The Wallace Foundation

06/07/2026

Arts organizations rooted in communities of color often hold rich community histories, stories, and cultural knowledge. But many of these records are at risk of being lost because of limited resources, lack of archival support, and precarious storage methods. New research from the UCLA Community Archives Lab and the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA) explores how BIPOC-centered arts organizations are working to preserve their histories—and what funders and archival institutions can do to help safeguard these cultural legacies for the future.

This brief illustrates the importance of safeguarding the legacies of arts organizations rooted in communities of color

06/07/2026

How can investing in principals help states and districts address chronic absenteeism, student mental health, and teacher retention? Join us for a webinar where Linda Darling-Hammond, founding president and chief knowledge officer at Learning Policy Institute, Bronwyn Bevan, Vice President of Research at Wallace, and field experts discuss the evidence base around investing in principals as a key strategy for addressing today’s most pressing school challenges. Register here: https://bit.ly/437ZBle

06/07/2026

Nationwide, parents of 24.6M kids want a summer program for their child. However, roughly half of these children are missing out on the positive and engaging experiences summer can hold. New data paints the full picture of summer program participation in America: https://bit.ly/4fqKPNG

06/07/2026

Arts organizations rooted in communities of color often operate at the intersection of artistic ambition and structural disadvantages such as a lack of funding from governments and philanthropies. Despite these disadvantages, they produce extraordinary work with significant cultural and civic value. A new report from the Social Science Research Council presents an overview of how a group of these organizations contribute to cultural innovation. The report also shares a set of strategies the orgs use to sustain their work–and, in turn, contribute to cultural vitality and community connection. Read the report:

New report shows how community-based arts organizations navigate trust, provide artistic value, and ensure organizational well-being amidst shifting...

06/06/2026

Join us on June 8 as our vice president of research, Bronwyn Bevan, sits down with Linda Darling-Hammond of the Learning Policy Institute and other field experts to unpack how investing in school leaders can serve as a key strategy to tackling chronic absenteeism, teacher shortages, and many of today’s biggest school challenges. Save your spot: https://bit.ly/437ZBle

06/05/2026

What role can artists and cultural organizations play in strengthening communities? A new research brief explores how Chicago’s Rebuild Foundation uses arts-making and placemaking to support community well-being, preserve Black history and culture, and drive meaningful change on the South Side of Chicago. The study follows the organization’s evolution from a grassroots initiative to a globally recognized institution and highlights opportunities for funders and policymakers to invest in artist- and community-led work. https://bit.ly/4doxQcJ

06/04/2026

Summer learning has emerged as a critical opportunity to improve academic outcomes and provide students with exciting enrichment opportunities. How are districts sustaining the momentum they built around summer learning? In a new brief from NYU Metro Center, 13 districts are:
✔️ Building internal capacity and commitment
✔️ Building demand and community support; as well as buy in from district decisionmakers
✔️ Building diverse community partnerships and networks
✔️ Diversifying their funding streams

Learn more about their strategies: https://bit.ly/4to7JsN

06/03/2026

"True support for principals requires systemwide coherence across departments...When these sectors function interdependently and every unit’s work is aligned to improving learning, principals experience systems that amplify their impact rather than undermine it." MCEL - Men of Color in Educational Leadership.

Why school leaders need more than a single line of support

06/02/2026

What does it take to prepare a principal to lead effectively? A new Vanderbilt University study examines the state of professional learning opportunities for principals and offers targeted recommendations for how state policymakers, district leaders, and principals themselves can support and strengthen learning opportunities. https://bit.ly/4ttg3be