Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gowtham And Akhil Achanta And Kotha. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Gowtham and Akhil, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

The Sunlight Initiative was born from our first-hand experience with a lack of sufficient government funding for public education. Seeing the impacts this had on programs and teachers at our school, we created this organization to give fair opportunities to students in public schools. We thought carefully about how we could make a real difference. We looked at different parts of student involvement, how we use resources, and how to keep initiatives going. We quickly saw that to create real change, we needed an approach that took care of both current needs and long-term development.
Our mission is guided by the fact that equal educational opportunities should be given to every child, irrespective of geographical location. The Sunlight Initiative seeks to bridge the gap between public and private education, allowing all students to realize their full potential.

Gowtham and Akhil, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

We founded the Sunlight Initiative to enrich the experience of students in our public education system. We aim to do this through a targeted approach to our mission, and the creation of community-specific programs.
Since our founding, we have collected over 10,000 books for public schools and raised $7,000 in donations, which we have used to fund our initiative.
One of our proudest achievements is our expansion to 20 chapters throughout the Nation. Each of them works night and day to address the needs of their local public schools, whether it be by protesting book bans, organizing community fundraisers, or participating in book drives. Due to their dedication to our cause, we can expand the reach of our efforts.
We have faced several challenges throughout our time with the Sunlight Initiative. Initially, most of our time was dedicated to tackling logistical challenges – specifically the issue of how to tailor our advocacy according to the different needs of each community. We overcame this issue by offering adaptable and flexible initiatives through providing our chapters with the freedom to address issues that impact their community how they see fit.
We believe that quality education is a fundamental right, not a privilege. Our story is one of people recognizing a critical inequality in the education system and taking action to address it. We want the world to know that with dedication and collective effort, it’s possible to make a significant impact on educational equity.
As we move forward, our vision includes expanding our reach to even more communities and continuing to advocate for public education quality. We take immense pride in our journey so far, and we are driven by a shared commitment to illuminating the path to knowledge and opportunity for every student.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When we first started The Sunlight Initiative, we organized book drives and raised money for our school. These events became a blueprint for other districts to follow.

However, as we expanded, we realized that other districts faced unique challenges: book bans, lack of lab equipment, and underfunded music programs. Schools in rural Indiana had different needs than schools in downtown Houston. A universal solution was impossible. We were united in our mission, but each chapter required its own approach.

We shifted from a one-size-fits-all blueprint to a model that encouraged branches to address their own needs. To better understand each chapter’s unique situations, We facilitated monthly calls for members from each region to share their successes and strategies. From as far west as California to as far east as Jersey, we created a system for members to help each other. Our collaboration united people from different backgrounds and led to shared solutions.

Since then, The Sunlight Initiative has led numerous events such as in-person protests against book bans, email campaigns highlighting stifling book legislation in Texas, and fundraisers for elementary school STEM-kits.

Any advice for managing a team?

To effectively manage a team and keep morale high, We focus on adaptable leadership and genuine communication. Each team member brings unique perspectives and faces distinct challenges, so a one-size-fits-all approach rarely succeeds. Instead, We have found that encouraging team members to tailor their approaches, combined with consistent communication, cultivates ownership and keeps motivation strong.

When leading, we prioritize creating open channels for feedback and collaboration. Regular check-ins and sharing sessions allow everyone to bring forward their ideas and discuss what’s working, building a supportive environment. This empowers team members to contribute meaningfully and address challenges with creativity, ultimately uniting us with a shared sense of purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thesunlightinitiative.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesunlightinitiative/

Image Credits