Communities of practice are groups of people who share a
concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better
through interacting with one another (Helm, 2007). Three local/ state
organizations or community or practice that appealed to me are Educare, NBCDI,
and NAEYC.
Educare is a network of schools serving thousands of children
across the country. Educare currently has a D.C location which serves an early
head start and head start program, and they are currently in the process of
opening a second location in D.C. They have several job openings including,
lead teacher, family engagement specialist, and inclusion specialist. Educare
offers a prenatal program, advocacy, teacher training, a health and wellness
program and serves children birth-5 years old.
The National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI)
supports and works primarily with Black children birth through age eight and
their families, through coalition building with community-based organizations,
foundations, corporations, school systems, elected officials, government, childcare,
Head Start and many other public and private partnerships.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children
(NAEYC) forums and communities provide NAEYC members a way to expand their
knowledge and share their specific passion within early childhood education
with other NAEYC members. Forums focus on a range of topics—from health and
safety to professional development systems to men in education.
References
Helm, J. (2007). Energize your professional development by
connecting with a purpose: Building communities of practice. YC: Young
Children, 62(4), 12-16.
https://www.educaredc.org/
https://www.naeyc.org/get-involved/communities
https://www.nbcdi.org/who-we-are
