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Our Vision for <br />Race Equity <br />We envision a transformation in which early childhood <br />systems of care are centered around families and <br />responsive to their needs and ideas. System leaders <br />acknowledge the ways that agency policies, procedures, <br />staffing and culture create barriers to equity and parent <br />engagement and respond by making changes and <br />improving collaboration. Staff reflect the diversity of the <br />community. Systems work to improve families' access, <br />experiences and outcomes. <br />Because of this transformation, children, families <br />and communities thrive. Families — especially <br />families of color, disenfranchised fathers, parents <br />who do notspeak English, and families whose <br />children have special needs — have equitable <br />access to opportunities, resources and supports <br />in their communities, such as social connections, <br />parenting resources, quality schools, good jobs and <br />safe neighborhoods. <br />1. Parents are at the Center: Agencies and <br />systems center everything they do around <br />families: listening to them, developing their <br />leadership, engaging them at every level and <br />including them in decision -making. <br />2. Parents are Participating at All Levels: <br />planning and implementing ideas, programs and <br />policies; making decisions, including how funds are <br />spent; gaining career opportunities; influencing policy <br />and organizing in their communities. <br />3. Parents are Valued as Experts: Staff and providers <br />value parents of all cultures as experts. Parents know <br />their rights and have the tools and resources to access <br />opportunities for their children. <br />4. Parents are Powerful Leaders: Elected officials <br />regularly engage with parents and the community and <br />take action. Parents develop their leadership and run <br />for office. In partnership with those most affected by <br />racism, parents with privilege advocate for equity. <br />"The Manifesto means that I'm no longer feeling <br />like just a throw in: Dads and dad language were <br />included from the beginning. In all the programs <br />my son and I got involved in, everything was <br />about moms and kids. There was almost <br />never informative information about Dads. <br />In the offices, there would be 30 pictures of <br />Moms, Mom with her children and not ONE <br />picture of a Dad or Dad with his children. That <br />was mystifying! Workers were telling me <br />tojust imagine it said dad every time it said <br />Mom. It made me feel some type of way." <br />—Anthony Queen, <br />Parent Leader, Grand Rapids, MI <br />I. -E.nun r-.=nfL-mI _I,, ,_­,,i -, _,., F. -ZINC Page3 <br />