Posted on March 26, 2021
We at Advocates for Children of New Jersey are outraged by the senseless acts of violence in our country, most recently to members of the Asian community. The devastation to these families and surrounding communities is overwhelming. Violence, especially when it is the result of hatred and racism, is unacceptable.
At ACNJ, we believe that each child deserves a chance to grow up safe, healthy and educated, allowed to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of race, ethnicity or background. We know that though the color of one’s skin or life circumstances should not affect how successful our children are, it does. And we as a nonprofit have continued to stand up against systemic inequalities blocking children’s paths to success.
We can start by sharing resources to help educate and inform. Our colleague from Georgia, Mindy Binderman, executive director of GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students, recently shared ways to help children process the impact of these and other traumatic events, including resources developed by Sesame Workshop to help children build resilience and feel safe during tough times. Sesame Street also has informative models that families and early educators can use to help foster positive social and cultural identities. In addition, the Harvard Center on the Developing Child has helpful guidance for parents, policymakers and practitioners.
We can stand up to hate is by spreading information. ACNJ is sharing these resources with you, and ask that you do the same and spread the word within your network.
To achieve our goal of a more equitable future for all, we ask that you join us in speaking out against hate and violence. Our children are looking to us to create a brighter future for them, one where they have the supports necessary for their healthy development. And in order to do this, we need to take steps in denouncing racism and hate so that everyone has a chance to thrive.
