Past Events

November 13, 2024, 6:00-7:30 pm, Epiphany Early Learning Preschool, Seattle, WA. Families Embracing Anti-Bias Values Screening
Facilitated parent-teacher discussion with Debbie LeeKeenan

November 6-9, 2024, NAEYC Annual Conference, Anaheim, California.

Session 1, Nov. 7,2024 1:00-2:30pm PST, Room 254 AB,  Developing Culturally Responsive Family Partnerships in Kindergarten: Communicating About the Value of Play and Honoring Families’ Funds of Knowledge
Presenters: Iris Chin Ponte and Debbie LeeKeenan

Session 2, Nov. 8, 2024 1:00-2:30pm PST Room 264 AB,  Empowering Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities: Strategies to support AA&NHPI children, families, and educators for a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable society.
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan , Ninderjit Gill, Sala Satakara, Caryn Park

Session 3, Nov. 8, 2024, 3:00-5:00pm PST,  What kind of world do we want to create with our children? A film screening of “Families Embracing Anti-Bias Values”
Presenters: John Nimmo,  Debbie LeeKeenan, Filiz Efe McKinney, Cassie Worley

October 30, 2024, 5:30-7:30pm PST, College of Education University of Washington, Seattle, WA, Film Screening of Families Embracing Anti-bias Values
Conversation with Producer Debbie LeeKeenan
Sign up here!

October 24, 2024, 7:00-8:30pm PST, South Seattle College Cooperative Preschools, Seattle, WA, Film Screening of Families Embracing Anti-bias Values
Conversation with Producer Debbie LeeKeenan

October 18, 2024, College of Education, California State University at Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, Film Screening of Families Embracing Anti-bias Values
Conversation with Producer Debbie LeeKeenan

October 17, 2024, 6:30-8:30pm, Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, California State University at Fullerton, Fullerton, CA. Film Screening of Reflecting on Anti-Bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Conversation with Producer Debbie LeeKeenan

October 10, 2024, 6:00-7:30pm PST, WAEYC Annual Conference, Seattle Airport Marriot Hotel and Convention Center, Seattle, WA. Film Screening of Families Embracing Anti-bias Values.
Panel discussion and conversation, led by  Producers Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo, and Director Filiz Efe McKinney.  Open to the public. All welcome.

August 27, 2024, Bunker Hill Community College, Boston, MA. Families Embracing Anti-bias Values
Join producer Debbie LeeKeenan for an in-person exclusive pre-release screening of the film, Families Embracing Anti-bias Values.

August 8, 2024, 9:30am EDT, Strategies For Children, Boston, MA. Families Embracing Anti-bias Values
Join producer Debbie LeeKeenan on the Morning Call to talk about anti-bias education and families. She will share a few video clips from her upcoming new film  “Families Embracing Anti-bias Values”, which will be available in Fall 2024.

June 21-22, 2024, Idaho AEYC Early Learning Conference, Boise, Idaho. Leadership Series
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan and Iris Chin Ponte
Session 1: Defining School Readiness –  Shifting the Focus from Child Readiness to School Readiness
Session 2: Observation, Assessment, and Documentation to Support Children’s Learning
Session 3: Welcoming all Families to School

June 6, 2024, Balanced Family Academy, Columbus Ohio. A Conversation about  Anti-bias Education
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

May 1, 2024, Sound Child Care Solutions, Seattle, WA. Engaging with Families in Anti-bias Partnerships: Learning from and with Families.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Professional Development Day Keynote talk.

April 24, 2024, 7:00 pm, South Seattle College Cooperative Preschools, Seattle, WA, Families Engaging in Anti-bias Education: What Kind of World Do We Want to Create with Our Children?
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

April 16-19, 2024, World Forum on Early Care and Education, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Race, Racism, Equity and Diversity
Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo will be part of an international panel on Race, Racism, Equity and Diversity.

February 28, March 20, April 3, 2024 Somerville Public Schools Early Education, Somerville, MA. Teaching for Equity and Agency: Intentional Strategies that Support Anti-bias Education
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan and Lisa Kuh
Intentional teaching strategies such as designing compelling materials, giving explicit presentations, responsive scaffolding, and following children’s interests are integral to the Anti-bias Education goals of identity, diversity, justice, and action. In order for teachers to develop agency as they use these approaches, they need an understanding of the frameworks and how to apply them. In this 3-part series, we provide opportunities to apply the ideas related to Anti-bias Education and Complementary Curriculum in your classroom immediately. Through a combination of presentation, discussion, reflection, and short classroom-based assignments you will learn more about these frameworks and the practical strategies for your classroom.

March 22, 2024, Organization for the Parenting Education Programs of Washington (OPEP) , Bellevue college, Bellevue, WA. Engaging Families in Anti-bias Partnerships.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Professional Development Teacher Retreat. Event registration will open in Mid-February. More details will be available at that time.

January 31, 2024, Shoreline Cooperative Preschool, Shoreline, WA, Supporting Children’s Identity Development
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Parent-Teacher Workshop. This session will focus on how children develop their social identities and how to best support them. 

January 10 and 17, 2024, Pacific Primary School, San Francisco, California. We are not the same:  Mirrors and Windows: Making Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Cultures Visible for All Children
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Professional Development Workshop

January 8, 2024, Oakland Unified School District, Oakland, California, Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Film screening and professional development workshop for early childhood educators

November 27, 2023, Montessori School of Northampton, Northampton, MA. Professional Development Day
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Full day professional development on Anti-bias Education

November 15-18, 2023, NAEYC Annual Conference, Nashville, Tennessee.
Session 1, Nov. 15, 8:30-11:00am Featured Session:  “Leading for equity and change in the here and now: Anti-bias/Anti-racist education for our children, their families … and ourselves!”
Presenters: John Nimmo, Iheoma Iruka, Debbie LeeKeenan, Rukia Monique Rogers
Session 2, Nov. 16, 3:00-4:30pm Featured Session: “Responding to the “Culture Wars” with Empowerment, Hope  and Action”
Facilitated by the People of Color Caucus  (Asian Interest Forum, Black Caucus, Diversity and Equity Education for Adults Interest Forum, Latino Interest Forum, Tribal and Indigenous Interest Forum)
Session 3: November 16, 2023 6:00-6:45pm, Asian Interest Forum Meeting
Special Guest: Michelle Kang NAEYC CEO
Come and join the Asian Interest Forum. The AIF brings together early education practitioners to share knowledge, perspectives, and informational resources for educating and providing optimal and culturally responsive early childhood environments for infants and young children of Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander descent around the globe. At this meeting we will network, share our stories and resources, as well as discuss ideas for future projects, including a mentorship program.  Contribute your leadership for those who have an interest in serving AANHPI- ECE communities and celebrate AANHPI heritage and traditions in the realm of ECE! 
Session 4: November 17, 2023 10:00-11:30am “WE ARE NOT THE SAME: Mirrors and Windows: Making Asian American (AANHPI) Cultures Visible for All Children”
Presenters: Sandy Baba, Ninderjit Gill, Debbie LeeKeenan, Misa Okayama, Iris Chin Ponte

November 4, 2023, 4:00-6:00pm HST, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenter: John Nimmo
Film screening followed by a facilitated discussion with John. All are welcome to this zoom session. Sign up early and get a free book!

November 1, 2023, 5:00pm Eastern time/2:00pm Pacific, Teachers College Press, Raising Up Anti-Bias Education in a Time of Pushback
Presenters: Louise Derman-Sparks, Debbie LeeKeenan, John Nimmo, Karina Rojas
In this webinar for early childhood program leaders, school principals, coaches, and mentors, Louise Derman-Sparks, Debbie LeeKeenan, and John Nimmo will address the current climate of pushback and resistance to anti-bias education in early childhood programs, and present strategies ECE leaders can use to continue their work. The revised and updated second edition of their popular book, “Leading Anti-Bias Early Childhood Programs: A Guide to Change, for Change,” will be published by Teachers College Press in October 2023. The authors will be joined in conversation by contributor Karina Rojas, a center director serving a culturally and linguistically diverse early childhood community in West Seattle, Washington. The webinar will be followed by a Q&A.
Can’t make this date? Register anyway—you’ll receive a recording of the webinar when available.

