First 5 holds diversity conference

First 5 Kings County will offer a two-day conference to provide early childhood education providers, public agencies and businesses with tools for serving multicultural families.

The event will be held Oct. 19 and 20 at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino.

Although the 2007 Our Diverse World conference is targeted towards early childhood education providers such as childcare center staff, home daycare providers and preschool teachers, others may find it helpful, said First 5 Community Specialist Jon-Michael Hice.

"It is our hope that the effects of this conference will be far-reaching, beyond the childcare center or home daycare, but in the offices of public agences and local businesses," Hice said.

Hice said a workshop on effective practices for serving Spanish-speaking families offered the first day will be helpful to anyone who works with the Spanish-speaking population -- from social services to local businesses.

"We recognize that the Spanish-speaking population has a large presence here and we are going to give information that is useable by the masses," Hice said.

Hice said the conference will also offer early childhood educators "information to make their classroom inclusive for students of any culture."

Some of the scheduled workshops include: supporting dual language learners, oral tradition, being a culturally competent educator, using arts and crafts to celebrate cultural diveristy, and early childhood mathematics for students from language-minority backgrounds.

Cost for the conference is $35 a day or $60 for both days. Scholarships are available.

(Oct. 9, 2007)