Who we are
Tellin’ our story
The Black Montessori Education Fund (BMEF) envisions Montessori education as a powerful pathway to liberation for Black children, families, and communities. As a fiscally sponsored project of a nonprofit, we are dedicated to closing the opportunity gap by expanding access to high-quality, culturally responsive Montessori programs and resources.
Born from the urgent need for intentional, equity-driven support for the Black community, BMEF is building a vibrant pipeline and network of well-trained, well-supported Black Montessori educators, school leaders, alumni, and advocates. Through this work, we aim to cultivate social, emotional, spiritual, and economic liberation—empowering individuals and strengthening communities through the transformative power of education.
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We’re on a mission to open doors for Black families and educators to thrive in Montessori spaces. We’re investing in our people—creating pathways, lifting voices, and making sure the Montessori movement includes and reflects us.
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The BMEF, founded by Dr. Ayize Sabater I, is a bold initiative launched from the energy of the Washington DC protests in 2020, which highlighted the need for a more equitable educational landscape in the US. It served as an impetus to use education as a means of liberation for the Black community. The BMEF celebrates Black educators, including past Black Montessori supporters and leaders such as Mary McLeod Bethune, and promotes Dr. Montessori's holistic philosophy within the Black community in efforts to increase Black engagement with the transformative Montessori approach.
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The team at The Black Montessori Education Fund (BMEF) is committed to Montessori education as a means of liberation and has over 30 years of combined education and nonprofit experience.
Meet the
team
The BMEF is led by a team of dedicated Black Montessorians and educational leaders who have worked in the field for a combined 30+ years. Their desire for creating an avenue through which to solve the problem of under-representation of Black Montessori educators, leaders, and children has brought them to the BMEF.
Dr. Ayize Sabater I
CO FOUNDER, DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT AND INNOVATION
Meisha Perrin
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Tosha Link
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Kazi Chad Dennis
SCHOLARSHIP FUND MANAGER
Communities we have impacted
$95,000+ in Teacher Training Scholarships awarded since 2020 for Black educators to pursue Montessori teacher training.
The BMEF has supported educational leaders in 5 countries start Montessori programs for their communities.
Donations to the BMEF have provided 61 families in the U.S. with scholarship funds to pay for their child’s Montessori school tuition.
Just under 150 scholarships and grants have been given to Black educators, families, and researchers since 2020.
BMEF
and
M.O.M.I.E
The BMEF is a fiscally-sponsored project of Mentors of Minorities in Education (M.O.M.I.E), a DC-based nonprofit organization dedicated to “nurturing the genius” of our children by creating a transformative educational experience. M.O.M.I.E’s is a 501 (c )3 non-profit organization.
M.O.M.I.E’s purpose is to transform education for at-risk children of color through an educational model that uses social justice and cultural education as the foundation for improving academic outcomes for our children.
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