Over the years, we at Ed Trust have had ample opportunities to work with amazing advocates across the nation who are committed to improving the education of historically underserved students.

For example, with the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in 2015, we’ve interacted with many state and local advocates who are working in diverse coalitions to leverage the ESSA planning and implementation process to advance equity. They’ve worked tirelessly to organize their communities to fight for and earn a seat at the table during education policy discussions.

We’ve learned from and been inspired by advocates who have mobilized community members and marched on their state capitals to push policymakers to treat all students equally, and to ensure that those from historically underserved communities are not buried under overall data that hide their performance.

We’d like you to meet some of these people. The Profiles in Education Equity series will feature individuals from our diverse network of national, state, and local advocates who represent business, civil rights, education reform, immigrant rights, and disability rights communities as well as parent leaders and equity-minded educators from across the country. By sharing their stories and insights, we not only highlight the hard work that these people do to advance educational equity and social justice, but also serve as a connector for those on the ground to learn from one another, and as a resource to support everyone who wants to become an education advocate.

Ed Trust President and CEO John B. King Jr. often talks about “leading from your seat.” That regardless of who you are, and where you sit, everyone has a role to play in this urgent fight for education equity and social justice. So whether you’re a seasoned activist or new to the education space, stay tuned for more Profiles in Education Equity in the upcoming months. You just might get inspired.