{View as Webpage} • August 8, 2023

Thank you for making IDRA’s 50th Anniversary Reception a Success! 

In July, IDRA hosted a 50th Anniversary Reception in Washington, D.C., along with host committee partners Legal Defense Fund, MALDEF, National Coalition on School Diversity, and Seek Common Ground.



The reception featured a keynote address from U.S. Department of Education Deputy Secretary Cynthia “Cindy” Marten and remarks by Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández, Congressman Joaquin Castro, IDRA President & CEO Celina Moreno, and IDRA National Director of Policy, Advocacy and Community Engagement Morgan Craven.

IDRA’s reception was a celebration of 50 years of fighting for and with young people and families for excellent and equitable schools. It was also a call to action to continue that fight through strong partnerships and strategic planning.

Deputy Secretary Marten also offered this 46-second message...

See more photos on our Flickr slideshow!

IDRA’s mission is to achieve equal educational opportunity for every child through strong public schools that prepare all students for college. For 50 years, IDRA has advocated excellent schools for all students and provided critical insights to federal policymakers using expertise developed by our proven model of community-centered advocacy, research-based policy, teacher training, and strategic legal support. (See highlights of our milestones!)

• We look forward to continuing this work with federal partners. IDRA is a resource for research, policy, legal, and teacher training expertise in:
• Ensuring fair funding for public schools that serve all students; 
• Creating safe, supportive, and welcoming schools for all students; 
• Ending discriminatory and harmful discipline and policing practices; 
• Guaranteeing opportunities for emergent bilingual students; and 
• Preparing all students to access and succeed in college.

Learn more about IDRA’s policy work, including our regional and statewide advocacy coalitions in Texas and Georgia, model policy shop, and actionable research and data analyses.

For more information about IDRA’s federal work please contact IDRA’s National Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Community Engagement, contact Morgan Craven, J.D.