Welcome to the eighty fourth edition of Small Talks. Every Friday, I highlight 6 areas of weekly joys and reflections in early childhood and the whole family. Small Talks leverages my experience at the intersection of education, philanthropy, and impact investing. Enjoy!
What I’m celebrating -
This 84th Small Talks edition is dedicated to our Native American children.
The Native population is about 2% of the U.S. population. Less than 2% of Native people speak Native languages.
1 in 3 Native American children lives in poverty. Poverty is highly predictive of educational achievement, employment, and health outcomes.
Native American children have the highest dropout rates of any ethnic group in the US (29% to 36% drop out rate, mostly between the 7th and 12th grades).
So much to learn about Native American culture that emphasizes harmony with nature, a strong belief that man is inherently good and should be respected for his decisions, and resilience.
The 2022 state of our babies by Zero to Three does a deep dive on the “social determinants of health.”
“Black, Hispanic, & American Indian/Alaska Natives babies experience disparities in resources that raise significant concerns about the near-term development & long-term health of young children”
The launch of the Stanford Center on Early Childhood is upon us. Please check the recording of the sessions here.
For inspiration #1, read about Rebekah Dunlap, a midwife who resurrected indigenous birth practices.
For inspiration #2 - Educare Winnebago is the first Educare early childhood school to serve Native American children and families. Children are taught in the native Ho-Chunk language in addition to English. The Ho-Chunk culture permeates the experiences of children and their families. The program also has a strong parent engagement component, including the Family Spirit and the Positive Indian Parenting, offering family activities each month and quarterly classroom meetings with families, teachers, and specialized staff.
“Children have shown average gains of more than a year of learning on assessment tests between fall and spring over the past two years.”
— Amy LaPointe, co-director of Educare Winnebago.
What I’m listening to -
"We are Water Protectors" is inspired by the Indigenous-led movement and is an urgent cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption. Listen to the read-along here: https://loom.ly/MobAchk
What I’m reading -
The “Killer of the Flower Moon” by David Grann is a disturbing and must-read investigative reporting on the history of repeat murders in the Osage tribe.
What I’m watching -
“Home from School: The Children of Carlisle” retraces the history of thousands of Native American children placed in Indian boarding schools. Among the many who died at Carlisle Indian Industrial School were three Northern Arapaho boys. More than a century later, tribal members journey from Wyoming to Pennsylvania to help them finally come home.
What I’m learning more deeply -
Important piece for early childhood expert Joan Lombardi on the intersection of early childhood and climate change.
New analysis by Stanford Professor Sean Reardon and by Harvard Professor Tom Kane about the pandemic's impact on US schools. Conclusion is one that we sadly know too well...
“Kids’ educational opportunities were really harmed in the past few years, and that damage was most pronounced in high-poverty communities”
A quote I’m pondering -
“A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because its trust is not on the branch but on its own wings.”
— Native Red Cloud - SD Oglala Lakota
Feedback is a gift. Which part above is your favorite? What did I miss? What do you want more or less of? Other recommendations? Please kindly let me know. Thank to all of you who are sending me amazing suggestions.
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Have a wonderful week. Please stay safe and care for each other.
Isabelle