Alliance Equity Discussions
The Alliance is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its areas of work, including its legislative advocacy and engagement.
We believe that eliminating inequities, dismantling systems of oppression, and supporting initiatives that are led by and in support of historically-underrepresented and excluded communities are key to improving the lives of children and families in Vermont, and therefore, central to our work.
Many early childhood community members have renewed their personal and professional commitment to antiracism and diversity, equity, and inclusion – and want to engage in sustained learning. To support this, the Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance and its partners convene a monthly, salon-style Equity Discussion Group via Zoom.
These discussion groups are planned for the third Friday of each month at 1:00 pm. Below you will find resources from past discussions. Email Alliance Outreach Manager, Taylor Hughey, at taylor@vecaa.org with any questions and to register for upcoming discussions.
2024 Discussions
June 28, 2024 – Eric Ruiz, Director of Mental Health & Substance Use Services for Vermont Care Partners
Exploring Trauma Informed Care
April 19, 2024 – Sunny Naughton, Founder and Lead Consultant, Sunshine Silver Lining LLC, Mental Heath and Communications Consultancy
Mental Health Literacy through a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lens
March 29, 2024 – Sarah Kenney, Chief Policy Officer, Let’s Grow Kids
Forming an External Advisory Committee
February 23, 2024 – Denise Bailey, Director of Equity, Engagement and Advocacy at Capstone Community Action, and Maria Richards, Director of Data and Operations at Let’s Grow Kids
Managing DEI in Vermont Nonprofits
January 26, 2024 – Charlie Gliserman, AARP
Paid Family and Medical Leave: An Equity Issue
2023 Discussions
November 17, 2023 – Matt Levin, Executive Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
Winter Holiday Perils and Possibilities
October 6, 2023 – Jeff Benay, Director of Indian Education Programs for Franklin and Grand Isle Counties Public Schools
Decolonizing Fall Holidays
August 18, 2023 – Chad Simmons, VT Housing Finance Agency
DEI Accountability: Define Before you Measure
May 26, 2023 – Katherine Nelson, Vermont Community Loan Fund
Considering Equity and Inclusion in your Organizational Holiday/Leave Policy
- Company Holidays: 3 Models and How they Affect DEI
- Is Your Holiday Policy Inclusive?
- Are Non-Christian Employees Represented in Your Holiday Policies?
- Religious Observances Calendar 2023
April 28, 2023 – Jackie Reno, Janet S. Munt Family Room
Welcoming and Supporting Families from Diverse Cultures in the Classroom
February 15, 2023 – Matt Levin, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
Windows and Mirrors – Personal Reflections
January 27, 2023 – Vicky Senni, Turtle Island Children’s Center
Talking About Activism in the Classroom
2022 Discussions
November 18, 2022 – Matt Levin, Executive Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
Winter Holiday Perils and Possibilities
October 21, 2022 – Shannon McMahon, Voices Against Violence
Challenges Faced by Families with Young Children Experiencing Homelessness
Sep 16, 2022 – Melody Walker Mackin, Atowi
Decolonizing Holiday Myths – Columbus Day and Thanksgiving
- (570) Facing Race: On 400th anniversary of Thanksgiving, the Wampanoag People want their story told – YouTube
- Melody Walker Brook and Mike Plante: Abenaki Tribal Statement Regarding Indigenous Peoples’ Day | Columns | caledonianrecord.com
Aug 26, 2022 – Shabnam Beth Nolan, Executive Director, King Street Center
Creating Welcoming Environments for All Students
- “The danger of a single story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie TED Talk
- These foundational definitions by Race Forward on diversity and inclusion, equity vs equality, racial bias, racial equity and more
- Sounds Like Hate, “Not Okay” Season 1, Episode 3 & 4 https://soundslikehate.org/season-one/
May 27, 2022 – Ali Dieng, Building Bright Futures, and Zoraya Hightower, Executive Director, Vermont Peace and Justice Center
Teaching Juneteenth
April 15, 2022 – Cheryle Wilcox, Interagency Planning Director, Vermont Department of Mental Health
Principles of DEI in Children’s Mental Health Service Delivery
Feb 18, 2022 – Kayla Arena-Giron and Alyssa Chen, Education Justice Coalition of Vermont, and Amanda Garcés, Vermont Human Rights Commission
Principles of Education Justice in an Early Childhood Setting
Jan 21, 2022 – Chris Dodge, Principal, Swanton Elementary School
Teaching Black History Month All Year Round
2021 Discussions
Nov 19, 2021 – Matt Levin, Executive Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
Winter Holiday Perils and Possibilities
Oct 15, 2021 – David Martins, Director, Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition
National Youth Homelessness Awareness Month
Sep 17, 2021 – Judy Dow, Indigenous Scholar and Educator
Deconstructing Columbus Day and Thanksgiving Myths
- Deconstructing the Myths of the First Thanksgiving
- Deconstructing the Myths of Christopher Columbus in Children’s Literature
Aug, 13, 2021 – Dr. Hannah Assefa, Educator, Milton Elementary School
Diversity in Music Education
June 18, 2021 – Xusana Davis, Executive Director of Racial Equity, State of Vermont
Juneteenth
May 21, 2021 – Dan Brown, Engagement Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
Reflecting on Our Own DEI Efforts in Vermont
April 16, 2021 – Dan Brown, Engagement Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
Resource Share Session
March 19, 2021 – Dr. Kaitlin Northey, Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education, University of Vermont
White Supremacy Culture
Feb 19, 2021 – Amy Russo-Perler, Outreach Manager, Vermont Early Childhood Alliance, and Elena Gustafson, Director of Business Resources, Vermont Community Loan Fund
Discrimination Based on Speech
Jan 15, 2021 – Mary Zentara, Alliance Steering Committee Member
Trauma Informed Care
2020 Discussions
Dec 18, 2020 – Anna Gephardt, Field Director, Let’s Grow Kids
How LGK Incorporates DEI Principles Into Their Work
Nov 20, 2020 – Charlie Gliserman, Engagement Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
How to Address Our Own Biases
Oct 15-16, 2020 – Beth Truzansky, Deputy Director, Building Bright Futures, and Amanda Biggs, Chittenden County BBF Regional Coordinator
How BBF Incorporates DEI Principles Into Their Work
- Building Bright Futures Statement on Diversity, Equity, Social Justice, and Inclusion
- Building Bright Futures Equity Bookmark
- VT NEA Resource on Calling Out vs. Calling In
- #Indigenous Reads by Indigenous Writers: A Children’s Reading List
Sep 18, 2020 – Charlie Gliserman, Engagement Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
Resource Share Session
Aug 21, 2020 – Charlie Gliserman, Engagement Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
How to Support Anti-Bias Work in Your Personal Life
July 17, 2020 – Charlie Gliserman, Engagement Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
Systemic Racism