Poverty, race, culture, or zip code should not predetermine a child’s school and life success. This digital dialogue will explore the historical roots and current practices and policies that may lead to racial disparities (e.g., conflation of effects of poverty and neglect/abuse) within early childhood and child welfare. Participants will explore how policies and practices to dismantle racism in early childhood education can serve as a pathway for addressing racial disproportionality in child welfare and ensure child wellbeing. Attendees will be pushed to self-reflect and be provided with tools and resources to incorporate a racial equity lens in their work with children, families, and communities to dismantle racism and other systemic barriers and ensure equitable opportunities.
Speaker: Iheoma U. Iruka, Ph.D., Fellow, Founding Director – Equity Research Action Coalition at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute