Our mission is to act on behalf of the needs and rights of all young children and their families.  Because our mission encompasses serving all children, we provide resources and services that will assist early childhood professionals in working toward that end.

WAEYC recognizes that the challenge for our profession is to embrace diversity, counteract bias and adopt inclusive attitudes and practices.  WAEYC promotes multicultural, anti-bias and culturally relevant practices in programs for young children, in teacher education efforts and within our state and affiliate organizations.

We acknowledge the complexity of this task and foster continual discussion and work toward our goals.  Carol Brunson-Phillips identifies three goals that can guide our work. WAEYC encourages programs for children and teacher education to adopt these goals.

Multicultural Goals
Foster Development within the Home Culture.  All of us have a culture.  Our curriculum practices need to reflect the cultures of the people involved.  The curriculum climate of our   programs should be consistent with the cultural climate of the home and acknowledge contradictions faced by those who must operate in more than one culture.

Bring Diversity into the Program Environment
Children and adults need to be aware of the wide variety of “ways of being” in their community and the world.  We need to represent and infuse this diversity in all that we do and avoid the misrepresentation and stereotyping that an isolated “tourist” curriculum can promote.

Counteract Bias and Stereotypes
As educators of children and adults, we need to provide authentic and unbiased images and materials.  We must also be alert to and counteract the bias and stereotypes that permeate our country.

Approved by WAEYC Governing Board 11/92.