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eyalondon.bsky.social
EYALondon
@eyalondon.bsky.social
27 followers 45 following 41 posts
Early Years Advocates London
Community Organization Est. 2022
Collective dedicated to ECEC advocacy in London, ON and beyond.
Co-leads: Fred & Bre (Jess is on sabbatical)
linktr.ee/eyalondon
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eyalondon.bsky.social
Registration is now open for the EYALondon film screening of Flying Paper: A documentary film by Roger Hill and Nitin Sawhney! Saturday, Aug 9 from 3PM-5PM. tickets by donation with all proceeds to Glia International.
White text on a black background that reads Join Us!. A graphic of green deciduous leaves blowing in the wind is behind the text. A photo from the documentary, “Flying Paper”, depicting a group of Palestinian children with their backs to the camera. One child is centred and in focus holding a green, red, and white hexagonal kite. White text on a red banner at the bottom of the image reads “Flying Paper” in English, and Arabic. Green text on a white background reads “Flying Paper: followed by white text on a black background that reads “A Documentary Film by Roger Hill & Nitin Sawhney Saturday, August 9, 2025 3:00 to 5:00PM Reimage Co London, ON”. August 9 is underlined by a green squiggle graphic.
July 21, 2025 at 2:21 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
IMPORTANT EVENT UPDATE! To accommodate more attendees, the The Immigration & Permanent Residency in the ECEC Workforce: Local Impacts Discussion panel location has been moved to accommodate from attendees! We would like thank @reimagineco.bsky.social for hosting us!
Black text on a white background that reads Upcoming Event, Tuesday, August 5, 2025, 7:00 - 8:30PM. Discussion panel, Immigration & Permanent Residency in the ECEC Workforce: Local Impacts, Reimage Co,  206 Piccadilly St, London, ON N6A 1S1. A stylized graphic of a black deciduous leaf is centred at the top of the image.
July 8, 2025 at 3:55 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
Save the date! Please join us Saturday August 9 at @reimagineco.bsky.social for a screening of the film Flying Paper: A documentary film by Roger Hill and Nitin Sawhney. Tickets will be by pay-what-you-can donation with all proceeds going to support Glia's ongoing efforts on the ground in Gaza.
White text on a black background that reads “Save the Date”. A graphis of green deciduous leaves blowing in the wind is behind the text. A photo from the documentary, “Flying Paper”, depicting a group of Palestinian children with their backs to the camera. One child is centred and in focus holding a green, red, and white hexagonal kite. White text on a red banner at the bottom of the image reads “Flying Paper” in English, and Arabic. Green text on a white background reads “Flying Paper:” followed by white text on a black background that reads “A Documentary Film by Roger Hill & Nitin Sawhney Saturday, August 9, 2025 3:00 to 5:00PM Reimage Co London, ON”. August 9 is underlined by a green squiggle graphic.
June 20, 2025 at 8:39 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
EYALondon has had the privilege of connecting with Newcomer ECEs in the #LdnOnt community. We are grateful to stand and act in solidarity with them.
Black text on a white background that reads Important terms: PERMANENT RESIDENCY (PR) - Someone with PR immigrated to and can live, work or study anywhere in Canada, but is not a Canadian citizen. ONTARIO IMMIGRANT NOMINEE PROGRAM (OINP) - The OINP recognizes and nominates people for PR who have skills and experience valued by the Ontario government, but the Canadian government makes the final decision on PR approval. DRAWS - PR candidates apply in rounds throughout the year, this is called a draw. DRAW SCORES - PR candidates are chosen based on a points ranking system. *ECEs who have completed required post-secondary education, are registered with College of Early Childhood Educators and are working in the field are not ranked high enough for most draws (without additional university degrees). The EYA London logo is in the bottom right corner of the slide. Black text on a white background that reads Did you know: The Ontario ECEC sector is in a critical labour shortage. More than 50% of the ECEC workforce in London, ON came here as international students. Newcomer RECEs worked through COVID19 shutdowns and kept our children safe. Provincially, these same Ontario newcomer ECEs have been excluded from draws for permanent residency (PR) and fear losing everything. Dedicated and passionate newcomer RECEs are being forced to leave Ontario for provinces that already offer direct streams to PR for ECEs. Federally, PM Carney’s proposed Bill C-2 promises to make access to PR even more difficult to obtain and opens the door to potential deportation. The EYA London logo is in the bottom right corner of the slide.