October 13-14, 2023, WAEYC (Washington Association for the Education of Young Children) Annual conference, Seattle Tacoma Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, Seattle, Washington.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
October 13, 8:30-9:30am Keynote: Learning from and with Families Engaging in Anti-bias Education
October 13, 10:00am-12:00pm Session: Leading Anti-bias Education Early Childhood Programs: A Guide to Change, For Change.
Debbie will share insights about the role of the leader in creating the space for anti-bias change in your programs with staff as well as families, and how to navigate the inevitable tensions and conflict that occur as part of the process. Round table discussions will provide opportunities for participants to apply the ideas to their own settings and contexts.

August 8, 2023, Minneapolis College ECE programs, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Integrating Anti-bias Education into Our Thinking and Practice
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This session provides a practical and integrated framework for anti-bias education.  Discussion topics include: the diversity education continuum, facilitating conversations with children about identity, diversity, and equity, children’s social identity development, and making decisions about culturally responsive environments and curriculum experiences.  Small group breakouts include unpacking and practicing with real classroom scenarios.

August 8, 2023, 9:00-11:00am, Kling Public Media Center, Minnesota Public Radio Headquarters, 480 Cedar Street, St. Paul, MN 55101, Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years. A Film Screening and Conversation from Early Risers.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Join us in viewing the award-winning film Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years, followed by a conversation with the film’s co-producer and early childhood expert, Debbie LeeKeenan.

June 9-10, 2023, Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (IDAEYC) Professional Development Institute, Boise, Idaho, From Survive to Thrive: A Director’s Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan and Iris Chin Ponte
Leadership workshops.

June 4-7, 2023, NAEYC Professional Learning Institute, Portland, Oregon

June 4, 2:00-4:00pm, We are Parenting in Real Time – Be Patient with Us! Stories from Families Engaging in Anti-bias Education – Everything, Everywhere, All at Once.
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan, John Nimmo, Lesa Valenzuela
The session will offer insights on how families are raising their children with an anti-bias lens in their homes, schools, and communities. Families are earnestly engaged in supporting their child to feel confident about who they are, to provide a sense of belonging, and to be a “just” person. Depending on who they are and their personal experiences and histories, families come with their own fears, concerns, strengths, challenges, and possibilities around this work. We will share video stories from our new film in development about families engaging in anti-bias education. The role of families in navigating the anti-bias journey is different from and more emotionally charged and subjective than it is for schools. The session will offer practical strategies and tools on how to partner with  families in anti-bias education in your early childhood program. There will be small group and individual time for reflection and action planning on how to apply the ideas to your own programs/organizations.
June 5, 2:00-4:00pm, Play, emergent curriculum, and the joy of divergent thinking: Reflecting on the powerful legacy of Elizabeth (Betty) Jones, 1930-2022.
Presenters: John Nimmo & Sharon Cronin.
Gain insight into the powerful contributions of Elizabeth (Betty) Jones (1930-2022) to the field of ECE, with a focus on her remarkable understanding of play, emergent curriculum, adult learning, and the pursuit of equity. Hear stories and reflections from some of Betty’s colleagues and collaborators over the years about her extraordinary humanity and unique grasp of play in the lives of children and adults. Re-visit her ideas and practice in the context of current challenges and possibilities in the classroom and in the field.

May 5th, 2023. Culture, Rights and Anti-Bias Education: Stories from Diverse Global Contexts. World Forum on Early Care and Education, Panama City, Panama.
Presenters: John Nimmo, Melanie Borski-Howard, Andrea Cleland, & Judith Cosmas Lamosai.
How do we understand and enact child, family, and practitioner rights and the goals of anti-bias education in the context of diverse cultures and global settings? This panel shared insights and stories from a hospital in Tanzania, and from libraries and early childhood programs in the USA.

April 6-7, 2023, University Child Development School, Seattle, WA. Integrating Anti-bias Education into Our Thinking and Practice
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Professional development workshop for Faculty.

March 16, 2023, 1-2pm EDT, The Key Role of Educators in the Emerging Field of Children’s Racial Learning, sponsored by EmbraceRace.
Presenters: Andrew Grant-Thomas Ph.D., Debbie LeeKeenan, Christina Rucinski Ph.D.
In this edWebinar we explore how effective guidance and modeling from adults can help children refrain from developing racial biases and anxieties and can prepare children to act in ways that help dismantle structural racism.

March 4, 2023, The Child Care Resource & Referral (CCRR) Programs in the Interior Region of British Columbia, Canada, Interior Early Years Conference: Creating Inclusive Communities with Anti-bias Education
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Participants will learn about the framework and goals for an anti-bias education approach that is relevant to both children and adults. The session will include practical and integrated strategies for responding to children’s questions about human diversity and bias, as well as the importance of the adult anti-bias journey  to understand our own social identities and the impact it has on our work with children and families. Breakouts will include applying the ideas to real life classroom scenarios.

November 16-19, 2022, Washington, D.C. National Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference.
Debbie will be presenting at two different sessions; come join her!
1) November 18, 8-9:30am, Leading with an Equity Lens: Lessons from Multiple Pandemics of Covid 19, Racial Justice, and Climate Change
2) November 18, 6-8:00pm, Advancing Early Literacy, Language Development and Advocacy Through Storytelling and Publication – An Asian American Perspective

November 5, 2022, Medford, MA, Tufts University, Eliot Pearson Children’s School (EPCS) Centennial Discussion Forum, Reflective Dialogue on EPCS’s Core Values: Anti-bias Education & Inclusive Education, Mindfulness, Nature Connection and Stewardship
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Debbie LeeKeenan, former EPCS Director, will screen her film, Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years and  be part of a panel discussion on anti-bias perspectives at this hybrid event.

October 5 and 19, 2022, Washington State Library Services, Anti-Bias Education and Children’s Literature: Provoking Courageous Conversations.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
A two-part webinar series. Changing demographics, shifts in social views, and polarizing political issues all present challenges and complexities to us as professionals interested in social justice education. It is recommended participants view Reflecting on Anti-bias in Action: The Early Years, in advance of the sessions. This webinar series comprises two workshops, and you do need to register for each one separately. You can register for one or both (see below).
Wednesday, October 5^th: 1:00-2:30 p.m.
This first session in a two-part series will provide a framework for anti-bias education.
Wednesday, October 19^th: 1:00-2:30 p.m.
This second session in a two-part series will provide strategies on using children’s literature to provide mirrors and windows to the world and as an opportunity to engage children in courageous conversation about potentially challenging topics.

August 24, 2022, Seattle Department of Education & Early Learning, Integrating Anti-bias Education into your Thinking and Practice
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
An Inservice Workshop.

August 22, 2022, 9-11:30am. Seattle Department of Education & Early Learning, The Role of the Leader in Building Anti-Bias ECE Programs.
Presenter: John Nimmo
An Inservice Workshop.

July 7, 2022, 3-4pm EST, CAYL (Creating Architects of Change) Webinar, Activating Antibias Approaches In The Early Years.
Presenters: Louise Derman-Sparks, Valora Washington, Debbie LeeKeenan, and Nadia Jaboneta
Innovate … Activating Anti-Bias Approaches. What does it mean to be Anti-Racist? Anti-Biased? Inclusive? How can we take these ideas and incorporate them into ECE policy, curriculum and the classroom? Join the conversation with our diverse panel of ECE anti-bias experts as they share innovative methods on how to apply these concepts into actionable steps and approaches.

June 16, 2022, 7-8:30pm PST, Pike Market Child Care and Preschool, Seattle, WA, Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Join Pike Market Child Care and Preschool for a special film screening and conversation with Debbie LeeKeenan, co-producer of the award winning documentary film, Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years. The 48 minute film, features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film and its 3 minute trailer were released on April 1, 2021 and have been viewed over 100,000 times around the world. Debbie and her co-producer, John Nimmo, partnered with filmmaker Filiz Efe McKinney of Brave Sprout Productions to create a film that shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. The film’s framework is based on theory and research from her 2015 book by Derman-Sparks, LeeKeenan and Nimmo, Leading Anti-Bias Early Childhood Programs: A Guide for Change.

May 19, 2022, Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children (MAAEYC), A Panel Discussion: Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

May 10, 2022, Ventura County Office of Education Early Childhood Programs, Camarillo, CA. Anti-bias Lecture.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

May 6, 2022, Eastern Oregon Early Learning Hub, Full day Professional Development Workshop: Integrating Anti-bias Education into our Thinking and Practice.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

May 4, 2022, ETFO Peel Elementary Teachers Local District, Ontario Canada. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Film screening and facilitated discussion with co-producer Debbie LeeKeenan. This award winning film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education. 

