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Background: Founding Open Arms Perinatal Services and Pioneering Maternal Health Equity

Sheila’s journey as a social justice advocate began with her experiences as a doula, where she provided compassionate support to families throughout the childbirth and early parenting process. This work revealed to her the critical gaps in care for low-income families and families of color. Driven by the belief that every parent deserves access to a safe, supported birthing experience, she helped found Open Arms Perinatal Services in 1997. Open Arms offers free to low-cost perinatal and early parenting support services to meet the needs of each family through highly qualified, culturally matched doulas, lactation support peer counselors, childbirth educators, and resource navigators, helping thousands of families receive culturally relevant care and empowering them to have healthy birthing experiences.

Open Arms has become a model for perinatal support, addressing social and cultural factors impacting maternal health outcomes and reducing disparities in maternal and infant mortality. The organization’s impact has extended far beyond the Pacific Northwest, inspiring similar initiatives across the country and proving the significant effect of culturally responsive care on parent and child health.

Commitment to Systems Change in Public Health and Education

Sheila’s holistic approach across maternal health, early childhood education, and community advocacy has made her an influential voice for systems change, challenging institutions to better serve all members of the community.

Throughout her career, she has consistently advocated for systemic changes to support equitable social, health and early education outcomes. Sheila understands that policy changes and resource reallocation are necessary to tackle the root causes of inequity, especially for women, families, and children from marginalized communities. Her leadership has helped reshape community approaches to health and early education, making them more inclusive and equitable, and she has inspired policies that incorporate trauma-informed and culturally competent care.

Inspiring Future Leaders and Advocates

By focusing on the needs of marginalized communities and building support systems rooted in equity and compassion Sheila’s pioneering work has transformed maternal health support, early childhood education, and public health policies, setting new standards for equity and justice. As we launch our Community Advisory Committee, we look forward to Sheila’s partnership in our efforts to understand how we can best help families feel more empowered and a part of the process to create more equitable systems and support for children and families.

Learn more here about Best Starts for Kids and Open Arms Perinatal Services.

To understand the Latino community is to understand that it is vastly diverse within itself. Each individual Latino culture is established within the country people are from, and cultures are kept and celebrated within each respective community while residing in the U.S.

Although many members of the Latino community speak Spanish, words mean different things based on their cultural origin and the individual education of each person. Acknowledging this diversity within the Latino community helps families feel welcomed and demonstrates inclusivity of all Latino cultures.

At Start Early, we are committed to cultivating an environment built on the values of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. The opening remarks were provided by Chandra Ewell, DEIB team lead.

February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements, culture and legacy of Black Americans who have made contributions and played a critical role in shaping our country. We take the month of February to center Black voices and honor Black stories as we lift up the past, recognize the present and share hopes for the future.

Children's Books To Read During Black History Month

Whether your child is a toddler, in pre-K or on their way to kindergarten, here are some great book recommendations from Anne-Marie Akin, our Educare Chicago librarian to read during this month and beyond:

Books recommended for infants:

• Bright Brown Baby: A Treasury by Andrea Davis Pinkney
• Sweet, Sweet Baby! by Javaka Steptoe
• Shades of Black: A Celebration of Our Children by Sandra L. Pinkney

Books recommended for toddlers:

• Feast For 10 by Cathryn Falwell
• Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment by Parker Curry and Jessica Curry
• My Hair is Beautiful by Shauntay Grant

Books recommended for children in pre-K or kindergarten:

• We Are Here (An All Because You Matter Book) by Tami Charles
• My People, a poem by Langston Hughes
• The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez
• Baby Says by John Steptoe

As we reflect on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the National Day of Racial Healing, we asked our early learning experts for advice on how talk to your little ones about racial healing, equity and justice.

As a parent, it can sometimes be difficult to talk to your children about serious issues like racism, but it is so very important. Sparking conversation with your little ones on this topic can help them to address bias and to be mindful as they navigate this big and sometimes scary world we live in.

Occasionally, Start Early Washington team members are honored with opportunities for thought leadership on a global scale. In this blog, ParentChild+ Washington State Program Director, Pamela Williams shares a few thought-provoking insights from her recent presentation at the 18^th World Congress for the World Association for Infant Mental Health in Dublin, Ireland.

A Global Stage for Equity & Social Justice

In July 2023, Pamela Williams joined a global panel discussion at the 18th World Congress for the World Association for Infant Mental Health in Dublin, Ireland, focused on Equity and Social Justice in Infant Mental Health. Joining co-presenters from Canada, Australia and the U.S., Pamela led a session exploring the Residual Effects of Colorism and the Impacts of Implicit Bias in Our Decision Making. This presentation provided a unique opportunity for practitioners to reflect on how unconscious bias affects decision making in their field.

Exploring Colorism in Media & Society

Pamela led her audience through a series of thought-provoking questions and exercises, shedding light on the presence of colorism in communities, society and media. She showcased compelling historical and contemporary print ads, billboards and advertisements from the U.S., France and Asia, demonstrating how media supports a harmful, racist narrative that white is best, “the lighter your skin, the better you are.” She encouraged her audience to reflect on the messages the media portrays to Black, Indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC), and the messages it portrays to white people.

