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BUILDING AWARENESS

A. The Boys Are Talking Forum
​Because it's clear that young men and boys of color are in a crisis, we as educators, policy makers, parents, school designers, and community activists design "intervention" programs with the best intentions. However, we often get frustrated with the lack of results or outright failure of some of our initiatives when the outcomes are not what we expected. We may find that the problem is in our planning. Too often we plan initiatives for young men without consulting the young men themselves. "The Boys Are Talking" Forum is designed to give the young men a seat at the table with those who design programs, schools, and policies affecting them.  The forum provides a platform for young men to share and describe the structures, in our schools and communities, that have helped them reach their goals and achieve success, as well as those structures that have hindered them. 

Past Forums Have Been Held:
1. Potter's House of Denver - 2016
2. Smokey Hill High School - 2017- (In Partnership With Cherry Creek Schools)
3. University of Colorado Denver - 2018 - (In Partnership With My Brothers Keeper, UCD, Office of Children's Affairs, and Operation Hope)
4. University of Colorado Denver - 2019 (In Partnership with US Bank, My Brothers Keeper, UCD, and Office of Children's Affairs)

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BUILDING CAPACITY

FOR YOUNG MEN (K-12)

A. EMPOWERED AMBITION YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SCHOOL BASED PROGRAM)

What is the Empowered Ambition Youth Development Program?
Empowered Ambition Youth Development (EAYD) Program for Young Men is a social emotional and character development curriculum for young men in the 4th - 12th grades from the Sims-Fayola Foundation designed to equip young men with the skills needed to make their futures look like their dreams. The EAYD Program engages young men in deep, reflective work using restorative practices, cultural identity, social and emotional learning tenants (SEL), conflict resolution, mentoring, and goal setting practices.
 
What is Social Emotional Learning?
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. The components of SEL and EAYD are:
  1. Self-awareness: Know your strengths and limitations, with a well-grounded sense of confidence, optimism, and a “growth mindset.”
  2. Self-management: Effectively manage stress, control impulses, and motivate yourself to set and achieve goals.
  3. Social awareness: Understand the perspectives of others and empathize with them, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
  4. Relationship skills: Communicate clearly, listen well, cooperate with others, resist inappropriate social pressure, negotiate conflict constructively, and seek and offer help when needed.
  5. Responsible decision-making: Make constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions based on ethical standards, safety, and social norms.
 
What is the goal of the Empowered Ambition Youth Development Program?
The overarching goal of our EAYD Program is to assist our young men in increasing their capacity to be better stewards of their choices, careers, and ultimately their lives, while developing into positive, culturally aware, and emotionally healthy role models. 

C. I AM A FAYOLA MAN SUMMER LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (FALL 2020)
This is a 10-day leadership camp for young men and boys of color in grades 6-12. The components of the camp are focused on character development, STEM, financial literacy, student voice and leadership, arts, career awareness, and academic readiness.  We feel that all aspects of the camp are relevant and accessible by all of our target grades and ages. Through a collaborative initiative with other local non-profit and for-profit organizations, we will use group and e-mentoring platforms and social emotional learning (SEL) as the foundation for this work. The overarching intended outcome of the camp is to establish a working framework for the young men that they can use to advocate for and facilitate their own improved academic, social, and life outcomes.

NOTE: IN LIGHT OF COVID-19, WE ARE SPREADING THE 10 DAY CAMP OUT OVER THE FALL STARTING IN SEPTEMBER. WE ARE LOOKING AT SCHEDULING MEETINGS OVER THE WEEKENDS AND SCHOOL BREAKS. 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION & COMPONENTS
* Character Development/Social Emotional Learning 
* STEM
* Student Voice & Leadership
* Financial Literacy 
* Career Awareness
* Visual and Theatre arts
* Golf


D. SIMS-FAYOLA FOUNDATION ONLINE ACADEMY (For Students)
The Sims-Fayola Foundation Online Academy provides young men with a remote opportunity to engage in STEM, Literacy Support, and a Creative Writing course. The STEM labs are made possible through a partnership with the JEKL FOUNDATION FOR STEAM EDUCATION. The Literacy support is made possible through a partnership with the FYR is LIT program. The Creative Writing course is made possible through a partnership with the Lighthouse Writers Workshop. 

NOTE: More curricula is being developed for the online academy. We will announce the additions as they are completed.
E. B-4 BASEBALL - BUILDING BOYS BEYOND BASEBALL (ARKANSAS ONLY)
PROGRAM INTENT - To provide socio-emotional support, mentoring, and character/leadership development using the game of baseball to young men and boys of color ages 5-18.
 