June 20, 2025 at 2:15 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
The Tiny Heart Kites for the Children of Palestine event raised $1250 CAD with all proceeds going to Glia International! (The actual amount is higher, as this number does not include donations that were made directly to Glia instead of through our event page).
Green text on a black background that reads “Fundraising update:”. White text on a black background that reads “Tiny Heart Kites for the Children of Palestine”. A stylized, heart-shaped Palestinian flag is centred on the image followed by white text that reads “The community raised *$1250 for Glia! *This does not include donations made directly to Glia. White text on a black background that reads “This is enough to cover the cost of medicine for patients in the Glia Field Clinic in Gaza for 1 week. Thank you to the community for making this fundraising event possible and for supporting Glia’s life-saving care in Gaza.” Glia’s logo is in the bottom left corner, followed by white text that reads “Gaza Medical Support Initiative”. There is white arrow pointing right below the text to a QR code that links to the donation page for the Gaza Medical Support Initiative.
June 20, 2025 at 2:13 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
Reading is vital to our advocacy work with children, colleagues, and families. Check out what we’re reading! Being You: A @first_conversations about Gender. Written by Megan Madison and Jessica Rally, illustrated by Anne/Andy Passchier, published by Rise x Penguin Workshop in 2022.
Black text on a white background that reads What We’re Reading, the cover of Being You by Megan Madison and Jessica Rally, illustrated by Anne/Andy Passchier is below the text. The EYA London logo is in the top right corner of the slide. Black text on a white background that reads: Author Bio MEGAN MADISON and JESSICA RALLI are co-authors First Conversations, an award-winning series of anti-bias books for young children and their grown-ups. Megan is a political educator and a lifelong student of radical Black feminism with a PhD in Social Policy. Jessica is the Early Literacy Programs Coordinator at Brooklyn Public Library. She has an M.A. in Early Childhood Special Education and has taught in museums, schools, and libraries. ANNE/ANDY PASSCHIER is an illustrator and author from the Netherlands and currently living in France. Their work focuses on inclusivity, positivity and LGBTQIA+ advocacy. In 2022, they wrote and illustrated Gender Identity For Kids, a middle grade chapter book explaining the basics of gender identity to kids, caregivers, and teachers alike. Black text on a White background that reads: Book Synopsis While young children are avid observers and questioners of their world, adults often shut down or postpone conversations on complicated topics because it's hard to know where to begin. This second book in the series begins the conversation on gender, with a supportive approach that considers both the child and the adult. Stunning art accompanies the simple and interactive text, and the backmatter offers additional resources and ideas for extending this discussion. An image from page 7 of Being You is below the text, depicting a smiling parent with brown skin holding twin babies with brown skin in their lap the text reads When a baby is born, grown-ups might say “it’s a girl” if their body has a vagina or “it’s a boy” if their body has a penis. Sometimes grown-ups aren’t sure but they chose the words “girl” or “boy” anyway.
June 20, 2025 at 2:09 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
Reading is vital to our advocacy work with children, colleagues, & families. As such, we’d like to share with our community what we’re reading! Abolition is Love by @syrusmarcusware.bsky.social & Alannah Fricker, published by Triangle Square books for young readers and Seven Stories Press in 2023.
