2025-11-17T12:22:25-07:00 2025-06-30 990 2024-07-01 883806712 BLACK CALIFORNIANS UNITED FOR EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION BLAC 5108123390 374 Camelback Rd Pleasant Hill CA 94523 Keisha Nzewi Executive Director 5108123390 2025-11-10 1 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Keisha Nzewi 374 Camelback Rd Pleasant Hill CA 94523 1040489 0 X blackece.org X 2022 CA Black Californians United for Early Care and Education is committed to disrupting and abolishing over 400 years of intentionally designed institutional and systemic racism. We work to ensure California's ECE system is culturally affirming for Black children, families, and early educators, and that ECE policies and resource allocation are aligned to match our vision. 5 4 6 35 0 0 734194 1040489 28006 0 0 0 0 0 762200 1040489 0 0 0 0 425297 530778 0 0 0 249956 286365 675253 817143 86947 223346 503591 718421 13846 5330 489745 713091 X Black Californians United for Early Care and Education is committed to disrupting and abolishing over 400 years of intentionally designed institutional and systemic racism. We work to ensure California's ECE system is culturally affirming for Black children, families, and early educators, and that ECE policies and resource allocation are aligned to match our vision. 1 0 3387 0 7400 We launched the Institute for Culturally Affirming Practices for Black Children because we know the stakes are high. Black children in early care and education (ECE) settings continue to face systemic inequities and are often either rendered invisible through underrepresentation or hypervisible and misrepresented through deficit-based lenses, both of which undermine their brilliance Too often, quality measures and professional development frameworks ignore the reality that Black families and Black educators are stewards of brilliance, cultural capital, and ways of knowing that not only benefit Black children but all children. Our vision was clear: to create a professional learning space that centers Black culture, language, and history, and equips early educators and ECE professionals with deeper awareness and practical strategies while building a community of practice committed to affirming Black children every single day. We designed the Institute as a five-session professional development journey curated and led by experts within the BlackECE coalition. Grounded in Black joy, love for Black children, and the pursuit of justice for Black people, the Institute deepened participants' awareness and planted seeds for culturally affirming strategies that uplift Black children, families, and communities. Each session blended theory with actionable practice and was complemented by reflection circles that provided space for dialogue, peer-to-peer learning, and deeper meaning-making. Twenty-four educators and leaders joined this inaugural cohort, representing program administrators, center-based educators, and family child care providers. Participants represented diverse communities across California, from Los Angeles to the Central Valley to the Bay Area. Most brought more than a decade of experience in ECE, while others were earlier in their journey but deeply committed to change. Together, they built a community of practice that combined lived experience, professional expertise, and shared purpose with the intention of shaping early learning, teacher preparation, and ECE systems in ways that affirm Black children. At the conclusion of the Institute, participants shared their perspectives and confidence. The post-survey captured how experiences across the five sessions influenced their practice and intentions moving forward. Participants reported: Stronger confidence across all practice areas: 100% felt confident applying affirming approaches (up from 76%), 80% in engaging families (up from 55%), 90% in addressing bias (up from 85%), and 90% in affirming multilingual learners including Black Language (up from 62%). High intentions to act: 100% were likely to advocate for affirming practices, 90% to share knowledge with peers, 90% to implement affirming practices, and 70% to adjust teaching or engagement strategies. Based on insights from the pre-survey, questions about coaching and technical assistance were added to the post-survey to better understand participants' ongoing support needs. Results showed: Mixed interest in coaching and technical assistance: 20% said yes, 30% maybe, and 50% no. Still, 90% were at least somewhat likely to participate if BlackECE offered it, with preferences for curriculum planning support, small-group peer coaching, and hands-on guidance. Beyond the numbers, participants described the Institute as transformative. As one reflected, "It feels refreshing to be in a space where we can actually say the word racism and not avoid it, because these conditions are real in our daily lives." Others spoke of the sessions as "planting seeds" that would guide their decisions long after the Institute, and of the call to "prepare, not just protect" children by naming racism and affirming identity. Participants highlighted how affirming Black English as a legitimate language shifted their sense of professional responsibility, and how seeing children's names, language, and culture honored changed what quality meant for them. These reflections show that the Institute did more than build skills; it reoriented mindsets toward cultural affirmation as the standard of quality. 75971 74100 We hosted our first annual Symposium, bringing together nearly 150 people, including early educators, researchers, policymakers, advocates, families and community stakeholders to advance policies and practices across California's early learning and care system. The symposium provided a much-needed space to affirm and recognize the importance of culturally affirming learning environments, where Black children are loved, nurtured, and safe, Black families are welcomed and engaged, and Black early care and education providers are respected and valued as the professionals they are. The event focused on our strategic priorities, racial wage justice, cultural affirmation and Reparations. 40439 41041 We help families and ECE programs discover the beauty of Black heritage with our "Black Family Culture Kits." Each kit, celebrating a unique aspect of Black culture, is filled with engaging activities and materials for Black families and their children. These kits offer a fun and educational way to connect with our roots and celebrate our rich history and traditions through four distinct themes throughout the year. Embrace this enriching cultural journey with your family. The kits are distributed four times a year, focusing on food, appreciation of all hair textures, skin colors, and a celebration of Juneteenth and music. 5243 0 5000 We provide three Black Family Cookout events in Compton, Merced and Walnut Creek, CA. With over 200 participants, we provided space for families, children and early educators to gather and celebrate Black culture, enjoy good food, and learn more about BlackECE. 5243 0 5000 125040 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 5 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 CA X Noelle Cummings 9257683617 8 Easter Ct Pacheco CA 94553 Keisha Nzewi Executive Director 32 X X 162000 0 0 Samantha Thompson Chief Operating Officer 32 0 X 130000 0 0 Lloyd Schine Board Member 0.5 0 X 0 0 0 Angela Jenkins Board Member 0.5 0 X 0 0 0 Dr Lee Johnson Board Member 0.5 0 X 0 0 0 Lea Austin Board President 0.5 0 X 0 0 0 292000 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1040489 0 1040489 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1040489 0 0 0 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 292000 292000 131094 131094 0 0 0 0 22907 22907 84777 84777 0 0 3000 3000 5073 5073 2500 2500 0 0 67805 67805 7635 7635 9300 9300 0 0 0 0 0 0 34730 34730 7933 7933 0 0 0 0 0 0 2188 2188 Payroll Processing Fees 4542 0 4542 0 Facility and Equipment Expense 324 0 324 0 Professional Development 6571 0 6571 0 Incentives and Gifts 1515 0 1515 0 133249 125040 8209 817143 125040 692103 0 503591 713091 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5330 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 503591 718421 13846 5330 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13846 5330 X 402798 550000 86947 163091 489745 713091 503591 718421 223346 0 0 0 0 0 X 0 0 0 X 0 0 125000 375000 832643 1332643 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 125000 375000 832643 1332643 1332643 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1332643 45553 X 0 0 125000 375000 832643 1332643 0 0 0 0 231957 231957 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 125000 375000 1064600 1564600 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1564600 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 125000 375000 1064600 1564600 1 1 0 0 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Keisha Nzewi Executive Director 162000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12000 0 174000 0 174000 0 Form 990, Part III, Line 2 This year we launched our professional development institute, a 10 hour training on culturally affirming practices for Black children. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b The form is shared electronically with board members for feedback prior to submission. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 We have made our documents available upon request. Form 990, Part IX, Line 11g Consultants: Organizational Development and Professional Development Institute Form 990, Part IX, Line 24e Black Family Culture Kit 40,439. Symposium Expense 75,971. PD Institute Expense 3,387 Black Family Cookout Expense 5243