Early Childhood Leaders of Color (EC LOC) Collaborative

We launched our Early Childhood Leaders of Color (EC LOC) Collaborative in 2022 with a vision to build a national self-organized and self-determined affinity space for BIPOC leaders in Early Childhood Development committed to increasing the sustainability, social capital and power of EC LOC with a virtual party filled with shared learning, joy surprises and restoration. Next week, we reach a new milestone as the seeds for an in-person retreat that were first planted 18 months ago at our kickoff blossom at our REST Retreat. We can't wait! Learn more about the EC LOC Collaborative: https://lnkd.in/gwj9Uwb4 #ECLOCREST #REST2024

In Feb 2024, we welcomed the inaugural REST Conference. More than just a conference, REST (Restoration, Enlightenment, Solidarity, Transformation) emerged as a space to address the distinctive narratives, challenges, and aspirations of leaders of color in early childhood. We conceptualized this event through listening sessions, working groups, and co-creation sessions with 75+ leaders of color in ECD. To invest in sustainability, social capital, and power, we asked "What would it take to fill your cup?" The REST Conference was the result. ?? Since the conference, we've been celebrating, reflecting, and listening. Did you attend or help plan the REST Conference? What was your favorite part of #REST2024? ?? Thanks to Ashleigh Reddy and John JJ Harris for capturing our event. ??: Twylla Dillion, MBA, Ph.D. Sherika Hill Jamie Helberg Coleen Stevens Porcher (she/her/ella) Payal Seth Alvin Irby, M.S., MPA Surinder Sharma Emmy O'Dwyer (she/ella) Kavindya Thennakoon E. Nicole Cummings- Lewis, Ed.D Zakiyyah Boone, MBA Savannah Washington, MBA Carol Austin Lauren Snelling AM, LCSW LaToya Holmes-Ware Erin Backus Jai Fields (She/they) Jaime-Jin Lewis Tia Murray Jessica Riady Cho Vance C. Lewis Portia Kennel Erasma Beras-Monticciolo Grant Richardson & many more!

No matter if it's live and in the flesh (hey there NOLA crew!) or in our virtual zoom world, it's a gift to gather, be in community, lift each other up and experience our collective power as Early Childhood Leaders of Color in the field. EC LOC: Who has been an instrumental leader in your life or in your community? How have they lifted you up?

It was a dream come true to host The REST Retreat, our first three day, in-person gathering of over 100 Early Childhood Leaders of Color in San Francisco last week. Through the co-creation and self-determination of our members over the past year, this event was an invitation to steep fully in an environment dedicated to our REST - our Restoration, Enlightenment, Solidarity, and Transformation. We danced, laughed, connected, learned, played and leaned into celebrating and sharing our stories with one another. It was magical to be surrounded by so much melanated joy, deep resilience and the genius of this community. We can't wait to share more reflections over the next few days and weeks. In the meantime, we wanted to send a special thank you for everyone that made this possible: Our planning and launch committee (Asa Common, MMFT, Staci Croom-Raley, JD, MS (she/her), Twylla Dillion, MBA, Ph.D. and Chastity Lord) who planted the initial seeds to first envision this EC LOC community over two years ago. Our EC LOC Working Group (Alexandra J. Hall, M. A., CYC-P, IMH-E?, Choquette Hamilton, Ph.D, Erin Backus, Keisha Nzewi, Marie Boone-Clark, Melanie Richardson, MSW, LMSW, Michelle López Torres, E. Nicole Cummings- Lewis, Ed.D, Priya Iyer, Surinder Sharma, Zakiyyah Boone, MBA, and Tena Sloan LMFT, IFECMHS/RPF-II) who unequivocally said YES to prioritizing this gathering and then cast an incredible foundation and vision for what it could be. Our speakers, facilitators and dinner hosts (BriAnna Green, Michelle Hutson -Crawford M.S, Melissa Santos, Anna King, LCSW, PMH-C, Erik Fermín, Evette Jasper, Rachel Jones, Melissa DeClue, M.Ed, Brenda Blasingame, Portia Kennel, Kim Watson, Aparna Ramanathan (MBBS), Sherika Hill, Lauren Brown, Emmy O'Dwyer (she/ella), Tia Murray, Jaime-Jin Lewis, Coleen Stevens Porcher (she/her/ella), Zakiyyah Boone, MBA, Maile Hadley, and Marie Boone-Clark) for the passion, wisdom and love you brought to our community. Our BIPOC vendors who helped bring this event to life and shared your talents, energy, practices and gifts with us. And the Promise Venture Studio studio team for continuously modeling and stewarding our Collaborative Guiding Principles in everything we do.

We launched our Early Childhood Leaders of Color (EC LOC) Collaborative in 2022 with a vision to build a national self-organized and self-determined affinity space for BIPOC leaders in Early Childhood Development committed to increasing the sustainability, social capital and power of EC LOC with a virtual party filled with shared learning, joy surprises and restoration. Next week, we reach a new milestone as the seeds for an in-person retreat that were first planted 18 months ago at our kickoff blossom at our REST Retreat. We can't wait! Learn more about the EC LOC Collaborative: https://lnkd.in/gwj9Uwb4 #ECLOCREST #REST2024