White text on a Black background that reads What We’re Reading, the cover of Abolition is Love by Syrus Marcus Ware and Alanna Fricker if below the text. The EYA London logo is in the top right corner of the slide White text on a Black background that reads: Book Synopsis In Abolition is Love, Amelie learns about collective care, mutual aid, and abolitionist ideas as they help their parents get ready for the annual Prisoners’ Justice Day. Amelie explores big concepts like love, justice, and care, and learns how we can build a different world together through the small choices we make every day. An image from page 8 of Abolition is Love is in the bottom right corner of the slide, the text on that page reads, Abolition means love and care and taking care of each other even when we make mistakes. The EYA London logo is in the top right corner of the slide. White text on a Black background that reads: Author Bio SYRUS MARCUS WARE is cofounder of Black Lives Matter Canada and an Assistant Professor at the School of the Arts, McMaster University. A scholar, visual artist, activist, curator and educator, Syrus uses drawing, installation and performance to explore social justice frameworks and Black activist culture. He is part of the Performance Disability Art Collective, curator of the That’s So Gay show, and a past co-curator of Blackness Yes!/Blockorama. Syrus is the co-editor of the best-selling Until We Are Free: Reflections on Black Lives Matter in Canada (URP, 2020), and the illustrator of the children’s book I Promise written by Catherine Hernandez. He lives in Tkaronto (also known as Toronto, Canada. The EYA London logo is in the top right corner of the slide. White text on a Black background that reads: Author Bio ALANNAH FRICKER is a mom, caregiver, community organizer, artist, activist, educator, and Registered Social Worker living in Toronto/Tkaronto. She has organized with the Toronto Prisoners’ Rights Project, Abolition Coalition, and Students for Harm Reduction, and is involved in a wide variety of mutual aid, popular education, direct action, and creative arts projects focused on building a world where we keep each other safe. Alannah is currently completing her Master’s of Arts in Social Justice Education at the University of Toronto. Abolition is Love is the first children's book she has illustrated. The EYA London logo is in the top right corner of the slide.
June 10, 2025 at 3:35 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
EYALondon will be tabling at Wortley Pride on June 14, 2025 from 10AM to 5PM on the Green in Wortley Village! We look forward to seeing our members and the London area early years community at large at this event!
A variety of deciduous leaves in rainbow colours along the top and bottom of a black background with white text that reads, join E Y A London at Wortley Pride, Saturday, June 14, 2025, 10:00am to 5:00pm, the Green in Wortley Village, 206-226 Wortley Rd., London. A variety of deciduous leaves in rainbow colours along the top and bottom of a black background with white text that reads, together we will: play with bubbles, colour with crayons, read books and zines, talk about how we can care for 2SLGBTQIA+ children and families, sing, dance, and celebrate.
June 10, 2025 at 3:24 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
Reflecting on our own actions and inactions and using the resources offered to us is essential to making meaning around what is happening in the world with children. So, what we’re reading today is: So You Want a Free Palestine? A Resistance Guide for Kids, created by Akiea “Ki” Gross, 2024.
Black text on a white background that reads What We’re Reading, the cover of So You Want a Free Palestine? A Resistance Guide for Kids by Akiea “Ki” Gross is below the text. The EYA London logo is in the top right corner of the slide. Black text on a white background that reads: Author Bio AKIEA “KI” GROSS (they/them) is a Black, biracial, queer, non-binary & trans masc abolitionist early childhood educator & creator of @wokekindergarten. The heart of their work is currently creating abolitionist early childhood offerings that support kids & those who care about them in their pursuit of liberatory & political education. All Ki’s offerings are free. Ki believes in a world of our own creating, with children as comrades leading the way. It’s all power to the little people, free Palestine & all oppressed people globally—by any means necessary—till the wheels on the bus fall off.