Strengthening Learning Equality’s Community Governance Model

Sumaira Mian

Funding Area: Community governance / Gobernanza comunitaria

Problem Statement: We aim to address the problem of limited representation, power imbalances, and inequitable learning opportunities within Learning Equality's board and governance model. Historically, there has been insufficient inclusion of actual community members from diverse backgrounds around the world, resulting in gaps in effective and equitable board and governance. This exclusion hinders impacted voices from guiding our work, limiting its full potential to align with their needs and aspirations. As the organization behind Kolibri, an adaptable set of open-source solutions for supporting learning without Internet access, our Kolibri Product Ecosystem benefits millions of learners and educators in 220+ countries and territories. Despite our global reach, meaningful direct involvement of diverse communities in decision-making has been limited. Our proposed solution focuses on nurturing meaningful relationships and fostering community-driven governance structures, empowering diverse marginalized communities to co-create education strategies and programs. By shifting power dynamics and dismantling systemic barriers, we will ensure access to quality education and open-source tech resources like Kolibri for all learners and educators, irrespective of their backgrounds. This approach aligns with our Theory of Change and values, challenging legacies of oppressive structures in education that perpetuate inequities in learning and hinder community leadership opportunities.

Proposed Activities: Learning Equality aims to develop a comprehensive process of co-creating an equitable board and governance model with historically marginalized learners, educators, and communities from around the world. From November 1, 2023 - October 31, 2024, working groups and committees will be formed to engage in inclusive decision-making, design governance structures, and evolve policies aligned with community needs and aspirations. Additionally, we will update our bylaws to reflect a commitment to equity and inclusivity, providing a framework for inclusive board governance. One direction we’re considering is to establish regional councils globally, consisting of mission advocates who discuss community needs to inform key aspects of the work, including strategy, product design, staying true to the mission, overcoming organizational challenges, and relationship building. Two members from each council would be elected to serve on Learning Equality's board, providing guidance, asking critical questions, and proposing new opportunities during board meetings. To gauge the success of the project, we will consider several indicators of progress. At least two new board members will be recruited, bringing diverse skills and perspectives to fill gaps on the current board. Learning Equality will document and maintain an ongoing board member recruitment process to ensure continuous growth in board diversity and inclusivity. We will establish clear definitions for board committee structures and expectations to promote effective collaboration and inclusive decision-making. An annual self-evaluation process will be implemented to foster continuous improvement and alignment with the evolving governance model. When needed, we will enlist consultants and skilled facilitators to guide the co-creation process and support updating bylaws and governance structures. The Executive Director and other staff leaders will allocate time to actively participate in shaping the governance model. Essential resources, such as virtual meeting tools, asynchronous online discussion platforms, and community engagement tools, will be required to ensure inclusive participation and collaboration. Learning Equality seeks funding support to cover the costs of community member honorariums, facilitators/coach, translation services, and necessary virtual meeting and collaboration tools.

Openness: Our proposed work on strengthening community governance at Learning Equality is deeply rooted in openness and aims to enable broad creation and adoption of interoperable open-source tools and open digital learning resources. At the heart of our vision is an inclusive and transparent governance model that centers the voices of historically marginalized learners, educators, and communities. In our governance approach, we will prioritize co-creating strategies that impact education, ensuring community input significantly influences our decision-making. Engaging a broader community allows us to gather diverse perspectives, foster meaningful relationships, and build a collective vision for equitable education. By empowering diverse communities through community-driven governance, we will co-create locally relevant and globally impactful educational solutions. Through forums, workshops, and virtual meetings, we will create spaces for open dialogue and collaboration, actively involving stakeholders in governance processes. In line with our commitment to openness, we will share project outputs transparently and openly. This includes documenting the board planning and change management processes, and sharing our journey of building an inclusive governance model through blog posts and social media. We will openly share the lessons we learn, challenges we face, and successes we achieve to contribute to the wider education community's knowledge base.

