PROJECTS

Colorado Statewide Family Engagement Center Grant (COSFEC)

We are one of 4 partners {Colorado Department of Education (CDE), Colorado Education Initiative (CEI) and Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition (CSPC)} creating Family Literacy Centers to meet the needs of parents and students faced with education deficits due to COVID-19. Black Parent Network (BPN) is focusing specifically on the educational needs and other Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) of Black parents and students.

Lea Steed – Parent and Community Liaison – connects and builds relationships with Black parents and community organizations in Colorado. 

Stephanie Mason - Parent and Student Liaison - establishes positive relationships with parents, teachers and school staff to advance collaboration. 

LaQuetta S. Walker, MSW – Director of Implementation – responsible for working with districts throughout Colorado to implement the 4 Black Excellence course offerings in their schools and/or districts.

Black Excellence Course Offerings

Black Parent Network is an organization that teaches a strength-based model uplifting students and parents as they navigate the school system to lead to improved family engagement. We aim to provide them with tools and resources to navigate the school system and other life challenges. 

BPN strongly encourages each district to make these course offerings available to school site and district personnel (i.e., administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, secretaries, coaches, food nutrition staff, custodians, etc.) to begin the work of eradicating the current state of family nonengagement due to systemic racism, generational trauma, oppression, and mistrust.

We will be offering the following Black Excellence courses:

  • Readers Rise

  • Cultural Relevancy

  • How to Navigate the Education System

  • Mental Wellness

    Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA)

    The goal of this mini-grant award was to encourage community-based organizations to actively promote the Healthy School Meals for All program at the local level within the communities they work with.

    BPN collaborated with Aurora Public Schools, Denver Public Schools, and Hunger Free Colorado educating over 200 parents with a focus on the following three goals:

      •  Ensure families fill out income (Benefit) forms, which help school districts increase federal funds.
      •  Increase school and district understanding of local procurement, scratch cooking, and supporting local and culturally relevant foods. 
      •  Educate and support producers in building relationships with schools interested in buying local produce.  

    We continue to support the efforts of Hunger Free Colorado as they work to find additional funding solutions to sustain HSMA long term. We believe every student has the right to quality, nutritious school meals.



    The paradox of education is precisely this - that as one begins to become conscious, one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated.

    James Baldwin