Dear Reader,

Happy end of Black History Month! Let us remember that Black history is American History, and it happens all year long, even as we spotlight it in the month of February. Also, on January 22, many folks celebrated the Chinese Lunar New Year, bringing in the year of the rabbit, which is seen as a year of hope. Here at Anahsa, LLC, hope is one of our guiding lights. Let us have hope for ourselves, our communities and for the children who will benefit from the work we are doing to make it more joyful, liberated, and more hopeful.

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As we get into the full swing of 2023, I’d like to take a moment to share the exciting ways we are offering partnerships to early childhood organizations throughout 2023. If you’re an early childhood leader or professional who’d like your organization to partner with us for executive coaching, speaking, or workshops keep reading.

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{NEW} Group Executive Coaching Program: Journey to Liberation: Leadership for equity in early childhood

We are launching a new group executive coaching program starting in April, and we’d love to invite you to join us. If you are an early childhood leader who wants concrete and transformative support to build an equitable and anti-racist early childhood program, this program is for you. This hybrid group coaching program takes you on a clear journey to build your capacity to lead with an equitable and anti-racist lens, and to use culturally responsive and adaptive leadership frameworks to do this work effectively.
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Professional Development for early childhood staff:

We do 1.5 hour, half day and full day professional development sessions for early education professionals. Our signature topics for professional development and speaking are:

• Journey to Nia: Centering Black joy and eradicating anti-Black racism in early childhood
• Journey Towards Justice: Centering equity and anti-racism in early childhood
• Journey to Liberation: Leadership for equity in early childhood

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If you’re interested in partnering for workshops, click here to fill out an interest form.

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Resource Corner!

I am excited to share that I was part of a panel of jurors who selected the winners of the inaugural Margaret Wise Brown Board Book Award!
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The winners are Give Me a Snickle! by Alisha Sevigny (Orca) in the 0–18 months range, and Me and the Family Tree by Carole Weatherford, illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin (Sourcebooks), in the 18­-36 months category.
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It was an eye opening and lively experience to hear my fellow juror’s perspectives, and to reflect on how toddlers reacted to the books, too.
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Thanks to Cynthia Weill and Mollie Welsh Kruger of the Bank Street Center for Children's Literature for leading this process.
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You’re invited to join us for a virtual celebration of the award on March 9, featuring a keynote and a panel discussion on creating great board books with Steve Light, LeUyen Pham, Antoinette Portis, Carole Weatherford, and Anne Wynter and moderated by Rachel Payne.
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You can register for the event here.
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I was delighted to share and read Me and the Family Tree by Carole Weatherford, illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin last night at the Black History Month, Journey to Nia Keynote sponsored by United Way of New Haven.

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As we reflect to move forward, I'm curious. How did you honor or celebrate Black history month? And how are you working to eradicate anti-Black racism in early childhood?

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Towards joy and liberation,

Takiema and Team Anahsa

Creating joyful and liberated lives in early childhood, and organizations.™

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Don’t forget to follow us on social media.

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