April 25, 2022. University of Oregon Early Childhood Centers, Eugene, OR. Integrating Anti-bias Education into our Thinking and Practice Workshop.
Presenter: John Nimmo

April 25 and 28, 2022, 6:00-7:30 pm EST, Early Education and Care, Somerville Public Schools, Somerville, MA, Antibias Education Professional Development Workshops
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

April 2, 2022, Family Tree Baltimore City Child Care Resource Center, Baltimore, MD. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Film screening and facilitated discussion. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education. 

April 1, 2022. Tulsa Educare, OK. Integrating Anti-bias Education into our Thinking and Practice.
Presenter: John Nimmo

March 23, 2022, Birth to 3rd Grade Partnership, Cambridge, MA.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan, Panelist
Diversity/equity/inclusion (DEI) training

March 11, 2022, San Diego County Office of Education, CA, Early Years Conference, Keynote: Social Justice in Early Education and Care
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This two-day professional learning event will focus on social justice in early childhood education and ensuring that all children and families receive educational and social opportunities that are responsive to their cultural identity. High-quality programs put social justice teaching front and center by prioritizing anti-bias and culturally sensitive teaching.

March 1 and 8, 2022, Manitoba Child Care Association, Manitoba, Canada. Leading with an Equity Lens.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
In a two part webinar series, we discuss how program leaders play a vital role in creating the culture and foundation for anti-bias education in the program. They need to create a safe and brave space to do the work, ensure it is part of the mission, vision and values of the program, and need to be inclusive in the process of building the anti-bias community. A leader’s job is to integrate the equity stance in all aspects of the program – including policies and procedures, hiring, supervision and professional development for staff, budget, and engaging families.

February 28, 2022, 7:00-8:30pm PST, North Seattle Parent Education Cooperative Preschool workshop, Anti-bias Education at home and in school.
Presenters: Jamie Cho, Julie Bisson, Debbie LeeKeenan
Please join us for a panel discussion on how to implement anti-bias education at school & at home, with expert early childhood educators!

February 8 and 10, 2022, 6:30-7:45pm PST, OneSky Community Resources, Penticton, BC. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education: The Early Years
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan and Nadia Jaboneta
Two part webinar discussion on Anti-bias Education.
Feb. 8, 2022 : Join us for a special viewing of the film, Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years with co-producer, Debbie LeeKeenan. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education. 
Feb. 10, 2022:  The second webinar is a panel discussion with featured teachers from the film, including Nadia Jaboneta,  to go more in-depth on the ideas and issues presented in the film, and applications to your own setting.

February 8, 2022. Old Firehouse School (OFS), Early Childhood Institute, San Francisco, CA. Our Identities, Our Vision, Our Practices.
Presenter: John Nimmo

January 31, 2022,  Jewish Early Childhood Conference – Paradigm Project. Live Webinar: The Role of the Leaders in Anti-bias Change
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Integrating an equity approach to diversity into early childhood education programs calls for both visionary and strategic leadership. This presentation will discuss strategies for creating the culture for creativity, risk-taking and co-learning, managing conflict and engaging teachers and families.

January 22-30, 2022, Early Years Exchange Virtual Conference 2022, sponsored by Taipei American School, Taipei, Taiwan. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Debbie is the keynote speaker and will screen the film, Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years. In addition she will present two follow up workshops:
1)Talking about Race, Racism and Social Justice with Young Children;
2) Responding to Children’s Comments and Questions about Differences.
The film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education.

August, 2021 – January, 2022, United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona. Four part Webinar series, Integrating ABE into our thinking and practice
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

January 18-22, 2022, Early Childhood Programs and Services, Plainfield  Public School District, NJ. Integrating ABE Into Your Thinking and Practice.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
A mini institute for early childhood educators in the Plainfield Public School District.

November 19, 2021, Henry Frost Children’s Program, Belmont, MA, Anti-bias Workshop for Staff.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

November 18, 2021, Department of Child and Family Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo
Film screening and facilitated discussion. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education. 

November 16, 2021, 6:00pm, Vashon Island Early Childhood Education Community, Vashon, WA. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan and Filiz Efe McKinney
Film screening and facilitated discussion at the Vashon Theater, 17723 Vashon Highway SW, Vashon, WA. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education. 

November 7-9, 2021, NAEYC Annual Virtual Conference, Anti-Bias “Activism” with Young Children: Performance or Agency? Uncovering Meaningful Possibilities in Your Community.
Presenters: John Nimmo, Debbie LeeKeenan, Nadia Jaboneta, Brian Silveira

November 5, 2021, CMAS Supporting the Settlement of Young Immigrant and Refugee children, Toronto, Canada. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan, John Nimmo, and Nadia Jaboneta
Film screening and facilitated discussion. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education. 

November 4, 2021, 6-7:30pm, United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, Great Expectations project. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan and Brian Silveira
Film screening and facilitated discussion. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education. 

October 23, 2021, Northwest Teaching for Social Justice Conference, Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenters:  Debbie LeeKeenan,  John Nimmo, Nadia Jaboneta, and Veronica Reynoso
Using the film Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action : The Early Years as a provocation for discussion, this moderated panel will provide an in-depth look into two classroom vignettes with the co-producers and two featured teachers from the film. The film, organized by the four interconnected anti-bias goals of identity, diversity , justice and action, will examine how to cultivate a joyful, strengths-based, and identity-affirming image of children and teachers – curious, complex, active, reflective, and loving. 

October 20, 2021, 4-6:00pm EST, Bunker Hill Community College, Boston, MA. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan, Veronica Reynoso, Joyce Jackson and Julie Bisson
Film screening and panel discussion. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education. 

October 16, 2021, 4pm PST, 5031 University Way NE, Seattle, WA. Social Justice Film Festival: Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan, John Nimmo, and Filiz Efe McKinney
In person film screening and discussion. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education. 

October 16, 2021, 9:00am-3:30pm CST, Manitoba Child Care Association, Manitoba, Canada. Integrating Anti-bias Education into our Thinking and Practice
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo
This day long workshop will explore steps in creating a more inclusive, welcoming and equitable program for young children and their families. Participants will learn about a framework and goals for an anti-bias education approach and how these address children’s development of social identities and understanding of human diversity and bias. The session will include practical and integrated strategies for responding to children’s questions and having honest and brave conversations about challenging topics, creating responsive environments and curriculum experiences, engaging  families in anti-bias education, and managing conflict.
Debbie and John’s recent new film, Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years will be used as a provocation for dialogue and discussion.  Break out groups will examine real life scenarios and provide opportunities for reflection and application to your own setting.

October 11, 2021, Diversity in Early Childhood Education and Training: International Online Conference. Equity and Social Justice Practice in Early Childhood Education & Care.
Presenters: Petra Wagner, Louise Derman-Sparks, Dalvir Gill, Mathias Urban
An online conference of 70 professionals from six countries who are interested in and are working to promote and implement an anti-bias approach in early childhood education and care.

October 8, 2021, 6-7:00pm PST, Fullerton College Child Development & Educational Studies Department, Fullerton, California, Presents the 4th Annual Chris Lamm Legacy Lecture, Citizenship Rights and Young Children’s Participation in the Public Realm: Reflections from Diverse Global Contexts.
Presenter: John Nimmo

October 5-26, 2021, Institute of Excellence in Early Care and Education, Palm Beach State College, Lake Worth, FL. Integrating ABE Into Our Thinking and Practice.- 4 part mini-institute.Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

September 29-30, 2021, Vermont AEYC Conference. Anti-bias Education Keynote and Workshop.
Presenters: Louise Derman-Sparks and Debbie LeeKeenan

September 25, 2021, 2:30pm PST, Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, Seattle, WA. Theatrical Premier: Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan, John Nimmo, and Filiz Efe McKinney
We are so excited to announce our film, Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years, has been officially selected by Local Sightings Film Festival. While we’ve shown the film at virtual events across the globe to almost 50,000 people, this will be the first time it’ll be playing in an honest to goodness cinema. So we’ll be there, dressed to the nines and hanging out with some of the amazing teachers and directors from our featured schools. After the screening, you’ll want to stick around for the Q&A session with the filmmakers and some very special guests.
If you can’t make it in person, never fear, we’ve got you covered! The film will also be part of the Local Sightings virtual program. So, wherever you are, we hope you can join us.

September 9, 2021, Fullerton Lab School, Fullerton College, Fullerton, CA. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan and Nadia Jaboneta
Film screening and facilitated discussion, sponsored by the San Diego Reggio Roundtable. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education.

