Community of Practice Celebrates Second Cohort of Early Learning Leaders

Year 2 – it’s a wrap!

Early learning educators from East Oakland came together May 7 to celebrate completing a six-month Community of Practice centered on the 10 Promising Practices (10PP) in Early Learning for Black Boys. Promising Practices are a set of anti-racist strategies that address systemic bias, reinforce trusting relationships with children and their families, and have a positive impact on educational outcomes for young boys of color. 

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Early learning experts Dr. Tasha Henneman and Dr. LaWanda Wesley were co-facilitators of the community of practice, which included teachers and administrators from Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) preschools, City of Oakland Head Start and family child care centers. All participants made a commitment to use Promising Practices strategies in their programs and classrooms, and then share their experiences with the group. 

The celebration event featured video and testimonies from participating educators who talked about the impact of the strategies on the children and families that they work with. Their stories highlighted what it looks like to build meaningful, trusting, authentic, reciprocal partnerships with students and families of color and how to engage parents and caregivers in program planning. Presenters included

• Preschool teacher Barbara Shingleton from Jefferson Child Development Center (OUSD) shared how the Promising Practices helped her create empathetic bonds with her students and their families.
• Candice Herr, a teacher at Kaiser Child Development Center (OUSD), talked about how she incorporated photos of her students throughout her classroom after reflecting on Culturally Responsive and Sustainable Practices, one of the four types of Promising Practices. (The other Practices include Family Engagement, Teacher Anti-Racism and Racial Justice, and Systems Equity Capacity.)
• Lotus Bloom Site Director and program participant Rha Bowden closed out the evening’s ceremony with a moving speech honoring his peers in the Community of Practice and their dedication to the education of Black boys. 

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​District Director Rowena Brown from Assemblymember Mia Bonta’s office was on hand to award the community of practice educators with a certificate of recognition. Brown shared that educators' efforts were a necessary step to ensure that “our young Black boys are  receiving the love, the care, and the guidance that they need in order to  ultimately help change our society and our world.”

Over two years, more than 50 early learning educators have participated in the 10 PP in Early Learning for Black Boys Community of Practice. Plans are currently underway for the 2024-25 school year. Visit the Promising Practices page to learn more about the community of practice, action toolkit, and more. 

Check out this LinkedIn post to learn how Da Monica Robinson, a first cohort participant, is developing a program for fathers and father figures at her preschool site.