The Motivation
With the numbers of African American baseball players that play at the youth, high school, college, and professional level being at an all-time low a need for opportunities to learn the game of baseball at an early age is a must.  According to USA Sports, there were only 68 African Americans out of the total of 882 players in Major League Baseball on opening-day rosters in 2019.  Baseball is a great sport for facilitating relationship building between a father and son or mentor and mentee. As documented in research, young men and boys of color are less likely to have a father figure or mentor to take time out to play catch or introduce them to the game. Additionally, these young men are also less likely to have the financial resources to sustain engagement in the sport We want to be one of the community resources for the young men to engage in baseball and leadership development in the communities we serve.
 
Opportunities for young men and boys of color men in urban cities is at an all-time low as well due to the fact of travel ball teams being the option for young baseball players to showcase what they can do.  Underserved communities don’t have this outlet, being that to play on these teams the cost often times is in the thousands of dollar range.  Local Little Leagues aren’t involved in underserved communities as they once were. This doesn’t leave many options for our kids in those communities. We want to help take the excuse of baseball being expensive away and help create some of these same options for underserved youth without cost being a barrier as well as use the lessons of baseball to teach life-skills and facilitate the development of mentoring opportunities.
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WORKSHOPS

A. WORKING WITH BOYS OF COLOR WORKSHOP SERIES  (LIVE AND ONLINE VERSIONS AVAILABLE)
​The "Working with Boys of Color" Workshop series assist participants increase their understanding of working with young men of color in a traditional school setting as well as other social structures. The focus areas will be inclusive of the four multi-dimensional areas of academic engagement, behavioral engagement, cognitive engagement, and affective engagement. During this workshop, participants also take a deeper look at systemic inequalities, traditional American dispositions about young men and boys of color, and community systems that affect the educational outcomes of students of color, but particularly young men and boys of color. Using videos, movement-based activities, songs, laughter, and sometimes tears, this workshop will increase the capacity of participants who serve young men and boys of color to improve the outcomes of this group by creating environments that are designed through an equity lens.   
Workshop Topics
•Perceptions
•America’s Man
•An Issue of Equity & Access (Education & The Economy)
•Increasing Our Awareness of Their Story
•The Realities of Young Men and Boys of Color
•Physical/Mental Health and Suicide
•Female Teachers and Black Male Culture
•Creating The Ultimate Classroom For Boys of Color & The Boy Brain
•The Importance of Rites of Passage
What participants are saying about this workshop
a. Insightful work on how the education system impacts boys of color.
b. Great workshop, very powerful....should be a full session next time.
c. This is great exposure of how to engage boys of color, especially for schools.
d. Any opportunity to strengthen our youth, particularly young men of color should not only be embraced, but taken advantage of in order to make a true difference.
e. The workshop elevates and engages with the topics of boys and young men of color in a dynamic, challenging, and reflective way. It dispelled beliefs, opened dialogue, and made me want to change my own behavior.
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 B. HARDWIRED BY CULTURE: SCHOOL/PROGRAM DESIGN THROUGH AND EQUITY LENS (THIS WORKSHOP CAN BE TAILORED TO ALL TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS - ONLINE OR IN PERSON)
This highly active and engaging equity workshop is designed to increase participant's awareness of equity opportunities and increase their capacity to design equitable spaces and experiences for students of color. During this workshop, educators take a deeper look at systemic inequalities, traditional educator dispositions about students of color, and community systems that affect the educational outcomes of students of color. This workshop also identifies the characteristics of students of color that are inherent parts of their culture that can add value to their learning experiences in schools. This is a powerful workshop that has impacted many teachers, administrators, and policy makers. It is designed to be an addition to your toolbox of best instructional strategies. This is not a “how to teach students of color kit;” instead this workshop is about using culture to enhance school design and learning experiences to improve the academic and social outcomes of students of color. Using videos, movement based activities, songs, laughter, and sometimes tears, this workshop will increase the capacity of educators who serve students of color to improve the outcomes of this group by creating environments that are designed through an equity lens. Ultimately, it is a workshop aimed at improving the capacity of educators to ensure equity is considered in every decision.  

What participants are saying about this workshop
a. This is SO necessary! What an enlightening and powerful opportunity.
b. Amazing, fun and real! This is one for everybody!
c. This workshop highlighted the importance of mentors recognizing that cultural differences must be acknowledged within the mentor/mentee relationship.
d. This training was enlightening, thought-provoking, and challenging!
e. Tough but necessary workshop. You will be challenged, but it's worth it!
f. Acknowledge your privilege, Recognize your power, but understand the amazing opportunity you have to help a youth better themselves.

​C. SIMS-FAYOLA FOUNDATION EQUITY ACADEMY (LIVE AND ONLINE VERSIONS ARE AVAILABLE)
Our Goal: The Sims-Fayola Foundation Equity Academy (SFFEA) is designed to increase the capacity of educators and advocates to deliver quality learning experiences for students of color and building authentic relationships through an equity lens.
 
