The Proximity Project is an eight-week cohort experience for leaders in education institutions (teacher, school, nonprofit, and district leaders) and education philanthropy who want to examine and reform how they interact with and serve communities of color.

The Proximity Project was started in 2020 by TeenSHARP Co-Founder Atnre Alleyne after multiple conversations with leaders in philanthropy and education about how their organizations could better support communities of color.

While many of these leaders were responding by reflecting on diversity and inclusion in their organizations, given his experience with TeenSHARP, Atnre felt that authentic proximity to marginalized communities was a critical missing piece.

TeenSHARP has been working alongside families for over a decade to prepare talented Black and Latino students for highly-selective colleges and equity-centered leadership. TeenSHARP has students in almost every district, charter, and private high school in Delaware and dozens of schools in New Jersey and Pennsylvania (and dozens of higher education institutions). This proximity gives TeenSHARP rare insight into how well the needs and aspirations of Black and Latino students are being met and uplifted across schools.

The Proximity Project was designed to share the lessons learned from TeenSHARP’s work while crafting a unique experience that facilitates a dramatic shift in mindsets, policies, and practices within our country’s school systems.

The next Education cohort will start on March 1st, 2023. The sessions take place on Wednesdays from 3pm-5:30pm. The program is 100% virtual.

We are also working to launch a cohort focused on Data + Equity in the future.

For those interested in our Healthcare cohorts, please visit www.theproximitypro.com/healthcare/.

The typical schedule of topics covered are as follows. However, we always leave room for modifications based on the unique dynamics and needs of each cohort.

• Week 1: Reflecting on our stories, vulnerability, and proximity
• Week 2: Racism in education and society: past and present
• Week 3: Eurocentric culture and assumptions in institutions
• Week 4: Valuing and centering Black and Latino excellence
• Week 5: Standards and expectations for other people’s children
• Week 6: Building an inclusive and affirming curriculum
• Week 7: Getting proximate to parents and community partners
• Week 8: Wrap up reflections, planning, and actions

The program is designed for district leaders, school leaders, teacher leaders, education nonprofit leaders, and leaders in the philanthropic community who hope to improve the learning experiences and outcomes for students of color in their communities. 

The ideal participant is someone who will champion and/or lead equity and racial justice efforts in their particular organization.

It is totally fine if the participant is emerging in their understanding of equity, inclusion, and racial justice. That’s actually typical.

It’s just critical that participants are committed to learning and doing the personal/organizational work needed to promote equity, racial justice, and inclusion.

We would actually recommend organizations send a team of 2-5 leaders to get the maximum benefit from the program. 

Here’s a list of participants from our first cohort of The Proximity Project.

Participants will have 2.5 hours sessions each week for eight weeks and up to 2.5 hours of prep work outside of sessions. Readings and prep workload will fluctuate weekly. 

1. Increase participants’ understanding of the needs, expectations, and assets within communities of color in their locality.
2. Increase participants’ understanding of the history of racism, systemic oppression and inequality in American society and how it is felt and perpetuated in schools and organizations.
3. Build a supportive cross-institutional network of practitioners who are committed to racial equity, inclusion, and improved student achievement.
4. Increase participating institutions’ ability to equitably prepare their students for academic, leadership, and postsecondary success.
5. Define individual and institutional actions participants will take to develop and deepen authentic relationships with communities of color and our students.

• Cost: $3,000 per person 
• Participation in The Proximity Project is an investment in racial justice and equity, a Black-owned small business, and an investment in our nonprofit partners that receive a portion of our proceeds.
• A portion of the proceeds from The Proximity Project help support TeenSHARP’s college prep and leadership work with students. TeenSHARP students/alumni are also hired to serve as Teaching Assistants for each cohort of The Proximity Project.
• We also offer sponsored slots in each cohort of the program to teachers and grassroots organization leaders who would not otherwise be able to afford to participate. If you are a teacher or grassroots leader and are interested in a sponsored slot in an upcoming cohort, please contact Atnre Alleyne at atnre@theproximitypro.com.