Equity, diversity and inclusion is proudly woven into every aspect of our work. We lead the center’s Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) Movement to increase our efforts in workforce development, education, and family and community engagement toward the pursuit of a holistic approach to equity, social justice, and inclusion. We produce monthly professional development sessions designed to increase associates’ awareness of how racial injustice manifests itself and to increase their readiness for change. Additionally, we facilitate white affinity groups to engage in difficult conversations to enhance awareness of biases and build capacity to serve as coconspirators and convene the REDI Steering team to serve as the center’s vehicle for planning and executing interventions to support an antiracist approach to improving the center’s internal practices, programs and policies.

Our community partnerships are designed to support vulnerable and marginalized populations, including the development of a series of professional development sessions designed for The Ohio Department of Education’s Head Start Collaboration Office to increase the awareness of Ohio’s early childhood professionals related to the social consequences of race and building their capacity to reduce negative impacts. We are also implementing a customized REDI project in partnership with the Ohio Head Start Association, Inc. (OHSAI) to increase the knowledge and skills of their executive committee relevant to the posture and practice of cultural humility, explore anti-racist norms and practices for the Association and begin to consider approaches to dismantling institutional racism within OHSAI’s spheres of influence.