Introducing the 2024-2025
Public Voices Fellows
The National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) Announces its 2024-2025 cohort of The Public Voices Fellowship on Racial Justice in Early Childhood in partnership with The OpEd Project. The Public Voices Fellowship is designed to bring new and diverse voices into racial justice in early childhood conversations and increase thought leadership among women and people of color so that our experiences and voices are included in these important conversations and find just and equitable solutions to these challenges. The Public Voices Fellowship on Racial Justice in Early Childhood is part of a prestigious national initiative from The OpEd Project to change who writes history. The curriculum explores leadership, knowledge exchange, and empowerment in an unjust world. Fellows will explore building consensus, how ideas spread, when and why minds change, and howideas can shape the future.
Chinita Allen, Founder, Clear Strategy Group, she/her/hers
Chinita Allen is a passionate advocate for equity and justice. Chinta Allen is a seasoned leader with a dynamic background in strategic political leadership, education advocacy, and community engagement. Serving on the Executive Committee of the Democratic Party of Georgia, Allen played a pivotal role in developing a statewide strategic plan, resulting in the flipping of 48 seats across 25 counties.
As the Immediate Past President of the Georgia Federation of Democratic Women, Allen managed 23 local chapter presidents and collaborated with prominent political figures like US Senator Jon Ossoff, US Senator Raphael Warnock, and Gubernatorial Candidate Stacey Abrams. With over 20 years of experience as an award-winning STEM and science educator, Allen possesses a deep commitment to education equity, serving as the former Georgia PTA State Legislative Chair and legal intern at the US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.
An alumna of Barnard College, Columbia University and Yale University School of Management, Allen brings a comprehensive perspective to her work, evident in her published works addressing critical issues such as student debt forgiveness and racial justice. Dedicated to fostering inclusion, Allen serves as the Chair of Diversity, Inclusion, and Outreach for the National Parent and Teacher Association.”
Criscillia Benford, Senior Fellow, The FrameWorks Institute, she/her/hers
Criscillia Benford is a children’s advocate, educator, and media theorist. Since 2021, she has also been a Senior Fellow at the FrameWorks Institute, where she contributes to projects in various issue areas, including Child & Adolescent Development, Families, and Economic & Racial Justice. She chairs the board of Fairplay, a nonprofit advocating for safer online spaces for children, and is dedicated to ending the staggering influence corporate marketers’ have on childhood and children.
Criscillia earned her Ph.D. from Stanford with a dissertation exploring how the distribution and marketing of Victorian novels influenced their artistic and material forms. She went on to teach “big ideas” courses like “Alienation,” “Evil,” “Contemplation or Action,” and “Technological Visions of Utopia” at the University of Chicago, Duke, and Stanford. She has published peer-reviewed work in the fields of Victorian Poetry, Narratology, and Theoretical Neuroscience. Her research and writing have won awards. To support her advocacy work, Criscillia earned industry-recognized certificates in User Experience Design, Gestalt Psychology & Web Design, and chatbot building. Currently, she is engaged in a qualitative research project designed to learn what adolescents and pre-adolescents have to say about how the marketing of virtual goods in XR environments impacts their online social experiences.”
Jamial Black, Consultant/Mentor/Edvocate, National Parents Union, he/him/his
Representing the 1.3% of all Black Male Educators, Jamial D. Black transcends cultural and societal boundaries and encourages young learners to amplify their voices and reach their true potential. For the past decade, Mr. Black has devoted his lifelong goals and passion for being active and present in education through advocacy that encourages and implements needed elevation. He manifests change via a safe space for the future leaders of tomorrow.
Jamial D. Black is a native of North Carolina and attended Wake Forest Rolesville High School, a school of distinction in the Wake County Public School System that he currently advocates and supports in his role as an Educator. He graduated from East Carolina University and has served in various educational roles from the East to the West Coast. Mr. Black has been passionate from such an early age about implementing change and addressing the growing plight that at-risk and marginalized students face daily. As an advocate and mentor who pledges to combat the very systems that facilitate the “school-to-prison pipeline,” Mr. Black has vowed to be the difference, the voice, and the solution to bridge the many (achievement) gaps found within the American Educational Society & System.
