The Center on the Ecology of Early Development (CEED) is a university-based early childhood research center specifically focused on the child care and early education needs of Black children. Their research serves to empower families and community members caring for Black children to advocate for the rights of their children.
Why We Invested
Across the early childhood field, there is a lack of research institutions that take on a multi-cultural, strengths-based approach, thus making it harder for all of us to understand what families of color need, as well as establish the policies and practices that create the conditions for all children and families to thrive. Although there are other federally-funded research centers focused on child care and early education needs of Latinx children and children living in tribal communities, no such federally-funded center exists for Black children. CEED fills a critical gap in the early child care and education research landscape.
I believe that striving for social justice must start early, even during the prenatal period, if our society is truly committed to making the world a better place for future generations.
Stephanie Curenton, Founder of CEED