Volume 22 | February 24, 2022
Impactful Moments: Discussion on Race, Racism, and Anti-Racism
In the summer of 2020, Family Engagement Lab expressed a commitment to ongoing investigation of how racism inhibits equitable family engagement and to developing anti-racist family engagement strategies. Part of our commitment included regular team conversations about race, racism, and anti-racism. Team members led thought-provoking and transformative bi-weekly discussions. 

In this month’s blog post, we share more about our sessions including staff reflections from the 24 sessions held over the past year. We invite you to read these, reflect on your own journey around race, racism, and anti-racism, and learn more from the resource links included below. Below I share a summary of my impactful moment from a team conversation last year.
What's in a Name?
Board Director Icela Pelayo led a session for our staff and development partner called “What’s in a Name?” about the range of culturally responsive pedagogies and how they relate to our work at Family Engagement Lab. It’s powerful to see such a broad range of academic research that recognizes families, cultural and linguistics contexts, and home environments as assets to student learning. The evidence, strategies, and tools exist to support kids through school-family partnership, we just need the collective will to implement them.
Sincerely,

Vidya Sundaram
CEO and Co-Founder
What We're Learning: Resources from Family Engagement Lab’s Bi-Weekly Meetings on Race, Racism, and Anti-Racism
Upcoming Events
March 2, 2022 | 1-2 p.m. | Webinar

​Co-founder and CEO of Family Engagement Lab Vidya Sundaram will be pitching about their product and sharing how you can support them in expanding their early childhood services on March 2, 2022, at Show+Tell: Promising Ventures Fellows. Learn more and register here.

March 8, 2022 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. CT
The recent edtech boom is happening against the backdrop of racial inequities brought to light by the George Floyd murder in 2020, growing violence against Asian-Americans, and severe underrepresentation and funding of female-led companies. During this session, participants will hear frank discussions from edtech leaders Anna Casalme (Novelly), Melanie Kong (Floop Edu), Sheetal Singh (Early Learning Lab), and Vidya Sundaram (Family Engagement Lab).

March 8, 2022 | 3:30-4:30 p.m. CT

Having a strong connection with families is paramount to building a student-centric school community. Yet often, families are overwhelmed by the variety of messaging channels and the volume of school messages – sometimes not even in their native language. During this lively session, participants will learn useful and easy-to-replicate tips for engaging families (even families who find schools inaccessible) across the various levels of their school community. Moderated by Frank Catalano of ParentSquare, panelists include Elisabeth O'Bryon (Family Engagement Lab), Renee Delport M.Ed (Kings Canyon Unified School District), and Sujata Wycoff (Cambridge Public Schools).
March 10, 2022 | 2:30-3:30 p.m. ET | Webinar
This “Family Engagement, Collaboration and Support" webinar is comprised of a panel of family engagement and math education experts and aims to highlight the opportunities schools and districts have to improve collaboration with families. Educators and families are invited to join this important discussion. Click here to register.
Contact Us
Have questions? Email us at felcommunications@fastalk.org.
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