Our Network - Partnership for Equity & Education Rights

PEER maximizes our impact by convening our partners to share policies, strategies, and organizing tactics.

We are committed to working with and supporting Black and Brown-owned businesses in our local communities. Catch up with our latest meetings and partners below.

Tulsa Summit

Convening in Tulsa with network partners across 21 states and Puerto Rico

PEER and our network partners from across 21 states and Puerto Rico convened in Tulsa, Oklahoma to plan for our shared fight for full and fair funding for public schools and against efforts to utilize public funds for private schools. We began our discussions by grounding in the history of Tulsa and Black Wall Street, hearing from Dr. Tiffany Crutcher and Attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons about the Justice for Greenwood campaign and their broader efforts for justice and liberation. Our network partners also had conversations with Maurice Mitchell of the Working Families Party and other community leaders focused on building our democratic institutions by centering public schools. PEER would like to offer our special thanks to Greenwood Cultural Center, the Real Black Wall Street Tour, the Terence Crutcher Foundation and the local restaurants and vendors who hosted, educated and fed us.

Images from left to right: Dr. Tiffany Crutcher and Attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons share their work on behalf of Black Wall Street and Tulsa. Maurice Mitchell, Marcus Littles and Phil Agnew, speakers at the PEER Tulsa meeting. PEER members joined the Real Black Wall Street tour to learn about the history of Greenwood.

Organizer Institute

Officially launching the PEER Organizer Institute in Atlanta

In August 2023, PEER officially launched our Organizer Institute in Atlanta, bringing together organizers from 10 of PEER’s coalition partners. This meeting focused on examining the political landscape, developing strategies to build momentum for voter engagement and education ahead of the 2024 elections, and planning our organizer community of practice agenda for the coming year. PEER is excited to engage with community leaders both within and outside of PEER.

Images from left to right: Organizers from across the PEER network met in Atlanta for the official launch of the PEER Organizer Institute.

Memphis Convening

Driving a shared vision for fully-funded, safe, and affirming schools

PEER convened in Memphis for conversations that grounded education equity in the civil rights movement. We heard from state coalitions leading campaigns for fully funded, safe, and affirming public schools. Our members also met with state legislators from TN and NE and traveled to Earle, Arkansas to hear from Mayor Jaylen Smith and community leaders about the vision for public schools as cornerstones for rural communities.

Images from left to right: Tennessee Alliance partners meeting with Knoxville Representative Sam McKenzie. Members hear from NE state Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh. Fund Our Schools VA and Mayor Jaylen Smith (Earle, AR).

Durham Summit

Driving progress through knowledge sharing to address education funding systems in the southern United States

Education advocates united in Durham to discuss the Leandro v. State of North Carolina litigation and its effect on education funding and the power of youth in the fight for equitable public systems. PEER also met with leaders and founders of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee to discuss how to include voices that have consistently been left out of education conversations.

Leandro Week of Action

EveryChild NC and partner organizations led a Week of Action organized around the state supreme court hearing on the Leandro litigation and the critical fight for full and fair funding for all children and schools in North Carolina.

Phonte Says Vote

Grammy-nominated singer, producer, and public school grad, Phonte votes to fund public education in NC so students and teachers have the tools they need to be successful.

Michigan Education Justice Coalition shares their work building power in communities across the state.

Meeting participants discuss how to better engage youth leaders in their coalitions. This discussion was led by the Georgia Youth Justice Coalition.

Letha Muhammad, co-executive director of the Education Justice Alliance introduces keynote speakers: Phillip Agnew, organizer at Black Men Build, and Charles E. Cobb and Courtland Cox, founders of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

Images from left to right: Michigan Education Justice Coalition shares their work building power in communities across the state. Meeting participants discuss how to better engage youth leaders in their coalitions. This discussion was led by the Georgia Youth Justice Coalition. Letha Muhammad, co-executive director of the Education Justice Alliance introduces keynote speakers: Phillip Agnew, organizer at Black Men Build, and Charles E. Cobb and Courtland Cox, founders of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

Detroit Summit

Advocates, lawyers, organizers and community leaders gathering to strategize for our schools.

PEER members from across the US assembled in Detroit to share effective education funding campaign strategies, hear from current US Representatives, and advance their own visions for education equity. Together, we collaborated on how we can better build collective power for our communities.

A Message from the Governor

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer welcomes PEER and REFC to Michigan and highlights her support for public school funding.

An Education Carol

Ms. Walker visits former student Matt Johnson in a dream to remind him how important it is for all of us to fight for full funding and resources for our students and schools.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib addresses PEER partners and guests about the growing threat to public education and civil rights.

A panel discussion explored how philanthropy and community and labor organizers can partner to build power, expand our base and think more broadly about a shared strategy so we ensure young people win.

Panel speakers: Renee Blahuta, Program Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Raquel Donoso, Senior Program Officer for Equity in Education, Yellow Chair Foundation; Terrence Martin, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer, American Federation of Teachers Michigan; Letha Muhammad, Co-Executive Director, Education Justice Alliance; Brionna Nomi, (former) Co-Director, Youth Justice Program, Legal Aid Justice Center.

Images from left to right: Rep. Rashida Tlaib addresses PEER partners and guests about the growing threat to public education and civil rights. A panel discussion explored how philanthropy and community and labor organizers can partner to build power, expand our base and think more broadly about a shared strategy so we ensure young people win. Panel speakers: Renee Blahuta, Program Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Raquel Donoso, Senior Program Officer for Equity in Education, Yellow Chair Foundation; Terrence Martin, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer, American Federation of Teachers Michigan; Letha Muhammad, Co-Executive Director, Education Justice Alliance; Brionna Nomi, (former) Co-Director, Youth Justice Program, Legal Aid Justice Center.