Broadening the Scope of Race Equity Work

Pamela stressed the importance of broadening the scope of race equity work beyond an American-centric perspective to better serve diverse staff with varying life experiences. Recognizing the disparities in the representation experienced by BIPOC American-born staff and those born outside the U.S., she pointed out that discussions about race need to adapt to the backgrounds of the communities we partner with. “Many of our BIPOC American-born staff struggle to remember the age when they saw people like themselves on TV, and many of my team members born outside of the U.S. said they saw representation all their lives.”

The result is that the conversations around race we may have in the U.S. do not mean the same thing to individuals raised in other countries. However, when we ask what it means to have dark skin, many individuals around the globe can relate to biases around skin tone. –Where the U.S. may embrace terms such as “Black” and “Brown,” individuals born outside the U.S. may cringe at the thought of their child or themselves being labeled with terms such as brown or black because they are viewed negatively in their home country.

Embracing Uncomfortable Conversations for Positive Change

Delving into these deeply ingrained biases, Pamela acknowledged the weight of these discussions. She was particularly mindful of encouraging her audience to stay present and engaged, as addressing these “sneaky little buggers that sit with us” is crucial for positive change and needs to be talked about. As a result, there can be powerful outcomes from doing this hard work; by challenging ourselves to uncover deeply held biases, we can improve our decision making, allowing us to do better in the communities we serve.

Resources For Deeper Understanding

To gain a deeper understanding of colorism, Pamela referenced the book Colorism: Investigating a Global Phenomenon by Dr. Kamilah Woodson. She also shared movie suggestions that explore this subject, including Imitation of Life and Passing. These resources provide valuable insights into the complex worldwide issue of colorism and its societal impacts.

Children’s Books to Celebrate & Honor Native American Heritage Month

Storytelling is integral in Indigenous cultures—they can be told from books or through utilizing oral storytelling as a way for entertainment, education/teaching, and the sharing of culture and traditions.

As parents, we know that learning is most impactful when it’s shared with our children. Native American Heritage Month encourages us to engage in activities that promote understanding, respect and appreciation for Indigenous cultures. Here are a few age-appropriate books and resource recommendations you can share with your little one to celebrate this special month:

Books recommended for infants and toddlers:

• Black and White: Visual Stimulation Images for Babies by Morgan Asoyuf, Tsimshian
• Learn & Play by Various Native and First Nation Artists
• Good Morning World by Paul Windsor, Haisla
• Goodnight World by Various Native Artists
• We All Count by Jason Adair, Ojibway
• My Heart Fills With Happiness by Monique Gray Smith, Cree & Lakota
• Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk, Inuit
• First Laugh, Welcome Baby! by Rose Ann Tahe, Navajo & Dine nish’li & Nancy Bo Flood

Books recommended for children in pre-K or kindergarten:

• You Hold Me Up by Monique Gray Smith, Cree & Lakota
• Powwow Day by Traci Sorell, Cheokee Nation
• Thunder’s Hair by Jessie Taken Alive-Rencountre, Hunkpapa Lakota
• We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, Anishinabe/Métis
• Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard, Seminole Nation
• Sweetgrass by Theresa Meuse, Mi’kmaq First Nation

Additional resources:

• Oral Storytelling: Gene Tagaban — Gene is an oral storyteller from Tlingit and Haida from Southeast Alaska. Every tribe has their own storytellers.
• Celebrating Native Cultures Through Words: Storytelling and Oral Traditions

In these tumultuous times, the need for greater diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is in the news almost every day. One of the best ways to raise tolerant, accepting and empathetic children ready to thrive in life is to start early, incorporating inclusion and anti-bias into early childhood education curriculum for infants, toddlers and their families.

In a recent activity, children recently made posters showcasing their cultural heritage, as well as their similarities and differences. “The students were able to share and be proud of what makes them unique… your hair may be in ponytails, while my hair is in locks. The simple rule is we would like to treat people fairly and acknowledge that we are different but we’re also the same and need to show each other respect,” Jordan continues.

This focus on respect and appreciation for inclusion is particularly important during this time of racial unrest. “The way that we address the societal environment is by talking about community, family, culture and heritage,” says Jordan.

To help talk about these topics, staff at Educare Chicago have incorporated Sesame Street’s “We’re Different, We’re the Same” segment into their curriculum, as well as the book “Sometimes People March” by Tessa Allen.

Educare Chicago teachers also help students learn how to process big emotions such as sadness and anger, while emphasizing that people express feelings in a variety of ways to encourage an appreciation for personality differences. The school’s Wellness Specialists also connect with parents to let them know where their children are from a socioemotional perspective and offer guidance for development.

Intensive family engagement is a core tenet of the school’s approach, meaning the school’s inclusive curriculum also extends to children’s first teachers: their parents and caregivers. Staff provide parents with book recommendations, including those outlined above to help encourage at-home discussions about DEI. There are also parent support groups and a Parent Committee to help parents to build strong relationships with staff and one another.

Jordan has already seen the impact of their work. Recently, students celebrated a very shy classmate for stepping outside his comfort zone to give a presentation to the entire school about his pet snake.

Learn more about how to address race and identity with children by reading our National Racial Day of Healing blog post.