posted on
Founding executive director announces grassroots advocacy campaign to improve Hawaii public education
HONOLULU, Hawaii—Hawaii’s keiki have a new advocate for their education with the launch of HawaiiKidsCAN: The Hawaii Campaign for Achievement Now. The locally led grassroots nonprofit organization will advocate for an equitable, high-quality education for all Hawaii students. HawaiiKidsCAN was introduced to the community with a half-day Educational Equity Symposium on Saturday, September 16, 2017.
“I’ve had the opportunity to speak with families, community leaders and policymakers all over the state. The truth is, Hawaii’s education system is only beginning to scratch the surface of our potential as a school system that levels the playing field and provides an equitable high-quality education for all students,” said Founding Executive Director HawaiiKidsCAN David Miyashiro, who is also a former public school special education teacher. “For our children and our communities to succeed, we must continue the work we have already begun.
“We know that an excellent education system that reflects the true voice of our communities can have a transformational impact on our children and our state. That’s why, at HawaiiKidsCAN, we will empower community-driven grassroots voices and collaborate with policy makers to advocate for an equitable, high-quality education for every child in Hawaii.
“We believe in the limitless potential of our kids and community, and we will partner to build bridges and remove barriers to promote an education system for our keiki that ensures every Hawaii child has access to a high-quality education that prepares them for a life of choice, success, and global and local leadership.”
The Educational Equity Symposium featured new Hawaii Department of Education Superintendent Christina M. Kishimoto, Ph.D., and Mee Moua, Asian-American Pacific Islander civil rights advocate, Racial Healing and Transformation Consultant with the WK Kellogg Foundation and the first Hmong-American elected to the Minnesota State Senate, as keynote speakers. Attendees participated in interactive learning and partnership-building opportunities and included teachers and school leaders from traditional DOE, charter and private schools, and advocates for Native Hawaiian programs, social justice, disability, diversity and education reform.
HawaiiKidsCAN’s launch is supported locally by the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, Hawaii Community Foundation and a founding Advisory Board made up of business, philanthropy and community leaders.
# # #
About HawaiiKidsCAN: Launched in 2017, HawaiiKidsCAN: The Hawaii Campaign for Achievement Now is a nonprofit organization that empowers community-driven grassroots voices and collaborates with policy makers to advocate for an equitable, high-quality education for every child in Hawaii. HawaiiKidsCAN is a branch of 50CAN: The 50-State Campaign for Achievement Now.