Local nonprofit stands strong against Trump admin. anti-DEI policies

Back in January, nonprofit leaders who depend on federal funding faced a stark choice: they could comply with a Trump administration banning diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives or forgo the federal monies.

In practice, the Trump administrations prohibitions on DEI initiatives has meant a ban on discussions of sexual orientation, race, racial identities other than white Americans or anything having to do with the history of racial oppression in the United States.

While many colleges and universities have chosen to comply with the administration’s ban, 826 Boston, an Egleston Square-based nonprofit that teaches kindergarten through high school students writing, chose to forgo $250,000 in federal dollars that funded AmeriCorps positions.

“It’s a dilemma that many leaders in the nonprofit sector are currently faced with, but for me, it’s deeply personal,” said 826 Boston Executive Director Corey Yarbrough, speaking last week during a fundraiser for the nonprofit.

As a high school student, Yarbrough explained, he relied heavily on writers such as Cornell West, bell hooks and Dereck Bell to gain an understanding of the systemic inequities in his local educational system.

“What was simply learning more about myself and the world around me would be demonized as DEI today,” he said. “However, the activities associated with that acronym not only unlocked my voice but also equipped me with the tools to leave my mark on the world.”

In prior years, the AmeriCorps funding provided stipends and support for 11 service members. This year, 826 Boston leaned on the local community for funding, raising $260,000, which the nonprofit used to fund full-time positions. In all, 800 new donors contributed — local individuals and small businesses — to close the gap.

“It was mostly individuals, the vast majority of them giving $25 donations, said Jenna Leschuk, development director for the organization. “So much of it came from people who were new to the organization who were inspired by our decision.”

Friday, many of those supporters were among the 200-or-so attendees at 826 Boston’s fundraiser, held at City Winery near North Station. Guests were treated to presentations from current and former students who have found their voice in fiction, nonfiction, poetry and song lyrics through the nonprofit.

O’Bryant high school senior Rudhy Dorcy, who accesses 826 Boston through a writers room the nonprofit staffs at his school, said the program has been essential to his development as a writer and poet.

“It’s judgement-free,” he said. “It makes me open to try new things. I get great feedback.”

Forgoing the AmeriCorps funding wasn’t a difficult decision for the Yarbrough or his board.

“There was unanimous board support,” said board member Rosann Tung. “We were excited about doing the right thing.”

But the decision means more work for the organization down the road.

“That money we lost was more than a single setback: We need to raise that $250,000 year after year to maintain our new assistants, and even more to expand our programming or return to the number of team members we had prior to the decision,” Yarbrough reminded those present at last week’s fundraiser. “As more Boston Public Schools join our wait list, hoping to open an 826 Boston Writers’ Room, it will take the people in this room to help turn possibility into progress.”