This was originally published by Trust President Dr. Laura Gerald on LinkedIn.
For Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools (WSFCS) students, families, teachers, and administrators, this is an incredibly trying time. Right now, as our local community responds to a multi-million dollar funding deficit that is gutting our public schools, we must gain collective clarity on the real obstacle we face.
This is not simply an accounting problem. The long-term root problem is that our choices as a community and state do not reflect a commitment to fully fund public education that is integrated, multi-cultural, and working for everyone. What we’ve seemingly prioritized is a zero-sum mentality that has motivated continued disinvestment in public schools and other essential public programs—a mentality that insists that our community benefits most from extracting wealth and resources and concentrating them in places where people most in need cannot access them.
Unfortunately, that mentality has persisted throughout history and created many of the intractable issues that we at the Trust work to address today. Our Equity Framework acknowledges this history and examines the root causes of issues our founder cared about. It illustrates why the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust advocates to change systems that were designed to exclude, and it outlines why equity must be central in our strategic approach to improving the health and quality of life for all NC residents.
Throughout history, when our country looked at a system and decided its future, whether it be public education or supporting access to public services like Medicaid or SNAP food assistance, we have failed to envision a reality where everyone can access what they need. If we are to recognize everyone’s humanity, what public systems and supports need to be strong?
We know investments in our children have massive returns. That means ensuring all children have access to quality early childhood, PreK, and public education. We know investments in health pay off in disease prevention and a strengthened workforce. That means protecting public health and ensuring healthcare access for all residents regardless of race and place. We know that investing in economic systems where everyone can participate attracts businesses to our community. That means fostering economic mobility and ensuring our public education system creates the next generation of leaders.
Philanthropy alone cannot maintain an infrastructure that has been shunned by public investments. There is no charitable giving that can counter a belief that in order for some of us to win, others have to lose. The moment WSFCS and our Forsyth County community is in should be indisputable proof that the opposite is true. When we all win, our entire community thrives.
The Trust is committed to delineating a path forward that leaves no child, family, or resident behind and to creating a future where we all can win.
View the full post on LinkedIn.