Introduction
The MO Equity Education Partnership (MOEEP) began in 2021 as a grassroots movement in support of equity in our schools. Since that time, we have expanded our mission to not just address equity in schools, but also in our communities and state. We believe that our organizational mission includes four primary areas: Education, Activism, Advocacy, and Support. Each of our teams consider these four areas as they plan and execute events through either MO Equity Education Partnership (501c3) or MO Equity Education Partnership–Action (501c4).
During 2023, we continued to grow and develop. This report will outline some of our successes, as well as our areas of growth for 2024.
Marketing and Communications
Our marketing efforts are key to our ability to organize. We use social media and other means to communicate with supporters, to ensure that the community is informed, and plan actions in support of equity.
Followers:
One goal we have set for 2024 is to increase our reach across platforms significantly.
Please follow at the accounts below:
Facebook and Instagram–MO Equity Education Partnership
Twitter–@ EquityMissouri
TikTok–@ MOEquity
Events And Fundraising
This year, we were able to sponsor a number of wonderful events in support of equity. Some were completed prior to our creation of MO Equity Education Partnership–Action (MOEEPA) and the renaming of the 501(c)3 to be MOEEP. Below is a short summary of these events.
The members of the Missouri Equity Education Partnership (MOEEP) embarked on a series of impactful events, bringing together a diverse community of members and volunteers committed to fostering positive change. Through engaging activities and advocacy initiatives, MOEEP aimed to empower individuals, educate the community, and champion causes that resonate with our values.
Breaking Bread Social Event–members and volunteers gathered to experience a tapestry of ethnic foods. This event not only tantalized taste buds but also created an environment of fellowship, strengthening the sense of community at the heart of MOEEP.
Lobby Day, held in February 2023, became a platform for MOEEP members to directly engage with legislators, advocating for their community's interests and dissecting the impact of specific bills.
Karaoke Trivia Night added an element of entertainment to the advocacy, raising an impressive $10,000 through enthusiastic participation in challenging song lyrics trivia and lively karaoke performances.
Monthly Educational Sessions provided a forum for guest speakers to enlighten MOEEP members and volunteers on critical aspects of community activism, local needs, and the repercussions of specific legislation. Simultaneously, the relentless fight against book banning showcased MOEEP's dedication to preserving freedom of speech and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in education. MOEEP also invested in empowering its members through skill-building initiatives, such as the Personal Narrative workshop. Here, participants learned to articulate their personal stories and their commitment to safeguarding communities against threats to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Legislative Preview, sponsored through MOEEPA, facilitated a deeper understanding of impending bills, equipping members to advocate effectively for or against proposed legislation.
The Volunteer Appreciation celebrated that volunteers are the backbone of our advocacy efforts, bringing together hardworking individuals for an evening of celebration and camaraderie at Chillax in St. Charles.
The Equity Fair, a vibrant celebration, highlighted educators and community members shaping the state's greatness. With a teacher band, vendor stalls, and games, the fair encapsulated the spirit of equity and inclusivity in education and community life.
MOEEP's journey through these diverse events underscored the organization's commitment to empowerment, education, and advocacy. By fostering a sense of community, engaging with legislators, celebrating volunteers, and championing important causes, MOEEP continues to be a driving force for positive change in Missouri.
Education and Youth Council
Through our Education and Youth Council (EYC), we connect with individuals within school districts throughout the state to teach them how to organize and to support them as they attempt to do so. These individuals are deemed district captains for MOEEP, and we work closely with them to teach organizing skills and help them develop an organizing strategy. We have found active district captains for the following districts:
Fox
Francis Howell
Kirkwood
Mehlville
Nixa
Northwest
Parkway
Rockwood
Wentzville
However, we continue to recruit for additional school districts with a goal of having a chapter or affiliate equity group in every district. For individuals who are interested in exploring the district captain role, please contact Heather Fleming at info@missouriequity.com.
Coalitions
MOEEP has always been committed to the coalition-building process, believing that we will only be able to achieve our goals through collective power-building with other stakeholders in our state and country. Below is a brief summary of the coalitions we have proudly participated in over the past year.
The Let Them Learn/Y’all Means All Coalition
This coalition was organized at the end of 2021 and began its work in 2022 with a number of statewide organizations who wanted to coordinate our efforts to defeat anti-equity bills and their proponents. In 2023, we expanded this coalition to include a collaboration with PROMO (a pro-LGBTQ civil rights organization) because we realized that anti-equity forces were also heavily focusing on removing LGBTQ rights in addition to attacking equity and belonging for all minority stakeholders. Through this coalition, we have been able to organize stakeholder groups who wished to testify, hold rallies and events in support of equity for all, and advocate strongly for more effective policy to support all citizens of MO. We continue to add organizations, advocates, and concerned citizens to this group each session.
The Unite Against Book Bans Campaign
This is a national campaign organized through the American Library Association. The purpose is to fight against attempts throughout the nation to ban books and lower access to diverse stories. MOEEP joined with a number of national organizations to support this effort. Our executive director Heather Fleming serves as a member of the coordinating committee of this campaign, as well as the chair of the Policy and Legislative Subcommittee. For this effort, she has helped plan coordinated campaigns in support of free access to literature, written a blog post encouraging average citizens and advocates to use their voices, and worked to inform the work that the subcommittee will be doing in 2024.
National Right To Read Coalition
This coalition was created by the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and works to keep organization leaders of all types informed about how to fight book bans throughout the country. They provide educational opportunities for organizers to learn about the effective actions of other organizations and to make connections between leaders committed to educational freedom.
MO Right to Read Coalition
As our state faces more attacks on the right to read, a number of state-based organizations came together to create this coalition to address these attacks, provide information to proponents of the freedom to read, and to organize to push back against the policies and people who seek to ban books.
School Board Equity Table
This collective of national and state-based organizations was created with the intention of providing school board candidates with information about the need for equity in our schools and governing bodies. We work with our partner organizations to develop valuable access to resources that can be easily shared with individuals interested in working toward equity through their school boards.
Financial Report
This year, MOEEP was able to raise more money than in previous years because of our 501(c)3 designation which made donations to the organization tax-deductible. The bulk of our funding came from small donors who gave through our $23 for 2023 campaign. However, we did receive a few donations from organizations, as well, which we will list below.
Total Revenue: $17, 965.04
This amount includes microgrants from the following:
New Venture Fund via the Campaign For Our Shared Future–$5000
Deaconess Foundation “Seeding The Future” Microgrant–$2000