September 1, 2021. Siemans Child Development Center, Wilsonville, OR. Integrating Anti-Bias Education into our Thinking and Practice.
Presenter: John Nimmo

August 19, 2021, 6:00-8:00pm, Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C), Louisville, KY. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years.
Presenters: John Nimmo and Brian Silviera
An online workshop discussing the film Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years.

August 2, 2021, Gan Shalom Preschool, Bloomfield, Indiana. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Film screening and facilitated discussion. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education. 

July 22-24, 2021, Film Screening at Frog street SPLASH Early Childhood Conference, Grapevine, TX
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Film screening and facilitated discussion of Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education.

July 19-22, 2021, Institute of Excellence in Early Care and Education, Palm Beach State College, Lake Worth, FL. Integrating ABE Into Our Thinking and Practice.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
A mini institute for trainers who are part of the IEECE community.

June 28, 2021, Institute of Excellence in Early Care and Education, Palm Beach State College, Lake Worth, FL. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Film screening and facilitated discussion. Open to the community. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education.

June 8, 2021, Equity Symposium for the Elgin Public Schools, Elgin, Illinois. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Film screening and discussion of the award winning new film, Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years, with co-producer Debbie LeeKeenan. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity and diversity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education and provides a much-needed resource for teacher education and professional development . The film is co-produced with John Nimmo and in partnership with Filiz Efe McKinney of Brave Sprout Productions.

June 3, 2021, 6:00-8:00pm PDT, Pacific Primary School, San Francisco, CA. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan, Belann Giarretto, Madonna Stancil, Nadia Jaboneta, and Brian Silveira
San Francisco Early Childhood Educators, please join us for a screening of the film.
The film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education. 
The screening will be followed by a conversation facilitated by creator Debbie LeeKeenan with Pacific Primary Executive Director Belann Giarretto, Director Madonna Stancil and two teachers featured in the film, Nadia Jaboneta and Brian Silveira.
The panel will present additional information about Pacific Primary’s anti-bias work and commitment to social justice. 

May 27, 2021, University of Wyoming Early Childhood Outreach Network, Laramie, WY. State-wide Book Study Culminating Event on Leading Anti-bias Early Childhood Programs: A Guide for Change.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Meet the author!

May 25, 2021, 8:00-10:00pm EDT, embracerace.org. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan, John Nimmo, Joyce Jackson, Nadia Jaboneta
Webinar, film screening and facilitated discussion. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education.

May 21, 2021, Child Development Laboratory Schools, Michigan State University, Lansing , MI. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Film screening and facilitated discussion. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education.

May 20, 2021, 7:00-9:00pm EDT, University of Massachusetts at Boston, Boston, MA.  Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo
Join us via Zoom as we engage educators and the public in promoting anti-bias conversation and action within early childhood education and care. The session will include a free virtual film screening of the recently released Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years followed by a panel discussion with filmproducers Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo, early educators Caryn Park and Nicole Johnson, and discussant Mark Warren, moderated by Lianna Pizzo (see bios for more information). This project is being funded by the Racial Justice Committee within the College of Education and Human Development at UMass Boston in a grant to Dr. Mona Abo-Zena (Assistant Professor), Isabela Garcia Senent (Lecturer), Lindsay Beatty (Doctoral Candidate) and Dr. Lianna Pizzo (Associate Professor).

May 14, 2021, St John’s Episcopal Preschool, Washington DC. Integrating Anti-bias Education into our Thinking and Practice.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenanAll staff workshop and film screening of Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education.

May 12, 2021, 1:15-4:15pm EDT, Newtowne Preschool, Cambridge, MA, Anti-bias Workshop for Staff.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
All staff workshop and film screening of Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education.

April 27, May 5, May 11, 2021, Somerville, MA Partnership for Young Children (SPYC) presents Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan and Nadia Jaboneta
Film screening with two follow up workshops on anti-bias education. The film, Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years, features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education.

May 4, 2021,  7:00-9:00pm EST, Boston Area Reggio Inspired Network (BARIN), Boston, MA, Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years. 
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan, John Nimmo, Veronica Reynoso and Brian Silveira.
Film screening and facilitated discussion. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education.
Free and open to the public.

April 29, 2021, 7:00-8:30pm PST, Snohomish Cooperative Preschool, Snohomish, WA, Creating Inclusive Communities: Responding to Children’s Questions about Differences.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This workshop will provide families and educators with a framework for anti-bias education and practical tips on how to respond to children’s comments and questions about differences, how social identity develops in young children and beyond, and how to have courageous conversations about potentially challenging topics.

April 22, 2021, Wyoming Early Childhood Outreach Network. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan, Veronica Reynoso and Brian Silveira
Film screening and facilitated discussion. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education.

April,23, 2021. ENNEA International Professional Interdisciplinary Community of Expert Learning in Early and Preschool education, Zagreb (virtual), Croatia. Citizenship Rights and Young Children’s Participation in the Public Realm: Reflections on Reggio Inspirations in the Light of Diverse Global Contexts.
Presenter: John Nimmo

April 21, 2021, www.kidsandcompany.com, Ontario, Canada. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan and Julie Bisson
Film screening and facilitated discussion. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education.

April 19, 2021, 6:00-7:30pm MST, Tucson Children’s Project, Tuscon, AZ. Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo
View the documentary and hear from film makers. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education.

March 5,  2021, California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools (CCPPNS) Convention 2021. A New Film: Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Practice.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This keynote will be an opportunity to view curated clips from Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo’s new film, Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years, and a panel discussion with some of the teachers in the film. This film features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. The film shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education.

January 27, 2021, 7:00-8:30 pm CST, Manitoba Child Care Association, Manitoba, Canada. Integrating Anti-bias Education into our Thinking and Practice (Webinar)
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This webinar will provide practical tips and strategies for building the  culture and environment for inclusive  anti-bias communities for young children, families and staff.  Highlighted will be how to  design culturally responsive environments, responding to children’s questions about differences, and choosing books and materials that provide mirrors and windows to the world.

2021 World Education Research Association Focal Meeting, Santiago de Compostela, Spain (virtual). Cultural Navigators Making P.A.C.T.S with African Immigrant and Refugee Families: An Emerging Culturally Responsive Family-School-Community Partnership Model
Presenters: John Nimmo & Jada Phelps.

December 9, 2020, 7:00-8:30 pm EST, Boston Area Reggio Inspired Network (fall 2020 webinars).  Engaging Families and Growing Anti-bias Partnerships.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This session will provide a framework for engaging families using a funds of knowledge approach, strategies for making families welcome and visible, family anti-bias education and dialogues, and managing conflict in partnerships.

Oct-Dec, 2020, Project ECHO in Early Childhood, a partnership with the University of Wyoming College of Education and the Wyoming Institute for Disabilities. Webinar Series (4 sessions) on Anti-bias Education.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Each session will occur from 1:00-2:15pm MST.
October 9, 2020: Children are aware of differences from very young ages. Learn strategies and tools to help children think and talk about their ideas and feelings about themselves, the differences and similarities among people, about fairness and unfairness in people’s interactions with each other, and a framework for anti-bias education.
October 23, 2020: This session will provide practical tips and strategies for building the culture and environment for inclusive communities for young children. families and staff. Highlighted will be how to make a safe and brave space for dialogue, learning, resiliency, and growth, designing culturally responsive environments, and choosing books and materials that provide mirrors and windows to the world.
November 20, 2020: Partnering with families to support children is a cornerstone of early childhood education. Parents are the children’s first teachers. Practical strategies for working with families using a funds of knowledge/strength based approach, making families welcome and visible, building family participation, family dialogues, and managing and negotiating conflict.
December 4, 2020: Changing demographics, shifts in social views, polarizing political issues, converging pandemics of Covid-19 and racism, all present challenges and complexities to us as educators interested in social justice education. Strategies for facilitating conversations that matter about potentially challenging topics will be highlighted.

November 19, 2020, 8:30-9:30pm EST,  embracerace.org, Embrace Race webinar: Nurturing Resilience & Joy in/among Young BIPOC Children, Part 2: Role of the Educator
Debbie LeeKeenan will be a panelist on this webinar discussing how educators can nurture resilience and joy in Black and Indigenous children and children of color. If we are to raise a generation of BIPOC children who fully recognize their own humanity, and that of their peers within and across lines of race and ethnicity, we need the entire village involved: families, educators, and everyone else who cares about children.

