Glows & Grows
Greetings P214 friends and family,
Hope you are enjoying your holidays and finding time to refresh, recharge, and regroup after such a turbulent year. It is without question that we have experienced historic occurrences from the presidential election, COVID-19, to the death of George Floyd.
What’s more, our entire education system both locally and some places abroad had to scrap in-person learning like crumpling up a ball of paper ready for a dunk shot. Due to the roar of a pandemic showing its fangs, much of the world scurried to find their places online and in front of a computer. Teaching and learning went virtual. This alone was cataclysmic; revealing the great disparities in our education system even further for students who already lacked resources and adequate internet connection at home to name some. We salute all students and educators for doing their best. We see you!
Project 214 stood busy amidst the turning tide of events that engulfed our nation. To answer and expose some of these issues aforementioned, we were featured on various podcasts and platforms. We lifted our voices and discussed it all from politics, to education reform, to “where to go next” as a humanity in crisis.
What’s more, Project 214 and the women empowerment movement, Redefining Tables experienced a merge! Founded by our Co-creator of P214, Mónica R. Rodriguez, this ongoing collaboration became an official blend, adopting its various platforms, to include our very own podcast! A beautiful blend indeed as Redefining Tables’s mission is dedicated to empowering the creativity of women on all fronts, to include the education of those without a voice (women included), servant leadership/ missions and amplifying social issues that quite frankly we need to keep flipping tables over.
P214 has also continued to deepen its partnership with NSHSS; the honors society that recognized Founder Sofia Gonzalez as Top Educator Of The Year 2019. We enthusiastically hosted several of their webinars, including the launch of our very first in our series titled, “What is Your Passion Print?”.
To add the ultimate icing on the cake, P214 was 1 of 10 winners to be awarded $10K as part of NSHSS “Be More Fund” grant competition to further fund our recent campaign launch, #HerTurn. This was a historic win! This grant will afford us an opportunity to continue piloting girls education programs for vulnerable girls around the world, like that of a children's home we have partnered with in El Salvador. We desire to implement various resources from ensuring their transportation to school and from school, to school supplies, uniforms and the proper feminie hygiene products.
“Because a period should end a sentence, not a girl’s education.” - #HerTurn
Our plan to duplicate this pilot program will begin here in the states and assess its measurable outcomes and smart goals. This is only the beginning.
Last but not least, Sofia was also recognized with a couple national awards! As awardee of the “Spirit of Education” award with National Safe Schools Convening, Sofia was honored for her ability to create safe and inclusive environments in her classrooms. In addition, she was recognized with the “Teacher as Hero” award sponsored by State Farm, nominated by a student she profoundly supported after the passing of his father due to COVID-19 complications, while battling with the virus himself.
This year has been a bumpy ride. We have learned the art of pausing and trusting. We’ve activated faith in ways only a year like 2020 can bring. We have traded busy schedules and travels for intentional conversations, dreaming and “roll up our sleeves” type investing. We have learned, God is truly all we need even when the belief in ourselves isn’t steady.
The year we leave behind was hard. Loss and grief is real. Pain and heartache is real. Yet, even so, our hope is that each of us would discover the silver lining in all of this. For truly, resilience will outlast the sorrows of the night and joy will find us again in the morning.
We’d like to say thank you for your continued support and utter belief in us as an organization. Pushing through the waves and currents of this year, 2021 will be even more promising. We have plans to expand our organization on a variety of fronts. We ask that you continue to follow us as we forge ahead.
Truly, every student is important, and indeed our world remains a global classroom. Onward, fellow soldier in the fight! We are just getting started! Happy New year friends, we made it to the end; the end of 2020.
In solidarity,
Project 214
