We are about
community
Relax.Recharge.Regroup.Reconnect.
Although we center and celebrate Black educators, all people are invited to join us on our mission to make excellence equitable. We encourage people to highlight and acknowledge the role and impact Black educators have on all students, and, to demand access to quality education and resources in every school. We want to create a culture of gratitude and appreciation for educators, and open pathways for people to pursue careers in the field.
meet
our team
Danielle Moneyham
Co-Founder, Interviewer of the People
Danielle, Queen Danni, D Money or Mrs. Moneyham is what they call me. I love having meaningful conversations with people, organizing top model photo shoots, and performing rap concerts from my life’s soundtrack.
I graduated from Morgan Park High School (Class of ’03, SHOULDA BEEN A MUSTANG, ORANGE AND GREEEEN), the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2007, those #CollegeDaze birthed the Phoenix ), and Saint Xavier University in 2011.
I am from the south side of Chicago, although my father was a West Side man (RIP dad!), and am Unapologetically Black and Unashamedly Christian. Black Educators Matter because education is freedom, and Black educators sow seeds of liberation and love across generations.
Brooke Brown
Co-Founder, Community Builder
A southern girl at heart with a soul that embodies Chicago. Constantly empowered by Black experiences and attended the Blackest schools. Beasley Academic Center and Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy, where my roots were planted but continued to flourish at Tennessee State University. My beloved TSU. I dipped my toe into the realm of education, but never fully submerged and abruptly switched careers.
“Believe in yourself, learn, and never stop wanting to build a better world”. -Mrs. McLeod-Bethune. She knew.
Black Educators Matter because they personify resilience. That same resilience remained within me and years later BEM emerged. To my educators, we thank you and I look forward to sharing this journey with you.
Lauren G
Fine Tuner
Lauren is a HBCU educated music and movie lover from the south side of Chicago. With years of experience on the flute, trumpet (and dabbling on the keyboard), she was in the band at Morgan Park high school and marched for four years as a Mighty Marching Hornet at Alabama State University. She has also been a featured actress for several stage productions, was featured in the Chicago Public Schools’ Blog Series This is Why I Teach, and started her loc journey in May 2021 (Welcome to the Fairy LocMother Family!!).
As a K-12 licensed music educator with over 10 years of classroom experience, Lauren understands the power of music and movement in the classroom, the crucial role that arts programming plays in the curriculum, and the opportunities that students are missing when they lack access to creative outlets in school.
As our Fine Tuner, Lauren is listening to you!! In addition to editing the Project 500 Podcast, she manages the recently launched Black Educators Matter Facebook page. Stop by, say hi, and engage with a Black educator!
meet
our board
Corey Jenkins
Educator / Artist known as Jayinex
Roosevelt Moneyham, III
Community Engagement / Fundraising
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