(excerpts from Ki’s Woke Kindergarten IG feed) The EYA London logo is in the top right corner of the slide. Black text on a White background that reads: Zine Synopsis So You Want a Free Palestine? A Resistance Guide for Kids is a zine that supports kids in their resistance efforts for a free Palestine. This zine offers critical literacy prompts about listening to Palestinians, making protest art, oycotting corporations that support Israel, and more. a photo of the back cover of the book is in the bottom right of the slide. The EYA London logo is in the top right corner of the slide.
May 22, 2025 at 4:40 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
Reading is vital to our advocacy work with children, colleagues, and families. Check out what we’re reading! Our Skin: A first conversation about Race. Written by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, illustrated by Isabel Roxas, published by Rise x Penguin Workshop in 2021.
Black text on a white background that reads What We’re Reading, the cover of Our Skin by Megan Madison and Jessica Rally, illustrated by Isabel Roxas is below the text. The EYA London logo is in the top right corner of the slide. Black text on a white background that reads: Author Bio MEGAN MADISON and JESSICA RALLI are co-authors First Conversations, an award-winning series of anti-bias books for young children and their grown-ups. Megan is a political educator and a lifelong student of radical Black feminism with a PhD in Social Policy. Jessica is the Early Literacy Programs Coordinator at Brooklyn Public Library. She has an M.A. in Early Childhood Special Education and has taught in museums, schools, and libraries. ISABEL ROXAS is an author/illustrator, micro-publisher, ceramicist, and avid reader. She was born in Manila, Philippines and now works in an art gallery in Manhattan where she writes and illustrates stories, designs books, and creates small objects in clay and resin. Isabel is the founder of Little Big Time Press, where she publishes artist books and zines for children. Black text on a White background that reads: Book Synopsis Our Skin was developed by experts in the fields of early childhood and activism against injustice. This topic-driven picture book offers clear, concrete language and beautiful imagery that young children can grasp and adults can leverage for further discussion. While young children are avid observers and questioners of their world, adults often shut down or postpone conversations on complicated topics because it’s hard to know where to begin. Black text on a White background that reads: Book Synopsis This first book in the series begins the conversation on race, with a supportive approach that considers both the child and the adult. Stunning art accompanies the simple and interactive text, and the backmatter offers additional resources and ideas for extending this discussion. Image from page 29 of Our Skin is below the text, the aimge is of children with many different skin colours and one white adult and one black adult standing in a protest line with signs that read Speak Out! Protests are Progress! And Black Lives Matter. The text above the illustration reads All the time, even right now, people are working for racial justice, by telling the truth and sharing feelings. By treating people the way they want to be treated.Black text on a White background that reads: Book Synopsis This first book in the series begins the conversation on race, with a supportive approach that considers both the child and the adult. Stunning art accompanies the simple and interactive text, and the backmatter offers additional resources and ideas for extending this discussion. Image from page 29 of Our Skin is below the text, the aimge is of children with many different skin colours and one white adult and one black adult standing in a protest line with signs that read Speak Out! Protests are Progress! And Black Lives Matter. The text above the illustration reads All the time, even right now, people are working for racial justice, by telling the truth and sharing feelings. By treating people the way they want to be treated.
May 13, 2025 at 1:47 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
Meeting reminder! Join us Tuesday, May 13th, 7PM on Zoom for our next EYALondon Community Connection Meeting!

