The BUILD Initiative's Equity Leaders Action Network (ELAN) is a leadership program funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. It was created to address four challenges in early childhood programs, entities, and organizations: racism, fragmentation, lack of voice, and absence of policy leadership intentionally committed to racial equity.
Jackie Govan, ELAN fellow for the state of Arkansas graduated with the first group of ELAN Fellows in 2018 in Puerto Rico, after three years of rigorous work with colleagues from approximately 35 other states, Govan and her ELAN committee has worked hard to:
- Formed a statewide racial equity committee
- Conducted a statewide online survey of administrators (68 responses), teachers (224 responses), and families (978 responses) focusing on racial equity as well as a self-assessment of the early childhood environment (113 responses).
- Held meetings with parents, teachers, and administrators in conducting Racial Equity Cafes in five areas of Arkansas.
- Created and disseminated a statewide Racial Equity Brochure.
- Created a state model "Stepping Up to an Equitable Arkansas".
- Incorporated Racial Equity into the Child Development Early Learning Standards.
- Completed 6 Degrees to Racial Equity Online Training.
- Launched the first Racial Equity website for all early childhood programs in Arkansas.
Our overall goal is to promote equitable, high quality child and family serving systems that result in all young children regardless of race or disability thriving and learning.
After four years of study, research, and observations with the National BUILD Initiative in implementing the Equity Leaders Action Network (ELAN) Project, Arkansas has moved forward to address racial equity issues creating five goals and a professional development model that would focus on eliminating racial equity disparities in classrooms all across the state.
This will be done by analyzing and using racial equity data and creating a strong statewide racial equity collaborative early childhood system with courageous partners and intentional teamwork.
