The problems are not always the first thing anyone sees, especially when it comes to children. But they are there. In too many cases, the obstacles are more than anyone could expect to face. Food insecurities; a lack of clean, weather-appropriate clothes or shoes; struggles with behavioral health.

In the four core pillars the founders of the Decatur Education Foundation (DEF) so compassionately established more than 20 years ago, removing obstacles like these were paramount, especially when it comes to learning. The other pillars—providing empowering opportunities, supporting educators and programs, and strengthening community initiatives—were also critical to the tenets of providing equal opportunities for all. “When these basic needs aren’t met, students aren’t available to learn, and oftentimes, when students have disciplinary problems, these are the underlying reasons,” says Meagan Berardi, Executive Director.

Since 2002, Decatur students have been the primary focus of DEF, whose mission is to ensure that each has the tools they need to learn and thrive. The Foundation grew from a group of Decatur residents who saw disparities in opportunities among students and decided to do something about it. Over the years, DEF has worked with the Decatur community to expand learning opportunities and eliminate inequities caused by systemic racism, income inequality, food insecurity and the lack of behavioral health support. Today, its support network includes the City Schools of Decatur, the City of Decatur and the Decatur Housing Authority, as well as a wide range of community organizations.

The credit goes to the DEF team, today led by Berardi, who returned as Executive Director after serving as Director of Community Engagement and Director of Programs and Partnerships from 2014-2019. “The ways we address these systemic issues change as the needs change, but DEF is working hard to build an inclusive community for all people. We support mental health issues in our schools through our school student centers. We offer grants for special education summer camps so that all students have the opportunity to experience camp. We are dedicated to fostering an equitable and anti-racist environment.” 

While the path is never an easy one, DEF’s success can be seen in the good work it does around each corner. Take its “Lighten the Load” and “Teacher Innovation Grants” programs, which assist underserved students and support school counselors with the resources necessary to fight the fight. The programs assist with everything from medical and vision expenses, clothing and school supply needs, and offer weekend food bags for students who rely on school meals.

“Each program is different,” Berardi says. “That’s why we mostly rely on the feedback of our students, educators and community members to help us measure the success of our work and to make any changes or improvements. Our teachers provide feedback through surveys, and they also share photos, videos, and quotes from their students all year long to show us the impact of the projects we’ve funded.”

Last spring, the Foundation awarded 19 college scholarships totaling $130,000 to a group of Decatur High Schools students. “These graduates are impressive in so many ways, but what makes DEF scholarships unique is that we focus on much more than just good grades (though these students certainly have those too). Our scholarships honor the character, integrity, kindness, and inclusivity of our students,” Berardi says. “And each of these students is a part of DEF’s success story.”

The organization’s achievements over the years have been significant, but there is still much work ahead. “Our work simply wouldn’t exist without the Decatur community,” Berardi says. “Strong partnerships ensure we’re part of a coherent, cooperative approach to meeting the needs of Decatur’s kids.”