News

August 19, 2020

Virtual Back to Out-of-School-Time Conference

Join Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School-Time (APOST) from August 24–September 10, 2020 for their Virtual Back to Out-of-School-Time Conference!

About

Over a period of three weeks, the Virtual Back to Out-of-School-Time Conference will offer relevant workshops to assist professionals in continuing to provide high-quality programming for youth during this challenging time. This Conference is open to any youth practitioner who desires to increase their skills in working with youth in out-of-school-time programs or mentoring relationships.

If there is a workshop that you would like to attend but are not able to due to schedule conflicts, recordings and resources for all workshop offerings will be available for at least one month after all of the workshops have concluded.

Available Workshops

Registration

To view all workshop descriptions and register, visit the full Conference Agenda. Registration links will be included at the bottom of each event description.

More Information

For questions, contact Jaron Paul via email at jaron.paul@unitedwayswpa.org.

News

July 22, 2020

Dismantling Anti-Blackness in Multiracial Families

Join EmbraceRace on July 28 for “Raising Multiracial Children, Part 2: Dismantling Anti-Blackness in Multiracial Families” as they explore how to actively reject white supremacy and anti-Blackness in multiracial families.

About

During the second webinar of this two-part series on anti-racist parenting and multiracial children, presenters will discuss anti-Blackness and how anti-Black messaging shows up in multiracial families (including non-Black families). Referencing recent examples from social media, presenters breakdown three common myths that perpetuate anti-Blackness within multiracial families and describe how these myths negatively impact the identity development of multiracial Black children specifically.

To conclude the series, presenters will offer tangible steps that parents and caregivers can take now to actively reject white supremacy and anti-Blackness and build resilience as a multiracial family. Questions and comments are welcome.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.

News

July 17, 2020

Antiracist Dialogues for Action: Antiracist Out-of-School Time Programs

Are you interested in learning, sharing knowledge, and working together with fellow changemakers to dismantle racism and injustice? Join ELIE Circle on August 12 for “Antiracist Dialogues for Action: Antiracist Out-of-School Time Programs.”

About

On August 12, ELIE Circle will hold the second virtual meeting of the Antiracist Dialogues for Action – convenings for out-of-school time educators (e.g., afterschool staff, librarians, teaching artists, researchers) to learn, share knowledge, and work together to dismantle racism and injustice.

The dialogues consist of the following:

    • a 30-minute presentation providing context, research, and historical perspectives on main dialogue topics;
    • a 45-minute small group dialogue on a related subtopic for participants to a) share collective knowledge and b) work with other educators to determine goals and next steps; and
    • a 15-minute closing and larger group share out.

All dialogues are designed for educators which includes those that are working directly with young people in any capacity and those at out-of-school-time organizations without direct contact. These dialogues are categorized in two categories: Educators and Youth Work.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.

News

July 6, 2020

Embracing Anti-Bias Classrooms

Are you interested in learning how institutional racism becomes present in early childhood environments? Sign up to receive a recording of the live webinar “Embracing Anti-Bias Classrooms: A Response to Racism in America” on July 8.

About

In this webinar, the lead authors of the newly released book, Don’t Look Away, Embracing Anti-Bias Classrooms, will participate in a roundtable discussion on how to explore and address issues of bias, equity, low expectations, and family engagement to ensure culturally responsive experiences. Equipped with the tools and strategies to promote classroom change, educators will be empowered to do the following:

    • learn how institutional racism becomes present in early childhood environments;
    • discover how implicit bias, microaggression, and white privilege can play a role in undermining the learning experiences of marginalized Black and brown children and those who teach them;
    • embrace anti-bias and anti-racist teaching approaches; and
    • implement best practices for creating culturally-rich and supportive classroom environments that protect children from social-emotional and psychological trauma by affirming personal healing.

This webinar will be of interest to pre-k through elementary teachers; school and district leaders; coaches; trainers; and child care providers, owners, and administrators.

Registration

Live access to this event is sold out. Sign up to receive the event recording by visiting edWeb.net.

News

July 2, 2020

Transform for Tomorrow – Virtual Series for School Leaders

Are you interested in connecting with school leaders to discuss strategies for integrating justice and anti-racist systems into your school? Attend “Transform for Tomorrow,” a three-part virtual series for school leaders that explores how educational organizations can make plans for what comes next.

About

As a Superintendent or school leader, you are already preparing for what will be a very different 2020-21 school year. You are adjusting to new ways of preparing your teachers, educating your students, and supporting your parents. Have you also integrated matters of justice? Are you constructing anti-racist systems?

