We Stand Together: A Message from Ann and Rhian

Dear CECMP family,

I have spoken to quite a few of you over the last few days regarding this act of violence and the subsequent protests that are occurring across the country.  Over the years that I have been in this field ( 49 ) I have fought tirelessly for Equity and Justice. We would be remiss not to say something about the disparities that continue to exist in our world, when our field represents the diversity of this nation and humanity . I have seen so many of the ways you support our children, our families and communities of color each and every day. Most of you are a part of the NAEYC- it is our professional organization as early educators. Rather than try to craft a letter to all of you from my own aching heart right now, I am posting the one from NAEYC below as I feel it is poignant and calls us all to be part of the change we want and so desperately need to see :

Mary Anne Doan
Director, CA Early Childhood Mentor Program

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This message was originally shared on Saturday, May 30. Due to technical difficulties it is being resent to ensure that it reaches intended recipients.
Our hearts are heavy this week with the images of George Floyd being suffocated in police custody. On the heels of the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Corey Jones, Oscar Grant, Botham Jean, Sandra Bland, and more, we need to look no further than our own communities to find current examples that build upon more than 400 years of injustice for black people in America. We see this in the striking, gaping disparities in how police and policymakers have responded to protests throughout the past month and the disproportionate sickness and death African-American, Latinx, and Native American communities are experiencing from this pandemic.While we all grieve, we want to speak directly to those of you in our NAEYC family who root your identities in communities of color. Today, like too many other days, the trauma black, brown, and multiracial families and children are experiencing is a national crisis that requires action. As an organization, NAEYC sees your pain, and stands with you in grief. We condemn the generations of injustice along with the structural bias that causes disparities in outcomes based on where you live. We also want to speak directly to those of you who identify as an ally, and support you in recognizing personal implicit and explicit biases, and talking about, confronting, and responding to racism in our homes, neighborhoods, communities, and schools.

NAEYC’s core values uphold the dignity and worth of each individual. As we identify in our Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education position statement, our goal is to nurture a more diverse and inclusive generation of young children who thrive through their experience of equitable learning opportunities in early learning programs. We aim for each child to “express comfort and joy with human diversity; to increasingly recognize injustice; and to have the will and the skills to act against prejudice.” We find ourselves pressing for the same for each adult in our nation today.

Our goals cannot be achieved without recognizing and dismantling the systems of bias that provide privilege to some and are unjust to others. That means committing—individually and collectively, again and again—to reflect and grapple with the racism in ourselves, our organizations, and our society. NAEYC continues to work towards advancing equity with humility and awareness of our history and limitations, and a recognition that no individual, leader or organization has all the answers. At the same time, we each have a role to play—as early childhood educators, administrators, faculty, students, advocates, and parents. We are each in a position where we can act and address the trauma our children are experiencing at the hands of racism apparent in the coronavirus’ disproportionate impacts, the police response to protests, the weaponizing of white privilege in our parks and streets, and the death of George Floyd.

On behalf of our entire organization, we commit to standing with you and relentlessly working together to create communities where each and every child, family, and educator can thrive.

In unity,

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New Books by one of our Director Mentors Tamara Williams-Dobson

Check our her website www.TamaraWilliams-Dobson.com

I AM IN THE MIDDLE

As readers will discover in Tamara Williams-Dobson’s fascinating and appealing story, parents and/or caregivers should be strategic about helping their children process their emotions and develop a positive self -view.  Tiana, a middle child, needed reassurance that she is special, unique, and precious in the sight of her parents.  Children should be made to feel unique, precious, and distinct, no matter their birth order.   Social emotional development includes the child’s experience, expression, and management of emotions.  Tiana’s mom helped Tiana to develop and process her emotions to acquire a more positive view of her self.  Tamara’s evocative language and   DG’s beautiful illustrations tells a story of understanding, reassurance, and empowerment. 

A Guide To Tier 5

Tamara Williams-Dobson, owner of a Tier 5 Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) site, explores what quality looks like through the eyes of the educator, the child, and the families in an early childhood education program.  By utilizing the QRIS Tier 5 System, this workbook is designed to assist the educator in improving classroom environments, building community and strong parental involvement, while measuring the social, emotional, and cognitive development of the children served while increasing your QRIS score.