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Hello! It has been a long and challenging year, and summer is finally here. For us, at People for Education, the year has been anchored in researching the impacts of COVID on schools and the implementation of de-streaming in Ontario;  tracking the implementation of the Early Learning and Child Care Agreements across Canada; conducting a pan-Canadian scan of provincial and territorial recovery and renewal plans; and…developing a strategic plan for our next five years. I know strategic planning can elicit yawns for many people, but it’s vital for planning our path forward for making sure we’re more effective. It was evident in recent elections that education is not top of mind for many voters. It is also evident – across the country – that we haven’t done enough to make explicit the connections between the health and strength of public education and our social and economic futures. Making those connections, working across sectors, bringing people together to debate and challenge, and – most importantly – integrating young people and working intergenerationally will be at the centre of our work over the coming years – we hope you will all join us in it! Have a great summer! Annie Kidder Finding hope in troubling times Around the world, advocates, experts, young people, and policy makers are working together to build a better future: At the UN Transforming Education Pre-Summit the participants agreed that “…education is not a privilege. It is a fundamental human right. We collectively advocate that education is not a cost but an investment in a sustainable future for our societies, children and the planet.” Go to the website to find out more about the youth participants, the strong calls from teachers to recognize their work, and the amazing examples of work being done around the world to not just “build back better” but to transform education. A great column by Elizabeth McIsaac, Moving from theory to implementation on human rights and poverty, articulates so clearly why it is vital that we connect the dots between our work: “When we work for economic and social rights, we work for affordable housing, decent work, food security, equitable education and healthcare, clean water and sanitation, and other areas that contribute to our standard of living.”  #RightTheRules is the rallying cry from the young authors of the latest UNESCO Global Education Monitoring (GEM) report. They want to see faster progress on UN Sustainable Development Goal #4 – Access to Quality Education, and they want governments to do more to regulate privatization in education. School board elections School trustees play an incredibly important role in our education systems. They make choices about where money is spent, what research is conducted, and the overall goals for the board each year. In Ontario, Municipal and School Board Elections will take place on October 24, 2022, and nominations close on August 19th. Consider throwing your hat in the ring. Run for trustee!Check out the handy guide for trustee candidates created by Ontario’s school boards: Making a Difference: Running for Election as a School Board Trustee – a PDF guide PFE’s team has grown We are excited to welcome two UARR youth fellows for the summer as part of our team: Ayat Ibrahim is completing a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Sociology at the University of Ottawa. She has held several executive roles on campus associations and enjoys volunteering in her community. Professionally, she has had experience working in the government, with a national political party, and in non-profit organizations. Ayat is passionate about marginalized youth leadership, community engagement, and equitable access to education. Yanaminah Thullah is a is a community builder, networker, and resister born and raised in Toronto and of Liberian and Sierra Leonean descent. She recently completed her undergrad at UOttawa studying International Studies and Modern Languages. Her work and academic experience has driven her passion for educating BIPOC folks through decolonized research, engaging interculturally, and empowering them through public policy. She currently works as a international programs associate at journalists for human rights, is an EDID consultant, and a UARR policy fellow. Donate Now

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