2021 Annual Rewind: Investing at the Intersection

Urban Ed Academy’s annual “rewind” is a look back at 2021 and the progress made across housing, workforce and educational communities to increase Black male teacher representation in San Francisco. Check out the recap of UEA’s annual gala below and consider giving or sharing in your network today!

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Each week until #GivingTuesday we are highlighting our progress along one of these themes to underscore the importance of Investing at the Intersection when it comes to combatting structural barriers to a diverse teacher workforce.

Investing at the Intersection: Housing

Aspiring Black male teachers are not immune from the economic effects of expensive housing in the San Francisco Bay Area.

UEA’s Man the Bay fellowship covers four years of housing throughout fellows’ credentialing process and into the start of their teaching careers.

UEA’s original bottom-up approach relies on social exchange with Black property owners like Martin Luther who understand the socioeconomic benefits of housing Black male teachers in their community.

In 2021, UEA established a top-down partnership with property management company, 2B Living, ensuring that housing for Black male teachers is available, regardless of market dynamics.

Investing at the Intersection: Workforce

The teacher pipeline problem is significant, and aspiring Black male teachers require even more cultivation to enter the teaching workforce.

Recognizing where most Black teachers are produced, Urban Ed Academy recruits recent Black male HBCU grads to launch a teaching career through the Man the Bay fellowship in the San Francisco Bay Area.

UEA depends on community partners, big and small, to acclimate and affirm the presence of Man the Bay fellows in the schools and communities they serve while working to become a fully credentialed teacher of record.

A more diverse teacher workforce has positive effects for all students, and is especially impactful on Black students who may never encounter a Black male teacher from kindergarten through high school graduation.

Investing at the Intersection: Educational Communities

Recent Black male college graduates come into the Man the Bay fellowship as aspiring teachers and as a result, show up in their schools’ communities as leaders.

San Francisco native La Shon Walker of Five Point Holdings recognizes how a successful Man the Bay campaign can stave off the effects of Black out-migration in San Francisco communities.

San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton recognizes how Man the Bay fellows have lived experiences similar to what’s happening in students’ communities.

ABC7 “America Strong” features Man the Bay fellow, Codion Isom, and his work in SFUSD’s Pathway to Teaching program as an example of  building equity in the teaching ranks to make communities stronger.

UEA is forever grateful to our sponsors for supporting the production of this annual “rewind” and making our first in-person event since 2019 a fun, safe, and memorable evening.