Fulfilling the Promise: Our Children Deserve the Best

Supporting the WHOLE Child: Educationally, Physically, Spiritually, Mentally, Emotionally, and Socially

This week, take the time to address needs that support the WHOLE Child’s wellbeing.  Below you’ll find a list of activities that you can participate in with your family and in your community:

EDUCATIONALLY

Make learning fun! Get involved with your child during homework time.  Instead of your children completing their homework alone, try to make their homework assignments more interactive.  This will be helpful, as most children are visual learners and learn by repetition.  More “fun learning” activities can be found online at http://www.makinglearningfun.com/.

PHYSCIALLY

It is important to have play time with your children.  Play time is not only a time for kids, but it can be beneficial for the entire family.  Take the time to incorporate fun exercises and outdoor activities that will get the entire family moving and physically fit! Read more about the advantages of staying fit and Family Play Time in the Spring 2012 Child Health Talk

SPIRITUALLY

As we all know, the World can be a very unjustifiable place.  It is the responsibility of parents and communities to nurture the child’s spiritual well-being.  This week, take extra time to instill in your child, values, morals and beliefs that they can call upon as factors and reference points to consider when various decisions arise in their lives.

MENTALLY

Create a sense of belonging. Teach and reinforce positive behaviors and decision making and encourage helping others. These are just a few things that can be done to support children’s mental health.  These tips and more can be found at http://www.nasponline.org/.  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also has great materials and resources that will assist in addressing the needs of children that are suffering from various traumas and mental illnesses’.

EMOTIONALLY

There is a lot you can do to promote your child’s emotional well-being and to boost their confidence and self-esteem.  Constantly encourage and motivate your child to always do their best, and let them know that they can do anything that they put their mind to.  This week, participate in activities that your child is good at and motivate them to continue to work to reach their goals.  For instance, if your child is good at painting, take them to an art gallery.  Maybe one day, it will be their painting that is hanging on the wall.  More ways to nurture your child’s emotional well-being can be found at Everyday Health.

SOCIALLY

Social skills are imperative to introduce to children at an early age.   It is the responsibility of parents and caregivers to instill in children the importance of working together as a team and that it is always good to do nice things for others.  This week, take the entire family to participate in a community service activity or to a neighbor’s house to perhaps help out with spring cleaning.

These are just idea starters, and we hope that you will continue carry these things with you even after the conclusion of BCD Week, as you aid us in this work to Fulfill the Promise.

*Also, during this month only, we are encouraging former BCDI members to renew their membership for only $20! More info can be found at www.nbcdi.org

You are invited to submit photos and/or poems for possible inclusion in the 2013 calendar.

 Photographic Guidelines

Submissions for PHOTOS will be accepted through May 15, 2012

What We Are Looking For: 

• Photos with children twelve years of age or younger
• Candid, action shots of children (indoors or outdoors)
• Photographs of children with an expression that communicates “a picture is worth a thousand words.”
• Color photos with excellent technical quality
• Single or small group photos of children

What We Are Not Looking For:

• Photos of children with adults
• Posed studio photos of children
• Photos of children in large groups (unless they can be cropped)
• Photos with any wrinkles, creases or marks
• Black and white photos
• Photos with cluttered backgrounds
• Photos of any child where an  Authorization and Release Form cannot be obtained

Photo Submission

STEP ONE: You may send your photo(s) via e-mail for an initial screening.

STEP TWO: If your photo is selected for consideration for the next round, you will be asked to submit via U.S. Mail either a CD/DVD with an image that is 300 dpi or a high quality color photo that is a minimum of 5” x 7”.  You must also include at that time, an Authorization and Release Form for each child in the photo.

Digital Images

You may initially submit a high quality digital image(s) on a CD/DVD for consideration. Photos for the calendar are enlarged to a minimum size of 8”x11” and therefore must be 300 dpi.  Please note due to volume, CD/DVDs cannot be returned.

Print

You may initially submit a high quality 35 mm color print(s) which must be a minimum size of 5”x 7” for consideration.  Please note due to volume, photos cannot be returned.

