Promoting Equity at the GO Foundation

August 15

In June of 2021, the GO Foundation’s board met and approved a change in the organization’s mission, for the first time since GO was founded 10 years prior. In part it was to focus on providing students with high dosage tutoring, shifting from our origins as a Charter Management Organization.

The change in mission also included, for the first time, this statement, “We are committed to combating racism. The GO Foundation intentionally recruits a diverse group of tutors who reflect the children we serve and fosters inclusive learning environments for all students and staff.” To help realize that part of our mission, I have promoted Hector Calderon (pictured here) into the role of Chief Equity Officer where he is now a member of the GO Foundation’s five member leadership team.

Hector has a long professional history as a racial justice advocate in education dating back at least 30 years to the role he played in launching a high school in Brooklyn focused on peace & justice, called El Puente. Hector is an active participant in President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeperinitiative and has talked with me often about the importance of his Catholic faith in guiding his life’s work.

I’ve charged Hector with creating a “Race & Equity Report Card” which will track and promote GO’s progress on a set number of key metrics in our effort to become a more equitable organization. Hector has already led conversations with GO’s leadership team as well as the staff on what measures should be included on that report card.

Next up, this Friday, there will be a meeting of the Race & Equity Committee of the GO Foundation Board which is co-chaired by Trustees Liliana Polo, and Derrick Diggs. The meeting will take place at the home of the GO Foundation Board Chair, Adam Weinstein and will be also include Susan Akselrad, the Board’s Vice Chair. Our intention is to bring a draft Report Card to the Board at its Fall meeting, then report out annually on our progress toward meeting the goals contained in the Report Card.