November 17, 2020 10:00-11:30am CST, Manitoba Child Care Association, Manitoba, Canada. Strategic Planning For Anti-bias Education (Webinar)
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This session, designed for program leaders, directors, supervisors and mentors, will examine how to strategically plan and implement anti-bias change in your program. This process involves gathering a baseline understanding of your context, analyzing strengths and resources, as well as obstacles and barriers, identifying and implementing anti-bias goals and monitoring progress. Practical strategies and tools for developing program culture, working with staff, teachers and families will be shared.

November 12, 2020, 6:30-8:00 pm PST, Seattle Area Anti-Bias/Anti-Racism Working Group for Early Childhood Educators.
Presenters:  Debbie LeeKeenan, Ijumaa Jordan, and Julie Bisson
This is a discussion group for Seattle based early childhood teachers, directors, mentor teachers, program supervisors, college faculty and others who want to improve their AB/AR practice. It’s a place where we can come together and talk about challenges, dilemmas, and successes in our programs and share ideas and support each other in making real change in our daily practice.

November 9, 2020, 7:00-8:30 pm EST, Boston Area Reggio Inspired Network (fall 2020 webinars). The Adult Anti-Bias Journey.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
An anti-bias program puts diversity and equity goals at the center of all aspects of an organization and daily life. It is not just for children but for adults in the program: teachers, staff and families. This first session will examine the different stages of the adult anti-bias journey, social identity development, and strategies for working with staff and educators in developing their anti-bias skills.

October 21, 2020, 1:00-4:00pm EST, Newtowne School, Cambridge, MA. Anti-bias Education workshop.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

October 7, 2020 7:00-8:30pm CST, Manitoba Child Care Association, Manitoba, Canada. Talking about Race and Social Justice with Young Children (Webinar)
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This session will provide strategies for talking about race, racism, police violence and protest with young children. We will examine shifting from being an inclusive educator to being an anti-bias and anti-racist educator.  Practical techniques for facilitating conversations that matter and using children’s literature to promote social justice will be discussed.

September 26, 2020, University of Wyoming Early Childhood Outreach Network. Statewide Early Childhood Conference. Keynote Talk: Integrating Anti-bias Education into our Thinking and Practice.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Debbie LeeKeenan, Lecturer and Co-Author of Leading Anti-bias Early Childhood Programs: A Guide for Change, will discuss steps in creating a more inclusive and welcoming program. This keynote talk will provide an overview of the core values and goals of an anti-bias education approach and how these address children’s development of identity and understanding of human diversity and bias. We will discuss practical and integrated approaches to anti-bias education in classrooms for children and we will support teachers in their own anti-bias adult journey to respond thoughtfully to children’s questions and make decisions about responsive environments and curriculum experiences.

August 19, 2020, The Little School, Bellevue, WA. Professional Development Day: “Anti-bias Education in Changing and Challenging Times.“
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Changing demographics, shifts in social views, polarizing political issues, and multiple pandemics of Covid-19 and racism,  all present challenges and complexities to us as educators interested in social justice education. This talk will provide a framework and practical strategies for responding to children’s questions about differences, how social identity develops in young children and how to have conversations that matter about potentially challenging topics.

July 1-31, 2020 NAEYC Virtual Professional Development Insitute. From Survive to Thrive by Leading with an Equity Lens: Exploring “She, He, They?” in a Case Study from the Classroom
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan, Iris Chin Ponte
This session explores what it means to lead with an equity lens- whether you are a program leader, director, coach or teacher. Using the NAEYC advancing equity position statement as a framework, this session will focus on specific strategies and tools equity leaders can implement on the administrative level, working with staff and working with families. We will share a preschool curriculum about “identity” and what children, teachers, families and leaders learned from it. Ample opportunity will be provided for problem-solving and action planning for your own setting.
The institute is free of charge and participants will receive certificates for each session they view.
Find out more here: https://www.naeyc.org/virtual-institute

Nov. 7, 2019, 6:00-8:00pm, Pikes Market ChildCare Program, All School Conversation on Anti-Bias Education 101.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
A Conversation Grounded in Children’s Comments and Questions about Differences.

Nov. 5, 2019, South Seattle College Coop Preschools Professional Development Workshop for Faculty, Integrating Anti-bias Education into the Curriculum
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

Nov. 1, 2019, Lesley Ellis School, Arlington, MA. Professional Development Day Customized Workshop for Faculty.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

Oct. 30, 2019, Professional Development Session for Somerville Public Schools, Somerville, MA, From Survive to Thrive: Leading Early Childhood Programs.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Based on Debbie’s new book, From Survive to Thrive: A Director’s Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program, the focus of this interactive workshop is on the guiding principles and practical strategies that support program leaders of early childhood programs. Topics and issues to be discussed include: facilitative leadership, building the culture and context of your program, growing and maintaining great staff, and managing conflict. There will be opportunities throughout the session for dialogue, problem-solving and action-planning.

Oct. 28, 2019, City University of New York, Leadership Institute Early Childhood Director Conference. From Survive to Thrive: A Director’s Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program.
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan and Iris Chin Ponte
Keynote talk by Debbie and Iris.

Oct. 14, 2019, Pacific Primary, San Francisco, CA. Professional Development Workshop. Engaging families and Growing Anti-Bias Partnership.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This workshop will provide a framework for engaging families using a funds of knowledge approach, strategies for making families welcome and visible, family anti-bias education and dialogues, and managing conflict in partnerships.

October, 2019, St. Catherine’s University Montessori Conference, St. Paul, Minn. Keynote address: Integrating Anti-Bias Education Into our Thinking and Action.
Presenter: John Nimmo

October, 2019, 25th Annual Child Care and Education Researchers Roundtable, Salem, OR. Strengthening the Capacity of Cultural Navigators; A Cultural Wealth Model to Support Immigrants Families with the Bridge to Schools
Presenters: John Nimmo, Khatra Hussein, and Shelly Stratton

Aug. 19-20, 2019, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan. Professional Development  and Consulting on Anti-bias Education.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

July 16, 2019, Full day Seattle Director Workshop, Seattle, WA. From Survive to Thrive: Leading Early Childhood Programs.
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan, Sarah Felstiner, and Iris Chin Ponte
Join Debbie LeeKeenan and Iris Chin Ponte, co-authors of NAEYC’s newest book for directors, From Survive to Thrive, and local Educational Leader, Sarah Felstiner, for this special Seattle session for program leaders. The focus of this interactive workshop is on the guiding principles and practical strategies that support program leaders of early childhood programs. Topics and issues to be discussed include: Facilitated Leadership, Leading with Equity, Building the Culture and Context of Your Program, Growing and Maintaining Great Staff, Engaging Families, and Managing Conflict. There will be opportunities throughout the day for dialogue, problem-solving and action-planning. 

June 29-July 4, 2019, Mercatello sul Metauro, Italy. A week long workshop on Leadership for Change: Identity, Social Justice and the Right to be Visible.
Presenters: John Nimmo and Debbie LeeKeenan

June 11, 2019, 12-2:00pm, PEPS (Program for Early Parent Support) South Seattle, 2200 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144. PEPS-Grandparent Brown Bag Lunch. Books as mirrors and windows.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Join us in a stimulating and practical conversation about using children’s literature first to provide mirrors and windows to the world and second as an opportunity to engage children in courageous conversations about potentially challenging topics. We will look at  children’s books for all ages, learn how to use children’s books as a provocation for  conversations as well as how to instill a love and joy for reading. We will share some of our favorite children’s books growing up and why they were so memorable.

June, 2019, National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators Conference, Long Beach, CA. Keynote: Children’s Rights as a Guiding Light in Early Childhood Teacher Education
Presenter: John Nimmo

June, 2019, NAEYC Professional Learning Institute, Long Beach, CA. Strengthening the Capacity of Cultural Navigators: A Cultural Wealth Model to Support Immigrant Families in Creating the Bridge to School.
Presenters: John Nimmo, Ingrid Anderson, & Jada Phelps-Moultrie

June 4, 2019, NAEYC Professional Learning Institute, Long Beach, CA. Featured Session: Integrating social justice approaches in preservice and in-service teacher education
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan, Caryn Park, Maggie Beneke, John Nimmo
This session will introduce two complementary approaches, anti-bias education and culturally sustaining pedagogy, to advance social justice in teacher education. Drawing on these perspectives, we offer practical strategies for the preparation and ongoing learning of pre-service and in-service teachers. This session will explore the following: supporting adult identity development, designing learning activities, addressing practical teaching dilemmas, navigating institutional politics, and teaching in online spaces. Ample opportunity will be provided for problem-solving and action planning for your own setting.

