Our Approach

What We Believe

• Race and culture matter
  

  The harshest and most marginalizing effects of implicit bias in school systems fall along the lines of race. To mitigate these effects, we must examine the role of race in our own lives, in schools, in communities, and in larger systems. Our work is deepened when we explore the impact of race and the ways it intersects with other aspects of our identities. Because all humans are rooted in culture, we must begin to explore how our own cultural experiences have shaped the way we interact, learn, and connect with others in order to create more equitable experiences for all.
• Systems change starts with self
  

  Change requires careful strategic planning and management. The first step is transformation on an individual level through critical reflection on one’s own personal and professional practices, which paves the way for larger changes to structures and systems.
• Strengths-based thinking is central to success
  

  Our interaction with children and communities is rooted in the way we view them. We help adults to see their own capacity for growth and change as well as the possibilities for all children and families.  
• Families and community members are partners
  

  Educators must co-construct learning experiences with families and community members to realize each child’s full potential. At CCRE, we believe families and family cultures play a critical role in shaping the growth and development of children. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, we highlight the importance of the connectednesses of children, families, and communities as it relates to change.