Re-shared from NOW Network member @Steph C / Stephanie Waters Please join us for this free Zoom opportunity. This training will engage participants in discussions related to key social justice issues that impact how we teach, serve, and interact with others. Implicit bias, how it manifests, impacts children, communities, and early childhood spaces will be presented. Color-blind and culture-blind ideology will be discussed as barriers to addressing racial equity. Cultural humility will be presented as a strategy to prevent bias will also be discussed. Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjh0_onTKv2bYQCqlIqle7XcYq7vMScqoP9GJmDeiVeXN2dA/viewform

Have you tuned in to In The Arena with NOW? We are excited to announce the release of episode #14! Venture with us to Chicago, https://www.networksofopportunity.org/podcast, where we hear from the Austin Neighborhood Network and learn about the value of community coalition collaboration and authentically centering community voice. Tune in here: https://www.networksofopportunity.org/podcast and share below the most impactful quotes or lessons learned during your time tuning in to Ep. 14 of In The Arena with NOW. P.S Did you know that you can learn more about the coalitions who participated in the original NOW Learning Community on our website under Community Stories? Explore Austin's page to learn more: https://www.networksofopportunity.org/lc-profile-austin-neigh-network-il.

Hi NOW Community, Over the weekend, I tuned in to Code Switch's latest podcast episode Saving A Language You're Learning to Speak, which you can listen to on NPR here. Since then, I have been heavily reflecting on the story told and how this particular episodes hits close to home in both my personal community and in the work we do at Vital Village Networks. I will only give a brief summary because I want to encourage you to take a listen to the episode. It is worth many listens over. In short, this episode takes us to Hawaii's main island and tells us a bit of history about why the Hawaiian language was nearly lost. It took a small community of Hawaiians, who spoke English as their first and dominant language, to recognize that something had to be done in order to preserve both the language and cultural practices. This is their story. As my first language and dominant one, English was my first tongue. However, my family and communities language is Spanish. Spanish is the language of their heart and will be shifted too immediately when someone is speaking about a very vulnerable moment or wants to express themselves fully. It is the sole language of my elders, 2 generations ahead of me, and the only way we can connect authentically. So this episode really speaks to me personally. I feel really proud to be working on the implementation of language justice with my team at Vital Village Networks including the National Leadership Summit and many of the NOW initiatives including webinars. As explained in the Code Switch episode creating a culture of inclusivity that honors the language of peoples hearts is a continued practice. We must continue to learn and adapt too better serve all communities. One step at a time, authentically, and with community voice at the center. What practices does your coalition use to include the greater community? What lessons have been learned? What highlights do you have to share?

Good afternoon NOW Innovation Forum Members, June was a very powerful month for our partners and the network. We have been inspired, moved and called to action by all of you. With that being said, we are going to begin monthly spotlights of the community blogs, shared tools and resources, and In The Arena with NOW Podcast episodes. Our hopes are that this is one more outlet to amplify your voices and projects. Please feel free to share these highlights with your own community and network. If you have an item to contribute, please share it by submitting it the NOW Innovation Forum or posting it on this thread. Also, be sure to register for the upcoming July 30th webinar: Community-Driven Policy Advocacy: Upholding the Dignity of Immigrant Children and Families. With justice & community, The NOW team June 2020 NOW Innovation Forum Highlights June 2020 Forum Newsletter In The Arena with NOW Podcast, Ep. 9: From Data to Action: Community Stories Lead to Policy Change NOW Innovation Forum Blogs Community Champion Spotlight: Catherine Luo, by Tiffany Rodriguez, NOW Program Coordinator RealClear Policy: The Forgotten Essential Worker Workers: Women of Color in Child Care, by Lynette M. Fraga & Renee Boynton-Jarrett Think Small Blog: Wake Up Everybody, by Dianne Haulcy, NOW Learning Community: Voices and Choices for Children Coalition Virtual Learning Labs Operationalizing Equity Through Participatory Data Storytelling  Recursos de interpretación en español disponibles/ Spanish interpretation tools are available A couple of newly added tools to the Resource Library Addressing Racial Injustice with Young Children, by Embrace Race Race Talk: Engaging Young People in Conversation about Race and Racism, by Anti-Defamation League Storytelling: A tool for Health Advocacy, by Spark Policy Institute

Hello NOW Innovation Forum Members, I am beyond proud to share the ongoing efforts of the Vital Village Network. Today is the Boston City Budget hearing. The Vital Village Network and our partners are gathering testimony and suggestions to create and submit a public comment. We are advocating that the city of Boston invest in our Black and Brown communities so that together we can create neighborhoods and a city where every child and family can thrive. If you are a Boston resident we invite you to sign on or share testimony and suggestions for a collective public comment to the Boston City Council on the FY 2021 Budget conta.cc/3h8VYCg View the hearing LIVE: https://www.boston.gov/departments/city-council/watch-boston-city-council-tv Sign & submit testimony or suggestions here: bit.ly/vvn-budget-public-comment With justice, Tiffany