How can parents and caregivers support the healthy identity development of young children? This session, presented by TEAM Westport in conjunction with The Westport Library and held in the Library's Trefz Forum, will explore how adults socialize young children into racial, cultural, and other social identities, and what that means in the context of an inequitable U.S. society. Participants will explore examples of culturally, racially, and identity-responsive practices and environments for young children. There will be a Q&A following the discussion.
Takiema Bunche Smith has worked as an executive leader, adviser, coach, and educator for over two decades. Her mission is to support individuals to understand their personal capacity to effect change in society at the intersections of research, policy, and practice. She expertly guides people and institutions to connect and commit to anti-oppression and racial equity with a focus on joy. Takiema has written and implemented transformative curricula about culturally responsive leadership, child and adult racial and cultural identity development, centering Black children’s joy and agency, arts as a vehicle for healing and social change, parent/caregiver empowerment, and anti-Blackness in education and society.
Parenting Resources
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
TEAM Westport, in partnership with The Westport Library, is proud to present the winners of the 10th Annual Teen Diversity Essay Contest.
PLEASE REGISTER HERE for a seat in the Library's Forum.
The 10th annual event focuses on “The Dialogue Challenge: Effective Engagement on Race, Ethnicity, Religion and LGBTQIA+.”
2023 Essay Charge:
Team Westport’s mission is to make Westport a more welcoming community with regard to race, religion, ethnicity, and LGBTQIA+. In order to achieve its mission, one of TEAM Westport’s goals has been to promote opportunities for people to come together in dialogue to better understand each other’s experiences, decrease bias, and learn what we have in common. Meaningful dialogue depends on a good faith effort to set aside preconceived beliefs or what we think we know about other people.
In 1,000 words or less, reflect on your own interactions with people who have different racial, ethnic, religious, and/or LGBTQIA+ identities and/or perspectives. What kinds of conversations were particularly helpful in prompting you to rethink your beliefs or opinions, perhaps causing you to change your mind or enabling you to better understand others’ points of view? Based on these experiences, what specific actions would you suggest that individuals, schools, and/or town entities in Westport take to promote good-faith dialogue, reduce bias, and foster understanding?
