PEACH Project Anti-Bias Anti-Racism Series

Video Description: Presenters speak about upcoming series on anti-bias, anti-racism, etc.

Using Anti-Bias & Anti-Racist Practices to Support Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging for BIPOC Families in ECE

PEACH‘s Anti-Racism & Equity Working Group and QSLA have partnered to launch this new series Using Anti-Bias & Anti-Racist Practices to Support Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging for BIPOC* Families in ECE.” The series, running from August 2022 – May 2023, will focus on creating conversation spaces with your early learning programs to better center anti-bias and anti-racist practices in your work with children and families, particularly in support of marginalized families of color.

As our society grapples with racism, diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and the violence this often generates, we find ourselves at a pivotal point. Partner with us to co-develop the knowledge and expertise needed to support children and families of color in our programs with equity and justice at the forefront.

How are we approaching this? 

  • Publishing 4 key articles focused on these topics that provide research-informed tips and best practices that you can use to support the implementation of anti-biased and anti-racist practices in your early learning program.
  • Offering 4 webinars that address these topics through engaging content, discussions, and interactive activities that support your professional and personal growth.
  • Hosting 2 Communities of Practice where you will have a chance to discuss successes, challenges, best practices, and share reflections with other early educators tackling these same important topics.

All sessions are individual and there is no requirement to attend them in any order. We look forward to sharing enriching conversations with you in these engaging webinars and Communities of Practice!

*BIPOC is an acronym which stands for Black, Indigenous, People of Color.

We invite you to share your voice! What experiences and practices do you have around anti-bias and anti-racist efforts with families? What questions, ideas, and/or concerns do you want to hear and discuss during this series? Click here to share your thoughts in this quick 5-question survey!

Click on the buttons below to explore the Webinars, Communities of Practice, and Articles this series offers! Remember to check back throughout the year for new content!

Click on this flyer below for a quick overview of the series! Share this flyer with your fellow early educators and program staff!

Meet the Presenters

Click on the videos below to e-meet the Early Childhood Education professionals that you will be seeing, conversing with, and connecting to throughout this year-long project!
  • Alma Cortez

    Associate Professor
    Child Development Department, Pierce College
  • Cindy Stephens

    Professor of Early Childhood Education,
    College of the Canyons
  • Cristina Espinoza

    Family Education Coordinator,
    Quality Start Los Angeles
  • Deborah Owens

    Department Chair
    Child Development & Education Dept., Glendale Community College
  • Dr. Michelle DeJohnette

    Ph.D./Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Studies at Cal Poly Pomona
  • Toni Isaacs

    Program Director of PEACH
    Faculty at Moorpark College, Child Development & Education Department
  • La Tanga Hardy

    Director
    Child Development Center, LA Trade Technical College
  • Nancy Hurlbut

    Associate Dean,
    Cal Poly Pomona
  • Elmida Baghdaserians, Ed.D.

    Professor, Child Development,
    Los Angeles Valley College

Sign Up for a Webinar!

How Bias Impacts Our Relationships with Children and Families

Cindy Stephens, Elmida Baghdaserians, Michelle DeJohnette
Tuesday, September 13, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

We’re kicking off our new Anti-Bias & Anti-Racism series with our first webinar “How Bias Impacts Our Relationships with Children and Families”! What is bias? What does it mean for me and my role in ECE? Join QSLA and our PEACH partners for this first webinar on bias, anti-bias and how these concepts affect us and our work in ECE. We will discuss what anti-bias approaches and strategies can help us create early learning spaces that are more equitable and inclusive for staff and families of color.

Did you miss our webinar?  Watch the recording below!

Understanding How Color Blindness is Really Color-Evasiveness

Alma Cortes, La Tanga Hardy
Wednesday, November 2, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Do you struggle with conversations around skin tone and color blindness in your early learning program? In this constructive webinar on color blindness and color evasiveness, we will learn, examine, and discuss how these matters affect us, our programs, and the families we work with – and what we can do about it!

Did you miss our webinar?  Watch the recording below!

Applying Anti-Racist Strategies in Early Learning Environments and Family Engagement

Cindy Stephens, Cristina Espinoza, Deborah Owens
February 7, 2023, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

In this third webinar, we will discuss more about both racism & anti-racism, from the implicit and subconscious aspects to how we can actively be anti-racist educators.

What can you expect to learn and do in this 2-hour webinar?

  • Define and discuss the impact of racism, particularly at varying levels (internalized, interpersonal, institutional, structural) and as it relates to your work as an early educator and how you interact with children and families.
  • Explain what an anti-racism approach is and its applications for early learning settings.
  • Discuss what internal your work early learning programs can do to create better relationships and a better environment for BIPOC* families and staff.
  • Identify anti-racism strategies that your early learning program can use to support BIPOC* families and staff*BIPOC – Black, Indigenous, and People of Color

Anti-Racist Strategies to Prevent Suspensions and Expulsions in ECE

Michelle DeJohnette, Cristina Espinoza, La Tanga Hardy, Toni Isaacs
April 18, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Are you looking for anti-racist strategies to bolster your program’s discipline practices?Do you want more ideas for you and families in your program to better support positive behavior and wellbeing in young children of color? Join QSLA and PEACH for “Anti-Racist Strategies to Prevent Suspensions and Expulsions in ECE”!

Our 5th installment in this anti-bias and anti-racism series with PEACH, this workshop pulls together: data on the harmful effects of racism & bias, exclusionary discipline for children of color in ECE, the roots of these inequitable practices, and how we can improve the system for our children.

What can you expect as a participant?

  • Explore & discuss data on pre-school suspensions and expulsions and their effect on children of color.
  • Identify the factors that lead to inequities in the application of school discipline on children in pre-K and kindergarten.
  • Identify what strategies early learning programs can take to assess and adjust their discipline practices with anti-racist and equity and inclusion principles in mind.

Communities of Practice

Community of Practice #1

Cindy Stephens, Nancy Hurlbut, and Toni Isaacs
Tuesday, December 6, 6:00pm – 7:00pm

In this first Community of Practice, we will share what we have learned from these past Anti-Bias and Color Blindness webinars, from our own reflections, and from bringing these ideas to our early learning programs. If you need support, clarity, and inspiration around these topics, come connect with your fellow early educators and QSLA in these enriching conversations!

Read One of Our Articles!

Article #1 - How Bias Impacts Our Relationships with Children and Families
Article #2 - Understanding How Color Blindness is Really Color-Evasiveness

Coming soon!

Article #3 - Anti-Racism
Article #4 - Suspensions & Expulsions in ECE

Resources