We are excited to announce the formation of six DEY Regional Childhood Defender Working Groups.
We are recruiting early childhood advocates to join local groups that can work together to advance our mission and our campaign on restoring the link between high quality and child development.
DEY Regional Childhood Defender Working Groups allow our community of early childhood educators, advocates, and parents to ensure that the people working in and affected by early childhood policy and practice are the voice of what policy and practice changes need to be enacted.
Together we will document how grassroots groups of early childhood advocates can produce the change we need to protect childhood.
Check out the groups below and apply to join a regional group that serves your area.
No regional group in your area? Stay tuned as we hope to launch new groups in the future!
Kentucky Area Working Group
Co-Facilitators
Michele Hemenway Pullen
Hans Petersen
Group Focus
In the state of Kentucky and city of Louisville broad conversations and policymaking is happening directly impacting this mission in the formation of “Universal Pre-K ” services. This group will focus on lifting voices to ensure that those in positions of power consider all those impacted by their decisions, most important, the children themselves.
Massachusetts Working Group
Co-Facilitators
Suzanne Stillinger
Aidn White
Group Focus
As a group we want to work on identifying and addressing barriers practitioners face in being able to provide developmentally-appropriate, culturally competent and responsive education and care, including the role of neuroscience and neuro types and how we inadvertently introduce and reinforce biases in our classrooms and within our communities.
California Working Group
Co-Facilitators
Dana Cox
Lisa Gerber
Group Focus
Our goal is to facilitate conversation and advocacy opportunities that connect to the DEY mission and vision, particularly as CA expands to Universal Preschool.
Greater Chicago Working Group
Co-Facilitators
Kisa Marx
Angela Fowler
Group Focus
Our focus is to collaborate with educators to develop a Children’s Charter of Rights in conjunction with children. This Charter will prioritize community engagement, child-centered play, and recognize the value of all children’s participation as global citizens.
Tennessee Working Group
Co-Facilitators
Annie Paraison
Zoe Mathews
Group Focus
The TN DEY Workgroup focuses on Early Childhood Education workforce development. We hope to develop intentional and measurable goals with our group members to advance ECEC in Tennessee.
New Hampshire Working Group
Co-Facilitators
Ellen Grudzien
Jacqueline Firmin
Group Focus
Early Childhood Educators gathering to work toward creating a developmentally appropriate environment for children in New Hampshire while working with community leaders, decision makers and leadership to pave a bright future in quality care.