Written by Aaron Allen seattle medium
The Alliance for Education, the regional education foundation for Seattle public schools, recently announced it will award Nathaniel 'Nate' Miles the 2024 Public Education Advocacy Award.
This inaugural award honors and recognizes individuals or organizations who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and unwavering dedication to advancing issues important to students, families, and educators in Seattle Public Schools.
Miles, who has served on the Alliance for Education board for more than 12 years, has a deep passion and commitment to educational excellence, justice, and equity. Throughout her tenure, Miles has been a staunch advocate for marginalized communities and has worked diligently to ensure that students of all backgrounds have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
“First of all, this is my first award, so I'm really excited about it. So winning first place for something is a great way for this organization to look back and see who has contributed to the organization, who has contributed to the organization, and who has contributed to the organization. It means evaluating whether you have played a role in ensuring that the organization's values and mission are upheld,'' says Miles. “To look at a person and say there's someone here who represents those values and it's you, it means something really special, and I received this heart.”
For more than 30 years, Miles has been a major force in the nation's health care, community and nonprofit sectors. As a former Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for Eli Lilly and Company, Miles has repeatedly been called upon to serve his community, state and country. Locally, Miles' advocacy efforts lead efforts aimed at advancing economic opportunity for Black families and communities, championing critical investments in education, and addressing systemic barriers to success. It has helped me to. Miles also played a key role in establishing the Seattle Public Schools African American Male Achievement Authority (AAMA). This is a testament to his unwavering commitment to empowering Black students and dismantling inequitable structures within the education system.
“When I look back on my career, I think I've been unapologetically fighting, especially when it comes to fighting for justice and fighting for equity in the education system,” Miles said. “Especially African-American kids in the system, because there’s a lot of change that has to happen there.”
Reflecting on his “why,” Miles reminds us of the struggles and sacrifices our ancestors endured to liberate themselves so that we collectively have the opportunity to improve our situation. .
“No it [education] You never know what the African American community will be like today,” Miles says. “Look at Fredrick Douglass and Booker T. Washington. They learned how to read, people coming out of slavery. That's what freed them from slavery, understanding how to read and write. Learning to do so freed them from bondage, both physically and mentally.
Miles said winning the award does not necessarily mean working with today's allies, but is the culmination of a 40-year fight to ensure the voices of African American students and their parents are heard. It is said that there is.
“They said over and over again, 'There are African-Americans, and it's clear that their parents and families don't believe in education the way other minorities believe. I've heard this many times,'' Miles continued. “I have news for them: We parents care about our children getting an education, just like any other parent or family. My parents told me from day one that education is the key to success in this country. My work is important because I want to change the narrative for many African Americans. The narrative that they don't believe in education like many other minority and white families, that education is obviously important, and that they don't think about it in the same way as other people is simply not true.”
Despite his career accomplishments, Miles was born and raised in Washington. He is a graduate of the University of Washington, where he met and later married his college sweetheart. He is the father of his three young adult children. Miles' influence as a family man, leader, philanthropist, and mentor within his community cannot be overstated. For decades, Miles has dedicated himself to serving others, leaving an indelible mark on countless lives and inspiring future generations to follow in his footsteps. Ta.
“Now that I'm retired, I'm grateful for this honor. I thought to myself, this is my life's work for 40 years. This didn't happen overnight,” Miles said. Masu. “It really blows my mind when people remember what you've done. I was talking to a friend of mine and I said, 'Nate, you have a legacy…' But when you're working… At the time, we weren't thinking about legacy; we were doing it because it was our job. ”
“As the saying goes, to whom much is given, much is expected…”