Graustein Memorial Fund

05/31/2026

This month we've celebrated just a few of the incredible organizations we're proud to fund and partner with, groups standing alongside teachers every day. But Teacher Appreciation Month isn't really about one month, it's about the ongoing commitment to making sure educators have what they need to do their best work. Thank you to every teacher showing up for their students. We're honored to stand alongside you.

05/27/2026

As graduation season comes to a close, we're so proud to celebrate our own Akia, who has just graduated from UConn School of Law! 🎓

Akia is an incredible part of our team as a Senior Program Officer, working every day to advance equity in education, and now brings even more expertise and passion to that mission.

The world needs more advocates with both the heart and the legal tools to fight for what's right, and we know Akia will do exactly that!

Congratulations, Akia! We can't wait to see everything you do next. ✨

05/22/2026

We're proud to support organizations like Relay Graduate School of Education, which strengthen the teacher pipeline and empower educators to grow in their profession.

When organizations like Relay Graduate School of Education support passionate educators like Ms. Jadadish, they're investing in long-term equity for teachers and students alike.

For Teacher Appreciation Month, we’re proud to spotlight one of Relay’s alumni and celebrate the journey that brought her to the classroom.

When Ms. Jagadish moved to the United States, becoming a classroom teacher still felt like a dream she hoped to reach one day.

She started as a para, became a substitute teacher, joined the Denver Math Fellows program, and eventually enrolled at Relay where she combined practice, coaching, and classroom experience to grow into the educator she wanted to become.

Now, she’s preparing to become a full-time 8th grade math teacher.

What stands out most in her story is the joy she finds in helping students build confidence in themselves. As she shared, some students began the year believing they “weren’t good at math.” By the end, they were volunteering at the board, taking risks, and believing they could succeed.

Thank you, Ms. Jagadish, for your dedication to students, your persistence, and the care you bring to your classroom community every day.

Learn more about Ms. Jagadish. Link in the comments.

05/21/2026

Throughout Teacher Appreciation Month, we’re highlighting the people and partnerships that help students and educators thrive.

Teaching for equity takes more than intention; it takes practice, reflection, and community. Through Antiracist Teaching and Learning Collective, educators come together to examine their classrooms, challenge assumptions, and build more inclusive learning environments.

This is what it looks like to support teachers doing the deep work.

05/05/2026

We support and partner with organizations that help make it possible for teachers to be that champion, through community, advocacy, and preparation.

Teachers shouldn’t have to do this work alone.

Today and every day, we honor and celebrate educators who see their students, believe in them, and keep showing up.

05/01/2026

Last week, WCGMF team members Gislaine Ngounou, Ed.L.D., Dr. William (Billy) Johnson, Calondra McArthur and trustees Constance Royster and Anna Blanding had the privilege of joining many peers and partners at ABFE, A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities' annual Harambee Conference. It's the largest gathering of Black professionals in organized philanthropy, and we left energized by the power of community and shared purpose.

We’re especially grateful for the connections made and the wisdom shared across the field. Meaningful experiences like this remind us that progress happens in community—and that collaboration is essential to moving justice forward.

We look forward to building on what we learned and continuing to support and partner with others to advance opportunity and impact.

04/09/2026

Recently, our CEO, Dr. Gislaine Ngounou, and Board Chair, Lisa Graustein, sat down with On-Ramps to discuss what it takes to make the Board Chair-CEO relationship work. As the "seed from which everything else grows," investment in the relationship is essential to the organization's well-being. How do WCGMF's leaders maintain such a strong relationship? Trust and structure are at the core.

Read more: https://www.on-ramps.com/blog/the-board-chair-ceo-relationship-what-it-takes-to-make-it-work

03/30/2026

As comes to a close, we’re proud to recognize our grantee partner, She Leads Justice, and the work they’re leading to advance economic justice for women in Connecticut.

Through their Women’s Economic Justice Plan, She Leads Justice is creating a future where all women can thrive, free from the racist and sexist systems that hold back their lives and livelihoods.

Through this plan, they are fighting to:

💰Advance economic security and equity
📣Protect and expand women’s rights
🚧Address structural barriers to opportunity

We’re honored to support their work and the more equitable future they’re building this and beyond.

02/25/2026

As we close out and , our CEO, Dr. Gislaine Ngounou, reflects on her ancestral legacy and the power of love-in-action. Inspired by bell hooks, this guiding principle shapes the work of the Graustein Memorial Fund and calls each of us to lead with courage and care.

In this moment, as we navigate a complex and challenging environment, we are reminded that there is no truly liberated society without freedom, equity, and justice for Black communities. Love in action means honoring the past, investing in Black futures, and committing—every day—to building a more just and inclusive world for all.

As we honor Black History Month, and quite frankly celebrate Black history and achievement all year, I dream of the world I want to be true for my 1-year-old Black son and the generations to come. A world where they get to be free and thrive as exactly who they are—safe and basking in their collec...

01/23/2026

In a season where losses seemingly dominate the narrative, it’s essential to name wins — even when they arrive quietly.

This one matters.

Earlier this week, the US Department of Education dropped its appeal to defund states and schools that support inclusive public education.

By walking away from the appeal, the Department is effectively conceding what educators and advocates have known all along:

Every child deserves the resources to learn and thrive – no matter where they start.

This didn’t happen by accident; it happened because people of all stripes kept showing up..

We stand with the researchers, leaders, practitioners, and advocates who continue to defend inclusive public education and the right of every young person to learn, belong, and shape their future.