Lisa Browne, Director of Family and Equity Initiatives, First Up, she/her/hers
Lisa Browne-Lisa is a devoted advocate for educational equity, dedicated to catalyzing positive change in early childhood education. In her role as the Director of Family and Equity Initiatives at First Up, she spearheads a dynamic portfolio of programs aimed at dismantling inequities and championing inclusive practices within early childhood education.Through collaborative efforts with passionate educators, families, and ECE systems leaders, Lisa empowers key adults in the lives of young children.
As the Founder of Colorful Stories, a non-profit early literacy initiative, Lisa is on a mission to “support families and educators in using children’s books as tools to have conversations around race, racism, and justice.” Her impactful work includes collaborations with esteemed partners such as The National Writing Project, The Free Library of Philadelphia, WHYY, Mighty Writers, and Read By 4th, among others. Lisa thrives on direct engagement with the Philadelphia community, creating accessible programs that foster early literacy and meaningful dialogues on vital issues.
Lydia Carlis, Chief Learning & Impact Officer, Acelero, Inc., she/her/hers
Lydia Carlis- Lydia leads the strategic vision for the design, implementation, and evaluation of Acelero, Inc.’s programs and services as its Chief Learning & Impact Officer. Acelero’s learning and impact initiatives serve nearly 350,000 children in 25 states and territories through a mix of direct services, community-based training and technical assistance, and TTA with states and municipalities. Prior to joining Acelero, Inc., she was a teacher, instructional leader, and early childhood instructional model designer. Most recently, she served as the principal consultant for eyemaginED, where she partnered with schools, nonprofits, and philanthropic organizations to advance systems-level educational equity. Prior to that, Lydia served as Chief of Research & Innovation for AppleTree Institute for Education Innovation, where she oversaw the design, development, and evaluation of its award-winning Every Child Ready instructional model. She holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from Howard University, a master’s degree in bilingual special education from George Washington University, and a doctorate of philosophy in special education – learning disabilities from the University of Maryland, College Park. Lydia’s six-word memoir is “motivated by love, justice, and stories.”
Rona Carter, Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan, she/her/hers
Rona Carter- My research delves into the intricate relationship between puberty, race, and gender among Black girls, with a focus on adultification. By illuminating systemic disparities, I advocate for policies that foster equity and justice. I challenge conventional perspectives on puberty, emphasizing its disproportionate impact on marginalized communities and advocating for a paradigm shift in puberty education.
I aim to cultivate a more inclusive society for Black children by amplifying marginalized voices and challenging entrenched societal norms. Through my research, I have significantly contributed to the understanding of off-time pubertal development, which refers to puberty onset earlier or later than one’s same-sex peers. This non-normative aspect of puberty poses significant risks, including depression, anxiety, and delinquency.
One aspect of my research explores parallel developmental tasks, such as ethnic-racial identity development, and the impact of psychologically threatening experiences like ethnic-racial and gender discrimination on outcomes such as depression and delinquency during puberty. Another facet of my work investigates how interpersonal interactions with adults and peers and contextual factors influence off-time pubertal effects. By addressing these complex dynamics, I aim to provide insights that inform interventions and support systems to mitigate the adverse effects of off-time puberty and promote positive outcomes for Black girls.
June Christian, Inclusion & Diversity, Learning, and Education Leader, she/her/hers
June Christian, Ph.D. is a dynamic leader in educational leadership and policy, renowned for her groundbreaking work in the dehumanization of Black children, notably encapsulated in her influential book, Understanding the Black Flame and Multigenerational Education Trauma: Toward a Theory of the Dehumanization of Black Students. With a Ph.D. in Metropolitan Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Missouri-St. Louis she brings a wealth of knowledge in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), underpinned by her extensive experience in the academic, nonprofit, and corporate sectors.
Her career is distinguished by roles that have actively challenged and reshaped the landscape of public discourse on education and social justice. As an educator, speaker, and DEI coach, Dr. June has pioneered inclusive learning programs and strategies, notably at the Southern Poverty Law Center and Starbucks, where she led transformative initiatives in learning and education. Her expertise has been globally acknowledged, evidenced by her lectures internationally, including those sponsored by the US State Department.
