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.
2025 Discussions
February 21, 2025 – What Can Dancing Teach Us About Gender Roles and Identities?
Matt Levin, Executive Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
January 17, 2025 – The Head Start Equity Academy
Holly Moriglioni, Children’s Services and Professional Development Manager, Champlain Valley Head Start
2024 Discussions
November 15, 2024 – Winter Holiday Perils and Possibilities
Matt Levin, Executive Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
November 1, 2024 – VDH and Health Equity
Song Nguyen, Health Equity Manager; Sarah Chesbrough, Health Equity Team Lead, VT Department of Health
September 27, 2024 – VTAEYC Exchange Diversity Fellowship
Beth Wallace, Associate Director For Early Childhood Educator Engagement, VATEYC
September 6, 2024 – Using Data to Shape DEI-informed Policy and Programming
Cynthia Greene, Farm to Early Childhood Partnership Coordinator, Shelburne Farms
June 28, 2024 – Exploring Trauma Informed Care
Eric Ruiz, Director of Mental Health & Substance Use Services for Vermont Care Partners
April 19, 2024 – Mental Health Literacy through a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lens
Sunny Naughton, Founder and Lead Consultant, Sunshine Silver Lining LLC, Mental Heath and Communications Consultancy
March 29, 2024 – Forming an External Advisory Committee
Sarah Kenney, Chief Policy Officer, Let’s Grow Kids
February 23, 2024 – Managing DEI in Vermont Nonprofits
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
January 26, 2024 – Paid Family and Medical Leave: An Equity IssueCharlie Gliserman, AARP
2023 Discussions
November 17, 2023 – Winter Holiday Perils and Possibilities
Matt Levin, Executive Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
October 6, 2023 – Decolonizing Fall Holidays
Jeff Benay, Director of Indian Education Programs for Franklin and Grand Isle Counties Public Schools
August 18, 2023 – DEI Accountability: Define Before you Measure
Chad Simmons, VT Housing Finance Agency
May 26, 2023 – Considering Equity and Inclusion in your Organizational Holiday/Leave Policy
Katherine Nelson, Vermont Community Loan Fund
- 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 – Welcoming and Supporting Families from Diverse Cultures in the Classroom
Jackie Reno, Janet S. Munt Family Room
February 15, 2023 – Windows and Mirrors – Personal Reflections
Matt Levin, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
January 27, 2023 – Talking About Activism in the Classroom
Vicky Senni, Turtle Island Children’s Center
2022 Discussions
November 18, 2022 – Winter Holiday Perils and Possibilities
Matt Levin, Executive Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
October 21, 2022 – Challenges Faced by Families with Young Children Experiencing Homelessness
Shannon McMahon, Voices Against Violence
Sep 16, 2022 – Decolonizing Holiday Myths – Columbus Day and Thanksgiving
Melody Walker Mackin, Atowi
- (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 – Creating Welcoming Environments for All Students
Shabnam Beth Nolan, Executive Director, King Street Center
- “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 – Teaching Juneteenth
Ali Dieng, Building Bright Futures, and Zoraya Hightower, Executive Director, Vermont Peace and Justice Center
April 15, 2022 – Principles of DEI in Children’s Mental Health Service Delivery
Cheryle Wilcox, Interagency Planning Director, Vermont Department of Mental Health
Feb 18, 2022 – Principles of Education Justice in an Early Childhood Setting
Kayla Arena-Giron and Alyssa Chen, Education Justice Coalition of Vermont, and Amanda Garcés, Vermont Human Rights Commission
Jan 21, 2022 – Teaching Black History Month All Year Round
Chris Dodge, Principal, Swanton Elementary School
2021 Discussions
Nov 19, 2021 – Winter Holiday Perils and Possibilities
Matt Levin, Executive Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
Oct 15, 2021 – National Youth Homelessness Awareness Month
David Martins, Director, Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition
Sep 17, 2021 – Deconstructing Columbus Day and Thanksgiving Myths
Judy Dow, Indigenous Scholar and Educator
- Deconstructing the Myths of the First Thanksgiving
- Deconstructing the Myths of Christopher Columbus in Children’s Literature
Aug, 13, 2021 – Diversity in Music Education
Dr. Hannah Assefa, Educator, Milton Elementary School
June 18, 2021 – Juneteenth
Xusana Davis, Executive Director of Racial Equity, State of Vermont
May 21, 2021 – Reflecting on Our Own DEI Efforts in Vermont
Dan Brown, Engagement Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
April 16, 2021 – Resource Share Session
Dan Brown, Engagement Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
March 19, 2021 – White Supremacy Culture
Dr. Kaitlin Northey, Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education, University of Vermont
Feb 19, 2021 – Discrimination Based on Speech
Amy Russo-Perler, Outreach Manager, Vermont Early Childhood Alliance, and Elena Gustafson, Director of Business Resources, Vermont Community Loan Fund
Jan 15, 2021 – Trauma Informed Care
Mary Zentara, Alliance Steering Committee Member
2020 Discussions
Dec 18, 2020 – How LGK Incorporates DEI Principles Into Their Work
Anna Gephardt, Field Director, Let’s Grow Kids
Nov 20, 2020 – How to Address Our Own Biases
Charlie Gliserman, Engagement Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
Oct 15-16, 2020 – How BBF Incorporates DEI Principles Into Their Work
Beth Truzansky, Deputy Director, Building Bright Futures, and Amanda Biggs, Chittenden County BBF Regional Coordinator
- 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 – Resource Share Session
Charlie Gliserman, Engagement Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
Aug 21, 2020 – How to Support Anti-Bias Work in Your Personal Life
Charlie Gliserman, Engagement Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
July 17, 2020 – Systemic Racism
Charlie Gliserman, Engagement Director, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance