Welcome to the November 2020 issue of the Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing (NOW) Innovation Forum newsletter. What a month, in a year it has been. We are feeling energized from the Vital Village Networks 2020 National Community Leadership Summit. The 2020 NCLS was a grounding reminder of the great leaders in this network and in this country who continuously set down the next stone to build an equitable and just pathway to thriving communities for all children. If you are reading this email, please know that you too are one of those leaders and you play an inspiring role in our network. We hope you will be able to join us for the final 2020 NOW Webinar, Creating Pathways for Community Leadership, and connect with fellow leaders through one of our upcoming Peer Learning Clusters. Stay tuned each month for the latest conversations, stories and resources for advancing and promoting child wellbeing. We look forward to connecting with you NOW and in the future! 

Bienvenidos a la edición de noviembre de 2020 del boletín del Foro de Innovación de Redes de Oportunidades para el Bienestar Infantil.  Nos sentimos emocionados por la Cumbre Nacional de Liderazgo Comunitario 2020 de la red de Vital Village. El NCLS 2020 fue un recuerdo fundamental de los grandes líderes de esta red y de este país que siguen luchando para construir un camino equitativo y justo hacia comunidades prósperas para todos los niños. Si estás leyendo este correo electrónico, significa que usted también es uno de esos líderes y tiene un rol inspirador en nuestra red. Esperamos que pueda unirse a nosotros para el último seminario web NOW 2020, Creando caminos para el liderazgo comunitario, y conectarse con otros líderes a través de uno de nuestros próximos grupos de aprendizaje entre pares. Esté pendiente cada mes a las últimas conversaciones, historias y recursos para avanzar y promover el bienestar infantil. ¡Esperamos conectarnos contigo AHORA y en el futuro!

Thank you for being part of Our Future, Our Communities!

Thank you to everyone who joined in and made the 2020 National Community Leadership Summit, a success. On October 26 and 27, over 500 community leaders, change agents, and advocates like you came together in a new way to learn, engage, and transform our communities so that children and families have equitable access to the resources they need to thrive. Visit the summit website to stay connected.

In The Arena with NOW Podcast

• Episode 12: Brazelton Touchpoints Center: Honoring the Strengths and Expertise of Children and Caregivers: This podcast episode brings us back home to Boston, Massachusetts, where the Brazelton Touchpoints Center is committed to shifting mindsets and mental models to honor the dignity of children and their caregivers as a key strategy for creating a sustainable world where children grow up to be thriving adults in their local community. Listen here >>

• Episode 11: Family Engagement Network: Supporting Families is the Key to Successful Workforce Development: All the way from Pima County Arizona, join us in a conversation with the Family Engagement Network and learn about the critical pieces to a successful workforce program that centers on the needs of families as a route to empowerment. Listen here >>

Webinar:

• Register today! November 19 Webinar, Creating Pathways for Community Leadership: Join us next week for the finale of the 2020 NOW Webinar Series. This session highlights local models for creating sustainable leadership pathways for parents, caregivers, and community stakeholders to not only participate, but also design and implement systems change efforts. Register today >> 

• Webinar Archives: Learn more about previous webinars that were part of the 2020 Webinar series, Learning and Transforming Together: Community-Centered Equity Practices.

  • July 30: Community-Driven Policy Advocacy: Upholding the Dignity of Immigrant Children and Families Change:  On July 30, we learned from amazing advocates across the country who are working to dismantle structural racism not only within the immigration system, but other sectors, institutions, and programs that serve immigrant children and families. View Archive >> 

  • April 30: Operationalizing Equity Through Participatory Data Storytelling: View archive materials from our April 30 webinar, Operationalizing Equity through Participatory Data Storytelling. Learn from speakers who discuss why equity matters for data storytelling, share strategies for data visualization and participatory processes, and provide a virtual walk through of Vital Village’s Community Housing Data Tool and Child Wellbeing Tracker. Spanish audio and summary materials are available.  View archive >>

Latest Blogs

• A Journey of Growth and Compassion: Conrad Robinson, by Camila Beiner. The first edition of a new blog series that highlights the work of diverse leadership from community leaders across the country who are working to address the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and racism injustice in their local communities. 

• As Schools Reopens, Don’t Forget The Hidden Victims of Police Violence: Children, by Dr. Renée Boynton-Jarrett, Marisha L. Humphries and Stephanie M. Curenton. Published by members of the RISER Network, a group of scholars examining issues of health equity, wellness and positive development for Black children's education and health (both physical and mental).

• Submit a resource or tool to the NOW Innovation Forum Resource Library. The resource library is a space created for you to lift up the work of yourself, your coalitions and your community. Share data tools, infographics, reports and other tools centered on advancing community equity. Submit here >>

• Children's Mental Health Storytimes: Every Thursday from 10:00-10:30am Eastern: Families with young children are invited to virtual Children’s Mental Health Storytimes co-hosted by the Vital Village Network Mental Health Committee and Boston Public Library. Together, we bring families together for book readings and activities focused on Social-Emotional Learning inspired by our Children's Mental Health Storytime Toolkit.  Sessions are designed for children 3-8 years old, however, younger and older siblings are welcome to join the fun! At the end of our session, there will be an opportunity for Q&A and resource sharing with parents/caregivers. Event is designed for children and families. If you are interested in learning more about the Children's Mental Health Storytime Toolkit and format as an adult or organization, please email Desiree.Hartman@bmc.org.

• America's Schools Provide Much More than Lessons; Children Out of School Need Congressional Action Now: Published by Children's Defense Fund, this policy brief provides a policy analysis on COVID-19 and its impact on school aged children. View the policy brief here >>

• Conversations that Matter: Talking with Children About Big World Issues: The National Association for the Education of Young Children provides critical strategies for engaging young children in conversations regarding anti-racism movements and COVID-19. View the tool here >>
• Toolkit: Protecting Immigrant Families Facing Deportation: This toolkit, created by Children Thrive Action Network, is intended to support all providers and community advocates who are committed to supporting immigrant families and communities who are at risk of deportation. View the toolkit here >>

#VillageinMind

The NOW community hopes to stay connected and lift up the work and stories of all of our members. Follow and tag us on Twitter, @NOW_WellChild & @Vital_Village, so that we can virtually highlight the community led transformation you are leading.