Leaders often have to rely on external experts in equity, design, and innovation to reconcile challenges and dilemmas. This costs money, compromises sustainability, and displaces the expertise outside of the local community. What if local leaders, teachers, principles, superintendents, deans, and every other kind of educator could become experts in equality themselves?

228 Accelerator exists to equip and grow equity leadership within local communities. Through our equityXdesign framework, we aim to empower educators at every level to become “designers” of equity right in their own schools, communities, and institutions. Here’s what drives us:

• We imagine a world where every child in America learns in a place that acknowledges their racial identity, prepares them to lead and participate in our democracy and economy, and repairs and restores relationships that keep us divided.

• We imagine a world where school leaders in America co-design equitable learning experiences with their school communities, and an ecosystem where networks of principals and teachers support each other in designing innovative and equitable learning cultures.

• We imagine a national ecosystem with certified leaders who are able to lead across lines of difference, and school communities that can be galvanized to design equitable policies and practices.

• We are designing a multiracial, multicultural democracy where everyone is seen, heard, and loved. And we are starting in schools.

It will take the average Black family 228 years to achieve wealth parity with white families. It will take the average Latinx family 84 years. We know that this statistic reflects the distorted relationship between people of color and white people, and know that the design of these relationships begins in schools.

We can only reach our social impact mission of engaging all 50 states and at least 5 million students in 5 years or less using technology that allows us to scale. Being virtual means we can work in St. Louis and Atlanta on the same day. Convening in person makes that cost prohibitive—both in terms of operations expenses and the environment. Before the pandemic, we were constantly on airplanes flying around the country delivering this content in person. Aviation accounts for 2.5% of the global CO2 emissions. We believe the way we treat each other is reflected in the way we treat the earth. Finally, as the racial climate grows more contentious, working virtually also reduces the stress on our bodies. Some of the places where we need to work may not be as safe for Black and queer bodies. Choosing to stay virtual is a decision that is aligned with our organization’s mission to right and restore human relationships.