This article was originally posted on Leadership ISD. You can view the original article here.
Across Texas, our Leadership ISD COVID Heroes continue their commitment to equity and excellence for our students. Their commitment inspires us to continue to lean into this work, knowing that while the road ahead is long, the destination is worth our time and energy. Check out this week’s LISD Heroes below!
Quinton “Q” Phillips
Tarrant County, Class of 2018
Co-Founder, CommUNITY Frontline
Trustee – District 3, Fort Worth ISD
LISD: WHAT ARE YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION CURRENTLY DOING TO RESPOND TO COVID-19?
Quinton Phillips (QP): As an owner of the non-profit organization, Community Frontline, we are helping those in need in a variety of ways. We are providing masks to local businesses and community members. We are also assisting the elderly and the indigent with grocery store runs and helping with lawn maintenance if they are not in a position to be able to take care of this themselves. We also have been helping with bill pay and mortgage assistance as well as connecting community members with other resources they may need. We have also been able to help with scholarships for some students in the Class of 2020.
As a Fort Worth ISD Board member, we have been ensuring that foodservice has been maintained. We have been passing out food to students in need to make sure they have two meals a day, at minimum. We have also partnered with community organizations to pass out food on evenings and weekends to families. We have attempted to fill the digital divide by ensuring every household has a laptop and providing thousands of hotspots to households that are not equipped with WiFi. We have also ensured that all employees are still paid during the pandemic so they can continue to support their families.
LISD: HOW HAS LEADERSHIP ISD PREPARED YOU FOR THIS MOMENT?
QP: Leadership ISD prepared me by instilling in me that I could make a difference and that someone with my experience and skill set is needed in advocacy. Leadership ISD helped me to sharpen my ideas and helped me to see that I was not alone in my passion for helping students. In both of my roles as a Board Trustee and in the Non-profit community service realm, my Leadership ISD family continues to play a vital role in the work.
LISD: HOW HAS COVID-19 AFFECTED YOUR VIEWS ON HOW WE ADVOCATE MOVING FORWARD?
QP: COVID-19 magnified the disparities that already existed. Now that holes have been exposed, it is my hope and my job to ensure that we do not simply go back to business as usual when this is said and done, but that we operate from a true lens of providing quality service to those most in need.
LISD: WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE TO OTHERS WHO WANT TO TAKE ACTION IN THIS TIME OF CRISIS?
QP: My advice to others who want to act during this time would be to simply act. If you see a need and you can help address it…do it. Be safe in your efforts so you and your family can stay healthy but other than that, dive in. No act is too small and I guarantee you are not alone in your efforts. There are others that want to help as well and your example could lead to a world of change and advocacy.
LISD: WHAT CAN OTHERS DO TO EITHER SUPPORT YOUR WORK OR GET ENGAGED?
QP: If you would like to support my work I would ask that you go to any of Community Frontline’s social media platforms and sign up to volunteer or donate. We can use volunteers right now to help with the food delivery and with helping some of our elderly citizens. From a school district standpoint, some things that can be done is thank a teacher and exercise some grace and patience. Everything happening right now during this pandemic is so unprecedented and everyone is doing the best they can to make sure that everyone has what they need. Many tough decisions are being made and those decisions are based on the information that we have at the time and with safety being the number one priority through it all. Kindness right now will do a world of good for officials, administrators, and neighbors.
