Commission Co-chair, Peggy Riehl

Committee Co-Chair, Sue Nosek

Vision

We envision an interconnected environment that supports a sense of community and family, appreciating each person within the community. We see communities that provide for family needs (e.g. housing, food, health care, education, jobs) so that adults can attend to the raising of the next generation with hopes, dreams, and purpose. Children are grounded in and proud of their own identities. Community members understand the significance of identity such that there is a respect of others and a strengthening of others. Trust and communication are integral to interactions and facilitate working through differences. We recognize that working together toward common ground is sacred.

Mission

The Chicago Metro AEYC Culturally Relevant Anti-Bias Commission provides training, technical assistance, advocacy, and support to early childhood professionals locally and nationally around issues of respect, fairness, diversity, and equity. Through fostering reflective practice and activism, the Culturally Relevant Anti-Bias Commission works to develop the ultimate potential of children and families. (October 1998)

Current activities

We are continuing to collaborate with other Commissions. Our goal is to increase knowledge and capacity for anti-bias work throughout the field and to become knowledgeable about the issues addressed in other Commissions. Our goal is to encourage diverse membership in all levels of the organization and to plan programs that support the four goals of a culturally relevant anti-bias approach (self, others, critical thinking, standing up for justice). We continue to provide training and technical assistance. Please call us if you need assistance.

Meetings

All meetings are held on Mondays at 5:30 p.m. Meetings are usually held the third Monday of each month. Call Sue Nosek at 630-279-9242, or Peggy Riehl at 773-277-8554 for time and location.

Anti-bias curriculum: An activist approach to challenging prejudice, stereotyping, bias, and the "isms." In a society in which institutional structures create and maintain sexism, racism, and handicappism, it is not sufficient to be non-biased (and also highly unlikely), nor is it sufficient to be an observer. It is necessary for each individual to actively intervene, to challenge and counter the personal and institutional behaviors that perpetuate oppression.

~L. Derman-Sparks & the A.B.C. Task Force. (1989) Anti-bias Curriculum: Tools For Empowering Young Children.