Blog

In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, America Forward Coalition organizations are working tirelessly to connect students, families, educators, workers, elected leaders, and advocates with critical tools, information, and resources. 

Every week, we’ll be highlighting a few examples of the critically important work being done by the members of the America Forward Coalition. If your organization has resources, an announcement, or a story that you would like to see included, please send it to america_forward@newprofit.org. 

FUSE Corps: Working with Local Governments to Support Small Enterprises

With COVID-19 keeping Americans at home and leading to community-wide shutdowns across the country, many small businesses are struggling and facing an uncertain future. Further compounding the challenge, many small business owners are unable or unsure how to access relief or advocate for the support they need. FUSE Corps, a national nonprofit that works with local government to help urban communities thrive, recognizes the critical role of government in helping small businesses understand and access vital relief; so, they’ve pulled together a list of 10 ways local government agencies can offer small businesses the ugent support they need to make it through this crisis. 

Generation Citizen: Bolstering Civic Engagement Among Young People

As communities across the country respond to the coronavirus pandemic, the importance of civic engagement is more apparent than ever – especially among young people, whose futures will be shaped by this crisis. As part of their “Democracy Doesn’t Pause” effort, Generation Citizen is offering free online lesson plans and other resources to equip educators, students, and families with the tools they need to continue advancing action civics education during this crisis. 

Highlander Institute: Supporting Parents, Caregivers, and Educators on Distance Learning

As students, families, and educators across Rhode Island adjust to the sudden and significant shifts caused by COVID-19, The Highlander Institute has created a free helpline for parents, caregivers, and educators to help them navigate distance learning environments, and continue to support positive outcomes for students. If you are in Rhode Island and have any questions or concerns about how to adapt to the recent changes in the education landscape, you can fill out their form here to schedule an appointment or call their helpline at (904) 414-4927.

UnboundED: Centralizing Reading Skills in Distance Learning

Today, “almost “two-thirds of U.S. students in grades 4, 8 and 12 cannot read proficiently.” The widespread school closures and massive disruption caused by COVID-19 are likely to only increase these numbers. UnboundEd’s Building Fluency: Unbound, A Guide to 6-12 ELA/Literacy Practices offers educators an important tool to aid in the development of distance learning lessons, and continue helping students improve literacy as they learn from home.

The Learning Accelerator: Helping Educators and Parents Navigate Open Educational Resources

As distance learning takes root across the country, Open Educational Resources (OER) represent an enormously valuable “toolbox” for families, students, and educators. With an entire Internet of options, however, knowing where to look and which resources to prioritize can be overwhelming. The Learning Accelerator has put together a guide for utilizing, and personalizing OER’s in order to complement and maximize distance learning experiences. 

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash