In solidarity with the CEC Project 20/20: Creating a Vision of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in all of CEC and the DEC Message about Racism and Inequity, Michigan DEC stands with its members and community.
As an organization, we acknowledge systemic racism exists. In the past several weeks, new violence against Black people has been recorded and shared widely, exposing long-held injustices in our society. The recent deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and the countless others before them have confirmed the divide in our collective psyche regarding race. We also recognize that many of our members are processing what recent events mean for their work and the systems and institutions rooted in racism.
We stand with our members, those supporting children with disabilities and their families, as they work through the traumas of systemic racism. We also stand with our members--and others--who are speaking out to address these systemic injustices. We acknowledge we all have a role to play in dismantling institutional racism including in our early care and education system. This work is ongoing and essential, and we are committed to engaging in it with you. As an organization, we are recommitting to our role in dismantling institutional racism and supporting our members with doing the same in their spheres.
The MiDEC recognizes overcoming bias as a key priority for our work. As part of our strategic planning this year the MiDEC board will investigate ways to integrate overcoming bias into our priority agenda. We as a board believe that we all have a role and responsibility to become consciously aware, change behavior, and ultimately eliminate the impact of these biases by supporting each other through - and holding each other accountable to - our unconscious actions.
MiDEC Board of Directors
To assure everyone has access to CEC and DEC resources at this time, both CEC and DEC are offering free membership through May 31, 2020.
Join CEC today at cec.sped.org/Membership!
Note: You do not need to add DEC to your divisions; instead, please indicate in your membership application under demographics that you have an interest in Early Childhood.
Your CEC membership will start right away. We will add your DEC membership after your CEC application has been submitted. You will receive an email with information on how to access DEC member benefits once your membership is activated. Please allow a day or two to receive this email.
We got this — together, we all make a difference!
Take advantage of DECs Communities of Practice
DEC Members & Non-Members alike can take advantage of DEC Communities of Practice and join their peers in critical discussions during this time of change. Opportunities open to all - learn more here.
Our Michigan DEC board members have been closely monitoring the COVID 19 situation and, based on input from our leaders in health and education, will be cancelling the Michigan DEC Conference for this year. We move forward knowing that this decision is the right one, but disappointed by the impact that the cancellation will have on our attendees and others associated with the conference.
We apologize for the inconvenience that this situation and the ensuing cancellation may have caused. We hope you will consider participating in next year's conference - being held on April 16th, 2021 at CMU.
Greetings MIDEC!
The next issue of the MIDEC Newsletter is available to MIDEC members. This is an added benefit to being a member of the Michigan Division for Early Childhood. Share your thoughts on Facebook or by contacting us.
Newsletter link:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=16C-Xv3NBrNM14BccZJcT3WNWF0rSSEgh
Please send your inquiries, comments, and article submissions to:
LaShorage Shaffer
Newsletter Editor Email: michigandec@gmail.com
Michigan early childhood special education pioneer, Jane Scandary, passed away on February 9, 2017. To honor her legacy, her family has asked that memorial contributions to go toward continuing the annual presentation of the Jane Scandary Award for excellence in the field of early intervention/early childhood special education, presented by the Michigan Division for Early Childhood.
Checks for contributions for the Jane Scandary Award should be written out the Michigan Division for Early Childhood, with "Jane Scandary Award" in the memo, and sent to:
Michigan Division for Early Childhood
Attn: Jane Scandary Award
240 S. Bridge Street, Suite 250
DeWitt, MI 48820
