Pictured above: Fulcrum Foundation Becraft Scholars Program Director Alana Bell
The Fulcrum Foundation is excited to announce Becraft Scholars, a scholarship-based equity program for archdiocesan schools created in partnership with the Ferry Family Charitable Foundation!
The program is named after Sister Anne Marie Becraft, a young Black nun who founded the country’s first Catholic school for Black children in 1827. Inspired by her work, the Becraft Scholars Program will recruit cohorts of 12 kindergarteners each year and make a nine-year commitment to their families to provide a $5,000 annual scholarship.
This means-based scholarship will give priority to Black and African American families. Becraft will also partner with archdiocesan schools to study student data and make targeted improvements in school policy to build a culture of inclusion for all students.
St. George Parish School, St. Therese Catholic Academy, St. Paul School, Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School, and Visitation Catholic STEM Academy will be the first archdiocesan schools to partner with Becraft Scholars.
“I believe Becraft Scholars will help build up a culture of belonging in our schools. Concretely, that means partnering with principals to make small changes in school policy that better meet the needs of all our families,” said Quentin Orem, executive director of the Richard and Maude Ferry Foundation. “There is great wisdom in the growing community of families in Becraft Scholars and our mission is to listen and respond.”
“The Becraft Scholars Program has been a piece missing from Catholic schools that will promote equity and greater accessibility to our Catholic schools for those who will most benefit from education in our learning communities,” added Larkin Temme, principal of Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School. “The program has the potential to make a great impact on all schools and students in the entire Archdiocese of Seattle. I am looking forward to the future of this program in our schools!”
The Fulcrum Board of Trustees approved the Becraft Scholars program in the fall of 2020. Diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts have been a critical part of Fulcrum’s mission since its founding in 2002—which was why the Ferry Foundation trusted Fulcrum with its vision for Becraft. The horrific killing of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis last year and the national protests that followed were a stark reminder that this work is more urgent than ever.
Fulcrum is proud to continue this effort through Becraft Scholars, under the leadership of the new Becraft Scholars Program Director Alana Bell.
Prior to joining Fulcrum, Alana was the director of equity and inclusion at Seattle Academy, where her focus was building community and creating equitable systems. Alana’s desire to serve her community has led to opportunities to work with organizations such as the Seattle CARES Mentoring Movement and Partners for Youth Empowerment.
“As the program director for Becraft Scholars, I am excited to collaborate with key stakeholders in the Catholic community to best support our Black students and families in Catholic schools,” Alana said. “Having been a student, educator, and parent in private institutions, I know all too well the challenges that our families face. Through the lens of equity and access, Becraft Scholars will provide a holistic solution to serving students and families while centering inclusion, partnership, and community. In the spirit of our namesake, Anne Marie Becraft, Becraft Scholars will be a pathway of access to education and faith for years to come.”
For more information on the Becraft Scholars Program, please contact the Becraft Scholars Program Director Alana Bell at alana.bell@fulcrumfoundation.org.