Auriel Kirkland

Auriel Kirkland Public Policy Fellow After graduating  from the University of Florida, Auriel taught 1st grade and worked in administration in Memphis, Tennessee for 4 years. Auriel is a recent graduate of Washington University’s School of Law. Auriel is an active champion for education equity, a leader in community service, and an unyielding supporter of…

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Joey Saunders

young white man

Joey Saunders Director of Policy & Systems Change Joey leads the Tomorrow Builders Fellowship. He is an award-winning writer, filmmaker, educator, and policy wonk committed to creating meaningful, equitable change in his home state, Missouri. He has written for the Kansas City Star, is a winner of Shark Tank:Teacher Edition, and served as a policy…

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Charli Cooksey

Charli Cooksey

Charli Cooksey Founder & CEO Charli is a St. Louis native who returned home in 2009 to serve as a middle school English educator through Teach For America after completing her undergraduate studies at Prairie View A&M University. In 2011, Charli co-founded an educational access venture called inspireSTL. During Charli’s tenure, each senior class of…

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