Community care and sustainability are deeply connected, and community development expert Felix Larbi Appiah explains how First Educators can teach children to build a more just and resilient future together.
Dr. Artika Tyner
Dr. Artika Tyner is a passionate educator, award-winning author, civil rights attorney, sought-after speaker, and advocate for justice. She is the founder of the Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute and pens a monthly First Educator column for the MSR.
Posted inFirst Educator
Literacy at every age
Early childhood literacy development stages begin before birth. Here is how parents and caregivers can support children from toddlerhood through the teen years.
Posted inBlack History
We are rooted in resilience – What Black history teaches us in a shifting world
As Black History Month reaches its centennial, this reflection explores what it means to remain rooted in history while shaping a more just future.
Posted inFirst Educator
Making a difference: Key strategies for community-based adaptation
Minnesota families are feeling the impacts of climate change through hotter summers, unpredictable storms and rising energy bills. Community based adaptation gives residents the power to respond with practical strategies such as planting trees for cooling, creating rain gardens to reduce flooding and using energy efficient appliances at home. These actions strengthen neighborhoods and build leadership skills in children who will shape the future.
Posted inEducation
Constructing bridges: What educators wish parents knew at the start of a new school year
The first day of preschool or kindergarten is a milestone for both children and parents, a moment filled with excitement, nervous energy, and lots of questions. While families pack backpacks and label water bottles to ensure their children return home with their belongings, early childhood educators quietly wish to share a few heart-to-heart truths with […]
Posted inEducation
Tips for STEM summer learning
Dr. Artika Tyner is advocating for STEM education for children, emphasizing the importance of early exposure to STEM careers and the role of parents and caregivers.
Posted inEducation
Cultivating Black genius: Empowering children through positive affirmations, racial identity
The Doll Test, used in the landmark case of Brown v. The Board of Education, highlighted the devastating impact of racism on the development of Black children.