OUR MISSION

We support schools in strengthening their use of student voice and students centered practices to enhance overall school culture and climate.

OUR VISION

We envision a world where students are driving, co-creating, and innovating the future version of the education system.

OUR CORE VALUES

EDUCATION

We are committed to a lifelong love of learning in ourselves, our staff, and in the students we serve.

COMMUNITY

We stand in the tradition of the ancestors that worked in collaboration to change the trajectory of the future of our communities.

EQUITY

We are still fighting for our kids to be seen as equals but recognize that we need to create systems that are able to personalize the support their needs, in order to ensure the basic needs of our students are met.

EMPOWERMENT

The world has historically told us that our skin, our culture, and our way of being were not good enough in their world. We want to empower our students to believe in the assets they bring to every space they walk into..

MEET OUR FOUNDER, EVALAURENE

Evalaurene Jean-Charles is a dedicated educator, advocate, and CEO & Co-Founder of Black on Black Education, an education consulting firm supporting schools in using student voice and student-centered practices to enhance school and classroom culture. She is also a 9th-grade history teacher and humanities team lead in the Bronx, where she continues to impact her students' lives profoundly.

Evalaurene's journey in education began as a teacher at The Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services, an alternative sentencing program in Brooklyn, where she worked as a tutor and workshop provider for student participants. This experience ignited her passion for educational equity and social justice, leading her to pursue further studies.

She earned her Bachelor's degree in Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies from the CUNY Graduate Center, graduating summa cum laude. Her program had two concentrations: the Sociology of Educational Equity and Social Justice in Underserved Communities. This academic foundation provided her with a deep understanding of the systemic issues within education and fueled her determination to effect change.

Evalaurene's commitment to personal and professional growth led her to pursue a Master of Arts in Teaching at the Relay Graduate School of Education, where she graduated with Distinctions in 2022. During her time at Relay, she honed her teaching skills and expanded her knowledge of effective pedagogy.

Throughout her career, Evalaurene has actively sought opportunities to contribute to the field of education beyond the classroom. She has participated in prestigious programs such as the Vocal Justice Fellowship, where she facilitated a curriculum focused on developing students' public speaking skills critically and engagingly. Additionally, she was involved in the reDesign K-12 Content Mapping Design Studio, collaborating with multicultural content experts to redefine important and relevant disciplinary content for K-12 education.

Evalaurene's dedication to sharing her expertise and insights extends beyond her immediate community. She has spoken at numerous conferences, engaging educators and students in conversations about educational equity, social justice, and empowering young people of color. Her contributions to the field have been recognized. In June 2021, she was honored with the "30 Under 30" Award, which recognizes emerging leaders of Caribbean heritage who demonstrate exceptional commitment and engagement in their professional, academic, or personal pursuits.

With her hands-on teaching experience, academic expertise, and passion for social change, Evalaurene Jean-Charles continues to make significant educational strides. As the CEO & Co-Founder of Black on Black Education, she remains dedicated to empowering young people of color and transforming education into a more inclusive, student-centered, and equitable space.

Our Story

THE THREE PILLARS

We are committed to Inspiring Possibilities, Creating Community, and Education Innovation. We turn those big ideas into action by developing youth programming that teaches young people to use participatory action research to advocate for the changes we need to see in education.

PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH

We conduct in-depth qualitative and quantitative research studies that use student and teacher voices in an effort to position them at the forefront of the educational revolution.

Listening to the voices of the students lays the foundation for the education system of the future, one where the academic, and social-emotional needs of students of color are prioritized.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING

This organization creates life & career-focused learning experiences that increase young people's ability to be active participants in creating the future of education. Done through workshops, push-in services, summer, after school, and school break programming.

EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY

Revolutionizing education in the Black community starts with the voices of students and continues by way of advocacy.

Through social media campaigns, conferences, and professional development programs, Black on Black Education seeks to inform the various stakeholders of the impact of student-led instruction.

FAQs

  • If the theory of Black on Black crime is going to exist, then there can certainly be Black on Black education; in fact, there is a tradition of Black on Black education in the Black community that is much stronger and much longer than Black on Black crime. We named our organization Black on Black Education to honor the tradition of collectivist communities passing down their knowledge, skills, and traditions to future generations. We will follow in their footsteps.

  • We offer student and staff-facing professional development and workshops, and the Student Action Board Program. We are also available to speak at conferences, as well as on podcasts, and panels to expand your audience’s understanding of how student voice and student-centered practices can enhance overall school culture and climate.

  • We do not, nor would we ever, discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, physical or mental disability, age, or any other identity marker. We are committed to uplifting the voices of Black and Brown Educators in support of Black and Brown students and recognize that allies and co-conspirators are an integral part of the path toward educational equity.

    We invite all non-Black folks who are committed or want to commit to education equity to listen to our podcast, attend our conferences, sign up for our email list, and tap into our conversations about how to make the system what our students need and deserve.