Q.E.D. Foundation is a multigenerational organization of adults and youth working together to create and sustain student-centered school communities. Our work is based on relationships and practices that first and foremost impact students’ growth and learning while simultaneously bringing change to our communities and the health of our society.
Our mission is to help our clients – K-12 schools across the United States – empower each individual with the knowledge and skills to use his or her unique voice effectively and with integrity in co-creating our common public world.
Our philosophy is that young people are our most important resource for the future. As we have learned from experience, when students work in concert with adults who are deeply invested in their success, they bring powerful voice and vision to the work of redesigning our school communities. Their participation in the work empowers and sustains their voices and vision.
Underlining our philosophy is a shared commitment to four guiding principles:
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All learning is both personal and social |
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Choice (aka personal control) matters |
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Advocacy needs to be balanced with inquiry |
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A commitment to honoring every voice is essential |
To achieve its mission, QED concentrates on the following core strategies:
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Sharing our stories and lessons to provide inspiration and vision |
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Consulting with national, state, and local education organizations to provide expertise, coaching and support |
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Offering tools and applications that provide organizational structures and practical protocols that support a school culture of “choice and voice” |
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Funding seed grants in schools that support the development of shared commitment to the power and potential of youth voice |
Our story is one of experience. It is also a story of hope, innovation, community and the power of choice. The youth of Q.E.D. are not unique; they have been provided with the space and support to use their voices “effectively and with integrity,” and have developed the ability and desire to speak out in favor of change that empowers others as they have been empowered. Through their perspectives and stories, they continually help us improve our practices, structures and tools. |
