Nov 3 | Inspiration|Action: The Digital Divide in Schools

October 28, 2020 Anacostia BID

Tuesday, November 3 | 2:30 – 3:15pm

Join us to discuss the digital divide in our nation’s schools today, Donna Harris-Aikens, Senior Director at the National Education Association (NEA) will explore the challenges and recommend solutions in how schools and school districts can address this dilemma to effectively serve the most vulnerable population – children of color. The discussion will be moderated by Ruki Neuhold-Ravikumar, Acting Under Secretary for Education at the Smithsonian Institution.

Donna Harris-Aikens, J.D. is the Senior Director of Education Policy and Practice at the National Education Association, serving on the Executive Director’s Cabinet. NEA Education Policy and Practice helps leaders and members understand the implementation process for educational initiatives and laws to support equity and excellence in public schools and higher education, and to ensure educators, families, and students are part of teaching and learning decisions. It is the Association’s primary policy center on elementary and secondary education issues, as well as early education, higher education, and career technical education, and focuses on analysis and advocacy related to administrative grant programs, regulatory guidance, and federal legislation (such as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and the Higher Education Act), as well as helping state affiliates, policymakers, and other organizations understand the requirements and implications of statutory and regulatory language.

For presidential election cycles, she also helps NEA achieve its electoral goals by serving as the Association’s policy liaison to Democratic presidential campaigns. Donna served as a member of the DNC’s Platform Committee in 2020 and 2016, as well as the Platform Drafting Committee in 2012 and 2008. Prior to joining NEA in 2006, she served as the Policy Manager for Service Employees International Union’s Public Services Division, the Director of Government Relations for Advance CTE, and as an Attorney in an education boutique law firm in Washington, DC.

A Virginia native, Donna graduated from James Madison University cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration, a minor in Economics, and a concentration in Statistics. In addition, she earned her law degree from Howard University School of Law and is an active member of the District of Columbia Bar. Donna also serves as Vice Chair of NEA’s Retirement Board, and as a member of the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum Board, the Learning First Alliance Board, the James Madison University Political Science Department Alumni Board, and the JMU Black Alumni Chapter.

Inspiration | Action is a new weekly virtual series of programs by Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum to educate and inspire participants to calls of action and become civically engaged. Experts will briefly present on four related topics based on one monthly theme. At the end of each program, participants will be provided digital resources to engage, participate in, or just learn more about the topic discussed.