May 27, 2024 P.R.I.D.E. Speaker Series on Black Joy in Early Childhood Featuring Trying Together Exec Director Now Available Trying Together Executive Director Cara Ciminillo was a guest speaker in the Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education (P.R.I.D.E.) program’s recent spring Speaker Series event. Ciminillo discussed what Black joy meant to her, and how Trying Together is actively working to eliminate racism and address the inequities in systems. Learn More “Affirming Black Joy: Race, Identity, and Early Childhood” took place on April 10. Leading experts in the field of race and early childhood discussed needs and strategies to promote a culture of positive racial identity as well as joy and affirmation in classroom, home, and community settings. P.R.I.D.E. Program Director Dr. Aisha White moderated the event. Ciminillo was a guest panelist. “When I think about affirming Black joy, it begins with affirming who a child is, which can only be accomplished in relationship with others,” she said. “So, it’s recognizing a child’s emotions, their needs, their experiences, and talents. It’s seeing themselves in their surroundings and valuing a Black child’s family, culture, and traditions as assets – something to celebrate, to build off of.” Ciminillo said that Trying Together – which supports high-quality care and education for young children by providing advocacy, community resources, and professional growth opportunities for the needs and rights of children, their families, and those who interact with them – has worked to embody these ideals. “Several years ago, we recognized that our limitations in meeting these ideals were hampered and we weren’t putting those same ideals in practice in our own organization,” Ciminillo said. “We needed to embody a culture of belonging and then apply that in the field. We believe Black joy means establishing a positive image in the early childhood field – and elevating voices and decision making. We envision a future in which all caregivers feel valued. We’ve set into motion daily practices large and small to achieve it. Our organization must be representative of those in the field we serve. Our staff composition at all levels needs to reflect their diversity and types of experiences.” The P.R.I.D.E. Speaker Series event can be viewed in full on YouTube.
May 18, 2023 P.R.I.D.E. and Trying Together to Host Author Britt Hawthorne for Anti-Racist Seminar The University of Pittsburgh’s Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education (P.R.I.D.E) Program, in conjunction with Trying Together, will host Britt Hawthorne, author of “Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Guide,” for a community discussion on Wednesday, May 24. Held via Zoom from 5:30 – 6:45 p.m., all community members are welcome and invited to participate. Part of the P.R.I.D.E. Speaker Series, this event is free to the public, but requires registration. Interested individuals can register online or through the University of Pittsburgh’s video conferencing page. About Britt Hawthorne Hawthorne is the author of the New York Times best-selling book, “Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide.” Also an antiracist educator, teacher, speaker, and advocate, Hawthorne remains committed to raising a generation of antiracist children. They center families of the global majority and create equitable environments for students and children of all ages and backgrounds. Hawthorne’s work moves the idea of equity in education from a goal to a reality. They partner with action-oriented educators to create classroom environments that are inclusive and equitable for all learners. Their work has been recognized by PBS, the National Education Association (NEA), Drew Barrymore, Google Edu, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Rice University, the Association Montessori Internationale, and countless others. Hawthorne travels extensively to speak at conferences, authors publications, and appears on podcasts covering social justice, liberation, and equity in education. Learn More To learn more, view the event flyer or visit the P.R.I.D.E. website.
November 5, 2019 Anti-Racism in Early Education What does it mean to bring an anti-racist lens to the classroom? Join Dr. Kerry-Ann Escayg and P.R.I.D.E. on November 14 to find out. About On November 14, community members are invited to join P.R.I.D.E. at the Homewood Community Engagement Center for their event, “Anti-Racism in Early Education.” As a part of the P.R.I.D.E. Speaker Series, the event will feature anti-racism scholar Dr. Kerry-Ann Escayg. Dr. Escayg is an assistant professor of early childhood education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Her work focuses on bringing an anti-racist framework to early education. P.R.I.D.E. P.R.I.D.E. (Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education) is part of the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development within the School of Education. Their goal is to help young Black children, aged 3 to 8, understand race and embrace their ethnicity and heritage. Registration To RSVP, visit the event registration page. More Information For questions, contact P.R.I.D.E. at 412.383.8726 or adamflango@pitt.edu. *Information provided by P.R.I.D.E.
