, for a powerful conversation with State Representative Ontario Tillman (District 56). Filmed live in front of an amazing audience at This is It Number One Barbecue, Fish, and More, we dive deep into the most pressing issues impacting Alabamians today. Rep. Tillman breaks down the recent special sessions, the difference between redistricting and gerrymandering, and what the latest federal court rulings mean for the power of the Black vote in Alabama. Plus, we cover: 🔹 Recent Legislative [...]

State Rep. Ontario Tillman on Voting Rights, Data Centers & Alabama Politics | The Advocate’s Chairadmin2026-08-11T13:46:23-05:00

The Alabama Literacy Act Explained: What Families Need to Know

admin2026-06-24T10:43:51-05:00

Introduction: Why Literacy Matters Reading is one of the most important foundations of a student’s education. Strong literacy skills impact success across every subject area, from science and history to future career opportunities. In Alabama, the Alabama Literacy Act was created to strengthen early literacy efforts and provide additional support for students who need help developing reading skills. For families, understanding what the Literacy Act means can help parents become informed partners in their child’s academic journey. What Is the Alabama Literacy Act? The Alabama Literacy Act is a state initiative focused on improving reading proficiency among students, particularly in [...]

The Alabama Literacy Act Explained: What Families Need to Knowadmin2026-06-24T10:43:51-05:00

Finding Your Voice: Next Level Leaders Alumni on Courage, Purpose & Advocacy | Next Level leaders

admin2026-06-29T11:47:39-05:00

https://youtu.be/lCZhLwZYThI Leadership is more than a title — it is courage, growth, service, and the willingness to step into purpose. In this special episode of The Advocate’s Chair, hosted by Neonta Williams with Black Alabamians for Education, we sit down with alumni from the Next Level Leaders program to reflect on their leadership journeys, the moments that challenged them, and how the program helped them grow as advocates for their communities. Our guests share how Next Level Leaders pushed them beyond comfort, helped them embrace their voices, and reminded them that leadership is not about a position — it is about [...]

Finding Your Voice: Next Level Leaders Alumni on Courage, Purpose & Advocacy | Next Level leadersadmin2026-06-29T11:47:39-05:00

How Black Parents Can Advocate for Better Schools in Alabama

admin2026-06-24T10:37:22-05:00

The Power of Parent Advocacy in Education A child’s education is shaped by more than what happens inside the classroom. Strong schools are built through partnerships between educators, families, and communities. Across Alabama, parents play an important role in helping ensure students have access to meaningful learning opportunities, supportive environments, and the resources they need to succeed. For Black families in Alabama, parent advocacy has a long history of helping communities identify challenges, create solutions, and support student achievement. Today, advocacy can look many different ways—from staying informed about your child’s progress to building relationships with teachers and school leaders. Parent [...]

How Black Parents Can Advocate for Better Schools in Alabamaadmin2026-06-24T10:37:22-05:00

The Advocate’s Chair | From Buffalo to Black Education Advocacy | Duncan Kirkwood on Leadership, Resilience & School Choice

admin2026-06-03T14:05:38-05:00

https://youtu.be/qkxoum8YCX4 In this powerful episode of The Advocate’s Chair, Neonta Williams sits down with nationally recognized education advocate, author, resilience trainer, and former BAEO Alabama State Director Duncan Kirkwood for a conversation that is honest, inspiring, and deeply transformational. From growing up in Buffalo, New York, to finding purpose at Alabama State University, Duncan shares how education changed the trajectory of his life and fueled his passion for advocacy, leadership, and empowering families. In this episode, Duncan discusses: • How HBCUs transformed his identity and purpose • The realities of educational inequity in America • Why parent advocacy matters now [...]

The Advocate’s Chair | From Buffalo to Black Education Advocacy | Duncan Kirkwood on Leadership, Resilience & School Choiceadmin2026-06-03T14:05:38-05:00

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