This educator wants to get more Black male teachers in Philly

There aren’t enough Black male teachers in Philadelphia — just two percent, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

That’s why Philly educator Sharif El-Mekki and 16 of his fellow Black men have launched a fellowship called Black Male Educators for Social Justice, with a mission to triple the number of Black educators in Philly by 2025.

El-Mekki founded the group in 2014 and, according to the Inquirer, has grown the organization to 50 paid members. The goal, El-Mekki told the paper, is to convene Black male teachers, attract more Black male teachers to Philadelphia and influence education policy.

We asked leaders of color to define “social change” this past fall. Black Male Educators for Social Justice fits those definitions perfectly.