Guest Speaker: Kristie Norwood Defining, Creating, and Sustaining Culture​​

June 8, 2021
7-8:30pm
On Zoom

Kristie L. Norwood, M. Ed. is a mom and wife. She has worked in Early Childhood Education for over 25 years.  She has been in Head Start for over 20 years. She currently holds the position of Grantee Education Manager for Start Early in Chicago, IL.  In her role, she oversees the implementation of quality education and disabilities services. She is a thought leader that focuses on supporting and developing passionate and intentional educators that create positive experiences for children and their families. She currently serves on the Steering Committee for the Advancing Racial Equity Committee in her workplace. She is also one of the conveners of the Reimagining Our Work Initiative (ROW) through Child Care Exchange-Dimensions Education.
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 Kristie’s talk is based on her experience at Chicago Commons, a program that is among the first in the nation to systematically implement the principles of the Reggio Emilia approach with children from under-resourced communities. She will focus on culture, and the strategies Chicago Commons took to define, create, and sustain a culture that promoted and supported the Reggio Emilia Approach. Some highlights of her talk to include:

*Reggio in a Head Start context.
*Rights of families and elevation of the voice of families. *Privilege, the luxury of time, and self-determination.                       *“Righting the Ship” by promoting people of color in leadership and decision making positions.
*Reflections on resistance and growth.

Please join DCREA in welcoming Kristie Norwood, we will send a zoom link shortly.Sign up for our email list if you are not already a member and would like to hear Kristie's talk.