Smart Start Leaders Working with National Group to Advance Racial Equity
Four early childhood leaders from North Carolina’s Smart Start network have been selected to participate in the Equity Leaders Action Network (ELAN), a group dedicated to advancing racial equity in early childhood systems. The Smart Start leaders include:
- Dr. Jessica Lowery, Executive Director, Robeson County Partnership for Children
- Dr. Denauvo M. Robinson, Executive Director, Albemarle Smart Start Partnership
- Caroline Rodier, Assistant Director, Buncombe Partnership for Children
- Diane Umstead, Community Development Director, The North Carolina Partnership for Children
A focused effort across 20 states, the District of Columbia and Guam, the ELAN is composed of 38 fellows with responsibility at the state or county level for early childhood systems. Over the next three years, ELAN fellows will work together to identify, address and take action on inequities based on race, ethnicity, language and culture in our early childhood state systems. Fellows will promote equity in the areas of health, early learning and/or family support; and influence state-level policy.
“I am proud that North Carolina has such strong representation in this national initiative,” said Cindy Watkins, President of the North Carolina Partnership for Children. “Providing early childhood programs and services that are designed to meet the needs of each child has long been a priority for Smart Start. In order for our state to continue leading the nation in early education, we will need to enhance access to a comprehensive, racially equitable early childhood system.”
The ELAN is a strategy of the BUILD Initiative, which promotes early childhood systems work that identifies and addresses the root causes of disparities and supports state remedies to address them. Highlighting BUILD’s definition of “equity,” Sherri Killins, Director of the ELAN said, “At BUILD, when we talk about equity, we mean that race should not be a predictor of health status, education, birth outcomes or the community conditions for young children.”
BUILD’s vision is of a comprehensive, racially equitable, high-quality early childhood system that ensures all children have an opportunity to develop and reach their full potential, without experiencing discrimination or bias. ELAN fellows will take action to reduce disparities by the choices and decisions they make.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Contact: Heather Strickland – 919-821-9564
Smart Start, a network of nonprofit local partnerships led by The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc. (NCPC), creates innovative solutions to measurably increase learning and the healthy development of children birth to five. Smart Start gives local communities the freedom and responsibility to determine how to increase the health, well-being and development of their children based on the needs and resources of their local communities. NCPC establishes measurable statewide goals and communities determine the best approach to achieving them. For more information, visit www.smartstart.org.