August 1, 2019 P.R.I.D.E. Pop Up Mini Art Festival Visit the P.R.I.D.E. Pop Up Mini Art Festivals and experience fun activities designed to help young Black children learn about and celebrate their race, culture, and heritage. Children ages 3 to 8 will enjoy activity stations designed by trained artists and educators. Families are invited to enjoy free food, performances, art, and music! Festival Date Hill District September 14, 2019, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Hug Me Tight Childlife Center Questions For more information, contact Adam Flango at 412.383.8726 or AdamFlango@pitt.edu. Share this flyer with your network.
P.R.I.D.E. Pop Up Mini Art Festival Visit the P.R.I.D.E. Pop Up Mini Art Festivals and experience fun activities designed to help young Black children learn about and celebrate their race, culture, and heritage. Children ages 3 to 8 will enjoy activity stations designed by trained artists and educators. Families are invited to enjoy free food, performances, art, and music! Festival Dates Upcoming festivals will be held at the following locations: Homewood August 24, 2019, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Homewood YMCA Hill District September 14, 2019, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Hug Me Tight Childlife Center Questions For more information, contact Adam Flango at 412.383.8726 or AdamFlango@pitt.edu. Share this flyer with your network.
May 6, 2019 Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education Join the Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education (P.R.I.D.E.) program for a professional development training centered on exposing directors to strategies that promote positive racial identity in African American children. This session will offer 6 credit hours; PQAS approved. Training Objectives Upon completion, the learner will be able to: Describe racial awareness (i.e., the ages and stages at which children develop an awareness of physical characteristics related to existing social categories of race in America), Display awareness of the role of early educators in supporting children’s healthy understanding of race, and Illustrate techniques for working with staff and families to integrate conversations and activities that support children’s racial awareness and positive racial identity. Registration To register for this training, visit the Pennsylvania PD Registry website. Questions For registration questions, contact Emily Bengel at 412.255.1453 or ebengel@ywcapgh.org. For course questions, contact Aisha White at 412.383.7372 or aiw9@pitt.edu. Share this flyer with your network.
March 27, 2019 P.R.I.D.E. Seeks Early Educators & Artists for Upcoming Art Festivals Recently, the Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education program (P.R.I.D.E.) announced a call for submissions to Pittsburgh-based early childhood educators and Africana artists for the P.R.I.D.E. Pop Up Mini Art Festivals. About the Festivals Modeled after children’s activities offered during the popular Harambee || Black Arts Festivals, P.R.I.D.E. Pop Ups are small, half-day, outdoor art festivals hosted in three Pittsburgh communities: East Liberty, Homewood, and the Hill District. At the festivals, artists and educators engage young children (ages 3 to 8) and their families in hands-on activities. The goal is for adults to use art activities to teach children about their race and culture while building their positive racial identity. To see important dates and learn more, visit the P.R.I.D.E. website. Who Can Apply This call for submissions is open to early educators teaching grades Pre-K to 3rd grade and Africana artists working in the following disciplines: Literature, Performing Arts, Visual Arts & Crafts, and/or Multidisciplinary Arts. Applications are open to early childhood educators from all neighborhoods, schools, and child care settings, including public, private, charter, etc. Educators working in East Liberty, Homewood, and Hill District schools/settings are highly encouraged to apply. Participating educators and artists will receive the following compensation: Educator and Artist Cross-Training Compensation: $275 Educator and Artist Festival Participation Compensation: $260 per event ($780 total) End-of-Project Focus Group Participation Compensation: $25 Artist Material Stipend: $400 Application & Deadlines If you’re interested in applying or signing up as a volunteer, please visit the P.R.I.D.E. website. All applications must be submitted by Friday, April 5 at 11:59 p.m. About P.R.I.D.E. As a part of the University of Pittsburgh School of Education’s Office of Child Development, P.R.I.D.E. is a multifaceted program designed to help young African American children (ages 3 to 8) develop a positive racial identity, support teachers and parents by building their racial knowledge, and raise awareness of the impact of race on young children. The program provides a range of services, such as training opportunities for educators and artists, Parent Village sessions for Black children, and art festivals created to immerse young Black children in a space designed to celebrate them. See the P.R.I.D.E. Pop Up Mini Art Festivals flyer. *Information provided by the P.R.I.D.E. Program