Dr. Christian’s voice is not just a beacon for underrepresented communities but a catalyst for the diversity of thought essential in today’s global discourse.
Megan Curran, Policy Director, Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University, she/her/hers
Megan Curran-Dr. Curran is a child and family policy expert who has worked inside and outside government in the US and abroad. Currently, she is the Policy Director of the Columbia University Center on Poverty and Social Policy. Her research explores policy strategies for child poverty reduction, and her analysis of transformative economic relief policy responses for families amid the pandemic, particularly the expanded Child Tax Credit, saw her research feature across major national and international media outlets, including The New York Times, Washington Post, BBC, and more and serve as a go-to resource among advocates and policymakers. Her international work on universal child benefits sees her partner regularly with researchers and policy groups across countries, including the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF Innocenti. She has worked as a legislative analyst in the US House of Representatives and the Scottish Parliament and as a researcher on child and family poverty and policy solutions in the US, UK, and Ireland. She holds a Ph.D. and MPP in Social Policy from University College Dublin, Ireland, an LLM in International Law (Human Rights) from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and a B.A. in American Studies and African/African American Studies from Fordham University in New York.
Ciara Weaver, Teacher, Chicago Public Schools, she/her/hers
Ciara Weaver is a dedicated advocate for early childhood education and policy reform.
With a bachelor’s in Child and Family Services, a Master of Education in Early
Childhood Special Education, a Masters Science in Child Development, and a Masters
of Jurisprudence in Child Law and Family Policy, Ciara brings a wealth of experience as
a professional leader and continued learner. As a licensed teacher for Chicago Public
Schools, with birth-Grade 3 classroom experience, she has demonstrated a
commitment to advancing evidence-based policies that prioritize the needs of young
learners, particularly in her own black/brown community. Through her time as a public
policy intern with the University of Chicago Lab School as well being an ECE Policy
Fellow for TeachPlus, Ciara has proven adept at collaborating with stakeholders,
conducting research, and crafting compelling arguments to effect positive change in
the early childhood education landscape. With a passion for policy surrounding Early Childhood, Ciara is excited to
leverage her skills and expertise as a leader, advocating for policies that ensure all children have access to
high-quality early learning opportunities.
Lyric Dixon, Preschool Teacher, New Village, they/he/she
Lyric Dixon is a young, Black, Trans, Queer educator in the occupied Nipmuc and Pocumtuc lands. Although new to the field, Lyric has worked with all life stages, from infants to elders, and their love of community and being with others fuels them! For the past few years, they’ve amassed experience in facilitating comprehensive sexual health curriculum and organizing community groups and events for LGBTQIA+ youth in the Valley. Recently, Lyric shifted gears and found themselves gravitating towards early childhood education! Now, she ponders questions relating to social justice in early childhood and continues bringing their bubbly, passionate, musical self to their preschool classroom. When not teaching, Lyric can be found gardening, cuddling with their 70lb Pitbull, and enjoying time in the community
Markus Flynn, Executive Director, Black Men Teach, he/him/his
Markus Flynn is the executive director of Black Men Teach. In this role, he advocates
for accessible and affordable pathways for Black men to become elementary school
educators. As a leader in the Twin Cities community, he works with partner schools,
teacher training programs, and community-based organizations to recruit, prepare,
place, and retain Black male teachers.
Prior to becoming executive director, Markus’ passion for creating educational
opportunities brought him to Minnesota to teach. Markus taught both 5th and 6th
grade science at Prodeo Academy.
Markus received his Master of Science and Bachelor of Science from Iowa State
University.
