The P.R.I.D.E. graduates are so excited to implement everything they’ve learned in the last 10 months. Here they are cheering their accomplishments! From left: Lauren Carter with Nurturing You Learning Center, Aliyah Hart from Germantown Jewish Centre, Marie Davis from Ken Crest West, Nicole Richardson from Butterfly Effect Academy, Shemaiah Murphy from Your Child and Mine Early Education Center, Johnny Kuprionis from St. Mary’s Nursery School, Stephanie Revelo Castiblanco from Little Dino’s LLC and Mary Stevens from Ken Crest South.

Philadelphia, PA (January 24, 2025) – First Up was excited to present the graduates of P.R.I.D.E. Teacher Village. In a ceremony on January 16, 2025, eight of 15 early childhood teachers presented what they learned and received their certificates after spending 10 months in the Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education (P.R.I.D.E.) teacher cohort designed to empower early childhood teachers in Philadelphia to support positive identity development in young Black children. The racially, cultural and linguistically diverse group of teachers presented a website each created which details how they will integrate P.R.I.D.E. in their curriculum. They were joined by representatives from their State Senate, City Council, and State Representatives’ offices, their families and First Up staff.

Over 10 months, these educators participated in monthly sessions where they reflected on their own personal racial journey, they learned the history of race and racism in America and learned how to implement inclusive teaching strategies – developing theme-based ideas, activities and experiences to apply in the classroom and share with other teachers in their cohort.

“Due to the historical negative imagery and stereotyping of Black people, it is essential for young Black children within the ages of 3 to 8, to develop a positive racial identity – one that fosters pride in their physical features, heritage, and history. Research underscores the significance of this concept in their healthy growth and development.”  According to the P.R.I.D.E. webpage (https://www.firstup.org/p-r-i-d-e/), “studies show that when young Black children are nurtured to see themselves in a positive light, they experience benefits such as higher test scores, improved factual recall, and enhanced problem-solving skills.”