Update: The Early Childhood Development Forum of SVPI

By: Bob Wood

The Early Childhood Development Forum of SVPI had its second teleconference on January 12, 2011. Leading the discussion was Dr. Gina Lebedeva, from Seattle who presented on the infant brain development research taking place at I-LABS (Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences) at the University of Washington. Young children are geniuses at learning multiple languages, while adults struggle. Studies at I-Labs are beginning to help us to understand whether similar “windows of opportunity” exist for other content areas, such as social-emotional and cognitive development. Is there a critical time to learn compassion, impulse control, self-esteem or mindfulness of self and others? We focused on and were exposed to the very latest findings on windows of opportunity for language development.

Dr. Lebedeva is charged with “translating” the scientific findings of I-LABS into language understandable by policy makers such as legislators, business community and philanthropists. We witnessed first-hand her skill and knowledge as she masterfully led the discussion.

Three “takeaways” fascinated me:
1. The window for optimal language learning is extremely small (and early). The ability of Japanese and American infants to distinguish “la” from “ra” diverged rapidly between ages 8-10 months.
2. Learning uses both the computational and social aspects of the brain. Infants were exposed to the exact same language sessions, some live and some presented by video screen. Only live exposure infants learned!
3. There is no dichotomy between learning and play before age three and , because of 2 above, YOU are the best toy in the room!

It is never too late to learn. If an optimum window is missed, it is simply more difficult and less efficient.

As with all the information contributed to the Forum, slides and audio from the presentation are archived on the SVPI intranet and available to all SVP partners and investees on the site created for the ECD Forum at https://intranet.svpi.org/crossnetwork/earlychildhood/default.aspx. If you need help accessing the site, please email Rona Pryor on rona@svpi.org.

You can also click here to read more about I-LABS work.


There were about 28 people on the January call representing at least nine different cities. If you are interested in issues involving early childhood development, mark your calendar for noon on April 20 for the next SVPI ECD Forum teleconference. Details will come out well in advance of the call. There is a great chance that Dallas will be leading the discussion on a vocational Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-Focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health.

Interested in Recruiting the Next Class at KIPP TRUTH Academy?

On Saturday, March 19th, DSVP partners are invited to participate in an “experience” that will bring you closer to the communities they serve and increase your awareness and understanding of the challenging process of taking their message to the community.

KIPP invites DSVP partners to join them for a 2 hour recruiting event. Partners are asked to be at the KIPP no later than 8:45 am on March 19th. There will be a brief 15 minutes overview and partners will be paired with KIPP staff. From 9:00 am to 11:00 am participants will canvass the local neighborhoods sharing the KIPP opportunity with the parents and potential KIPP’sters in those households. There is a particular need for partners and participants who are Spanish-speaking or bilingual.

Barbara Errickson and Dick Evans, DSVP lead partners for KIPP, ask for the help of our partners to get an “up close and personal” view of this experience and to see, first hand, why there is such a great need for the value KIPP brings to these communities.

WHAT: DSVP KIPP Neighborhood Student Recruiting Event

WHEN: Saturday, March 19th from 8:45 am to 11:00 am

WHERE: KIPP: Truth Academy
3200 South Lancaster Road, Suite 230-A, Dallas, 75216
(on the NE corner of Kiest & Lancaster, across the parking lot from Fiesta Grocery)
PHONE: 214-375-8326

HOW: Contact Barbara Errickson (Barbara.errickson@gmail.com) or
Dick Evans (revans@proliancerg.com) to register.

Don’t miss this opportunity to show your support, as a DSVP partner and friend, to one of our valued investees!!

Two New Investees Awarded

Congratulations to DSVP’s newest Investees: Vickery Meadow Learning Center (VMLC) and Trinity River Mission (TRM) for being the 2011 recipients of Crystal Charity!

After a rigorous vetting process which included participation and support by our DSVP Partners, VMLC and TRM have been awarded grants by the highly esteemed Crystal Charity.

Since 1952, the sole purpose of The Crystal Charity Ball has been to aid, support and make contributions to children's charities in Dallas County.

To read the full story click here.

To learn more about Crystal Charity visit their website here.

Update: Room to Read school and library built with DSVP Partner support

At the January Afterhours event, DSVP Partners Ginny Jackson and Steve Raab, Anne and Bob Wood, and Justin Nezda spoke about their experiences traveling to Nepal to see the Room to Read school and library built with DSVP Partner support. Guests at the Afterhours event were lucky to hear stories and see pictures of how the entire community welcomed the group and demonstrated their deep gratitude to our DSVP representatives. A big thank you to Ellen Wood for introducing DSVP to Room to Read!

Below are some reflections by Bob Wood:

What Brings You Here?
By: Bob Wood

Child of Nepal
Beautiful, round-faced child of Nepal
What brings you here today?
Was it the horn? The drum?
The excitement in the air?
The dancing? The songs?
A chance to see traditions as old as this valley?

Was it your Mother, who watches patiently
Under a tree at the back of the square
Tired, but proud
Showing her love for the school and for you
By wearing her school-blue sari
And her omnipresent smile.

What brings you here with marigolds?
What drove you to stand, shoulder to shoulder with the other children
Bedecked in blue, lining both sides of the street,
With flowers in your hands?

Was it your Father, who stayed behind
Because the harvest won’t wait?
Your Father, who carries an extra weight so his children can go,
But smiles as he contemplates proudly his children?

What brings you here to stand in the dust and the sun?
Was it your brother, who gently gathers your hand
When the movement of the crowd threatens to envelope you?
Or the teachers or the elders or the guests
Who bathe this gathering with words of encouragement and praise?

No, I think you came seeking a room to read.
A safe, quiet place where books could open a world unknown to you.
You came looking for a book, to open it and bravely step within.
And glimpse a world beyond this village.
Beautiful, round-faced, brave child of Nepal.