Identification

Photographer’s name, address and telephone number must appear on the back of all photos and on CD/DVDs submitted. Do not write directly on the back of photos — use a label. If limitations on the use of the photograph apply, they must also appear on the back of the photo or on the CD/DVD. Submission of photo with no statement of limitations constitutes photographer’s release.

Authorization and Release Form

You must provide an Authorization and Release Form for each identifiable child in the photo. Copies of blanket release forms signed by the parent or legal guardian giving the photographer, school or center permission to use the photos are sufficient for our records.  Please feel free to duplicate the attached Authorization and Release form.

CLICK HERE to download the Authorization and Release Form

Payment Schedule

Photo inside the calendar $25.00    /   Calendar Cover Photo $25.00

Photographers will receive a byline for photos used in the NBCDI Calendar of Black Children and a copy of the calendar when it is printed.

Poetic Guidelines

Submissions for POEMS will be accepted through June 30, 2012.

  Poem Guidelines

All poems must be original and should have children as the central theme.  Poems should not exceed 32 lines and can be submitted preferably by e-mail.  Please include the following information with each submission:

• Author’s  name
• Mailing address
• The year the poem was written and/or copyrighted
• If applicable, please include any limitations on the use of the poem

Poets will receive a byline in the calendar and copies of the calendar when it is printed.

Authorization and Release Form

You must provide an Authorization and Release Form for each identifiable child in the photo. Copies of blanket release forms signed by the parent or legal guardian giving the photographer, school or center permission to use the photos are sufficient for our records.  Please feel free to duplicate the attached Authorization and Release form.

CLICK HERE to download the Authorization and Release Form

Submit Photos and Poems to:

National Black Child Development Institute

1313 L Street, NW Suite 110

Washington, DC 20005

(202) 833-2220 or 1-800-556-2234

E-mail:  Calendar@nbcdi.org

(Thank you in advance, please call or e-mail if you have any questions)

The National Black Child Development Institute has over 24 Affiliates around the country with the mission to improve and advance the lives of Black children and their families through education and advocacy.

Join your local Affiliate or start your own today!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE MEMBERSHIP FORM

or

CLICK HERE TO RENEW ONLINE

Designate #11574 on your CFC pledge card and #435 on your United Way pledge card today!

We all know that children spend far too much time with screens: an astonishing average of 32 hours a week for preschoolers and even more for older children.  Excessive screen time is harmful for children—it’s linked to poor school performance, childhood obesity, attention problems, and the erosion of creative play.

Screen-Free Week (formerly TV-Turnoff) is a wonderful way to help children lead healthier, happier lives by reducing dependence on entertainment screen media—including television, video games, computers, and hand-held devices.  By encouraging children and families to unplug, Screen-Free Week provides time for them to play, connect with nature, read, daydream, create, explore, and spend more time with family and friends.

Passionate young voices are needed to end poverty in America, and around the world. This summer, the RESULTS International Conference offers a chance for 18 to 25 year-olds to build their advocacy skills and put them into practice on Capitol Hill.

RESULTS Educational Fund is pleased to offer REF’s Emerging Activist Leaders(REAL) Change Scholarship for all but $100 of the cost of conference registration, travel to DC, and lodging at the Doubletree by Hilton for 18-25 year olds to attend the exciting RESULTS International Conference 2012 (IC). This program also provides two additional days of advocacy training geared towards youth organizing on three of REF’s major global poverty campaigns, TB-HIV, Child Survival and Education for All. At this training you will gain knowledge and skills to speak powerfully, work with and educate decision makers and the media, and organize others who care about ending poverty. This transformative conference will be held July 21-25 at the Doubletree Hotel in Crystal City, overlooking Washington D.C.

NOMINATE NOW (doc)! Nominate a young person you know to apply for this outstanding opportunity!

APPLY NOW (doc)! The application deadline is May 15 for this unique training opportunity! 

BCDI Atlanta

BCDI Atlanta  were able to reach 750 middle school students, with 8 colleges and universities exhibiting, 33 presenters that rotated to the students in their classrooms, 3 general assemblies with motivational speakers and panels of college students.   They meet with the parents the week leading up to the day and made presentations to them as well and served dinner.  Below are photos from the event.

It is all about Play Time!!!

