Catch up on February's early childhood news!
Early childhood policy update, Black History Month, new podcast episodes, and more- we've had a big month at Children's Institute.
Children's Institute's dedication to creating equitable futures for children in Oregon draws inspiration every day from the enduring legacy of the Civil Rights movement and Black history. In February, we celebrate the advocates, the educators, the families, and every member of the Black community who have tirelessly fought for justice, this Black History Month and every month.
February also marked the beginning of the Oregon Legislature's 5-week short session—meaning this year's session is already nearly over. In 2024 providers, families, and advocates from across Oregon are urging the Legislature to make critical investments in Early Intervention/Early Special Education, child care through Employment Related Daycare and CHIPS Act, and voluntary home visiting programs including Nurse-Family Partnership, which improve infant and maternal health outcomes.
Thanks to the collective work of early childhood advocates across Oregon, all the Early Childhood Coalition bills have passed their first committee These bills and many others require funding to be implemented, and that’s what the legislature is currently focused on. Once a proposed budget has been made public, we'll have a better idea of the outcome and look forward to updating you!
In the meantime, you can still contact your representatives and urge them to invest in Oregon children NOW.
In community,
Elena Barreto (Senior Early Childhood Policy Advisor at Children’s Institute)
DON’T MISS!
2 New Episodes of The Early Link Podcast
Inclusive Early Education for All Children with Liane Chappell
In this episode of The Early Link Podcast, host Rafael Otto sits down with Liane Chappell, at the Hillsboro Early Childhood Center in Hillsboro, Oregon, to talk about Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education. Chappell is the principal at the Early Childhood Center, located at the Northwest Regional Education Service District (NWRESD).
Youth Organized and United to Help: A Conversation with Y.O.U.TH Founder, Imani Muhammad
Host Rafael Otto talks with Imani Muhammad, a longtime youth advocate and community organizer in Portland, Oregon. She is the executive director of Y.O.U.TH, which stands for Youth Organized and United to Help, a nonprofit organization that she founded in 2010 after the death of Davonte Lightfoot in North Portland in 2007.
The Early Link Podcast highlights national, regional, and local voices working in early childhood education and the nonprofit sector. Subscribe to The Early Link Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, and Tune In.
Welcome New CI Staff!
Shawnté Hines
After over a decade teaching high school students in both California and Oregon, Shawnté wanted to find ways to help shift the system to be more inclusive and welcoming for her students. This led to her work with 9th grade on track initiatives in Oregon, leveraging continuous improvement to co-create culturally relevant opportunities for students to thrive. At the heart of her desire to do this work is a dedication to redress practices that have harmed our most vulnerable students, creating more inclusive classrooms where all children feel like they belong.
Whitney Wong
After starting her career in the for-profit human resources world, Whitney soon found her passion in mission-driven work that makes impactful and meaningful change in our communities. That path led her to many different roles and allowed her to explore leadership development, DEI, and team building. Coming to CI, Whitney is inspired by the opportunity to create an authentic and supportive workplace for employees, reflecting shared values and matching the external work we want to see, to shift systems towards spaces of belonging.