SHARING WEB RESOURCES
As I explored through the National
Black Child Development Institute, one of the outside links that I explored was
the Alliance for Early Success www.http://earlysuccess.org/.
As I reviewed this site I found that this organization “The Alliance for Early
Success (formerly the Birth to Five Policy Alliance) is a catalyst to get and
keep children on a path to success. We provide leadership, funding, and
curate technical assistance. The Alliance creates and enhances
partnerships by bringing state, national, and funding organizations together in
new and innovative ways in order to achieve results better and faster than
anyone can do alone. The goal is to improve state policies that lead to
better health, learning, and economic outcomes, especially for the most
vulnerable young children”. (Alliance for Early Success) I believe that the
organization is doing great things in the early childhood field, they speak of
themselves as being “The Catalyst” for
bringing state, national, and funding partners together to improve state
policies for children, starting at birth and continuing through age eight. As
this whole early child development debate continues, it all boils down to
FUNDING! However, all states and programs are not receiving, being considered,
or allocated funds to improve and bring equal, quality care and education to
all children, who leaves minority and immigrant children suffering.
The organization’s e-newsletter does
contain information on the issue that I am following this week, which is equity
and excellence in early care and education. NBCDI President and CEO, “Dr.
Felicia DeHaney was featured on a radio interview for Marketplace's Wealth and Poverty segment. She
spoke passionately about NBCDI's new publication "Being Black Is Not A Risk Factor." I think that
this is an awesome article to share with African American families, it defines
and focuses on the strengths and the resilience factors, of the African American
families, while it encouragement and engagement doesn’t let issues, deficits
and family makeup not define the family”. (National Black Child Development Institute)
An insight that I can elaborate on is one
that I can personally relate to, I am an African American woman who knows the
many facets, issues and dynamics of the African American family. I know that “being
black is not a risk factor”, because we all have the creative gifts to bring to
the world and letting my ethnic background limit myself or my children will be an
injustice. I am educated and I know the importance of being educated and I am
making a better life for my children and teaching them to believe in themselves
and DREAM BIG!
References
Tanya,
ReplyDeleteAs a white, female early childhood professional, I truly appreciate your feedback on the information you shared about the NBCDI website. I also selected this website as my web resource for this course. Being white, I can only imagine the inequities, past and present, faced by Black children and their families, which is why I selected the website to research. I found the report, "Being Black is Not a Risk Factor", full of very valuable information that I can use as a white early childhood educator teaching Black children. This website has made me aware of inequities specific to Black children, which will allow me to address such inequities in my role as an early childhood educator. Again, I enjoyed reading your perspective on this website, Tanya. :)
Pamela
Awwwwwwwww! Thanks Pamela, I am happy that I was able to share my personal experience and that you found it helpful to you! As you said using what you have learned to help you make more informed decisions and to make you a even better educator; as I am sure you already are!
ReplyDeleteHi Tanya
ReplyDeleteI am of the view that the Alliance's role in creating partnerships within funding agencies is a splendid idea as it allows for collaboration which I believe is necessary to help remedy the issue of accessibility to ECE as well as health services and economic outcomes.
I very much believe that "being black is not a risk factor" and tat children should not be disadvantaged because of their skin colour. As you suggested, black children do have creative gifts to bring to the world, and limiting them would most definitely be an injustice.
Thanks for sharing
Tonya,
ReplyDeleteI love the quote from Dr. DeHaney. Being Black is not a risk factor. A main component in teaching resilience is to focus on the strengths of people whether it is teens or adults. You teach a teen through affirming their strengths such as smoking. You don't say DON'T do that. Say, you are strong and healthy and can live a long life making the choice of being smoke free. The same with being black. I am a mother that adopted a black son. He is actually "mocha" as we call it. His part in my life has given me new eyes and I am so grateful for that. I love coming to your blog and learning from this website. I have visited it myself and you have thoughtfully presented this and I am a better educator for it AND parent.
Catherine