Check out our Spring 2012 edition of Child Health Talk.  Find out the importance of “play” and ways to promote healthy play time with the entire family!

CLICK HERE to download Child Health Talk Spring 2012

For more information, access prior issues, or if would like to submit an article, please contact Angele’ Doyne at  adoyne@nbcdi.org

After serving as CEO and President for nearly five years, Dr. Carol Brunson Day will pass the baton of leadership over to Dr. Felicia DeHaney, who comes to NBCDI after serving as the Interim Assistant Superintendent for Early Childhood Education and Director of School Preparedness for the District of Columbia’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

No stranger to NBCDI having served as Project Director for the Kellogg Foundation funded program Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids (SPARK) from 2006 to 2009, Felicia’s background in advocacy and human services prepare her well for the position. Over the past 15 years since getting her undergraduate degree at Howard University, she has worked as classroom teacher and administrator, higher education instructor and researcher. During that time she also received her Masters Degree from Columbia University and her Doctorate from Howard University.

Dr. DeHaney recognizes the challenges ahead to strengthen NBCDI’s position as a trusted and effective voice on behalf of Black children and families. “In this changing economic climate where the challenging conditions facing our children seem to be growing, we must dig deeper to find critical opportunities both to marshal support for them and to demonstrate their capacity to grow and thrive. Our agenda must support both their struggles and their strengths.”

The leadership transition will take place over the next month. Dr. DeHaney accepts the baton of leadership as she enthusiastically forges the future at the helm of NBCDI.

Over the past 42 years, NBCDI has sought to improve and advance thewelfare of Black Children and families through education and advocacy. NBCDI focuses its work on child development, early and middle school education, parenting, health and child welfare.

For additional information, please contact: Nicole Thomas at nthomas@nbcdi.org

1313 L Street, NW • Suite 110 •
Washington,D.C.20005-4110

202.833.2220 •
800.556.2234 • 202.833.8222 FAX • www.nbcdi.org

                                                                                                                                             1-800-331-0085

The National Black Child Development Institute Receives $300K Grant from the Walmart Foundation to Support Nutrition Education

 Donation is part of $9.5 Million Give to Help U.S. Families Access the Information Needed to Live Healthier Lives

[WASHINGTON, D.C.], February 6, 2012 – Today, The National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) announced it has received a $300,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation to promote healthy eating habits among American families. These grants are part of a $9.5 million nationwide donation to support nutrition education programs in local communities.

The donation to NBCDI will fund programs that promote positive nutrition practices among Black families.

In January 2011, Walmart, alongside First Lady Michelle Obama, announced an initiative to provide customers with healthier and more affordable food choices. This effort includes a commitment to increase funding for nutrition programs that help educate consumers about healthier food choices.

“At Walmart we are committed to helping our customers make healthier decisions whether that’s through their in-store experience or through taking a class focused on nutrition education,” said Andrea Thomas, senior vice president of sustainability at Walmart. “With this grant to The National Black Child Development Institute, more Americans will have access to nutrition education classes, cooking demonstrations and nutritional recipes—essential tools to living a healthier life.”

Nearly 300,000 people across the nation will benefit from the Walmart Foundation’s $9.5 million donation for nutrition education programs. In addition to NBCDI, the following organizations will receive donations: 

• Action for Healthy Kids
• American Medical Association Foundation
• Children’s Health Fund
• League of United Latin American Citizens
• National 4-H Council
• National Latino Children’s Institute
• Oldways
• Share Our Strength

To learn more about Walmart’s commitment to nutrition education, visit: http://www.walmartstores.com/healthyliving

NBCDI’s mission is to improve and advance the lives of Black children and families through education and advocacy. NBCDI focuses its work on child development, early and middle school education, parenting, health and child welfare. Detailed information can be found on the website at www.nbcdi.org.  More information about the Healthy Living Program at NBCDI can be found HERE!

About Philanthropy at Walmart

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support initiatives that are helping people live better around the globe. In May 2010, Walmart and its Foundation made a historic pledge of $2 billion through 2015 to fight hunger in the U.S. The Walmart Foundation also supports education, workforce development, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness initiatives. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.