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Winter News January 2021

NEW TO ORAEYC!

 Communities of Practice

It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences”- Audre Lorde

Black Brown Indigenous, and People of Color Community of Practice

 

I am excited to continue the Oregon Association of the Education of Young Children (ORAEYC) Executive Board's work to increase and sustain racial representation on the Board and chapters.  This is important to increase the voices and leadership at the state and in your local early childhood communities.

 

We must advocate for changes that directly impact the BIPOC children, families, and the workforce we serve. Implicit bias, oppression, and privilege continually drive how policies and practices create barriers to implementing an equitable early learning system. The BIPOC Community of Practice's task is to reflect on institutional racism; secondly, how ORAYC promotes and includes race, cultural and linguistic diversity for diverse opinions, ideas, and goals for Oregon's state and local efforts to create recommendations that focus on equity.

 

The BIPOC Community of Practice invites Black, Indigenous, and People of Color who are ORAEYC members and non-member to work together and create a vision and recommendations of ORAEYC to impact Oregon and the local early learning profession. Each member will receive a free copy of Don't Look Away Embracing Anti-Bias Classrooms, free membership to ORAEYC, and recreate the Diversity Equity Committee for ORAEYC. Please use the link (www.oraeyc.org) to participate in the community practice.

 

Working Together,

 

Hadiyah Miller

ORAEYC Board President

 

White Ally Community of Practice

Reading the news and being a resident of the greater Portland area, the topic of racism continues to dominate the headlines- AS IT SHOULD.  Rather than feeling hopeless that racism is still ever-present and overwhelming, I had to ask myself, “What can I, as a middle-aged white woman of privilege, do to combat this continuing and escalating injustice?”

I felt compelled to examine my own beliefs, actions and work on my own personal “human revolution”.  It is not up to the BIPOC communities to solve this problem or give us the answers (as the problem was created and perpetuated by white people). It is up to the white community to stop allowing this travesty to continue.

What does this mean for me? As a white person- I must do better! I am by no means an expert on this subject, and I know that there is not a single answer to this problem, but I am committed to take my first steps to move from spectator to ally.  As I commit myself to this journey of action instead of passivity, I must admit that I’m not even sure where to begin.  I have questions about what role is even appropriate for me to play.

ORAEYC is creating a virtual space for nonblack people to come together to share perspectives and learn how to support the black community as a way to build and expand alliances. Black people constantly talk about race and how their blackness can be a beacon of change -- in their families, communities, churches and other organizations. It’s time for white people and other groups who have certain privileges based on the color of their skin and family history to start these community talks to explore their racial identity and the impact it has on our nation. This community of practice will provide a space to challenge and inform ourselves and peers about racist systems built to hold black people back.

Please come with your questions, resources and experiences as we “unpack” this very central theme in 2021.

With gratitude and appreciation,

 

Sara Stearns                                                                                                                                ORAEYC Executive Director

 

Visit our website, (www.oraeyc.org)
for more information on these Community of Practice Groups.

 


Governing Council Board Positions Up for Nomination:

Do you want to be an active member of the ORAEYC Governing Council? The Governing Council consists of elected officers and representatives from around our state and local chapters. We typically meet quarterly in different parts of the state, but with COVID-19 our meetings are held virtually. The Nominating Committee led by Rachel Elliott is now accepting applications for our spring election. We will be seeking a President Elect, a Co-Treasurer & Co- Secretary. Each position asks for a two year commitment or for Presiednt-Elect a 4 year commitment (1 year President Elect, 2 years as President and 1 year as Past President). If you would like to run for one of the open positions or would like to nominate someone, please visit the Governing Council page of our website (www.oraeyc.org) for job descriptions and nomination applications! 

Nomination deadline is February 28th. 
(Yes, you can nominate yourself!)                               

Voting will take place on-line from March 21st - April 2nd. An electronic ballot will be sent to all members.  Election results will be announced at our virtual Annual Meeting on April 10th.

 

Open Positions:        President Elect, Co-Secretary  & Co-Treasurer

Current Officers:

President                      Hadiyah Miller, CCR&R of Multnomah County

Past President              Rachel Elliot, Oregon Child Development Coalition (term ending). 

Vice President              Sarah Myers, Oregon Center for Career Development                            

Secretary                          Stephen Karmol, Wild Lilac Community Center

Treasurer                          Eileen Micke-Johnson, Rogue Community College

 

Why join a Board?
Many individuals join a Board as a way to give back. Nonprofit boards can provide an excellent opportuntiy to positively affect change or support organizations working toward a cause they are passionate about. Boards offer a chance to provide your specific knowledge or expertise to the organization to really make a difference in the association's operation.  Whether you are helping to hone the focus of an organizatrion currently working toward an initiative that resonates with you or supporting one that is just beginning their efforts to achieve a goal that aligns with your passions, serving on a board can be a uniquely rewarding experience.
ORAEYC Public Policy Committee
 

Whether you have tons of advocacy experience, or none at all, NAEYC's Public Policy Forum is THE place for you to sharpen your advocacy skills and help us move a nonpartisan agenda in support of young children and the early childhood education profession! As a Public Policy Forum participant, NAEYC members have the opportunity to:

  • Be part of a powerful team working to advance federal and state early childhood  policy
  • Hear from and network with national and state policy leaders and fellow advocates
  • Get the resources and experiences they need to be an informed and effective advocate
  • Meet - even virtually! - with members of Congress and build relationships with their staff and teams

 February 28th & March 1st

Join ORAEYC’s Public Policy team and other Oregonians in this virtual event!

 

Contact ORAEYC if you are interested in attending as part of our group or would like more information about our Public Policy work.

Mark your Calendars!
 

Upcoming ORAEYC & Chapter Conferences & Trainings:

 

Southern Oregon Annual Conference – February 27 with Rae Pica
link - information pending

ORAEYC Spring Conference- Date to be announced

Central Oregon Annual Conference- April 14 - 24 with Dr. Pedro Noguera
link

Bringing Childhood Theory to Life – dates to be announced

ORAEYC Annual Meeting- April 10

Week of the Young Child: April 10-16 - 50th Anniversary!

Please note that these events are being held virtually

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