Challenges: Challenges include: 1) Co-creating strategies involving diverse stakeholders may lead to challenges in finding common ground and achieving consensus; 2) The educational landscape and the needs of learners and educators may change over time, requiring flexibility in our governance approach; 3) Overcoming systemic barriers to meaningful participation for marginalized learners and educators will be crucial; 4) Allocating time and resources for board and governance work amidst other organizational priorities will be a critical consideration; 5) Strengthening community governance may require capacity building (e.g., skills building and knowledge sharing) among learners, educators, and board members; 6) Shifting to inclusive models may encounter resistance from established power structures, requiring ongoing efforts to ensure equal representation; 7) Engaging a globally distributed community in virtual settings and across time zones will present logistical challenges; 8) Assessing the impact of community-driven governance on educational outcomes and the adoption of open-source tools will require innovative evaluation methods and defining appropriate indicators; and 9) Fostering an inclusive environment demands recognizing and overcoming biases in decision-making processes.

Neglectedness: Many grant opportunities focus on programmatic work and direct impact, rather than equity-focused capacity building, so we recognize this as an underfunded area. We have applied for funding for this work in the past, targeting grant programs focused on education equity, open-source technology, and community-driven governance. One application that was successful was our application for the Hewlett Foundation’s 2021 Organizational Effectiveness Grant, leading to support for the preliminary stages of our equitable governance reimagining work that we now wish to bring to fruition.

Success: Success will be measured through: 1) Community Engagement Index: Quantify the level of meaningful participation from marginalized learners, educators, and communities in governance processes; 2) Inclusivity Score: Assess the diversity and representation on the board to determine the extent of inclusive decision-making and co-creation of strategies; 3) Open-Source Adoption Rate: Track the adoption rate of open-source tools, specifically in mother tongue languages, as an indicator of equitable education impact; and 4) Global Collaboration Metrics: Measure the effectiveness of regional councils' involvement and the number of successful collaborations with stakeholders worldwide. By quantifying these elements, we can track progress, identify areas for improvement, and ensure our efforts lead to tangible outcomes in promoting equitable and inclusive education through community-driven governance.

Total Budget: $15,066

Affiliations: Yes, this proposal is affiliated with the Foundation for Learning Equality, Inc. dba Learning Equality.

LMIE Carveout: While we are legally incorporated and a portion of our team operates in the USA, one third of our team is based in other countries, including LMIE countries such as Uganda, India, and Argentina. The communities we serve span the globe, with the majority of our users located in LMIE countries. As an organization committed to equitable education and open-source edtech, we place a strong emphasis on prioritizing learners and educators in LMIEs, where access to quality education and connectivity are limited. We value the critical involvement and leadership of LMIE community members in Learning Equality's board and governance. Their wisdom and perspectives should guide our work, challenging power structures and shifting narratives on how a USA-based edtech nonprofit operates internationally.

Team Skills: Jamie Alexandre, the co-founder and Executive Director of Learning Equality, holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive Science, providing valuable insights into learning processes and cognitive development. His dedication to social justice drives the organization's mission to address infrastructural and resource gaps for marginalized communities with limited internet access. Jamie has actively taken on multiple leadership roles within the board, establishing and expanding Learning Equality's founding board. He guides the direction and planning of board meetings, oversees board subcommittees, and currently serves as the interim board chair, actively engaging the board in driving the organization's vision and mission. Navya Akkinepally, the Head of Training and Impact at Learning Equality, leverages her extensive experience in training and program development to support the effective implementation of blended learning in low-resource contexts. She plays a pivotal role in organizational development, with a particular focus on anti-oppression and racial equity work. Navya has been instrumental in co-building Learning Equality's Theory of Change, ensuring a culturally sensitive and inclusive approach to education. Additionally, she actively contributes to board development efforts and serves on the board growth committee, further strengthening the organization's impact and strategic direction.

Submission Number: 159