Andrew Grant-Thomas, Co-director, EmbraceRace, he/him/his
Andrew Grant-Thomas is co-founder and co-director of EmbraceRace. He was the
director of programs at the Proteus Fund, a national foundation committed to
advancing justice through democracy, human rights, and peace. At Proteus, Andrew
worked on issues that include race and redistricting; money in politics; civil liberties,
human rights, and national security policy; death penalty abolition; and social equity in
philanthropy. He was previously the deputy director of the Kirwan Institute for the
Study of Race and Ethnicity at the Ohio State University, where he oversaw much of
the institute’s U.S.-based and global justice programming, directed its biannual
Transforming Race conference, and served as founding editor-in-chief of its
race/ethnicity journal. Andrew came to the Kirwan Institute from the Civil Rights
Project at Harvard University, where he oversaw preparations for the 2003 Color Lines
Conference and managed a range of policy-oriented racial justice projects.
Andrew earned his BA (literature) from Yale University and his MA (international relations) and PhD (political
science) from The University of Chicago. He emigrated from Jamaica with his parents at age 7. He is the doting dad
of 13 and 15-year-old children.
Bridget Haney, Historian, University of Missouri-Columbia / State Historical Society of Missouri, she/her/hers
Bridget Haney, a dynamic scholar completing a Ph.D. in U.S. history with specifications in Black Studies and Women and Gender Studies, specializes in unraveling intricate narratives of Black women and girls in the 20th century. Positioned for lasting impact, her interdisciplinary perspective provides profound insights into societal dynamics, addressing race, class, gender, age, and citizenship. Guided by bell hooks’ principles, Bridget envisions public spaces as vibrant communities fostering mutual respect and authentic engagement. Her practical educational approach encourages critical analysis of underexamined wisdom, myths, stereotypes, and preconceived notions, creating a dynamic learning environment that adapts to diverse learner needs. In research, Bridget employs rigorous archival work to amplify marginalized narratives. As a fellowship candidate, she commits to generating solutions for racial justice in early childhood, dispelling myths about Black early childhood education. Grounded in practical public history experience and interdisciplinary expertise, Bridget Haney is poised to contribute transformative ideas, answering the critical question of building a racially just world for young children upon her Ph.D. completion in Spring 2024.
Suni Kartha, Manager, Foundation Relations, Start Early, she/her/hers
Suni Kartha- My professional background has taken me through law firms, both big and small, a public K-8 school district (which included an early childhood center serving children 0-5), and the world of philanthropy. After receiving my law degree, I spent many years practicing advertising and promotions law – an intriguing but ultimately personally unsatisfying career path. Through my own children, I became involved in local school issues – first at their preschool, then through the PTA at their elementary school, and eventually seeing that issues of inequity that I perceived in their schools were longstanding and widespread community concerns, ones that needed thoughtful and systemic solutions. I spent eight years on the local school board, including 3 as school board president, advocating for anti-racist policies and practices as well as for greater investments in our early childhood programs. In my current work on the development team at Start Early, a nonprofit that champions early childhood learning, I support state policy work that strengthens the spectrum of support for children and families from before birth through age five.
Dr. Shauna Knox, Senior Vice President, National Black Child Development Institute, she/her/hers
Dr. Shauna Knox is a researcher, policy activist, philanthro-advocate, and thought leader in Black humanity by way of designated expertise in the decolonization and re-humanization of Black citizens of the Global South. Dr. Knox was previously appointed Chief of (Racial Equity) Strategy at Associated Black Charities, a public foundation committed to the closing of the racial wealth gap in the United States through research and practice. Prior to this role, she served a five-year tenure at the U.S. Department of Education, during which she received a Breakthrough Award for her work on the team leading the charge to upskill the Department following the eighth reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. She was also named the sole Subject Matter Expert for Human Trafficking and Child Labor Exploitation at the Department.
Dr. Knox has written 2 remarkable books, Engaging Currere Toward Decolonization: Negotiating Black Womanhood through Autobiographical Analysis. The second book is entitled The Black Subaltern: An Intimate Witnessing.
Melanie Latson, Founder/ Social Justice Educator, March on, Kid, she/her/hers
My name is Melanie N. Latson, and I enter each space as a “good troublemaker” striving for social change through youth activism. While my roots are planted in Atlanta, my passion began in the rich city of Richmond, California. Although rich in culture, love, and community, this city’s lack of resources is, indeed, what ignited my fire to make a difference both in and outside the classroom. I earned my Bachelor of Art from the University of West Georgia, and my Master of Education from Northeastern University, and I am currently earning my Doctorate of Education in Education Policy and Leadership at American University. My passion for social justice sparked my courage to boldly disrupt inequitable systems and this gratefully led me to transition out of the classroom to now lead as the Founder of the social justice collective, March On, Kid!
