Van Vo’s Post

Dr. Starsky D. Wilson recently joined Start Early President Dr. Diana Rauner and a panel committed to discussing what tools and tactics are needed to elevate and center family voice in community systems building. Panelists agreed that families must be involved in the development of programs, policies, and systems as equal partners when they work alongside educators and public sector leaders. "What are some of the policies and practices that you have seen or that you desire to be implemented to address inequalities?" Dr. Wilson asked the panel. Children's Defense Fund-Ohio Parent Advisory Board member Ugochi Akoi said collaboration is key. "Having created this space where families are able to address the challenges that they have faced and then shaping policies and practices to address those so as to reduce future discrimination from happening," Akoi said. "And, then, money, right Allocating resources in a way that addresses disparities that are happening." Make sure to watch this special webinar on community systems building now! Click this link to do so: https://bit.ly/4e2IFkj

Ahead of today’s release of Embrace Boston's 2024 Harm Report, Boston Globe Media's Tiana W. spoke with our clients - including Embrace Boston's Imari Paris Jeffries, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center's Greg Wilmot, and Children's Services of Roxbury, Inc.'s Sandra McCroom - to learn more. The report, which provides an overview of the city and state policies and practices that have historically disadvantaged Black residents of Boston and Massachusetts, serves as an ever-important reminder that while strides have been made, there is still much work to be done to create a Boston that is full of love and inclusivity. “This report hopefully puts blame not on people, but instead on processes,” Imari Paris Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston, told Tiana Woodard. “If we’ve created these processes, we can uncreate them.” Read more in The Boston Globe: https://lnkd.in/dX-34DEr

Four years ago, Mavis's world turned upside down. The loss of her husband left her alone, a single mother with five children, two girls and three boys, each a mirror of their father's memory. The challenge was immense, but Mavis's resolve was stronger. Her journey, marked by hardship and resilience, is a clarion call for attention to social injustices worldwide. Read more https://lnkd.in/exr8Q-Hx #socialjusticUnsocialjustice #SocialJusticeDay #UnsocialJustice#Unicefsocialjustice #communitysupport

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) recently funded Development Services Group, Inc., to evaluate a promising nationwide U.S. Department of Justice–funded program to combat hate, “Not in Our Town.” DSG nonprofit partner, the Institute for Community Studies (ICS), will carry out the work, under the tutelage of Dr. Stephen V. Gies, DSG’s—and ICS’s—director of research and evaluation. The three-year study will begin on Jan. 1, 2024.   Not in Our Town (NIOT) was developed in response to the 2018 mass shooting at Pittsburgh. Pa.’s Tree of Life Synagogue. ICS is evaluating the NIOT Hate and Bias Action Teams candidate model.   NIOT uses film and other media to educate, raise awareness, and spark dialog, with the goal of helping diverse community groups expand the impact of their mutual engagement. Notably, the NIOT evaluation marks the nation’s first scientifically reviewed anti-hate initiative.   Introduce yourself to NIOT’s work by viewing Repairing the World: Stories From the Tree of Life, a documentary about Pittsburgh's community response to hate in the aftermath of the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history: https://lnkd.in/gwSDV_4a The Zimmerman Foundation is co-funding DSG’s mixed-methods evaluability assessment of Not in Our Town through a grant to the Institute for Community Studies.

How can social media help your organization? Join the talented Michelle Clinch, MSEd, as she discusses how you can level up your social media approach!

In our 2023 Impact Report, 25 Years of Justice, Healing, and Inclusion for Survivors of Human Trafficking, we detail how Cast’s commitment to justice, inclusion, and healing and how we center our services around survivors makes us unique among anti-trafficking organizations. When survivors of human trafficking come to Cast, they can get case management, housing support, and legal services under one roof. We focus on the role of survivor leadership in helping us support survivors and tailoring our services to meet their needs. Fantayjah and Amber share their thoughts on Cast and their experiences of trafficking as well. https://bit.ly/3SbH7LM

Very interesting article about the turn racial justice programs (have) are taking. If you operate in this space, it is definitely worth the read.

Join us as we tackle the critical issue of father absence in Pennsylvania and the U.S. 🌍 One in three children grows up without a father at home, but together, we can change that. 💪 In our latest video, we discuss the impact of Act 114 of 2022 and how it aims to remove barriers to father involvement, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Strong Families Commission. 🙌 Special shoutout to Rufus Lynch, the 2024 Rothman Award Winner for Structural Change, for his incredible work in this field! 🏆 Watch now to learn more about how we can support greater father involvement. #FatherhoodMatters, #FamilySupport, #ChildWellbeing, #ParentingEquality for the benefit of children and families. 👨👧👦

🌟Great to see Insights below from our recent partner roundtable in Durham, where we delved into strategies for enhancing sustained outcomes for individuals transitioning from custody and remand. 🤝One key finding from our mentoring service analysis: individuals often don't reside in the same area as the prison they exit. That's why our partnership models prioritise scalable mentoring services with local delivery. This approach ensures consistency of service provision, a crucial factor in driving positive outcomes. 📈Our analysis also underscores the importance of programme continuity. Those who complete a mentoring programme tend to experience significantly greater improvements compared to early exits. 🗣️And beyond quantitative data, our analysis reveals a recurring benefit of our approach — the advocacy provided by mentors. This personal touch plays a vital role in empowering individuals and navigating their onward journey. Excited to continue this dialogue and explore further opportunities for impact The Wise Group