Welcome to the GAEYC 2026 Equity Fellows
The Equity Fellowship is a transformative learning experience designed to support early childhood educators in examining racism, inequities, and racial trauma within early childhood systems while centering healing and professional identity. Through a sequence of reflective and community-centered sessions, participants explore the historical foundations of inequity, uplift untold educator stories, engage in racial healing practices, and address the emotional demands of the profession. The fellowship emphasizes care for the caregiver, healing justice, and hope, culminating in actionable strategies for bringing healing-centered equity into classroom practice and sustaining joyful, purpose-driven educator lives.
Facilitator: Arrealia Gavins
Arrealia Gavins is Faculty Director of Infant, Early Childhood and Family - Community Mental Health Workers Certificate at Georgetown University and Director of Practice for the Early Childhood Innovation Network with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Ms. Gavins has served in the profession of Early Childhood for over 30 years. She is currently Co-Principal Investigator of Georgetown University's Promoting Resilience and Mental Health in Educational Settings for Early Childhood (PROMISE) projects which currently offers staff and family wellbeing services to early learning centers and pediatric settings across the District of Columbia for the ACF Head Start University Partnership Grant (HSUP) and SAMHSA Project Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children's Health (Project LAUNCH) grants. Additionally, she leads the development and integration of Community Mental Health Workers into the national ECE Systems of Care. Ms. Gavins is passionate about public health and early learning systems that support the mental health and well-being of children, families, and communities. Ms. Gavins is the founder of Realia Early Care and Education LLC providing educational leadership consulting and providing social justice community innovations to promote healing-centered practices in Baltimore, MD. She holds a Master of Science in Education and a Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Development, both from Missouri State University.
Session Dates and Topics:
Equity Fellowship Dates and Topics (Weekly on ZOOM):
Monday, March 9, 2026
Historical Racism, Structural Inequities, and the Foundations of ECE Equity
Monday, March 16, 2026
Welcome & Purpose of the ECE Racial Healing Project
Monday, March 23, 2026
Equity, Racial Trauma, and Early Childhood Systems
Monday, March 30, 2026
Telling Our Untold Educator Stories
Monday, April 6, 2026
Reclaiming Our Racial & Professional Identity
Monday, April 13, 2026
Care for the Caregiver: Rest, Resistance, and Sustainability in the ECE Workforce (combined Care/Rest session)
Monday, April 20, 2026
Healing Justice & Peer-to-Peer Circles in ECE
Monday, April 27, 2026
Healing from Microaggressions in Schools and Centers
Monday, May 4, 2026
Fostering Hope for Sustainable and Joyful Educator Lives
Monday, May 11, 2026
Bringing Healing-Centered Equity into the Classroom
