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Grantmakers for Education, 2019 Annual Conference – October 23, 2019, New Orleans
Organized by ECFC & W. K. Kellogg Foundation, featuring Samuel N. and Mary L. Castle Foundation and Omidyar Network 

Cultural equity is key to improving the education and health trajectories of young children and families. This session drew on lessons from Hawai’i funders and partners investing in innovative early childhood programs based in Native Hawaiian language and culture. This session explored how strategies such as bilingual, bicultural and cultural immersion preschools, family-child interaction programs, and co-location of diverse education and health services improve education outcomes. Hawai’i’s Native language revival and focus on cultural equity is an internationally recognized model.   Lessons from Hawai’i were considered and compared to the rich cultural history of New Orleans as examples of early cultural education for funders to consider in their own communities.

Speakers [Bios]:

  • Moderator:   Isabelle Hau, Investment Partner, Omidyar Network
  • Felica DeHaney, Program Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Battle Creek, MI
  • Al Castle, Executive Director, Samuel N. & Mary Castle Foundation, Honolulu, HI
  • Daniel Goya, Program Director, Ka Pa‘alana Homeless Family Education Program, Honolulu, HI
  • Thelma French, President/CEO, Total Community Action, New Orleans, LA

Session materials:


GFE 2019 EC-At-A-Glance

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