Urban Ed Academy

To our Urban Ed Family and Community,

It is with immense sadness that we share the closure of Urban Ed Academy as of July 1, 2025.

This is a challenging moment for our community, and I know many of you are experiencing a range of emotions, including disappointment, frustration, and sadness. I share those feelings deeply. This organization has been a labor of love for all of us, and together, we’ve accomplished so much for educators and students across San Francisco and the Bay Area.

We are proud of what we’ve built. We recruited, placed, and supported 45 Black educators in classrooms, positively impacting thousands of students and helping to transform the educational landscape in San Francisco, Oakland, and the Bay Area. While our chapter is closing, the need for this work remains, and we are committed to celebrating our legacy and connecting our community to organizations that will continue the mission. Take a look at our full impact report here to learn more (link in bio).

The is coming this May and June! Nonprofit organizations are coming together to help renters, homebuyers, and homeowners connect with safe, stable, and affordable housing. Check out the calendar of events at !

Urban Ed Academy Cohort 5 Fellow Jason Muse received a Golden Icon “Champions of Education & Excellence” award from and !

Meet Bryce Campbell, an Urban Ed Academy Cohort 5 Fellow! Read about his journey from working in an after school program to teaching his own classroom in Oakland. Below is a snippet from https://urbanedacademy.exposure.co/meet-bryce (link in bio):

“My journey to the education profession started in late 2022, straight out of college. I never thought about myself being in the education field, but I knew the importance of education and being a community-based person, I knew that my next adventure would be helping my community. When Urban Ed’s Fellowship opportunity came along, I put it together; becoming a teacher is how I contribute to furthering the improvement of my community.”

Today is ! Take a moment and thank a Black teacher in your life: shout them out, share their stories, and engage in conversation about why having a Black teacher is so impactful and empowering for students! Check out to learn more about this day and more ideas to celebrate Black educators. Dm us for opportunities to directly impact a Black educator in the Bay Area!

Reflection, Resistance, & Reimagining Black Futures with Aida Mariam Davis ✨
Author, organizer, and designer - niece of activist and scholar Angela Davis - discusses her
book, “Kindred Creation,” a bold philosophical guidebook rooted in African life ways and Black liberation.
Through the themes of “Remember, Refuse and Reclaim,” Davis examines the enduring impacts of settler colonialism and empire - offering a visionary blueprint for intergenerational Black joy, dignity, and
freedom.
Davis will be in conversation with Dr. Kai Mathews , educator and founder of , for a dynamic dialogue on designing better worlds on Black terms.
Books will be available for purchase on site via
🗓 Wednesday, June 11, 2025
🕕 Event starts at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
📍 Main Library, Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium | 601 Santa Monica Blvd

Head over to our page and learn more about our Cohort 2 alumni Codion Isom and his time as an .sf Fellow and classroom teacher! 🔗Link in our bio🔗

Meet Mr. Chiron Crayton! In a sun-filled classroom after lunch, where 33 eighth-graders gather for English class, Mr. Chiron Crayton is redefining what it means to be both a teacher and a learner. As a first-year solo teacher, he brings a fresh perspective to education that seamlessly blends academic rigor with emotional intelligence.

Read more via the link in our bio and here: https://urbanedacademy.exposure.co/meet-mr-chiron-crayton?source=share-urbanedacademy

Join our executive director for the Annual Statewide Residency Symposium on May 1–2, 2025, from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. This exciting in-person event will bring together education professionals from across the state.

This year’s symposium offers:

~Interactive Sessions & Dynamic Keynotes: Hear from leading experts in educator preparation.
~Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers, share innovative practices, and collaborate statewide.
~Inspiring Residency Stories: Discover impactful data and personal journeys from residency programs.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and grow!

Urban Ed Academy’s ED Dr. Kai Mathews will be speaking during the 2025 American Educational Research Association annual meeting April 23-27 in Denver, CO! Learn more about these sessions and register via our .ee

Dr. Kai Mathews and Nicodemus Ford will be leading a workshop at the Deeper Learning Conference, April 2–4, 2025, San Diego, CA at High Tech High Graduate School of Education: From “Why?” to “What Now?”: Restorative Solutions in Schools.

Reserve your tickets here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/hightechhighgse/1366896

Join us Thursday June 5th at for Black Educators’ Night Out, a joyful evening of celebration, wellness, and community! Urban Ed Academy has partnered with BlackFemaleProject’s Teacher Truth initiative and Black Teacher Project to create an unforgettable experience just for you. Enjoy music, dancing, curated wellness activities, delicious food, and meaningful connections in this special affinity space.

Your dedication to our students and communities deserves to be celebrated!

FREE for educators and sliding scale community tickets! Learn More and Reserve Your Tickets Here: https://urbanedacademy.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d882ed39f9e84e099438e5b42&id=f33c040a62&e=b092ea22a7 and link is in the bio! DM us if you’re interested in sponsoring!