Sharing Web Resources

The national Black Child Development Institute provides newsletters and other resources that are key to providing information that would let the reader become knowledgeable in the difficulties and inequities that face the African American child.  However, the website does not concentrate on the injustices.  There is a section called point of proof.  This section allows the researcher to find institutes or resources that support the main position of the website.  I did a search of my home state of North Carolina and found a link to what they called Firstschool.

FirstSchool prepares school leaders and teachers to improve the early school experiences of African American, Latino and low income students by promoting an equity framework of effective instructional practices across the PreK-3rd continuum; using data in innovative ways to guide professional development; and increasing educator knowledge and application of developmental science.  Reading about Firstschool in the point of proof section, they introduce the idea of Cultures of Caring, competence, and excellence.   In a Culture of Caring, teachers nurture positive relationships, strengthen self-efficacy and racial identity and develop the whole child. In a Culture of Competence, teachers prioritize communication, promote peer interaction, develop self-regulation and promote independence. In a Culture of Excellence, teachers balance teaching approaches, integrate and balance curriculum and build higher order thinking (NBCDI, 2018).

Trying a new search in the Point of proof section I found a second organization out o Minneapolis from which I attend school. The Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ) Promise Neighborhood operates as one integrated program that works across many partner organizations and schools, with NAZ scholars at the center. Families and children move through a “cradle to career” pipeline, allowing NAZ staff and their partners to provide comprehensive support services through three pillars of impact: Family Engagement and Opportunity Alignment, Education Pipeline, and Whole Family Wrap Around Support. The purpose of Northside Achievement Zone is to end multigenerational poverty in North Minneapolis.  The NAZ Promise Neighborhood is a collaboration of organizations and schools partnering with families in a geographic “Zone” of North Minneapolis to prepare children to graduate from high school ready for college. Our resources are dedicated toward measurable outcomes for children and families. Success is gauged by results for children and families, not programs and organizations (NBCDI, 2018). The purpose of this organization is to ensure that a child achieves school readiness.

Searching the website further proved to be beneficial.  I have learned about new organizations that have chosen to support a narrative and have answered the call to action.  They have a focus of aiding children and families who fall victim to inequity.  The mere existence of these organizations in states across the United States speaks to the need of the demographic.  I was happy to see that although the intent of the original home website of the NBCDI, each organization expands their focus to low-income and minority children and their families.  They tackle issues such as health and school readiness.  However, they use the citizens in the community as partners in combating inequity.

After reading and researching I learned that it truly takes a conglomerate of individuals working together to overcome barriers of inequity, poverty, and other social issues.  I have tasked the brunt of the responsibility on Early Childhood teachers and administrators to lead the way, however, community leaders, policy makers are also valuable members of the movement.  The biggest lesson I have learned from this deeper search, is that it is not all about policy change. Sometimes meeting the needs and providing a service that some children may not otherwise have is the best way to combat inequity.


 References
NBCDI. (2018). Northside Achievement Zone. Retrieved from https://www.nbcdi.org/point-of-proof/northside-achievement-zone
NBCDI. (2018). Firstschool. Retrieved from https://www.nbcdi.org/point-of-proof/firstschool