Current Vision and Mission, in development:
Vision
The DC Reggio Emilia Alliance is a study group committed to elevating professional discourse through research and collaboration.
Mission
Members of DCREA gather monthly to further collective learning and strengthen individual practices inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy. Our collaboration deepens relationships, making growth and risk-taking possible. The work of children, school environments, professional literature, lectures, workshops, and the community serve as resources for study.
2020-2021 Intentions
Dear Members,
A few months ago, we wrote to you stating our intention to pursue a professional development relationship dedicated to understanding and addressing race, equity, and implicit bias in connection with children and education as part of our programming for the school year 2020-2021.
To that end, we began a relationship with The Wells Collective, who met with us in August to level-set the Steering Committee around race and diversity and to support us in strategic planning for DCREA.
A common thread that emerged from our dialogue with the trainers, Dr. Lana Asuncion-Bates and Jenifer Moore, is the difference between “inviting” and “including.” In DCREA when we “invite” an individual or group of people, we are making a request for her/his/their presence and participation in our meetings. But is an invitation an implicit assumption of inclusion, or is inclusion something different? The Wells Collective trainers offered us a definition of inclusion:
Intentionally fostering an environment in which each individual
is valued and respected for their diversity, is empowered to engage
and contribute, and is provided access to resources and opportunities.
As a steering committee we are asking ourselves what we and other DCREA members can do to be more welcoming, to provide more opportunities for feedback and inclusion, and to address and promote racial and cultural diversity and the Reggio Approach.
Here’s what we have in mind for the year:
Our intention is to look at and expand understanding around the values and principles of the Reggio Approach within different racial and cultural contexts. Continuing a favorite element of DCREA—school tours—we plan to use our new friend Zoom to cross boundaries, real and imagined, bringing together educators from other schools around the US and internationally,in order to: listen deeply to different points of views and lived educational experiences; discuss the Reggio Approach from racial, class, and cultural perspectives; and broaden our DCREA network of educators and programs.
Vision
The DC Reggio Emilia Alliance is a study group committed to elevating professional discourse through research and collaboration.
Mission
Members of DCREA gather monthly to further collective learning and strengthen individual practices inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy. Our collaboration deepens relationships, making growth and risk-taking possible. The work of children, school environments, professional literature, lectures, workshops, and the community serve as resources for study.
2020-2021 Intentions
Dear Members,
A few months ago, we wrote to you stating our intention to pursue a professional development relationship dedicated to understanding and addressing race, equity, and implicit bias in connection with children and education as part of our programming for the school year 2020-2021.
To that end, we began a relationship with The Wells Collective, who met with us in August to level-set the Steering Committee around race and diversity and to support us in strategic planning for DCREA.
A common thread that emerged from our dialogue with the trainers, Dr. Lana Asuncion-Bates and Jenifer Moore, is the difference between “inviting” and “including.” In DCREA when we “invite” an individual or group of people, we are making a request for her/his/their presence and participation in our meetings. But is an invitation an implicit assumption of inclusion, or is inclusion something different? The Wells Collective trainers offered us a definition of inclusion:
Intentionally fostering an environment in which each individual
is valued and respected for their diversity, is empowered to engage
and contribute, and is provided access to resources and opportunities.
As a steering committee we are asking ourselves what we and other DCREA members can do to be more welcoming, to provide more opportunities for feedback and inclusion, and to address and promote racial and cultural diversity and the Reggio Approach.
Here’s what we have in mind for the year:
Our intention is to look at and expand understanding around the values and principles of the Reggio Approach within different racial and cultural contexts. Continuing a favorite element of DCREA—school tours—we plan to use our new friend Zoom to cross boundaries, real and imagined, bringing together educators from other schools around the US and internationally,in order to: listen deeply to different points of views and lived educational experiences; discuss the Reggio Approach from racial, class, and cultural perspectives; and broaden our DCREA network of educators and programs.