Our Belief and Why: We believe that equity work is tough work because it challenges our personal assumptions and beliefs about others. Robert Allen, in his best-selling book, “As A Man Thinketh” said “people often want change unless the change involves them.” That speaks to how challenging it can be to examine our own dispositions to something as in your face as equity. Because this work is vital to the outcome of all students, especially our students of color, we believe that periodic workshops will not yield the impact that’s needed for lasting change. Most school districts and schools offer teachers one-shot professional development “trainings” with little or no support. Our intent with SFFEA is to provide an opportunity for educators to be immersed in prolonged development and support to become culturally relevant educators who can support and facilitate rigorous cognitive development of students of color. Therefore, in addition to our half and full day workshops, we have created an avenue for sustained engagement and coaching. That avenue is the Sims-Fayola Foundation Equity Academy.
 
What we address: Over 12 face-to-face or online sessions, in a cohort model, we increase the capacity of educators to deliver a quality learning experience, through an equity and cultural lens, that help students of color build intellective capacity and become independent learners. We also have a leadership track within the sessions specifically for school administrators and teacher leaders with the same goal in mind but is also inclusive of understanding their leadership style and how it shows up as a hinderance or asset to student learning. Each participant will identify up to 3 key new skills to implement in their classroom or school during the 12-week course to get support on from the Sims-Fayola Foundation. 

What we build capacity in:
  1. Pedagogy and Assessment Through an Equity Lens
  2. Planning and Equity Through an Equity Lens
  3. Creating a Classroom or Building Culture Through an Equity Lens
  4. Relationship Building Through an Equity Lens
  5. The Brain-Culture Connection Through an Equity Lens (HOW TO GET THE GAINS YOU KNOW THEY CAN ACHIEVE)

What participants are saying about the Equity Academy
a. The Equity Academy provided me with in-depth knowledge and actual tools and strategies to implement in my classroom to diminishing the day to day inequalities that contribute to the opportunity gap between white and students of color.
b. I no longer want to be standing in silence. With what I have learned I must continue to find my voice and participate in the real conversation of change. I am very aware that retreating to your comfort zone is real and I will go back. I also know that I have found a resource in the Academy and that I MUST push myself to do the work.
c. The most useful part of the Academy was that it provided me with a path and the support to begin a personal journey. Knowing that I was not going to be judged by Dedrick gave me the courage to be real with myself. His appreciation and understanding of the real work, the hard and difficult (often emotional) work allowed/forced me to be honest with myself.
d. I love how Dedrick made us uncomfortable and then had us examine how uncomfortable we are.
e. The class has afforded me the opportunity to wrestle with assumptions, beliefs, and even views that I held as absolute truth. It has forced me to really think about some points of my faith and politics and to really sift my world view through those lenses.
f. I am thankful for the lens I have gained through which I can view my student and my curriculum to make lessons that connect to the culture they are part of. I am excited to take this back to my classroom. This lens also gives me insight into building meaningful relationships with my students.
g. Dedrick is so passionate and open about his life and own experiences as a person of color and as an educator. His passion is both something that I look up to and strive to have in my field. I like the use of all of the music and lyrics. The only change I would make, is a little bit more time for group discussion during the classes.
h. Equity Academy has been an eye-opening and character building addition to my teaching career. I believe every educator, novice to veteran, primary to university, person of color to caucasian should attend and immerse themselves in Equity Academy if they truly want to reach ALL of their students in a productive and positive way.
i. I have changed the way I write my lesson plans, teach my lessons, look at my kids, treat my kids, and how I look and treat others outside of the walls of my school. 
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* Schedule a call for more information and for rates - 720-557-8443


The next course will begin Fall 2021

PARENT WORKSHOPS


The Sims-Fayola Foundation conduct parent workshops to increase the capacity of parents/guardians to be better advocates for their young men. Parents can engage with us through our "CONNECTING WITH YOUR SONS" online academy or in live sessions.
​Connecting with your sons is a series of active 2-hour workshops that help parents learn more about the uniqueness of their boys. Based on the research in male emotional intelligence, male motivation development, the male brain, and electronics and video game use, the Sims-Fayola Foundation, through it’s consulting arm, Global Student Achievement, link practical solutions with research from experts on male development for parents. The workshops also includes ways for every parent to understand and influence how their own boy is doing in terms of the correct learning environment, how boys are motivated, how to use the arts and athletics to teach boys (whether or not they are sensitive boys, aggressive boys, restless or bored boys), and how to best utilize the essential role of the parent, teacher, and community. Moving effortlessly between the practical and the political, these workshops also tackle social and cultural issues facing our young men and boys of color as well as how to challenge schools and the media to see boys fully and fairly.
 
