How to Fight for the Future of Education
From RuPaul’s Drag Race to Impact Media, consider this your back-to-school curriculum on how to create work that educates with full nuance.
School may be back in session, but the education landscape is changing. The fight to ensure accessible education for all continues every day.
We’re spotlighting ten Anthem Award–winning projects globally, helping create high-quality education. These teams are protecting the future of learning, whether through expanding digital equity or creating supplementary resources in response to syllabus restrictions.
The Right to Read
This social impact campaign tackled the US literacy crisis through grassroots distribution of an award-winning documentary directed by Jenny Mackenzie and executive produced by LeVar Burton. The campaign created community-specific events and resources to help audiences advocate for the “Science of Reading” in their classrooms.
Impact
A social-first platform serving Gen Z with cultural updates, Impact covers everything from Met Gala fashion to cultural critiques. With a strong focus on equity through Instagram Reels and TikTok-style content, their work colors in cultural moments with sociopolitical context.
Portrait of a Queen: Face of Bosco
@rupaulsdragrace “They’ll be able to view me the way that I wanna be viewed.” 🖤 @hereisbosco invited us to capture the process of Facial Feminization Surgery in an extra-special episode of PortraitOfAQueen. Watch now on the #DragRace YouTube channel 🫶 #RPDR #drag #dragqueen #facialfeminization #dragrace14
MTV Entertainment Studios’ Kids & Family arm documented facial feminization surgery journey with unprecedented intimacy. The story followed Bosco, Season 14 contestant of RuPaul’s Drag Race, zooming in on her gender evolution since the show. The portrait captured everything from pre-surgery preparations to the actual procedure, culminating in a powerful close-up of gender-affirming healthcare.
The Tremaine Collection
A digital museum uniting nearly 700 art pieces collected between 1936-1984, featuring works by Piet Mondrian and Andy Warhol. This interactive archive includes immersive stories with audio recordings, letters, and sketches directly from the artists. With cultural institutions facing scrutiny, this collection ensures unique perspectives are present.
Local Literacy Project x Giulio Gallarotti
What started as a spontaneous act of support during a visit to Afghanistan became a sustainable education program. By funding competitive teacher salaries in a small village, this grassroots initiative created lasting educational opportunities in an underserved community.
The LEGO Group & RND in School Community Builders Challenge
Kids used LEGO® bricks and art supplies to build inclusive communities through the proven Build the Change methodology. Every creation had to incorporate the iconic Red Nose, symbolizing positivity and inclusion for all participants.
Flying Colors with Kolibri: Project-Based Learning in Refugee Settings
Bringing project-based learning to the 33% of the world without internet access. This program enables teachers in low-resource environments to facilitate real-world problem-solving through collaboration and tailored digital materials, proving that innovation doesn’t require connectivity.
Edutopia
Founded by filmmaker George Lucas in 1991, Edutopia spotlights what works in preK-12 education through stories, videos, and community programming. This trusted resource empowers educators worldwide to create positive change by showing relevant, effective teaching methods in action.
ScholarCHIPS
Founded by CNN Hero Yasmine Arrington Brooks—herself the child of an incarcerated parent—this nonprofit provides college scholarships, mentoring, and mental health support to children of incarcerated parents, building a robust network to help them complete their education.
Bringing Financial Education to a Local Dallas Community
Chime partnered with For Oak Cliff to address the critical gap in financial literacy education. Through celebrity fireside chats, business case studies, and ongoing digital resources, they’re working toward their goal of bringing financial education to 10 million people by 2027.
Last Chance to Enter the 5th Annual Anthem Awards!
Submit your impactful project to The Anthem Awards and earn recognition for the change you’re creating. Enter by the Extended Entry Deadline on Friday, September 19th!