This three-part virtual series presents opportunities to share and learn from one another about how our schools might, together, make plans for what comes next, no matter what tomorrow brings.

Webinar Dates

    • Justice: Learning and Leading
      July 14, 2020 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | Register
    • Justice: Teaching in STEM
      July 16, 2020 | 1 – 2 p.m. | Register
    • Justice: Learning and Strategizing
      July 21, 2020 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | Register

Registration

To register, visit the event webpage.

News

July 1, 2020

PACCA Zoom Series: Racial Equity in Early Learning

Are you interested in learning how to embed racial equity into your early learning program? Join the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) on Fridays from July 10 – 24 for their Zoom Series, “Racial Equity in Early Learning.”

About

This three-part professional development series is designed to help early learning and school-age programs embed racial equity from recruiting, hiring, and on-going training offerings for staff to interactions with children of color. After defining key racial justice terminology such as implicit bias, cultural competency, race, racism, antiracist ally, etc., participants are encouraged to identify concrete ways to embrace racial equity personally and professionally.

These Zoom meetings will be informative and interactive, and will provide participants with real resources and supports for classroom situations. Individuals who participate in all three meetings will receive 4.5 hours of PQAS credits and/or 4.5 Act 48 hours.

Cost

    • PACCA Members: $20 for all three meetings
    • Non-Members: $45 for all three meetings

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.

Zoom links will be sent in a confirmation email when your registration is received. If you do not receive confirmation, please check your Junk inbox or contact maureen.murphy@pacca.org.

News

June 17, 2020

Parenting in Support of Black Lives | Webinar

Are you interested in hearing practical, how-to advice for talking about race and inspiring kids to fight for racial equity? Join Common Sense and the Inforum of the Commonwealth Club on June 18 for their webinar, “Parenting in Support of Black Lives: How to Build a Just Future for Kids (and How Media Can Help).”

About

Through 400 years of systemic oppression and racism, our nation has failed to protect and value Black children and families. How do we support a future where all children are valued? And when we’re parenting amid crisis and trauma, how can we find support for ourselves and our kids? This conversation will center on these important questions and provide practical, how-to advice for talking about race and inspiring kids to fight for racial equity.

The event will feature Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, leading scholar on race in America, in conversation with child psychologist Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith, moderated by Julie Lythcott-Haims, New York Times bestselling author and activist.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit Common Sense Media’s website.

This event will be recorded and will be available on the Conversations with Common Sense YouTube page.

News

June 4, 2020

Anti-Racism Tools

As caregivers, community members, and early childhood educators, we have a responsibility to ensure each child, family, and caregiver is safe from racism and discrimination and has equitable opportunities to thrive.

In order to do this, we must begin with ourselves. Set aside time in your day to do a personal inventory. What thoughts, feelings, and behaviors have you contributed to upholding systems of racism? What assumptions are you making? What actions or inactions have you taken that contribute to systems of oppression?

Next, consider your family and your friends—what behaviors, statements, or jokes have gone unchecked? What actions or inactions have you taken within your interpersonal relationships that have contributed to an unsafe community for our black and brown children, neighbors, and colleagues? How might you begin to lead by example within your own family or community?

Anti-racism work is something that has to be attended to in an ongoing way. In order to support you in this work, we have compiled the following resources. Note that this list is not exhaustive.

Resources for Adults

Resources for Educators

Resources for Discussing Racism and Violence with Children

Children’s Books

Resources for Social/Emotional Development

News

Taking Personal and Professional Responsibility for Anti-Racism Work

As caregivers, community members, and early childhood educators, we have a responsibility to ensure each child, family and caregiver is safe from racism and discrimination and has equitable opportunities to thrive.

In order to do this, we must begin with ourselves. Set aside time in your day to do a personal inventory. What thoughts, feelings, and behaviors have you contributed to upholding systems of racism? What assumptions are you making? What actions or inactions have you taken that contribute to systems of oppression?

Next, consider your family and your friends—what behaviors, statements, or jokes have gone unchecked? What actions or inactions have you taken within your interpersonal relationships that have contributed to an unsafe community for our black and brown children, neighbors and colleagues? How might you begin to lead by example within your own family or community?

Anti-racism work is something that has to be attended to an ongoing way. In order to support you in this work, we have compiled a new webpage of resources to combat racism.

Learn More with Upcoming Discussions

News

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.