June 3, 2019, NAEYC Professional Learning Institute, Long Beach, CA. Bridging the gap: Connecting what is taught in coursework to what educators need to know to teach today’s children
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan, Ashley Williams, Barbara Tamailis, Janis Strassler, Holly Bohart

June, 2019, NAEYC Professional Learning Institute, Long Beach, CA. Strengthening the Capacity of Cultural Navigators: A Cultural Wealth Model to Support Immigrant Families in Creating the Bridge to School.
Presenters: John Nimmo, Ingrid Anderson, & Jada Phelps-Moultrie

June 1, 2019, 8:30am-3:30pm, NAEYC Professional Learning Institute Pre-Conference Workshop, Long Beach, CA. From Survive to Thrive: Leading Early Childhood Programs.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This day long workshop, based on the author’s newest book, “From Survive to Thrive: Leading Early Childhood Programs,” will provide both guiding principles and practical strategies to support program leaders of early childhood programs. Topics and issues to be discussed include: Developing your Own Leadership style, Building the Culture and Context of Your Program, Hiring, Growing and Maintaining Great Staff, Engaging Families, and Managing Conflict. There will be ample opportunity for dialogue, problem-solving and action-planning.

May 7, 2019, 6:00-7:30 pm, Wallingford Child Care Center, 2115 North 42nd Street, Seattle, WA. Families Workshop. Building inclusive communities:Responding to Children’s Questions about Difference
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
We live in an increasingly diverse world and children are naturally curious about differences. They are aware of them from very young ages. How we as adults respond to their spoken and unspoken questions about differences directly impacts how they will think about these ideas. This session will provide opportunities for discussion as well as strategies and resources to help children think and talk about their ideas and feelings about themselves, the differences and similarities among people, and about fairness and unfairness in people’s interactions with each other.

April 24, 2019, 6:30-8:30pm, PEPS (Program for Early Parent Support) Community Talk, Verity Credit Union, 11027 Meridian Ave N, Suite 101, Seattle, WA. Creating inclusive communities: Responding to children’s questions about differences.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This workshop will provide families and educators with a framework for anti-bias education and practical tips on how to respond to children’s comments and questions about differences, how social identity develops in young children and beyond, and how to have courageous conversations about potentially challenging topics.

March 26, 2019, 7:00-9:00pm, Anti-bias Education Workshop for Capitol Hill Cooperative Preschool, 1200 10th Ave E, Seattle, WA . Creating Inclusive Communities: Responding to Children’s Questions about Differences.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This workshop will provide families and educators with a framework for anti-bias education and practical tips on how to respond to children’s comments and questions about differences, how social identity develops in young children and beyond, and how to have courageous conversations about potentially challenging topics.

February 28, 2019, 7:00-9:00pm, Anti-bias Education Workshop for Rainier Valley Cooperative Preschool, 6230 Beacon Ave South, Seattle, WA. Creating inclusive communities: Responding to children’s questions about differences.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This workshop will provide families and educators with a framework for anti-bias education and practical tips on how to respond to children’s comments and questions about differences, how social identity develops in young children and beyond, and how to have courageous conversations about potentially challenging topics.

January 26, 2019, Keynote Talk for the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Leadership Meeting, Seattle, WA. Anti-bias Education and Children’s Literature: Provoking Courageous Conversations.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
Changing demographics, shifts in social views, polarizing political issues, all present challenges and complexities to us as professionals interested in social justice education. This talk will provide a framework and strategies for using  children’s literature first to provide mirrors and windows to the world and second as an  opportunity to engage children in courageous conversations about potentially challenging topics.

December 5, 2018, 6-8pm, Professional Development workshop for Early Learning Coalition Vashon Island. Integrating Anti-Bias Education into our Thinking and Practice
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This interactive workshop will explore steps in creating a more inclusive and welcoming program. Participants will learn about the core values and goals of an anti-bias education approach and how these address children’s development of identity and understanding of human diversity and bias. This workshop will offer practical and integrated approaches to anti-bias education in classrooms for children and support teachers in their own anti-bias adult journey to respond thoughtfully to children’s questions and make decisions about responsive environments and curriculum experiences.

December 4, 2018, 3-4pm EST, Free Webinar: Facilitated Leadership and Family Engagement: Learning with and from Families.
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan and Iris Chin-Ponte
Debbie and Iris will discuss a critical topic from their recent publication: From Survive to Thrive: A Director’s Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program. Being an early childhood program leader is more challenging than it’s ever been. Among the many responsibilities center directors have on their plate is forging robust home–school partnerships. Debbie and Iris will explore why engaging families in their children’s education through facilitated leadership is critical to the success of each child and the program as well as practical tips for how to welcome and involve all families.

November 14-17, 2018, NAEYC Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
Session 1:
“Church” and State: Integrating Cultural Funds of Knowledge and Religious and Spiritual Literacy into Early Childhood Education and Family Engagement.
Presenters: Mona Abo-Zena, Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo
This session provides a conceptual grounding on the importance of religious literacy within early education with attention to particular developmental and educational goals across content. It also addresses a range of developmental domains including personal development as children raise questions such as, “What happens when we die?” and social development and empathy as children become aware of the beliefs of their classmates and others around them. The second part of the session provides a range of strategies that educators can incorporate with children and in working with families including those with no religious affiliation, religious minorities, and highly devout ones. From an intersectional perspective, this session attends to how religious identity intersects with other social identities. The session ends with an opportunity to discuss issues that participants have encountered in their own work.

Session 2:
Facilitated Leadership and Family Engagement: Learning From and With Families.
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan and Iris Chin-Ponte
The program leader is responsible for fostering family belonging, trust, and engagement, as well as promoting strong teacher–family relationships. Topics to be discussed include a framework for working with families using a funds of knowledge approach, strategies for family dialogues, and managing and negotiating conflict and disequilibrium. The format for the session will include discussion of specific strategies, case study scenarios, and application to your own setting.

November 13, 2018, South Seattle College Cooperative Preschools Parent Education Program, Seattle, WA. Professional Development Day on Anti-bias Education.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

November 9, 2018, 1:30-3:30pm, Professional Development Staff Workshop, Wallingford Children’s Center, Seattle, WA. Integrating an Antibias Education into our Thinking and Practice.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This interactive workshop will explore steps in creating a more inclusive and welcoming program. Participants will learn about the core values and goals of an anti-bias education approach and how these address children’s development of identity and understanding of human diversity and bias. This workshop will offer practical and integrated approaches to anti-bias education in classrooms for children and support teachers in their own anti-bias adult journey. Participants will learn how to respond to children’s questions about differences using short-term and long-term strategies and make decisions about responsive environments and curriculum experiences.

October 25, 2018, 1:30-5:00pm, WAEYC (Washington Association for Education of Young Children) Conference, Lynnwood Convention Center, Lynnwood, WA. Anti-bias Education in Changing and Challenging Times.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This interactive workshop will explore steps in creating a more inclusive and welcoming program. Participants will learn about the core values and goals of an anti-bias education approach and how these address children’s development of identity and understanding of human diversity and bias. This workshop will offer practical and integrated approaches to anti-bias education in classrooms for children and support teachers in their own anti-bias adult journey. Participants will learn how to respond to children’s questions about differences using short-term and long-term strategies and to respond thoughtfully to children’s questions and make decisions about responsive environments and curriculum experiences.

October 13, 2018, 9:00am-12:00pm, Garden Cooperative Nursery School, Los Angles , California. Anti-bias Workshop for the Southern California Council for Parent Participation Nursery Schools
Presenters: Louise Derman-Sparks and Debbie LeeKeenan
What is anti-bias education? We will discuss:
Steps to creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment;
Core values and goals of anti-bias education;
Children’s development of identity and understanding of diversity and bias;
Integrated approaches to anti-bias education;
How to respond to children’s questions and create responsive environments;
Integrating an anti-bias perspective into the curriculum;
Tools to examine your physical environment;
How to infuse the approach into materials, space and curriculum.

