WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EVERFI, Inc., the leading social impact education innovator, today announced the launch of the Black History Month Challenge to support youth education on race and equity. The Black History Month Challenge, occurring during the month of February, is a first-of-its-kind national competition to help middle and high school students across the United States understand the Black experience through perspectives, successes, and struggles.
Designed to inspire today’s students by telling stories about the Black experience in America, the Black History Month Challenge will empower students through the counter-storytelling of Black perspectives across generations, elevate history as a lens to understand current events, and transform students’ perception of the world around them.
The Black History Month Challenge is supported by leading organizations including Altice USA (through its consumer brands Optimum and Suddenlink), Citizens, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, National Football League, Principal, and others. These organizations have demonstrated a commitment to elevating student awareness and dialogue on the important contributions of Black Americans in U.S. history.
“For too long, Black history education has focused on a handful of memorable moments and events and is often not viewed within the context of American history, but rather as a separate history lesson,” said Jesse Bridges, senior vice president, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, EVERFI. “Understanding what has happened in our past and drawing connections to present-day events helps us better understand the world around us today. There are many significant events that have shaped Black history in the United States, and there is often more to the story than what we learn in textbooks. While we are launching this initiative in February, the goal of the Black History Month Challenge is to highlight the exceptional spirit of the Black community, illuminate the continued fight for equity, and spark critical conversations about social justice, across the year. We are grateful for the organizations that have chosen to participate in this undertaking with us.”
Students participating in the Challenge will be guided through four digital lessons and complete a capstone essay in which they will share a plan for keeping the conversation about Black history going year-round in their community. Three students will be chosen as winners of the Black History Month Challenge based on their essay and will receive college scholarships totaling $20,000. Students must be age 13 and older to participate in the essay contest.
The Challenge is built around material from EVERFI’s 306: Continuing the Story - Black History Curriculum, which is a newly available extension to the company’s original 306: African American History course that was launched in 2013.
Through 306: Continuing the Story - Black History Curriculum, students will learn about topics and events including Black history before slavery, the historical significance of Juneteenth and Black Wall Street, as well as the protests and marches for civil rights and equality. Additionally, students will learn about Black business titans, the history behind the racial wealth gap, and how Black entrepreneurs and businesspeople are overcoming challenges every day. They will also explore Black contributions to medicine, the roots of systemic racism in medical care, and celebrate Black medical trailblazers.
To learn more or participate in the Black History Challenge, visit BlackHistoryMonthChallenge.com.
About EVERFI, Inc.
EVERFI is an international technology company driving social change through education to address the most challenging issues affecting society ranging from financial wellness to prescription drug safety to workplace conduct and other critical topics. Founded in 2008, EVERFI is fueled by its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) community engagement platform and has reached more than 41 million learners globally. In 2020, the company was recognized as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company and was featured on Fortune Magazine’s Impact 20 list. Some of America’s leading CEOs and venture capital firms are EVERFI investors including Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, Twitter founder Evan Williams, as well as Advance, Rethink Education, Rethink Impact, The Rise Fund, and TPG Growth. To learn more about EVERFI and how you can #answerthecall please visit everfi.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter @EVERFI.
