About Us
Charlottesville United for Public Education is a coalition of parents, grandparents, and community members committed to ensuring every child in Charlottesville City Schools receives a quality education. We advocate for student success from preschool to graduation through community engagement, family support and civic participation. As champions united for healthy students and schools, we center community voices and welcome all who are invested in making public education better in Charlottesville.
Our Mission and Vision
Mission: To advocate for public education that meets the needs of every child and family, while centering Black, Brown, and other marginalized voices.
Vision: Charlottesville City Schools serves as a model for centering the needs of students and families through informed, strategic, transformative change that meets the needs of each child and the collective, as demonstrated by a closed achievement gap, record matriculation and strong school/home partnerships.
We believe every CCS student should receive the support needed to be successful inside and outside the classroom.
1
We are a grassroots movement that aims to center the voices of those historically underserved, underrepresented, and under-resourced.
2
We advocate for practices and policies that support equity, justice, and sustainable financial investments in Charlottesville City Schools (CCS).
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We are looking to engage, educate, and empower more community members to use their voices and help shape our public schools.
Staff:
“The deficit in funding has far-reaching consequences, impacting the quality of education, access to resources, and opportunities for our most vulnerable students”.
-Sandra Aviles, Community Organizer for Charlottesville United (Photo Credit: Fund Our Schools)
Sandra Aviles, Community Organizer
Sandra Aviles is the Community Organizer for Charlottesville United for Public Education. Her role is to lead the nonprofit’s community outreach and engagement efforts as well as serving as an advocate for strengthening and fully resourcing our public schools. As a passionate activist, she is committed to nurturing love, justice, and equality in her community. Her unwavering efforts are fueled by a vision of a world free from societal constraints, where inclusivity and harmony flourish. Working directly with our youth, Sandra finds profound inspiration in the boundless potential of children. She acknowledges that they are our future and believes in their capacity to lead us towards positive change. She brings to Charlottesville United, her experience as a mother, immigrant and Charlottesville local, and is inspired by a passion for positive change in education as well as the overall mental and social and emotional wellness of our community.
Since starting her role in October 2022, Sandra has achieved notable accomplishments in both her professional role and community engagement. She was selected to serve on the 2023-28 Strategic Plan Steering Committee for Charlottesville City Schools, where she contributes to shaping the future of the educational system. Sandra is committed to advancing racial and social justice, having completed training with the Midwest Academy for Racial and Social Justice.
In the community, Sandra has been a vocal advocate, making various public comments in support of fully funding Charlottesville City Schools and providing ongoing support for youth. Her dedication to education and community engagement was recognized when she graduated from the 2024 Leader's Lab. Sandra's advocacy work extends to public speaking engagements, including being the opening speaker for the Fund Our Schools Rally in Richmond, VA. She has also participated in two Lobby Days at the state Capitol, where she actively engages with lawmakers to advocate for policies that benefit schools and the community. In addition to her community advocacy, Sandra was selected as a 2024 Community Fellow and Residence at the Equity Center at UVA, furthering her commitment to advancing equity and justice in her community and beyond.
You can reach Sandra at sandra@charlottesvilleunited.org
*Work with Charlottesville United! We are recruiting community engagers,
and a part time community engager program manager.
Advisory Committee:
Shaniece Bradford (ReadyKids, future CCS parent)
Nancy Deutsch (CCS parent)
Marcelle Eldridge (CCS parent)
Harold Folley (Legal Aid Justice Center)
Maggie Howe (Future CCS parent)
Brian Johns (Virginia Organizing)
Dr. Sherica Jones-Lewis (Equity Center at UVA)
Karin Little (CCS parent)
Arielle O’Shea (CCS parent)
Gabe Schneider (CCS parent)
Annie Suttle (CCS parent)
Frank Valdez (Legal Aid Justice Center)
Former Advisory Committee Members:
Mary Coleman, Shymora Cooper, Robert Gray, Holly Hatcher, Guinevere Higgins, Chris Meyer