Let's come together to check-in and continue to plan our child care advocacy efforts in 2025.

Join us! Registration #LinkInBio
Black text on a white background that reads Meeting Reminder, Tuesday, May 13, 2024, 7:00 - 8:00PM Community Connection Meeting April 2025 session follow-up there is a stylized graphic of a black deciduous leaf above the text.
May 6, 2025 at 1:55 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
Please join us on Tuesday, May 13th at 7PM via Zoom for our next EYALondon Community Connection Meeting!

At this meeting we will come together to check-in and continue to plan our child care advocacy efforts at various levels of government in 2025.

Join us!

Zoom registration #LinkInBio
Black text on a white background that reads Next Meeting, Tuesday, May 13, 2024, 7:00 - 8:00PM Community Connection Meeting April 2025 session follow-up there is a stylized graphic of a black deciduous leaf above the text.
April 14, 2025 at 2:23 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
Exciting News! EYALondon will be tabling at Wortley Pride this year! We invite the CARE collective to join us in person for our monthly meeting at Wortley Pride on Saturday, June 14th. More details to come!

#ECE #EarlyYearsAdvocacy #Childcare #CareWork #Pride2025 #WortleyPride #FamilyPride
White text on a black background bordered by green deciduous leaves that reads, Exciting News! EYA London is tabling at Wortley Pride. The Wortley Pride logo is centred on the image.
April 9, 2025 at 7:51 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
Envoyez un message au Premier Ministre Ford et au ministre de l'Éducation Paul Calandra disant que le gouvernement doit signer la prolongation de l’accord pour garantir l’avenir du programme des services de garde à $10parJour!

Signez la lettre (anglaise) ici: www.childcareontario.org/ford
Action Urgente! est ecrit en lettres rouges en haut de l’image. Du texte noir lit Ne permettez pas à Ford de faire volte-face aux familles. Dites-lui de finaliser la prolongation du financement $10pasJour aujourd-hui! Sur un fond jaune.
April 2, 2025 at 6:30 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
Send Ford and new Education Minister Paul Calandra an urgent message that the Ontario government must sign the extension agreement right away to secure the future of $10aDay child care!

Sign here: www.childcareontario.org/ford
Urgent is written in bold red lettering at the top of the image. Black text below it reads Don't let Ford flip-flop on families. Tell him to finalize the $10aDay funding extension today! on a yellow background.
April 2, 2025 at 6:30 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
What commitments are you looking for from your local representatives?
White text on a black background that reads Decisions on the amounts distributed to the provinces and territories, and for how long, are made at the federal level.
April 2, 2025 at 1:03 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
Please share your ideas for how we vote for childcare in this Canadian federal election. What questions will you be asking?
White text on a black background that reads Although the provincial and territorial governments decide how funds, including CWELCC, are distributed and used, the funding itself is provided by the Canadian federal government. Decisions on amounts distributed to the provinces and territories and for how long are made at the federal level.
April 2, 2025 at 1:03 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
A Canadian federal election has been called for Monday, April 28th, 2025.

In this rush to the ballot box, we are reminded that childcare is a federal election issue!

#ECE #OntarioEducators #CanadianEducators #ChildCareWorkers #EarlyYears #CareWork #Education #DecentWork
White text on a black background that reads child care is a federal election issue.
April 2, 2025 at 1:03 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
Please join us on Tuesday, April 8th at 7PM via Zoom for our next EYALondon Guest Speaker session with Carolyn Ferns!

Registration #LinkInBio

#ECE #Educator #OntarioEducators #CARECollective #ChildCareWorkers #LdnOnt #EarlyYears #ECEC #Childcare #CareWork #EarlyLearning #Education #DecentWork
A small round photo of Carolyn to the right of black text on a white background that reads Carolyn Ferns is Public Policy Coordinator at the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care. Carolyn has a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master's degree in Early Childhood Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University. She is a member of the Board of Directors of both Child Care Now and the Childcare Resource and Research Unit. The EYALondon logo is in the bottom right corner. A round photo of Carolyn on a white background with the black text that reads Meet Our Guest Speaker Carolyn Ferns, the EYALondon logo is in the top right corner.
March 18, 2025 at 5:06 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
Childcare is a provincial election issue.

The Ontario provincial election had been called for February 27, 2025.

Advance polls are open from February 20 to 22!

#ECE #OntarioEducators #CARECollective #EarlyYearsAdvocacy #EarlyYears #EarlyChildhoodEducationAndCare #DecentWork
White text on a black background that reads childcare is a provincial election issue. There is a stylized graphic of a white deciduous leaf above the text.
February 21, 2025 at 4:20 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
We are again incredibly grateful to #LdnOnt artist Emma Richard who joined us for our February guest speaker session with Adebola Adefioye and created this graphic recording of our learning!

