Fairfield County Business Collaborative for Education Equity

Partnering to eliminate disparities in education

Established in August 2020 in partnership with Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, the Fairfield County Business Collaborative for Education Equity is a multi-year local impact and funding collaborative to help reduce and eliminate educational disparities among Fairfield County’s most vulnerable pre-K through 12+ students, their parents and guardians, as well as teachers and staff. The Collaborative serves the Greater Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk, and Stamford regions by supporting local nonprofit organizations and initiatives with financial contributions, employee volunteerism and expertise, mentorship and internship opportunities, and other resources.

The Fairfield County Business Collaborative for Education Equity seeks to support initiatives that:

• Prioritize community feedback, engagement, and leadership
• Take aim at system change levers for sustained impact
• Test innovative solutions
• Connect to local and regional collective impact work

Recent Research

In 2023, the BCEE commissioned a study – Building Tomorrow’s Workforce – to identify more efficient ways to address the specific and systemic barriers “Opportunity Youth” and the business community face in strengthening the workforce system.

At the core, it calls for a more fully representative consortium of local nonprofits, employers, educational institutions, and government operating together with an integrated, collaborative strategy.

Read more about the study’s findings by downloading the Executive Summary below.

“The release of this study represents a significant milestone in the pursuit of educational equity and economic prosperity for Fairfield County. We now have a blueprint for success. Moving forward, the key will be businesses and community members joining forces to put these recommendations into action. If we can do that, we can strengthen the local economy for generations to come.”

BILL TOMMINS
Member, Fairfield County Business Collaborative for Education Equity
President, Bank of America Southern Connecticut

Learn About Our IMPACT
Find out more about our approach, focus areas and local impact by downloading our info sheet.

“Since inception during the COVID pandemic, the efforts of the Collaborative demonstrate the positive impact a group of like-minded corporations can have when working together to support a common goal.”

Karen M. Kelly
Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Banking Officer
First County Bank