https://www.educatingourfuture.org/blog daily 0.75 2026-03-23 https://www.educatingourfuture.org/blog/mpanclbvfstba6s66te5mj3xu5tqtl monthly 0.5 2026-03-23 https://www.educatingourfuture.org/blog/wjziod1exzvo8jleszbvby5jv42h5k monthly 0.5 2021-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/1612661213271-V2SLH5JMESSA0LFERDY8/logo-share.png Blog - Sacramento Data Used in New Disciplining Study https://www.educatingourfuture.org/blog/g6w2ylmvxmikjvtf70co0iws0ux90f monthly 0.5 2021-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/1612661445178-XJLZP75ANPQXOYGZ40LY/Seal_of_the_Los_Angeles_Unified_School_District.svg.png Blog - LA Unified Makes Accommodations for Students Struggling Online https://www.educatingourfuture.org/blog/blog-post-four-3ccwe monthly 0.5 2021-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/1612660302915-XAB18R81X8Z4J42F3P5K/CO_Primary_rgb.png Blog - New Funding Legislation in Colorado https://www.educatingourfuture.org/blog/blog-post-one-728r6 monthly 0.5 2021-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/1612659261798-A9RWMXDKGIJEOVSU2GKP/secretary+of+education.png Blog - The Next Secretary of Education https://www.educatingourfuture.org/events daily 0.75 2021-09-11 https://www.educatingourfuture.org/events/event-three-p75y3-m84j2-3ns8j monthly 0.5 2021-09-11 https://www.educatingourfuture.org/events/event-three-p75y3-m84j2 monthly 0.5 2021-09-11 https://www.educatingourfuture.org/events/event-one-lkkw5 monthly 0.5 2021-09-11 https://www.educatingourfuture.org/events/event-three-p75y3 monthly 0.5 2021-09-11 https://www.educatingourfuture.org/events/event-two-m6a36 monthly 0.5 2021-09-11 https://www.educatingourfuture.org/home daily 1.0 2022-03-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/1615429770980-19LIWTB24T9ZVDEA9EGA/unsplash-image-GJao3ZTX9gU.jpg Home - Advocacy ACEI advocates for excellent educators, high standards of accountability, education-to-workforce pathways, parental engagement, fair & equitable funding, quality options & choice https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/1612208772202-H31TP50KJZY5OQ7VVO9F/image-asset.jpeg Home - Policy & Legislation ACEI will execute its advocacy agenda through local action executed with a global view. ACEI seeks to influence educational policy and laws enacted at the district, city, state and national levels that impact educational opportunities and outcomes for children of color. Examples include: demanding reform for student discipline policies which are crafted poorly and/or disproportionately impact black boys; advocating for local funding formula reform to more justly distribute funds to communities most in need and the broadening of early college credit attainment opportunities in underserved areas. Through Op-Eds, participation in school board meetings, ACEI days of action and providing testimony at state legislatures, ACEI will inform, motivate and drive education reform initiatives while leading community voices and active advocates for systemic improvements to the education system. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/1615430332383-GWVZ472L6BXW624YGRH6/IMG_4422.JPG Home - Membership Engagement ACEI releases, leverages and brings to bear ther latent collective strength and moral authority of the membership of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. throughout the Western United States by utilizing unique entry points of Alpha members to be influencers and agents of change within the arenas of advocacy, policy and legislation as it relates to African American youth in public schools. In addition to engaging and activating a significant number of stakeholders through a shared collective action plan, ACEI will equip, educate and empower Alpha Phi Alpha members to be local action champions within target demographics to drive change, seek greater accountability and tangibly influence education outcomes for young children of color. https://www.educatingourfuture.org/our-team daily 0.75 2025-10-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/1612729866295-50OC0AAUJI5VXXW3W5UN/DS4WRVP-2.jpg Our Board https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/58ba44d1-61f9-467f-ab1a-fe1fcac740aa/Jon-2021.jpeg Our Board https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/a95446ea-02b0-4346-a325-3c88b4ff7bff/King2a.jpg Our Board https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/1615428866818-6QOER1LIIIY1ZV1B61AF/IMG_4669+copy.JPG Our Board https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/d16991b0-7654-415e-99f9-0aaa72de1daa/Jason_Picture_.JPG Our Board https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/1619646801086-WHGP4T6B1T3JPD5WB9Q7/Jeriod+Patterson+2.jpeg Our Board https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/fbe16f5f-58b2-4530-8889-08e4e1b3a544/Cary+Lackey.jpg Our Board - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/1619647101758-NU79L06ROSIHM53DQ8XH/Rich+Smith+2.jpg Our Board https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/feca855f-b18c-4359-83d1-68fbe315276e/DD+photo+-+Fred+Jackson.jpg Our Board - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/53d28641-0ff7-4ba2-84d5-f539174162e6/AhliasJonesHeadshot.jpg Our Board - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.educatingourfuture.org/donate daily 0.75 2024-03-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/12a397d6-dfb0-4ccc-b48c-c6a85689e048/image-asset.