Sharing web Resources

Through the past couple of weeks, I have gained a lot of insight into early childhood field as well as many websites that are related to early childhood issues and trends. 

The website that I find most appealing is the National Black Child Development Institute.

I am employed with Head Start. Professionally, one issue that i found particularly interesting and helpful to my profession is that they have valuable resources that seek to educate teachers on engaging African american students and families. In addition, I like that these resources also explores ways that educators can engage and communicate and understand African american  communities. I think this is important to me professionally. All of my students are African american. However, I was not raised in the same community as some of my students. Therefore, it is important to understand and communicate with people who do not come from the same background as you.

What information does the website or the e-newsletter contain that adds to your understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field?

This website focuses on the whole child. They are partners and have research based on economist and scientist. Many of their reports depend upon the latest research. The most valuable information for me was the state by state community and fact sheet in which you can click on your state and find valuable information for your state and the communities within.  

Many of the issues are controversial. However, The article on unequal education really stood out to me. The article basically stated that politicians spend less amount of money educating students of color.  I think all children deserve a great education. No matter their race.  This is an insight that I will be exploring further. 

Getting to Know your International Contacts

Through the Global alliance for Early Childhood, I contacted through email a representative for Haiti. However, after several attempts to make contact. I was unsuccessful. The information shared here, is information that I received from their website.

Many people already know that Haiti is a country that is plagued with extreme poverty and uncontrollable population growth. However, I learned that Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere and has been ranked number 146th among 177th countries. From the Haiti's Global Alliance website, it states, "Haiti is marked by dictatorship and violence, plagued by illiteracy, unemployment and shortage of resources, extreme poverty and uncontrolled population growth"(GAEC, 2013). Due to politics and ordeals with their government among other factors, make food insecurity and hunger a very big problem in Haiti. Haiti does not produce enough agriculture and livestock to feed their people. Many Haitians are poor due to low income, low educational levels and limited social capital. The poorest groups of rural people in Haiti are:
• women who are heads of households
• rural workers who depend exclusively on wage employment
• landless farmers (sharecroppers)
• fishers who do not have their own boats
• charcoal producers with no other activity

The idea of so many families and their children living in poverty makes me feel guilty. Here I am complaining about daily things when there are families and children with no food, water, shelter, or clothing to put on their bodies. I learned to be grateful and to count my blessings. In addition, I learned that their poverty is very similar to our poverty here in America. Poverty stricken people here may not be without clothing. However, many do suffer from having no food, water or shelter. Poverty here is a result of weakened government, low income and high unemployment rates. I am glad that there are Global Alliance programs in place to help those in need. They cant reach everyone but just making small changes really does help.
Man Bathing from public Tap in an Alley

Children in Line to eat at a Soup Kitchen

Sharing Web Resources

The organization that I chose was the National Black Child Development Institute. BBCDI's mission is to improve and advance the quality of life for Black Children and their families through advocacy and education.
Their link www.nbcdi.org
However, I enjoyed visiting their facebook page as well: https://www.facebook.com/nbcdi


I subscribed to the newsletter but have yet to receive it via mail or email. However, looking at the webpape, I see that there are many issues and trends in which they promote. One trend is the early care and education program. I am eager to learn more about this program. Under Head Start, we have an early care program which allows children as young as 6 wks to begin education under our services. Therefore, professionally I feel as though this is a great trend to learn more about.

 

I chose this website due to the fact that I work for Head Start. Where I live, the majority of Head Start students are African American. However, I felt as though through this organization I could learn a lot of insight about ways to reach out to the afircan american students as well as to communicate effectively with children and their parents.

Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

For part 1- Through the Global alliance for young children page, I got the contact email for the Step by Step Program which is in Haiti. I then emailed the director of the program to see if there was a newsletter or way that i could gather more information about their program.
I have not heard back as of yet. However, if I do not hear back by the end of this week, I will choose an alternative organization. I decided to choose Haiti because I am interested in their people, history and how they help young children.

For Part 2- I chose the National Black Child Development Institutue. Through their website. I was able to submit a form on their webpage to subscribe to their newsletter by email. No particular reason for choosing this organization, besides the fact that I thought it would be interesting to know more about the organization.