Please join us for our follow-up community connection meeting on Tuesday, March 11th @ 7PM. #LinkInBio
A graphic recording of our February guest speaker session, the title Guest Speaker Series: Adebola Adefioye is centred at the top. Black, Brown and white people showing various emotions along with with key terms and discussion points are included throughout the illustration.
February 20, 2025 at 5:07 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
We know #childcare is a provincial election issue, but unfortunately we were only able to find children and daycares mentioned in reference to proximity to Safe Consumption Sites on the @ontariopcparty.bsky.social election website.
White text on a black background that reads our search of items relating to the 2025 provincial election on the Ontario PC party website found that children and *daycares were mentioned in reference to proximity to Safe Consumption Sites and in a statement from a supporter referencing building "an Ontario fit for our children and grandchildren".​ *Daycare is a term often used synonymously with childcare. The Ontario Progressive Conservative logo is centred above the text and there is a stylized graphic of a white deciduous leaf above it.
February 19, 2025 at 8:58 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
We received a clarification email from the @ontarioliberal.bsky.social

What does it say about childcare?

#CARECollective #ChildCareWorkers #EarlyYearsAdvocacy #LdnOnt #EarlyYears #ECEC #EarlyChildhoodEducationAndCare #Childcare #CareWork #EarlyLearning #Education #DecentWork #ChildCareIsPolitical
White text on a black background that reads Childcare specific commitments: reduce *daycare costs to $10/day by working collaboratively with the federal government, daycare operators, early childhood educators (ECEs), and other key stakeholders. Adopt best practices from other provinces with respect to the funding formula, giving daycare operators stability while keeping kids safe and helping parents save money. Create more non-profit and publicly owned childcare spaces, so that we can ensure enough spaces are available for every family in need. *Daycare is a term often used synonymously with childcare and is used interchangeably in the communication we received. The Ontario Liberal Party logo is centred above the text and there is a stylized graphic of a white deciduous leaf above it.] White text on a black background that reads More childcare specific commitments: Train, attract, recruit, and retain more talented ECEs to address the critical shortage. Ensure ECEs receive a livable wage and have access to professional development opportunities that will make becoming an ECE an attractive and viable career. Offer tuition waivers to ECE students who agree to serve in small, rural, remote, northern, and underserved communities after graduation, ensuring that all regions of Ontario have access to quality childcare. The Ontario Liberal Party logo is centred above the text and there is a stylized graphic of a white deciduous leaf above it. White text on a black background that reads General statements on Childcare: We are committed to creating a sustainable and affordable childcare system that works for both parents and providers, and we appreciate your engagement on this important issue. The Ontario Liberal Party logo is centred above the text and there is a stylized graphic of a white deciduous leaf above it. White text on a black background that reads We received a clarification email from the Ontario Liberal Party​​​​​​​. What does it say about childcare? There is a stylized graphic of a white deciduous leaf above the text.
February 18, 2025 at 3:37 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
White text on a black background with the Ontario NDP logo centred at the top. The text reads General statements on the sector: Hire more staff ... Dedicated teachers, educational assistants, child and youth workers, ECEs. custodial and trade workers - they make all the difference helping students get the one-on-one attention they need and maintaining a nurturing learning environment. Having more caring adults in schools makes them safer for everyone.
February 15, 2025 at 8:04 PM
eyalondon.bsky.social
White text on a black background with the Ontario NDP logo centred at the top. The text reads​​​​​​​ Childcare specific promises: Deliver on $10/day child care “after delays by Ford’s government”. Create 53, 000 new, public or not-for-profit affordable childcare space. *Establish a regional waitlist to make it easier to find quality child care close to home. *The London region already operates with a regional waitlist system.
February 15, 2025 at 8:04 PM