Latinx Heritage Month, with its 2024 theme “Trailblazers of Change: Shaping the Future Together,” invites us to reflect on the power of unity, innovation, and resilience within the Latinx community. It’s a reminder that when we collaborate, we create lasting change.
At TNTP, this month serves as both a celebration and a call to action. It’s an opportunity to connect our work in educational equity to the lived experiences of Latinx students and families across the country. Our recent report, Paths of Opportunity: What It Will Take for All Young People to Thrive, emphasizes the urgent need for collective action to improve social and economic mobility for all students, especially those from historically marginalized communities. Below, we highlight five ways strategic partnerships are driving real change and helping us shape the future together for Latinx students.
1. Cross-Organizational Efforts
Education isn’t just about meeting today’s needs; it’s about laying the groundwork for our children’s futures. TNTP is honored to serve as one of eight steering committee members of the One Million Teachers of Color (1MToC) campaign, launched in February 2021. While each group has long championed educator diversity, this collaboration aims to amplify our collective impact.
In addition to our work with 1MToC, TNTP hosts ongoing roundtable discussions to address critical issues affecting students and families seeking economic and social mobility. At Jobs for the Future’s 2024 Horizon conference, we partnered with UnidosUS to explore workforce development solutions, and we will soon join Rural Schools Collaborative at the National Forum to Advance Rural Education to discuss challenges in rural schools. Our goal is to ensure all students, regardless of location, have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
Why it matters: Cross-sector, non-partisan collaborations are vital to closing gaps in education and career pathways. By focusing on workforce development and rural education, we can create equitable opportunities for all students, especially Latinx students in under-resourced communities.
2. Elevating Multilingual Learners and Immigrant Students
TNTP has united leaders from across California, Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas for community conversations to promote equity for multilingual learners and immigrant students. These discussions created a collective understanding of the unique challenges these communities face, bringing together those working directly with students and families to drive meaningful change.
Why it matters: By pooling resources and expertise, these conversations are generating actionable solutions for some of the most underserved students in the country.
3. Partnering with Indigenous Communities
In New Mexico, TNTP has worked with the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) to highlight the importance of leveraging Indigenous traditions, language, and knowledge in the classroom. This collaboration shows how honoring cultural assets can improve academic outcomes for Native students while also benefiting the broader education system.
Why it matters: Partnerships that celebrate cultural diversity are essential for creating inclusive learning environments where all students can thrive, especially Latinx and Native youth.
4. Uniting Latino Communities in Education
At SXSW EDU 2024, TNTP participated with organizations including Familias Latinas por la Educación, Latinos for Education, and Voto Latino to elevate the voices of Latinx parents, educators, and voters in education policy discussions. This panel discussion focused on community priorities and advocated for championing the needs and aspirations of Latinx students and families.
Why it matters: Engaging Latinx communities in policy discussions ensures that the voices of those directly affected by education reforms are heard, and it amplifies the importance of addressing their needs through collective action.
5. Maximizing Support for Multilingual Learners
In April, during National Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month, TNTP invited educators and advocates to participate in events focused on listening and learning from leaders in the field. For the second year in a row, we hosted discussions aimed at enhancing support for multilingual learners, partnering with organizations like The Reading League, Californians Together, English Learner Success Forum, Curriculum Associates, Bilingual Generation, ImmSchools, and ALL in Education.
To watch our recent TNTP panel discussion, “Multilingual/Immigrant Family Engagement,” click on the link and enter passcode 31$RSZvU.
Why It Matters: Engaging in advocacy and fostering collaboration are crucial for improving outcomes for multilingual learners, a rapidly growing student population, many of whom are Latinx. These efforts are vital for providing targeted support and ensuring that these students can thrive academically and beyond.
Why Partnerships Matter
These examples underscore a simple truth: partnerships are powerful. By uniting across sectors and focusing on shared goals, we can create lasting change for Latinx students and all young people. To build real pathways to mobility, we must step out of our individual silos and think bigger.
Connecting to TNTP’s Mission
At TNTP, our North Star is clear: to end the correlation between a young person’s circumstances at birth (such as socioeconomic status, zip code, gender, race, etc.) and their life outcomes. Strategic partnerships are at the heart of this vision. Whether you’re an educator, policymaker, or community leader, now is the time to engage in meaningful collaborations that lead to real impact.
As you reflect on Latinx Heritage Month and the opportunities that are possible for our Latinx students, consider how you can be part of this movement. Let’s use this moment as a starting point for deeper, long-lasting partnerships that create mobility and opportunity for every student.
Share this post with your networks and join us in building a future where every young person has the chance to thrive. Let’s deepen our commitment to equity—not just during Latinx Heritage Month, but every day. Together, we can make a lasting difference.
