Marian Wright Edelman is an American activist for civil rights and children's rights. She is the founder and president emerita of the Children's Defense Fund. She influenced leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr.
Julie Anne Peters was an American author of young adult fiction. Peters published 20 works, mostly novels, geared toward children and adolescents, many of which feature LGBT characters. In addition to the United States, Peters's books have been published in numerous countries, including South Korea, China, Croatia, Germany, France, Italy, Indonesia, Turkey and Brazil. Her 2004 book Luna was the first young-adult novel with a transgender character to be released by a mainstream publisher.
Elizabeth Murray is an American memoirist and inspirational speaker who is notable for having been accepted by Harvard University despite being homeless in her high school years. Her life story was chronicled in Lifetime's television film Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003). Murray's memoir Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard, published in 2010 is a New York Times Bestseller.
Jenks Public Schools is a PreK-12 public school system located in Jenks, Oklahoma.
Ebbert L. Furr High School is a secondary school located in Houston, Texas, United States. Furr, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Houston Independent School District.
Lola J. May was a mathematics educator, consultant, author, producer of audio-visual materials, an early proponent of the new math educational process, and a household name among mathematics.
Janice Erlbaum is an American author. She is the author of two memoirs, GirlBomb: A Halfway Homeless Memoir and Have You Found Her: A Memoir., and one novel for adults, "I, Liar." She is also the author of two books for tweens, Lucky Little Things and Let Me Fix That for You. Her poetry and prose have been featured in anthologies including Aloud: Voices from the Nuyorican Poets Café, The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order, The Best American Erotic Poems From 1800 to the Present, and Verses that Hurt.
Lily Eskelsen García is an American teacher and labor union leader. She served as president of the National Education Association from 2014 to 2020.
Beyond the Blackboard is a Hallmark Hall of Fame made-for-television drama film starring Emily VanCamp and Treat Williams. It is based on the memoir by Stacey Bess titled Nobody Don't Love Nobody.
Pricilla Jean "P.J." Cowan is an American author best known for her work in children's literature. Born Pricilla Jean Ball on December 2, 1933, in a log cabin in Rio Grande County, Colorado, in the Colorado mountains, she is the author of 15 books which are available worldwide. Her works include: The Adventures of Neddy and Teddy Fairy, What Do You Feed an Imaginary Dragon? and PJ's Bedtime Stories. Her first book, Michael O'Brian and the Magic Hat was released in 2008.
Renaissance Charter School in New York City opened in 1993 and is authorized by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education. It houses 550 students in grades kindergarten through high school. It started as a first-generation "New Visions School" sponsored by New Visions for Public Schools. It is located in the Jackson Heights neighborhood of Queens. In 2000 it converted to charter status, one of the first charter schools in New York City. The current principal is Stacey Gauthier.
Chloe Brown is a longtime educator in the Tulsa Public Schools district, who was the first African-American teacher at Eliot Elementary School. First African American Reading Specialist in Jenks Public Schools. She is an active member of the Tulsa community, volunteering to tutor homeless children, distribute food, and work with women in crisis. Ministers at the Turley Correctional Center. Brown founded The Chloe House in 2006, a transition home for women that provides housing, training for employment, and resources to help them re-enter society. She is also a licensed minister and was inducted into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame in 2011. Chloe and her husband Doug are Grief Share and Marriage Coaches.
"Mother Grace" Tucker was an American Evangelical Christian pastor and philanthropist. She pastored and served Tulsa, Oklahoma's poor and homeless for over 50 years.
Wilhelmina Marguerita Crosson was an educator and school administrator known for her innovative teaching methods. One of the first African-American female schoolteachers in Boston, she developed the city's first remedial reading program in 1935, and was an early advocate of black history education.
Evelyn LaRue Pittman was an American composer, choral director and music educator.
Karen K. Goh is an American politician and non-profit organization executive serving as the 26th and current mayor of Bakersfield, California. Before becoming mayor of Bakersfield, Goh was a non-profit executive at Garden Pathways. Goh is Bakersfield's first mayor of Asian descent. Goh defeated her opponent Kyle Carter with 52.75% of the votes. Goh was elected into office during November 2016, and was re-elected to an additional four-year term in March 2020, operating under a council manager form of government.
Lena King Lee was an American educator, attorney, and politician who entered politics at the age of 60 and became one of the first African-American women elected to the Maryland General Assembly. Lee advocated for teachers' rights, women's rights, and affordable housing, and founded the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland in 1970. She was inducted into the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame in 1989.
Erin Mendenhall is an American politician and activist who has been serving as the mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah since 2020. Upon taking office as Salt Lake City’s 36th mayor, Mendenhall became the city’s third and youngest woman in the role. Prior to assuming office, Mendenhall represented the city’s 5th district on the Salt Lake City Council.
Elsie Charles Basque (1916-2016) was a Mi’kmaq known as the first member of her tribe to earn a teaching certificate. She became a noted educator and was a recipient of the Order of Canada in 2009.
