Educating Children of Color

A nonprofit organization

ECOC offers an in-person, all-day Summit on Jan. 13, 2024, at the Colorado College campus, and a Leadership Academy for 8th through 12th grade students. For the past 16 years, the Summit has given students and professionals a chance to hear noted and inspirational speakers. Sessions for adults focus on implicit bias and culturally responsive pedogogy. The emphasis for youth is leadership, financial literacy, self-empowerment, and readiness to enter the adult world. During the closing ceremonies, scholarships and laptop computers are awarded to high school students. ECOC also provides a Diversity University program to help individuals address the needs of a culturally diverse community.

Testimonials

The following responses were received from a representative of the Colorado Springs Police Department who recently attended Diversity University:
"Attending Diversity University was a powerful and emotional journey. It challenged the unconscious biases we all have and reminds us to not believe everything we think. Exploring these difficult topics in an open and safe setting allowed myself to really hear where others were coming from in regards to their experience or perception of law enforcement. From a law enforcement perceptive with everything going on, it taught us how to put our ego aside and start on the journey learning to love beyond ourselves and to reach out and wipe the tears of those who grieve."


Mission

Our mission is to dismantle the cradle-to-prison pipeline for children of color, and children in poverty, through education.

Background Statement

In 2007, the Minority Over-representation Committee of the Best Practices Court decided to adopt a new approach to address the issue of minority over-representation across our systems.

Our research documented that children and youth of color are more likely to be poor than their white peers; more likely to be involved in the child welfare system; more likely to age out of the foster care system without permanence; less likely to graduate on time; more likely to be involved in the juvenile justice system; and ultimately more likely to be involved in the adult system of justice.

Based on that research our new approach focuses on ensuring that children and youth have support to successfully achieve educational milestones as a key to escaping poverty and "our systems."

We made a goal to encourage all youth to pursue higher education, to support teachers to be successful educators, and educate parents on what it takes to be college ready and to hold your child and your child's school accountable.

The first Educating Children of Color Summit took place in January 2008. Approximately 350 educators, students, parents, and juvenile justice and child welfare professionals attended the first summit.

Since then, attendance has increased dramatically.

Campaigns supporting this organization

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Educating Children of Color

other names

ECOC

Year Established

2014

Tax id (EIN)

46-3347809

Category

Education

Organization Size

Medium Organization

Address

Educating Children of Color 12830 Falcon Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80908

Mailing

PO BOX 2017
COLORADO SPGS, CO 80903-9900

Service areas

El Paso County, CO, US

Phone

719-640-6633

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