I am pleased to share with AGECS members how the $1,000 “Celebrate Diversity” grant has been used at Annie Galvin ELC, in line with our commitment to social justice and equity.
The grant supported the purchase of dolls, peg people, and board books for children under 2, as well as inclusive books for children over 3. These resources were sourced from Diversity Kids and Yarn Strong Sista.
These additions have enriched dialogic conversations between educators and children across all age groups. By building our library of inclusive books and resources, we ensure they are representational of the diverse abilities and backgrounds of children at Annie Galvin ELC.
Some inquiry questions have prompted reflections on fairness and unfairness, as well as explorations of children’s understanding of diversity and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Our collection includes titles on:
- Language rights
- Inclusive and welcoming environments
- Abilities (Autism, Speech Delay, Down Syndrome)
- Celebrating diversity through kindness, empathy, similarities, and differences
Books are returned to a central space after use so they can be shared across all rooms.
We sincerely thank AGECS for this grant and look forward to continuing to work towards cultural responsiveness, social justice and equity.