August 14, 2018 P.R.I.D.E. Speaker Series – Reimagining Early Childhood: Being Intentional About Race and Young Children This event is currently sold out. Join Trying Together for an evening of engaging dialogue on Thursday, September 27 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at The Frick Art and Historical Center. The P.R.I.D.E. Program Speaker Series will welcome Dr. Erin N. Winkler, professor of African & African Diaspora Studies and Urban Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, to discuss how adults can be intentional in discussing race with young children. P.R.I.D.E. Speaker Series Event Schedule: 5:00 – 5:30 p.m. Networking and Registration 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Keynote by Dr. Erin Winkler, followed by Q&A Please contact UnConference Director Yu-Ling Cheng at conference@tryingtogether.org or call 412-421-3889. About Dr. Erin Winkler Erin N. Winkler is associate professor of African & African Diaspora Studies and Urban Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She earned her Ph.D. in African American Studies at the University of California-Berkeley and was a postdoctoral fellow in African American Studies at Northwestern University. She is author of the book, Learning Race, Learning Place: Shaping Racial Identities and Ideas in African American Childhoods. She has recently consulted for the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, working to train museum staff to have productive conversations about race and racism with visitors of all ages and backgrounds (2016), and serving as an instructor in the Museum’s week-long workshop for K-12 teachers, “Let’s Talk: Teaching Race in the Classroom” (2017). About P.R.I.D.E. The P.R.I.D.E. Program is part of the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development within the School of Education. At P.R.I.D.E. our focus is on helping young Black children, aged 3 to 8, develop a positive racial identity. Studies have shown that when children are socialized to embrace their race, ethnicity, and heritage, it can lead to numerous positive outcomes. This event is part of the P.R.I.D.E. Speaker Series, which invites parents, caregivers, educators, and the community at-large to learn about and engage in discussions about race, education, and young children. P.R.I.D.E is part of the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development within the School of Education. Thank you to our Sponsors and Partners A huge thank you to our: co-hosts, P.R.I.D.E., Trying Together and Frick Art and Historical Center, UnConference series sponsor PNC Grow Up Great and sponsors Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL)*, W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Hillman Family Foundation! *Funding for this conference was made possible (in part) by the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of OCDEL; nor does mention by trade names, commercial practice or organization imply endorsement by the Commonwealth.
UnConference: Being Intentional About Race and Young Children In partnership with The P.R.I.D.E. Program (part of the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development within the School of Education) and Frick Pittsburgh, join Trying Together for a day of professional development on Saturday, September 29, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at The Frick Art and Historical Center. Attendees will explore how we as early childhood educators, afterschool providers, and families, can create a positive environment to discuss race with young children. The day will also feature Dr. Erin N. Winkler, professor of African & African Diaspora Studies and Urban Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. This event is currently sold-out. You may add your name to the waitlist below. Tickets for The P.R.I.D.E. Speaker Series event on Thursday, September 27 with Dr. Winkler are now available. The UnConference series is made possible by:
P.R.I.D.E.-Themed UnConference Trying Together will launch the 2018 UnConference series at the end of September to explore how caregivers can be intentional about race and young children. In partnership with The P.R.I.D.E. Program (part of the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development within the School of Education) and Frick Pittsburgh, join Trying Together for a day of professional development on Saturday, September 29, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at The Frick Art and Historical Center. Attendees will explore how we as early childhood educators, afterschool providers, and families, can create a positive environment to discuss race with young children. The day will also feature Dr. Erin N. Winkler, professor of African & African Diaspora Studies and Urban Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. This event is currently sold-out. Those interested may add their name to the waitlist. In advance of the UnConference, The P.R.I.D.E. Program Speaker Series will welcome Dr. Erin N. Winkler on Thursday, September 27 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at The Frick Art and Historical Center to discuss how adults can be intentional in discussing race with young children. Child care services will be provided by Sweet Dreams Childcare during the event from 5 – 7 p.m. If interested, please indicate during registration. There are limited spots for child care and it is first come, first serve. There is no cost for this service (it is free).
