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Color-Brave Community

Name: Minds On Design Lab Inc.
Price range: $

What is the Color-Brave Community (CBC)?

We envision an online community of learning and practice where parents and educators to young children (0-8 years) learn from and with each other to create spaces that nourish Black and Indigenous children and children of color (BIPOC), children who fully embrace their own - and each others’ - humanity. Supporting adults to raise all children to embrace their own and each others' humanity is part of the larger work of EmbraceRace. But because the needs and aspirations of BIPOC children are so often de-centered, the EmbraceRace Color-Brave Community will center them.

Who is the CBC for?

Parents, family members, educators, or other adults caring for one or more young (0-8) BIPOC children.

What will the CBC offer?

Social Learning Group (SLG) on Facebook

Our Color-Brave Community Social Learning Group will be hosted on Facebook. It will be a private group made up of families and educators of BIPOC children to learn, self-examine and share experiences with one another. Through monthly themes, webinars (the webinars are open to the entire ER community), Facebook reflections, a resource repository and weekly discussions, the group comes together to build their capacity to support and sustain Color-Brave BIPOC children.

Communities of Learning & Practice (COLP)

An additional opportunity for Color-Brave community members to engage in learning is our Communities of Learning & Practice (COLP). COLPs will consist of small groups of no more than 20 members to allow for a more in-depth learning experience. Each COLP cycle will have a central theme and will last for three months. During the cycle, group members will be provided with additional content and will meet together to engage in small group discussions. Communities of Learning & Practice will be held three times a year and participation will be via an application process.

Resource Repository

One of the key features of the Color-Brave Community will be our Resource Repository. The Resource Repository will be a one stop place for locating answers to common questions that arise for families and caregivers of BIPOC children. It will consist of articles, webinars, action guides, and other tools that community members can use as a reference to as they navigate raising resilient and joyful BIPOC children who are Color-Brave.

Join us!

Are you a guardian, parent or teacher raising and mentoring one or more BIPOC children ages 0 to 8? Consider joining and building this learning community with us from the start!

Join the Color-Brave Community's Social Learning Group on FaceBook. Here's where you'll meet your peers, participate in moderated discussions and learn about monthly webinars and weekly Zoom discussions.
Any questions/concerns? Email us at colorbrave@embracerace.org.
Watch the introductory video explaining the what and why of Color-Brave and introducing Color-Brave Community Facilitators, Keeley Bibins and Darcy Heath.

The Color-Brave Resource Repository is coming soon! In the meantime, check out these related resources:

Supporting Healthy Racial Learning in Early Childhood - myriad resources from EmbraceRace

Resources organized by community questions

Why is it so important to talk about race with children?

Understanding Racial-Ethnic Identity Development - ER Webinar
How Kids Learn About Race - ER Webinar

How do I begin to talk with even young children about race?

It’s Never too Early to Learn: A Race-Conscious Approach to Early Childhood Education - ER Action Guide
Addressing Structural Racism with Children - ER Action Guide
Using Books to Engage Young Children in Talk about Race and Justice: Part 2 - ER Webinar
16 Ways to Help Children Become Thoughtful, Informed, and Brave about Race - ER Action Guide

How can I find support for my own personal race work?

Coming Soon

How do I talk with children of color about discrimination and racism in ways that leave them feeling affirmed and empowered?

Coming Soon

What can I do to support trust-filled collaboration on racial learning between parents and educators?

Coming Soon

Meet your Color-Brave Community Facilitators!

Keeley Bibins

Keeley Bibins is a passionate advocate for children. Professionally, she is an educator that began her career as an Inclusion Pre-K teacher in a predominately African American, Title I school. Keeley is currently an Educational Facilitator for the Buffett Early Childhood Institute where she provides on-site support, through professional development and coaching, to elementary school leaders and teachers Pre-K though 3rd grade. She is the proud mother of three young black men aged 20 and 7 - two of the three young men being a set of bi-racial twins.

Darcy Heath

Darcy Heath (she/her) is a white, cisgender, able-bodied, heterosexual woman. She is passionate about equity, early childhood education, and early literacy. She has put those passions to work as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and most recently, a professional learning facilitator. She currently designs and facilitates professional learning and provides consultation to various early childhood organizations within her home state and across the nation. She considers her greatest achievement to be her role as a mother and grandmother.

The Color-Brave Community is funded in part by generous donations from the LEGO Community Fund, the Heising-Simons Foundation, and the Rite Aid Foundation.