Rukia Monique Rogers

Envision love, equity, and community in early childhood education

According to author Rukia Rogers, children's open and fluid way of being in the world invites educators to share children's innate desire for connections and to support their construction of knowledge as people in relationship together. Her book, The Many Stories of Our Beloved Community, is an invitation to reimagine early childhood education programs and our world -- an earth-centered world full of human potential, care, love, and justice. The beloved community is a powerful metaphor made widely known by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Her book is the story of the journey of the Highlander School in Atlanta, Georgia, as they grew a beloved community, inspired by the instinctive connections, eagerness for relationships, and inherent knowledge of young children.

In a recent interview, Rogers shared why she wrote this book, how it is a powerful critique of traditional early childhood education, and invites educators to reimagine early learning programs. Listen below!