September 11, 2018, Bellevue College, Bellevue, WA. Professional Development Workshop on Anti-bias Education for Parent Educators
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

August 6, 2018, 8:00am-3:00pm, Mount Vernon Presbyterian School, Atlanta, GA. Full day in service for early childhood faculty. “Integrating an Anti-bias Perspective Into Our Thinking and Practice”
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

May 16, 2018, 6:30-8:30pm, PEPS (Program for Early Parent Support) Community Talk, Seattle, WA. Creating inclusive communities: Responding to children’s questions about differences.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This workshop will provide families and educators with a framework for anti-bias education and practical tips on how to respond to children’s comments and questions about differences, how social identity develops in young children and beyond, and how to have courageous conversations about potentially challenging topics.

April 23, 2018, 7:30-9:00pm, Wedgwood Cooperative Preschool, Seattle, WA. Spring Parent Meeting. Creating Inclusive Communities: Anti-bias Education
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

April 10, 2018, 5:30-7:00pm, Wallingford Child Care Center, 2115 North 42nd Street, Seattle, WA. Families Workshop. Building inclusive communities:Responding to Children’s Questions about Difference
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
We live in an increasingly diverse world and children are naturally curious about differences. They are aware of them from very young ages. How we as adults respond to their spoken and unspoken questions about differences directly impacts how they will think about these ideas. This session will provide opportunities for discussion as well as strategies and resources to help children think and talk about their ideas and feelings about themselves, the differences and similarities among people, and about fairness and unfairness in people’s interactions with each other.

March 21, 2018, 9:00am-3:00pm, Edmonds Community College, Edmonds, WA. OPEP (Organization of Parenting Education Programs) State Wide Conference.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This full day workshop provided a framework for engaging families and developing inclusive staff-family partnerships. Topics for the day included understanding anti-bias education, responding to children’s questions about differences, working with families using a funds of knowledge/strength based approach, strategies for making families welcome and visible, family anti-bias education and dialogues, and managing conflict in partnerships. Format for the day included keynote talks, small group work using case study scenarios and application and action planning for your own settings.

March 20, 12:00-2:00pm, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Working Parents and Caregivers subcommittee of Women Connect, Seattle WA. Creating Inclusive Communities: Responding to Children’s Questions about Difference
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
We live in an increasingly diverse world and children are naturally curious about differences. They are aware of them from very young ages. How we as adults respond to their spoken and unspoken questions about differences directly impacts how they will think about these ideas. This session provided opportunities for discussion as well as strategies and resources to help children think and talk about their ideas and feelings about themselves, the differences and similarities among people, and about fairness and unfairness in people’s interactions with each other.

Mar. 10, 2018, 9:00am-4:00pm, The Advent School Collaborative, 15 Brimmer Street, Boston, MA. Anti-Bias Education & the Reggio Emilia Approach
Presenter: John Nimmo
Through presentations and hands-on workshops, teachers shared their experiences to explore identity, build community, and inspire children to take action in their world.

Feb. 20, 2018, Hilltop Children’s Center, Seattle, WA. Professional Development Anti-bias Education Workshop for Faculty
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

December 8, 2017, 6:30-8:30pm, Rainier Arts Center, 3515 South Alaska St., Seattle, WA. Hilltop Educator Institute: Educator Discussion Series. The Voices of Children: A Documentary and Dialogue on Children’s Rights.
Presenter: John Nimmo
Children have the right to be heard. Through language, drawings, movement, and play, children strive to communicate their beliefs, understandings, and needs. But often children’s experiences are discounted, their contributions to society minimized, and their voices silenced. If we listen to children’s ideas and closely observe their actions, what can we learn of their views about their world?
Please join us for the Seattle premier of the groundbreaking short documentary film, Voices of Children, and engage in discussion with one of the film’s creators, John Nimmo. This documentary aims to expand on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child by advocating for a more inclusive view of children’s rights, from the perspective of the children themselves. An international team of educators and filmmakers journeyed to sites in five countries, sparking conversations about “rights,” and then stepped back and invited the children to speak for themselves.

November 29, 2017, Alki United Congregational Church, 6115 SW Hinds, Seattle, WA. South Seattle College Parent Education Program- professional development for families and teachers.Anti-bias Education in Challenging Times: Responding to Children’s Questions about Differences.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This free workshop provided families with a framework and practical tips on how to respond to children’s comments and questions about differences and how to have courageous conversations about potentially challenging topics.

November 10, 2017, Northshore Nursery School, Beverly, MA. Professional Development Inservice. Integrating Anti-bias Education into Our Thinking and Practice.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This interactive workshop explored steps in creating a more inclusive and welcoming program. Participants learned about the core values and goals of an anti-bias education approach and how these address young children’s development of identity and understanding of human diversity and bias. This workshop offered practical and integrated approaches to anti-bias education in early childhood classrooms and supported teachers to respond thoughtfully to children’s questions and to make decisions about responsive environments and curriculum experiences.

November 9, 2017, Eliot K-8 Innovation School, Boston, MA. Eliot Family Council Speakers Searies. Anti-bias Education: A dialogue on Identity, Diversity and Justice
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
In this session, we discussed how to respond to children’s questions about differences. At a very early age, children begin noticing differences and developing powerful ideas about identity, diversity fairness and social justice. It is an important time for teachers and families to provoke children’s thinking through curriculum, investigations and ongoing dialogue about these critical topics.

November 6, 2017, North Seattle College, Seattle, WA. Parent Educators, faculty and teachers professional development workshop. Celebrating Traditions with an Anti-bias Perspective: Avoiding the Holiday Syndrome.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

September 27, Hilltop Children’s Center, Seattle, WA. Educator Evening Discussion Series: Using Children’s Literature to Provoke Challenging Conversations
Presenters:Debbie LeeKeenan, Caryn Park and Maggie Beneke
This session explored how to use children’s literature and read-alouds as a way to provoke and facilitate conversations on potentially challenging topics with young children. The presenters shared examples which focused on race, abilities/disabilities and religion. The presenters drew on their experiences as classroom teachers and researchers to provide both a framework and practical strategies on how to choose appropriate literature and how to engage in the actual conversations that are developmentally appropriate.

August 31, 2017, Hilltop Children’s Center, Seattle, WA. Professional Development Inservice for Faculty, Integrating Anti-bias Education into our Thinking and Practice.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

August 29, 2017, Epiphany Early Learning Center, Seattle, WA. Professional Development Inservice, Being an anti-bias educator in challenging and troubling times.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan

July 20, 2017, Program for Early Parent Support (PEPS) Grandparent Group Workshop, Seattle, WA. Responding to Children’s Questions About Differences.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan. Facilitator: Terrill Chang
We live in an increasingly diverse world and children are naturally curious about differences. They are aware of them from very young ages. How we as adults respond to their spoken and unspoken questions about differences directly impacts how they will think about these ideas. This session provided opportunities for discussion as well as strategies and resources to help children think and talk about their ideas and feelings about themselves, the differences and similarities among people, and about fairness and unfairness in people’s interactions with each other.

July 8-10, 2017, Conference presentations in Guilin and Shanghai, China. Inquiry Based Learning for Children and Adults.
Presenters: John Nimmo and Debbie LeeKeenan

June 21, 2017, Childhood and Lower School Heads Conference, New York Association for Independent Schools, Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, NY. Leading Anti-Bias Programs: Advancing the Work.
Presenter: John Nimmo

June 10, 2017, NAEYC Professional Learning Institute Pre-Conference Session, San Francisco. What Do We Do Now? Applying anti-bias strategies for supporting children, families, students and staff in troubled times.
Presenters: Louise Derman-Sparks, Julie Olsen Edwards, Luis Hernandez, Debbie LeeKeenan, Megan Madison, Nadiajah Taylor, Ijumaa Jordan, Christina Lopez Morgan
An interactive workshop exploring how to effectively respond to the increasingly open expressions and policies of racism, homophobia, anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant prejudice in our society. What do young children and their families need from us? What do teachers, and teachers-in-training need from us? How can we best meet our professional, ethical responsibility to “… not participate in practices that are emotionally damaging, physically harmful, disrespectful, degrading, dangerous, exploitative, or intimidating to children”, and to meet our “… collective obligation to advocate for the best interests of children within early childhood programs and in the larger community” (NAEYC Code of Ethics).

April 17, 2017, North Seattle College, Seattle, WA. Anti-Bias Education in Challenging Times: Responding to Children’s Questions about Differences.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
This session provided staff and families with a framework and practical tips on how to respond to children’s comments and questions about differences and how to have courageous conversations about potentially challenging topics .

