
Black Male Educators Alliance (BMEA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to liberating students, teachers, and school leaders in an effort to transform the landscape of education across our country. Founded in 2017 with an original targeted focus on increasing the percentage of black males in the classroom in the State of Michigan, BMEA evolved with a mission to develop effective culturally responsive educators who cultivate learning partnerships and grow independent thinkers and learners. We exist to transform the school experience for Black and Brown children by creating culturally sustaining policies, structured programming, and teacher pedagogy that develops students into change agents for their community.
Early in 2022, Founder and CEO, Dr. Curtis Lewis left the K-12 space to leverage his 20+ years of experience with educating children, coaching and developing leaders, and researching and implementing best practices, to provoke change on a broader scale and transform the educational experiences for Black and brown children nationwide. Since then, BMEA has expanded its reach to schools in the Midwest Region as well as those on the East Coast, and recently to include an international Black male school leader in China.
mission
Our mission is to develop effective culturally responsive educators who cultivate learning partnerships and grow independent thinkers and learners.
Vision statement
We exist to transform the school experience for Black and Brown children by creating culturally sustaining policies, structured programming, and teacher pedagogy that develops students into change agents for their community.
Core Values
Integrity
Love and Care
Commitment
Execution
Teacher Wellness Fellowship
BMEA School Partnerships
Principal Wellness Fellowship
Black Minds Math Leadership
Our work is made possible in part through the generosity and support from the following funders and partnering educational entities:












LEADERSHIP TEAM


Michael Payne, Jr.
Co-Founder/ Director of Teaching & Learning

Staci Williams
Chief of Staff

Brandon Lane
Executive Director of Research and Program Development

Joe Bush
Director of K-12 Mentoring

Chris Waston
Director of Marketing and Information Technology
BOARD OF DIRECTORS