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/b3923eda-40de-4739-8e3f-5676d5164ae8/image-asset.jpg https://www.educatingourfuture.org/materials-for-learning daily 0.75 2023-10-06 https://www.educatingourfuture.org/social-media-campaigns daily 0.75 2021-09-13 https://www.educatingourfuture.org/support-for-communities daily 0.75 2021-04-29 https://www.educatingourfuture.org/our-vision daily 0.75 2025-03-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/1612655673045-GAZQ3TYS8DCVWJ20YDRG/image009.jpg Our Vision - Educating our Future The Alpha Community Education Initiative (ACEI) is a non-profit organization founded by the Western Region of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc with the vision to advance educational resources, policies and practice to improve the quality of life in our communities. While ACEI was originally rooted and birthed from within the ranks of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and plans to work with Alpha as an integral partner, the organization’s mission and focus extend beyond the scope of the fraternity. The Western Region of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., with approximately 59 chapters, including approximately 1300 active members, wishes to wield its influence on advocacy matters in support of improved educational opportunity for all students with an emphasis on African-American males and high-need students in our public education system. The Alpha Community Education Initiative (ACEI) will develop and implement a vision for growing, releasing and leveraging the latent collective strength and moral authority of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. throughout the Western United States. That vision will include the articulation of a strategy, an agenda and an implementation plan that takes into account the unique entry point of Alpha members and the unique circumstances and advocacy needs that confront African American youth in public schools. In addition to engaging and activating a significant number of stakeholders on advocacy matters through a shared collective action plan, ACEI is a 501c3 organization. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/1619650612217-NPFWNAYTWVHCBP6H3ODV/Swanson+signature+small.png Our Vision https://www.educatingourfuture.org/op-ed-campaigns daily 0.75 2021-09-13 https://www.educatingourfuture.org/state-legislature-testimony daily 0.75 2021-04-29 https://www.educatingourfuture.org/what-is-the-day-of-action daily 0.75 2021-09-13 https://www.educatingourfuture.org/our-equity-agenda daily 0.75 2022-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/1619643981596-9EZ07UPO7TZYEAHZ7TYU/unsplash-image-KyB-Eo4xS_c.jpg Our Equity Agenda https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/1619644031920-7J15MRNW742JFQV2LT7E/unsplash-image-rKPiuXLq29A.jpg Our Equity Agenda https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/1615427098327-GCUH3I6WF8WJQ5444G5R/unsplash-image-unRkg2jH1j0.jpg Our Equity Agenda https://www.educatingourfuture.org/resources-op-eds daily 0.75 2021-09-12 https://www.educatingourfuture.org/resources-for-school-board-engagement- daily 0.75 2021-09-13 https://www.educatingourfuture.org/-resources-for-social-media- daily 0.75 2021-09-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/00929014-f463-4772-9def-6d7cc9e3e26c/day+of+action+-+phx21.png > Resources for Social Media >>> https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/6a2de40e-01e6-401d-adfa-72ed0da96e12/day+of+action+-+la21.png > Resources for Social Media >>> https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/bd5fd2c9-2131-443d-be6a-e5e8510867d0/day+of+action+-+den21.png > Resources for Social Media >>> https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/ca7973d8-6828-4729-b8ea-499a72f5889b/acei-social-media-21-2.png > Resources for Social Media >>> https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/341bda6c-5d1b-402e-b389-22b29ff243ea/acei-social-media-21-3.png > Resources for Social Media >>> https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/3359219b-5dda-431e-8d13-0bd07f2cd86f/acei-social-media-21-4.png > Resources for Social Media >>> https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/0ac68003-65dd-4b51-986e-b91c9e862c33/acei-social-media-21-5.png > Resources for Social Media >>> https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/5ba2a81a-c950-41dd-bc87-6add3e057ab2/acei-social-media-21-6.png > Resources for Social Media >>> https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/8ad96be7-1bd4-4973-9e87-af9f5ccbbf86/-+ACEI+DYK+-+1.png > Resources for Social Media >>> https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/2477827c-39fc-4bc6-b41e-bc7d139ae1ad/-+ACEI+DYK+-+2.png > Resources for Social Media >>> https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/224e4110-07a4-4a68-b734-c42e31f65d1c/-+ACEI+DYK+-+3.png > Resources for Social Media >>> https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/53ba33e7-baed-4c7f-9f68-a39a0817cd74/-+ACEI+DYK+-+4.png > Resources for Social Media >>> https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/5696bce1-169b-45ce-a335-863eac7931b7/-+ACEI+EOF+HASHTAG+-+1.png > Resources for Social Media >>> https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/80a27cb7-46e2-4b48-94bf-40c0dd6643e3/-+ACEI+EOF+HASHTAG+-+2.png > Resources for Social Media >>> https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/224ceed3-1eea-4a37-aab8-b62c8e7387c5/-+ACEI+FFT+-+1.png > Resources for Social Media >>> https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/a4f14df7-b79f-4d16-b84d-002d4d17d8ba/-+ACEI+FFT+-+2.png > Resources for Social Media >>> https://www.educatingourfuture.org/policy-and-legislation daily 0.75 2025-10-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/22168c62-6dfd-4c68-a44c-492a9375a472/Screen+Shot+2022-06-18+at+11.40.12+PM.png Policy & Legislation - AB 2774 The Alpha Community Education Initiative was proud to be a co-sponsor of AB 2774. AB 2774 was drafted to fix a fundamental flaw in the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) in the state of California by creating a new supplemental grant for California’s lowest-performing subgroup of students not currently receiving funding, which are currently African American students. AB 2774 was authored by Assembly members Dr. Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) and Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) and was sponsored by the Fortune School of Education. OUTCOME - Ultimately, the author of the bill, Assembly member Akilah Weber pulled the bill before its arrival to the Governor’s desk with a promise from Governor Gavin Newsom to stakeholders to address the issue in the coming January budget. Consistent with his word, the state of California has devoted $300M to the lowest performing schools in the state which offer consistency to the goals and intents of the original legislation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/9ae6e8ba-1737-4158-bbc1-f438f1d3f340/Screen+Shot+2022-06-18+at+11.52.30+PM.png Policy & Legislation - AB 2598 The Alpha Community Education Initiative was proud to co-sponsor AB 2598. AB 2598 was written to give California schools the tools necessary to allow the use of restorative justice best practices as an alternative to suspension, expulsion, or arrest. It would require the California Department of Education (CDE) to work with stakeholders to develop a standard model to implement restorative justice best practices on a school campus and make the standard model available on the CDE's Internet Web site for use by school districts to implement restorative justice practices as part of efforts to improve campus culture and climate. AB 2774 was authored by Assembly member Dr. Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) OUTCOME - AB 2598 was approved and signed into law by Governor Newsom on September 23rd, 2022 and filed with the Secretary of State on the same day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/ad461fd3-edbf-46db-87b2-921b94d957f7/justice+for+coloradans.jpg Policy & Legislation - JUSTICE FOR BLACK COLORADANS The Alpha Community Education Initiative is a supporter of the Justice for Black Coloradans initiative. The lasting effects of slavery and ongoing systematic racism continue to negatively impact Black Coloradans and communities in tangible, material ways. These racist roots have led Black Coloradans to be wrongfully subjected to government-backed redlining, disparities in educational access, inequitable health care, police brutality, a lack of economic mobility and inability to build generational wealth, a broken criminal justice system and more. These systematic racial disparities have impacted Black Coloradans over generations and have led to a reality where nearly half of Black families are considered low-income. Studies have shown, however, that working to reduce racial disparities benefits society and all communities and leads to greater economic vitality and stability and builds the workforce. In fact, national research shows that closing the racial wealth gap could increase GDP from 4 to 6 percent. IN PROGRESS - On February 1st, 2024, the Colorado Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs passed SB24-053, a racial equity study bill that would establish the Black Coloradan Racial Equity Study Commission. https://www.educatingourfuture.org/educators-of-the-year daily 0.75 2025-10-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/f1dbb9f7-f872-4ace-ba25-95be3d1fbdc6/Bio+picture.PNG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/1caa87de-cc6c-476c-9cb1-3de18a5d2083/Kelly+Sutton+Profile+Pic+cropped.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/2599b425-1e6a-4967-a00a-226ae26a8ac1/KThompson+cropped.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/6643d2d4-4232-4f3f-8e9d-1b485e6b5878/Magan+Mitchell.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/ca3ce2da-4525-4c48-904c-c41cc248d04d/Aaron+Carter.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/4bcbbe6a-585a-4a73-9a8e-c958bdcfe870/BZ8A1722-2_Original.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/b56c5364-d6be-4c73-b7a7-59dcb676ec45/IMG_5830.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99f0f38f2e5d3e834fdee7/6426bec0-b854-4e93-922e-baf3bb811100/IMG_3377.jpg