At MELA, we believe in Mississippi children’s inherent potential, regardless of race, socio-economic status, family history, physical ability or other distinction. Because continued racism (and the fear, stress, and anxiety that goes with it) harms so many of our children, their families, and in turn, our whole state, we know we cannot ignore it in our work. Unless we tackle the root causes of it and its effects head on, it will continue to be a major stumbling block to our mission– to achieve systemic change leading to the holistic development of Mississippi children in their first 8 years of life. So, we created a guide to help parents, teachers, and caregivers talk about this difficult topic with our young children, regardless of their racial background.  Please use this guide to find MELA-approved books, articles, podcasts, videos, and tips for engaging young children around conversations of race.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and other national early childhood education groups set the week of April 13-17 as the Week of the Young Child. We at MELA along with our Early Childhood partners across the state encouraged Governor Tate Reeves to sign a proclaimation naming the same week in Mississippi so that we could celebrate and honor childcare workers, teachers, and children across the state. We look forward to 2021 and next year’s event.