My message is really that racism has no place in the hearts and minds
of our children.
Ruby Bridges
Young Hearts Open Minds™ is a comprehensive, integrated, and focused program that works with entire childcare and preschool centers. Four groups are active participants in the program:
- Children ages 1–5 years attending preschools or licensed childcare centers
- Preschool teachers and childcare center providers who support the program on a day-to-day basis
- Facilitators/coaches who train teachers and childcare professionals on the content of the program and facilitate group and individual discussions as needed
- Parents of young children attending preschools or childcare centers
Participating Sites
Young Hearts Open Minds™ YHOM is fully integrated into more than 35 childcare and preschools with more than 400 teachers. Examples of sites include:
- New Horizon Academy, St. Paul, MN — Rice Street
- All Seasons Preschool — Eagan & Inver Grove Heights, MN
- Child Care of the Berkshires, Inc. — North Adams, MA
- Rise Early Learning Center — St. Louis Park, MN
- YMCA of the North Early Childhood Programs, Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
Strategic Partnerships
Strategic partnerships are critical to increasing our reach and impact. Young Hearts Open Minds partners with:
- Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Youth
- Center for Inclusive Child Care (CICC), which works with 500 centers across Minnesota
- Several Minnesota colleges who bring the YHOM curriculum to their early childhood degree and certification programs
- EmbraceRace™, a national organization that helps parents, caregivers and educator raise children who understand race, value inclusion, and work toward a more just and connected future
- Child Care Aware of Minnesota