Washington, DC (June 26, 2019)—Earlier this week, the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) announced its 2019 class of NBCDI Policy Fellows, the first in the organization’s 49-year history. Ngozi Lawal, Project Director of the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP)’s Prenatal to 3 Initiative, was chosen as a member of the inaugural class.
The National Black Child Development Institute Policy Fellowship will elevate and accelerate Black leaders to ensure leadership at the national level more closely reflects young children that are being served in education and other systems. Throughout this two-year program, NBCDI Policy Fellows will incubate new approaches to policies and reform systems to help Black children realize their full potential and brilliance.
The National Black Child Development Institute’s commitment to ensuring equity in early learning environments and in the health and well-being of Black children and families is the impetus for the NBCDI Policy Fellowship. In making their announcement, NCBDI’s President and CEO Tobeka G Green stated “We know that America’s systems of education and advancement were designed for white children to succeed. Institutional racism and inequities within systems have to be dismantled and those systems reformed. We can do so when Black leaders have a seat at the decision-making table. NBCDI’s Policy Fellowship will support and strengthen the nation’s best leaders to fill these much needed roles.”
“Ngozi has been an essential leader of CSSP’s young children and families work for nearly two years, making strong contributions with her ideas and dedication to the work of helping young children thrive,” said CSSP President, Frank Farrow. “It comes as no surprise to us that she has received this honor and we are thrilled that her hard work and commitment to doing better for all children and families is being recognized in this innovative, important way.”
NBCDI Policy Fellows will join NBCDI’s national network and call to action to advance equity for Black children and families through education and advocacy. NBCDI Policy Fellows are already on the front lines of addressing institutional racism within systems that impact, educate and support Black children and families. Learn more about the policy fellows here.
About NBCDI. NBCDI delivers high-quality resources that respond to the unique strengths and needs of Black children around issues including early childhood education, health and wellness, child welfare, literacy and family engagement. NBCDI’s volunteer-driven National Affiliate Network operates in communities across the country, partnering with children, families and organizations to implement evidence-based, strengths-based, culturally-relevant, culturally responsive and trauma-informed programs. Learn more at www.nbcdi.org.
About CSSP. The Center for the Study of Social Policy is a national, non-profit policy organization that connects community action, public system reform, and policy change to create a fair and just society. We work to achieve a racially, economically, and socially just society in which all children and families thrive by translating ideas into action, promoting public policies grounded in equity, supporting strong and inclusive communities, and advocating with and for all children and families marginalized by public policies and institutional practices.
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