Passionate About Children: Shared Web Resources

The early childhood organization I selected was “The National Black Child Developmental Institute” (NBCDI) which I am currently a member of. The (NBCDI) works on behalf of children of color. NBCDI is the only national organization today that is dedicated exclusively to the success and well-being of Black children. NBCDI along with their Affiliates have been a powerful and effective voice on issues that relate to the education, care, and health of Black children and their families.

With a specific and relentless focus on the strengths and needs of our communities, and a lens of cultural competence, we serve as a national resource agency providing programs, publications, advocacy and trainings related to early childhood care and education; K-12 education; health and wellness; literacy; family engagement; and child welfare.

The publication that caught my attention was “Being Black Is Not a Risk Factor a Strength Based Look at the State of The Black Child”. Being Black Is Not a Risk Factor is designed to further this mission and challenge the prevailing discourse about Black children. While recognizing the challenges our children face, this report does not overemphasize their limitations and deficits; rather, contributors from the worlds of research, practice and policy celebrate the considerable strengths, assets and resilience demonstrated by our children, families and communities.

This caught my attention because even many years’ later African American children are still faced with many challenges and find it very difficult to succeed in today’s society. The challenge for African American families is to prepare children for current realities without limiting their ability to succeed in the larger community. That is what this book is about. While it inventories the challenges facing African American children and families and the failure of various systems to address their needs, it also tells the story of resiliency in the face of despair. It is about the risks and the successes of Black families who love and protect their children to the best of their ability. It is also about what African Americans and the larger society can do to ensure a better tomorrow. What is provided here is a handbook for families and community helpers such as teachers, librarians, coaches and policemen, giving them the information they need to recognize the strength of the community and to design services that build on those strengths. This publication also talks about the strengths of African American children and families and the ways in which they can be best supported so that they can succeed in life and reach their goals and dreams.

As I learn and study, I am finding out that there is a host of information and resources available not only on this topic but just about anything you want to learn about.