June 2021 Newsletter
Congratulations, 2021 Powerful Families &
Fostering Family Leaders Graduates
During our 2020-2021 program year, BCDI-Atlanta graduated 45 participants from Powerful Families and 15 participants from Fostering Family Leaders.
Lifted Voices Fellow Feature
Lifted Voices is BCDI-Atlanta’s diversity, equity and inclusion program - a multi-tiered approach designed to systematically address the programmatic needs of social justice.

BCDI-Atlanta was recently featured in the U.S. Census Bureau Atlanta Region's 2021 Census Best Practices Showcase. The publication highlights our community work during the 2020 Census and Black Children Count initiative.


BCDI-Atlanta President Dr. Bisa Lewis and BCDI-Atlanta ECE Peer Coach Keisha McClendon are among the early education professionals chosen as speakers for CounciLIVE: the Council for Professional Recognition’s new live broadcast series featuring the most vital topics in early childhood practice, theory, research and advocacy today! 
The Council for Professional Recognition recently released the Child Development Associate® (CDA) Handbook for High School: A Guide to Advocacy and Implementation to support school systems in launching a CDA® high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. This FREE guide is filled with templates, workbooks, budgets, and guides for engaging administrators, instructors, and students in the development of a high school CDA training program.

BCDI-Atlanta President Dr. Bisa Lewis served as the Project Consultant on this publication. Check out her feature on the CDA Handbook for High School Launch Webinar.

Through our partners at Too Small to Fail, we are excited to share this month’s “Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing” bundle, Let’s Talk About Summer!

Summertime brings long and sunny days, warm weather, and so many opportunities for families to talk, read, and sing together! From talking about the summer sounds during a walk to munching on and counting orange slices, there are so many ways to bond and learn! This month's bundle is filled with ways to help parents and caregivers talk, read, and sing with their children about summer.

Download the JUNE Bundle:
Join us Wednesday, June 30 @ 3-5 PM EDT for the next Cultivate the Genius of Black Children online education session. Register for any or all parts of the series.  

***FREE for BCDI-Atlanta Members.***
COVID-19 Education, Testing & Vaccination

In May 2021, 800 COVID-19 vaccinations were administered through our Atlanta Choose Healthy Life partnership with United Way of Greater Atlanta, Ebenezer Baptist Church and local church partners.



In partnership with Lyft, United Way is helping more people access COVID-19 vaccines through the Ride United program. Don’t allow lack of transportation to keep you from getting your vaccine. Dial 2-1-1 to see if you qualify for a FREE or discounted ride!
Reflections from National Black Child Development Week (NBCDW) 2021
Each day during the week of June 7-11, BCDI-Atlanta shared resources to support Early Childhood Development and the Arts - the NBCDW 2021 theme. Thanks to everyone who shared their photos and videos with us!
BCDI-Atlanta packed and shipped an assortment of children's books, music CDs and learning materials to NBCDW 2021 participants.
Our July 13, 2021 meeting will include Summer Literacy Night: Read-alouds of children's books, followed by an activity panel and small-group breakouts for early educators and parents - all online via Zoom. Participants will receive FREE copies of featured books, thanks to our Read to Succeed program and Mayor's Summer Reading Club partnership.

BCDI-Atlanta is one of 23 organizations to receive Round 9 of COVID-19 Relief Funding to broaden equitable access to vaccinations.
BCDI-Atlanta membership gives access to resources you need to make a positive impact in the lives of Black children and their families and enables the organization to engage in collective, strengths-based culturally relevant education and advocacy.

Is your NBCDI and BCDI-Atlanta Membership current?
We Want to Feature You

Founded in 1981, BCDI-Atlanta is celebrating our 40th Anniversary all year! We'd love to share your stories and memories as a partner, member or program participant! Please fill in this BCDIAtl40 Form, so we may recognize you.
Choose “Black Child Development Institute-Atlanta” as your charity.
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