March 9, 2017, Boston Area Reggio Inspired Network Workshop Series, Boston, MA. Responding to Children’s Questions about Identity, Diversity and Justice: Short term and long term approach.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan
In this year’s workshop series, we explored how children form and express ideas about diversity, justice, and rights.

Friday, February 17, 2017, Full day workshop, Montessori Conference, Austin, Texas. Integrating Anti-Bias Education into Our Thinking and Practice.
Presenter: Debbie LeeKeenan. This workshop explored steps in creating a more inclusive and welcoming program. Participants learned about the core values and goals of an anti-bias education approach and how these address children’s development of identity and understanding of human diversity and bias. This workshop offered practical and integrated approaches to anti-bias education in classrooms for children ages 2-12 and helped teachers to respond thoughtfully to children’s questions and to make decisions about responsive environments and curriculum experiences.

Friday, December 2, 2016, Full day workshop, Hilltop Discussion Series, Seattle, WA. Leading Anti-Bias Early Childhood Programs during Changing and Challenging Times.
Presenters: John Nimmo and Debbie LeeKeenan
This full day workshop was for program leaders and educators interested in growing anti-bias programs. The interactive session provided a framework for intentional and strategic leadership and examined what is involved in whole program transformation, in classrooms with children, working with staff and with families. Time was provided for action planning and applying the ideas to your own setting. This session drew from our recent book with co-author Louise Derman-Sparks, Leading Anti-Bias Programs: A Guide for Change, and specifically examined some of the new challenges for leaders in social justice work with young children.

November 9, 2016, What Do We Say To The Children?

November 2-5, 2016, NAEYC Annual Conference, Los Angeles, California. “Social Justice Education in a Time of Change and Uncertainty: Responding to the Challenges and Opportunities for Anti-Bias Educators.”
Presenters: John Nimmo, Louise Derman-Sparks, Debbie LeeKeenan, Mariana Souto-Manning.
Demographic changes, shifts in social views, and polarizing political issues, particularly emphasized during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, all present challenges and complexities to us as social justice and early childhood educators. The easy access to media by children and adults brings related current events into our lives almost instantaneously. As a result we are often confronted with new questions and points of confusion as we seek to be inclusive. In this workshop we engaged in a much needed conversation about current issues such as changing gender dynamics, growing religious intolerance, and community responses to poverty and violence. What is the relevance of these types of issues to early childhood programs and curriculum? What new knowledge and strategies do anti-bias educators involved in the classroom and in teacher education need to access? We modeled self-reflection, life-long education, and risk-taking as essential to being an effective anti-bias educator.

November 2-5, 2016, NAEYC Annual Conference, Los Angeles, California. “Facilitated Leadership: How do our skills in teaching children translate into teaching teachers?”
Presenters: Debbie LeeKeenan, Iris Chin Ponte.
This workshop presented a framework for facilitated leadership that builds on what we know about teaching children and translating it to our work with adults as program leaders. Facilitative leadership is a process in which there is shared power and responsibility for meeting the organization’s goals. This means finding ways to create partnerships with staff and give them greater voice on issues that affect them every day, such as allocation of resources, curriculum, scheduling. It also means constructing meaningful partnerships with families by providing them greater voice in their children’s daily experiences and parent policies. Directors who view themselves as facilitative leaders think about ways they can help individuals and groups in the center reflect on and improve the processes they use to solve problems and make decisions. Facilitative leaders help others learn how to learn.

September 29, 2016, University Hall Amphitheater, Lesley University, 1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Lesley faculty members Debbie LeeKeenan and Ben Mardell led an Early Childhood Innovation Workshop ” ‘If Trump Wins, My Family Will Have To Go Back To El Salvador’: Talking to Young Children About the Election (and other challenging topics).”
While we may want young children to be protected from the inflammatory comments of this year’s presidential elections, they are being exposed to the rhetoric, and are trying to make sense of what they are hearing. Some may bring their questions to school; others may be quietly confused. As early childhood educators, what should be our response? In this session Debbie LeeKeenan and Ben Mardell shared a framework and a curricular example for facilitating children’s learning around challenging topics, such as the presidential election, religion, racism, and changing gender norms. They were joined by a group of local educators who are grappling with how to support children’s learning about challenging topics in their classrooms and schools.

September 27, 2016, Marran Theater, Lesley University, 34 Mellen Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts. “How to Talk With Children About Gun Violence and Trauma.”
In the wake of violence around the country and the world, Kelvin Ramirez, Joshua Baldwin, Andre Ruesch, and Debbie LeeKeenan engaged in a panel discussion to explore how teachers, parents, and other service providers can talk about gun violence and the related trauma.

September 2nd, 2016, European Early Childhood Research Association Annual Conference, Dublin, Ireland. John Nimmo presented a workshop on “Voices of children: Cross-cultural collaborations in understanding and documenting the meaning of children’s rights through dialogue and video.”

June 18-23, 2016, Mercatello sul Metauro, Italy. John Nimmo and Debbie LeeKeenan led a week long workshop on “Leadership for Change: Identity, Social Justice and the Right to be Visible”.

May 12-15, 2016, McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership Conference, Chicago, Illinois. Louise Derman- Sparks, Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo presented a workshop on “Leadership Matters: Creating a School Culture for Growth, Risk-taking and Anti-Bias Change.”

April 4, 2016, Pike Market Child Care and Preschool, Seattle Washington. John Nimmo and Debbie LeeKeenan led an all-day consultation on anti-bias education.

Mar 31, 2016, 6:30-8:30pm, Hilltop Children’s Center, Seattle, Washington. John Nimmo and Debbie LeeKeenan presented “Leading the Process of Change: Initiating and Sustaining Anti-bias Early Childhood Programs”.

February, 2016. YWCA, York, PA. John Nimmo presented a training to the early childhood staff on Anti-bias Education.

Jan 22, 2016: BAEYC Directors Conference, Framingham, MA. Debbie LeeKeenan presented “Leadership Matters: Creating a School Culture for Growth, Risk-taking and Anti-bias Change”.

October 20, 2015. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd, Lincoln, MA. John Nimmo presented a dialogue, open to the public, focusing on the teacher decision-making process in an emergent curriculum approach.

October 12, 2015. Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China. Debbie LeeKeenan gave a talk on “Anti-bias Education and Young Children.”

July 16-18, 2015. Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Learning and Development, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN. John Nimmo presented workshops on anti-bias leadership and emergent curriculum at the Annual Early Childhood Conference http://www.etsu.edu/coe/child/programs/conference/

June 10, 2015. NAEYC Professional Development Institute, New Orleans, LA. Debbie LeeKeenan presented a workshop on Engaging Families and Growing Anti-bias Partnerships: The Leader’s Role https://www.naeyc.org/institute/

May 30, 2015. Boston Educators for Social Justice Conference, Boston, MA. Debbie LeeKeenan was a panelist for the following presentation: Teaching racial justice in early education: stories from classrooms. http://besj.weebly.com/

April 30, 2015. Lesley University, Cambridge, MA Early Childhood Workshop II: Leadership Matters: Creating a School Culture for Growth, Risk-Taking and Change • With early childhood experts and Lesley professors Debbie LeeKeenan and Lisa Fiore.

April 14, 2015. Watertown, MA. Debbie LeeKeenan gave the keynote address for the Bright Horizons Diversity and Inclusion Summit.

March 28, 2015. Westford, MA. Debbie LeeKeenan presented a workshop for MassAEYC Annual Spring Conference on “Leading Early Childhood Anti-bias Programs: A Guide for Change”.

January 20, 2015. In-Service Day, Boulder Journey School, Co. Anti-bias education: Knowing who we are to create a more inclusive school. Nimmo, J.

November 20-21, 2014. Tucson Children’s Project, Tucson, AZ. Leading the process of change: Initiating and sustaining anti-bias early childhood programs and Young children as participants in the community: Rights, challenges, possibilities. Nimmo, J.

November 8, 2014. NAEYC Annual Conference, Dallas Texas. The Need for Strategic Leadership in Building Anti-Bias Programs: Reflections from Experienced Early Childhood Leaders” Featured Presentation. Derman-Sparks, L. LeeKeenan, D. & Nimmo, J.

October 25, 2014. Tufts University, Medford, MA, Eliot-Pearson Dept. of Child Study and Human Development. Leading Anti-bias Early Childhood Programs: A Guide for Change. Debbie LeeKeenan poster session.

May 9, 2014. World Forum on Early Care and Education, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA. Questions surrounding children’s rights in diverse cultures. Nimmo, J. & Marcilio, M. T.