First United Methodist Church of Germantown. (Photo: Rasheed Z. Ajamu)

Need in Deed is revamping its curriculum for the second annual Education Equity Forum with its 2025 theme, Philly Schools as Humane Spaces.

It will happen at FUMCOG this Wednesday night, aiming to “advocate for the rights and needs of public school kids, especially immigrant, LGBTQIA+, and Black & Brown children,” as stated across materials.

The annual forum guides third through eighth-grade teachers and sets the pace for a civic-driven action project modeled after this year’s theme, which students selected.

During the forum, teachers receive the first steps and materials to engaging their students in year-long service-learning projects, providing a Need In Deed-specific framework, curriculum aid, training, professional development, and connections with community partners.

This year’s mission is timely, as a political divide under the new presidential administration has sparked debates about educational equity and inclusion, with Philadelphians no exception. 

However, Need in Deed had their hearts set on this mission long before the recent shift, as acceptance and celebration of diversity and equity in schools have remained a top priority for the organization.

“Our children are worthy of great buildings and buildings that are clean; they’re worthy of curriculum that’s challenging and interesting for them; and they’re worthy of their classrooms being safe spaces, so it’s not the first time that we’re talking about this,” says Kyra Atterbury, the Executive Director of Need in Deed.

Raising its attendance from a previous volume of 100 people to now 150, Need in Deed is building its reputation as a strong voice of communal guidance and support. 

The conversation will be enriched by the diverse perspectives of Executive Director of Lift Every Voice Philly Shanée Garner, PA State Representative Chris Rabb, Councilmember Rue Landau, Executive Director of Juntos Erika Guadalupe Núñez, and Senior Attorney for the Education Law Center Kristina Moon. 

The end results look to be rewarding, according to Atterbury, as Need in Deed’s civic action project places Philadelphia school children in a position where their insight and experience are vital for the success of the syllabus.

“Oftentimes students in Philadelphia are often seen as the recipients of service, as opposed to those that can serve,” she said.

The executive director continues: “[The civic action project] really changes the way that teachers and other community members look at Philadelphia children because they can see them as these bright and beautiful, brilliant beings that have ideas, have solutions, and they want to work in community with other people to make their communities what they deserve to be.” 

At the end of the five-month plan, Need in Deed gives a platform to present the innovative and heavily researched projects by hosting The “Shout Out,”  a showcase of learning where students talk about what they learned and did over the year. That’s currently scheduled for May 21-22. 

Reassuring that all can partake, the Education Equity Forum will also be available via live stream. The in-person event will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at 6001 Germantown Avenue. For more information, visit their website (needindeed.org).