By America Forward Staff Every year, on the second Friday in March, educators, advocates, students, and families — in the United States and around the world — celebrate International SEL Day, in recognition of the critical importance of social and emotional skill development to the learning, health, and wellbeing of…

By Deborah Smolover Columbine. Newtown. Parkland. Uvalde. These names are seared into our national consciousness, synonymous with gun violence that stole the lives of students and educators, devastated entire communities, and reshaped the national conversation about safety in school. We are long past the point when school violence can be…

By Anthony Covell LGBTQ+ equality and civil rights have long been weaponized as wedge issues in politics. From the decades-long fight for marriage equality to laws targeting access to bathrooms and locker rooms, queer people have had their basic human rights politicized in an effort to motivate base voters and…

In a recent speech at the Department of Education, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona outlined his vision for transforming the American education system, emphasizing the potential for reimagining what’s possible in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. …

One year ago today, hundreds of rioters stormed our nation’s Capitol in an unprecedented attack aimed at destabilizing our democracy. The violence claimed multiple lives and threatened the safety and wellbeing of all those in and around Capitol Hill. As the policy and advocacy arm of New Profit, America Forward…

In November 2021, Chase Sackett joined the America Forward team as Policy Director. We sat down with Chase to talk a bit more about his new role, his experience in government and policy, and his favorite things to do in D.C. America Forward: Can you introduce yourself? Where are you…

By Melina Kiper As we close out National Latine/x Heritage Month, we recognize that Latine/x heritage is American heritage. The history of America is deeply and complexly related to its many peoples and their cultures; the vast richness and diversity of Latine/x cultures and legacies are deeply intertwined and embedded…

By Anthony Covell It was January in State College, Pennsylvania, and I was a duck on a pond — cruising with grace on the surface, and paddling feverishly below. During the day, I was an involved student maintaining a heavy course load while balancing extracurriculars. …

By Roger Low and Stephanie Mercier The Project In Denver, Colorado, many residents experiencing chronic homelessness have long histories of rotating through multiple state and local systems — including jails, shelters, hospitals, and treatment centers. These cycles result in not only a lower quality of life for those experiencing homelessness…