Sajdah Asmau, Graduate Student, California State University, Sacramento, she/her/hers
Sajdah Asmau is a graduate student in the College of Education at California State University, Sacramento, where she graduated summa cum laude in 2021 focusing on the development of children within social and community settings. She has worked in early childhood education for many years and holds credentials on the Child Development and School-Age Emphasis Matrix with the state government. She is also passionate about her work in higher education in student services, where she provides support to college students who are underrepresented pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees. Further, she is the owner of a childcare facility that serves children from birth to age five using an African-centered curriculum. Sajdah is the recipient of multiple fellowships, including Sacramento State’s Pathways Fellows Program and the Centering Black Women Educators Fellowship. Her research interests include exploring educators’ attitudes about race and the influences on Black students’ social-emotional well-being, specifically, self-concept or identity development. Through her life and work, Sajdah displays a commitment to racial equity and social justice in education. She enjoys reading memoirs in her spare time.
Mikayla Oberlton, Research Assistant, Overnight Case Manager, Prairie View A&M University, Family Ties, she/her/hers
Mikayla Joy Oberlton is a Master of Human Science at Prairie View A&M University with a Bachelor in Psychology from Georgia State University. She currently holds three positions: as a Graduate Research Assistant, Overnight Case Manager, and Substitute Teacher in Cy-Fair. She is also Miss Harris County 2024 and will compete for the title of Miss Texas in June. Ms. Oberlton is currently studying Human sciences with the goal of becoming a Marriage and Family Therapist and a Trauma informed researcher. Her current research on pageantry and mental health has played a key role in developing her future thesis. Ms.Oberlton’s most notable research projects are the “ Minority Health Initiative, “working to break down the barriers of racial equity in healthcare”, “The Winner is… mental health in pageantry,” analyzing the psychological wellbeing of pageant contestants and titleholders, and “The Things we don’t know we don’t know,” addressing difficulties that African American youth face while navigating trauma due to the lack of guidance. Outside of Academia she also owns a small business called Black-itty that sells high-fashion academic accessories. She hopes to her PhD and LMFT license in the next five years.
Demi Siskind, Senior Research Scientist, Start Early, she/her/hers
Dr. Demi Siskind is a Senior Research Scientist at Start Early. She conducts applied research centered on the early care and education (ECE) experiences of children and families of low-income who live in disinvested communities across the United States, especially those of Hispanic/Latiné backgrounds. Her research provides practice and policy implications for advancing equitable early learning experiences through ECE workforce preparation and development. Dr. Siskind has presented her work at both research- and practitioner-based conferences, at local, state, and national levels, and is a published author in the ECE field’s most premier peer-reviewed academic journals and “gray” literature outlets. At Start Early, Dr. Siskind holds a leadership role focused on advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) through research and has extensive training in issues and topics related to DEI in ECE. Dr. Siskind holds a doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies with a doctoral minor in Educational Research Methodology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Nicole Wiesen, GA Regional Coordinator, Multifaith Initiative to End Mass Incarceration, she/her/hers
Nicole Wiesen is a dedicated professional serving as the Regional Coordinator for the Multifaith Initiative to End Mass Incarceration. With a passion for justice and advocacy, Nicole actively champions the rights of currently and previously incarcerated individuals, as well as their families. In her role, she collaborates with faith communities across Georgia, fostering a collective commitment to creating beloved and accepting spaces. Through these partnerships, Nicole strives to establish communities that warmly embrace returning citizens, facilitating a seamless transition into society. Her work not only addresses the challenges of mass incarceration but also seeks to promote understanding, compassion, and support for those affected by the criminal justice system. Nicole Wiesen is an invaluable asset to the Multifaith Initiative, embodying a steadfast commitment to social change and community resilience.