Connecting With Your Sons is a unique combination of powerful presentation, research, practical strategies, and passionate advocacy that helps parents act on behalf of boys and young men–one home, one school, and one community at a time.
 
The topics covered in our Connecting With Your Sons parent workshop series are:

​Workshop 1: The Male Brain and How Boys Learn
-       This workshop addresses how the male brain develops and processes information. It also speaks to the power and influence of the hormone testosterone on the male brain. This workshop pulls from primary brain research as well as the work of Michael Gurian and Leonard Sax.

Workshop 2: Dear Young Man of Color
  • This workshop highlights the social pressures and stereotypes that young men and boys of color face. This workshop uses contemporary social issues as case studies to deepen understanding.
Workshop 3: Boys and Their Education
  • This workshop focuses on how young men engage in school and how school culture impacts their learning experiences and outcomes. This workshop pulls from a variety of primary educational research articles, videos, the work of Sims-Fayola Foundation, and personal narratives from young men.
Workshop 4: The Real Causes of Male Violence
  • This workshop highlights how cultural views of masculinity as well as popular views of masculinity contributes to male violence. This workshop pulls from the work of Michael Gurian and the tenants of Social Emotional Learning.
Workshop 5: Ending Dangerous Attacks on Boyhood
  • This workshop focuses on the negative social perceptions of young men and how it impacts family relationships and self-esteem.
Workshop 6: Supporting and Building Male Emotional Intelligence
  • This workshop focuses on what parents can do to increase the positive development of male Emotional Intelligence. This workshop pulls for the tenants of Social Emotional Learning as well as other leading research around EI.
Workshop 7: The Science of Maturity, Including Sexual Maturity
  • This workshop focus on the natural and sexual maturation process of young men. It also highlights what boys can and can’t do within certain age bands. This workshop pulls from the work of Leonard Sax, Joshua Goldstein, and Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
Workshop 8: Digital Boy vs Natural Boy
  • This workshop focus on the dangers of excessive screen time on the development of boys. This workshop pulls from the work of Dr. Michael Gurian.

SCHOOL & ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT

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SCHOOLS
Through out consulting are, Global Student Achievement (GSA), we provide a variety of services to support the development and growth of high quality charter schools and traditional public schools.  

Charter Schools - Our school development services are designed to support planning efforts from the time founding groups first meet, through a school's first year of operation. Although we are based in Denver, our work and clients take us all over the country. We can structure support plans that include our consultants being on-site as well as using online support through Zoom and Skype technology. 

Specifically, we offer support in the areas of:
  • Charter application writing and review
  • Budget development
  • 501c3 application writing
  • Logo and website development
  • Marketing plan
  • Student and teacher recruitment plans
  • Financial policies and procedures development
  • Grant writing
  • Leadership development and coaching
  • Curriculum and assessment development
  • Using data and assessment
  • School culture development
  • Student discipline plan
  • Parent engagement plan
  • Board recruitment and development
  • Community and stakeholder engagement plans
  • Other areas that pertain to charter development. 

Traditional Schools - Our traditional school support services include:
  • Grant writing
  • Leadership development and coaching
  • Curriculum and assessment development
  • Instructional framework development
  • Using data and assessment
  • School culture development
  • Student discipline plan development
  • Parent engagement plan development
  • School diagnostic assessments  (includes instructional, culture, operations, and external engagement assessments)
  • Community and stakeholder engagement plan development
  • Teacher development and coaching 

We would love to partner with you to increase your capacity to design and implement learning experiences for your students that maximize their growth and performance.  To inquire about these services, please reach out to us at info@sffoundation.org

ORGANIZATIONS
Through out consulting are, Global Student Achievement (GSA), we provide a variety of diversity, equity, and inclusion services to help organizations increase their capacity to deliver equitable work spaces and practices that are considerate of their diverse workforce. 
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Equity Audit - The equity audit functions as an equity, diversity, and inclusion assessment that sheds light on an organization’s current equity reality and provides strategic direction and a path forward to create more equitable work spaces and culture. Through this process, we analyze what an institution is already doing, what it is not yet doing, and recommends practical, strategic, and feasible next steps. The equity audit includes a comprehensive checklist of diversity actions and interviews and/or focus groups that reveal root challenges and opportunities.

Equity Workshops - As a result of the strategic plan or independent of the strategic plan that comes from the equity audit, we provide equity focused workshops that are design to increase an organization's culture awareness and widen their cultural aperture of the diverse workers in their organization. These workshops also result in concrete personal development plans that may arise from processes the workshops entail. 
Global Student Achievement is the consulting arm of the Sims-Fayola Foundation.
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The Sims-Fayola Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization.
Address: 3600 S. Yosemite Street, Suite 700 Denver, CO 80237 *  Phone: 720-557-8443
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