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A graphic with the text "Celebrating Black History Month Part Two: "Avoiding Misappropriation of Black Culture" with the image of several people's silhouettes in shades of brown

How To Avoid the Misappropriation of Black Culture during Black History Month

Throughout the month of February, we are sharing posts written by Imagine Institute training program assistant Lourdes Flores about Black History Month. This series will follow the long history of Black History Month, Black History in the United States, and how we can all celebrate Black History Month in a way that is supportive, healthy, and, most importantly, empowering. Focus on the Black Community An important part of celebrating Black History Month (BHM) is to focus directly on the Black community. While

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A graphic with the text "Celebrating Black History Month Part One: the History of Black History Month" with the image of a Black hand painted with green, yellow and red stripes

The History of Black History Month

Throughout the month of February, we are sharing posts written by Imagine Institute training program assistant Lourdes Flores about Black History Month. This series will follow the long history of Black History Month, Black History in the United States, and how we can all celebrate Black History Month in a way that is supportive, healthy, and, most importantly, empowering. How Black History Month Began Black History Month has a long history, beginning as a week in the 1920s. It was created by

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A photo of a home child care space with blue tables and chairs and colorful rugs

Imagine Spotlight: Irma Acosta (in English and en español)

This week, we are thrilled to highlight Irma Acosta, who runs a family home child care business and a child care center in Brewster, Washington.   MEET IRMA Irma Acosta’s years of dedication to child care have made her a leader in her community. She has run her family home child care business, Happy Faces Daycare, for 20 years. In September 2023, she opened Bilingual Child Care Center as well. Her work has helped keep her area from being considered a child

Read More
A graphic with a cartoon image of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the words "teach kids about Dr. King and civil rights"

Teach Kids about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Civil Rights

Monday, January 15, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year. Kids are never too young to learn about civil rights and how to treat others with kindness and respect. Here are some resources for teaching kids about this important holiday. Watch In this segment from “Sesame Street,” Elmo, Abby Cadabby and their friends learn about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and dream. The characters work together to decorate a Peace Treaty showing how they can be part of Dr. King’s

Read More
A child making a pumpkin craft with glue, feathers and pompoms

Imagine Spotlight: Linda Leslie

This week, we are thrilled to spotlight Linda Leslie, owner of Sweet Pea’s Early Learning Place in Yelm, Washington. MEET LINDA Linda is a family child care provider and a state-approved peer Mentor who started her business 23 years ago! Linda grew up in Washington State and has lived in many communities in Western Washington. She worked as a preschool teacher before building her home in Yelm. Linda was seeking child care for her own two children when she decided to make

Read More

Help Kids Take Care of Their Teeth for National Dental Hygiene Month

Healthy teeth matter at every age! For National Dental Hygiene Month, here are some kid-and family-friendly resources for encouraging healthy habits and finding dental care. For Kids Daniel Tiger Gets His Teeth Cleaned Going to the dentist can be full of questions for toddlers and preschoolers. Help them get to know what happens at the dentist’s office and feel less scared of unfamiliar tools with this video. Why Do We Brush Our Teeth? Learn the science of teeth, cavities and more n

Read More

Check Your Child’s Car Seat This Child Passenger Safety Week

It’s Child Passenger Safety Week! Here are some tools to help you make sure the children in your life are safer when they ride in vehicles. Why should children use car seats? Car seats save lives. In 2021, 711 children under the age of 13 were killed in passenger vehicles, and more than a third of them weren’t buckled up, according to the Centers For Disease Control. Using a car seat or booster seat instead of a seat belt alone dramatically reduces

Read More

Imagine U to Increase Child Care in the SeaTac Area

Every child in the SeaTac area deserves high-quality child care. The city’s partnership with the Imagine Institute’s Imagine U program will help train new licensed family child care providers and prepare them to start their own businesses serving SeaTac families. Imagine U is one of The Imagine Institute’s signature programs, pairing experienced and talented licensed child care providers with those interested in becoming licensed. Imagine U graduates have opened 562 new child care businesses statewide since the program started in 2017. Beginning

Read More

Program Spotlight: Shared Services Brings Child Care Providers Together

Child care providers across Washington build friendships and find support through the Shared Services Hub! Shared Services is a partnership between The Imagine Institute and the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families. It connects licensed family child care providers and child care center directors to resources and services to help grow their businesses, build bonds with fellow providers, and access free training and expert advice. All licensed family child care providers and independent child care center directors in Washington State

Read More

Imagine Spotlight: Mumina Hassan

This week, we’re proud to feature Mumina Hassan, who is a lead mentor with the Imagine Institute, a state-approved trainer, and child care provider in Seattle. MEET mUMINA The Imagine Institute is supporting providers across Washington State, offering resources to help them learn more about child care and teaching them about the services they provide. This week, we want to introduce you to a lead mentor who has been with Imagine from the beginning, Mumina Hassan. FINDING HER PASSION Mumina came to

Read More
A graphic with the text "Celebrating Black History Month Part Two: "Avoiding Misappropriation of Black Culture" with the image of several people's silhouettes in shades of brown

How To Avoid the Misappropriation of Black Culture during Black History Month

Throughout the month of February, we are sharing posts written by Imagine Institute training program assistant Lourdes Flores about Black History Month. This series will follow the long history of Black History Month, Black History in the United States, and how we can all celebrate Black History Month in a way that is supportive, healthy, and, most importantly, empowering. Focus on the Black Community An important part of celebrating Black History Month (BHM) is to focus directly on the Black community. While

Read More
A graphic with the text "Celebrating Black History Month Part One: the History of Black History Month" with the image of a Black hand painted with green, yellow and red stripes

The History of Black History Month

Throughout the month of February, we are sharing posts written by Imagine Institute training program assistant Lourdes Flores about Black History Month. This series will follow the long history of Black History Month, Black History in the United States, and how we can all celebrate Black History Month in a way that is supportive, healthy, and, most importantly, empowering. How Black History Month Began Black History Month has a long history, beginning as a week in the 1920s. It was created by

Read More
A photo of a home child care space with blue tables and chairs and colorful rugs

Imagine Spotlight: Irma Acosta (in English and en español)

This week, we are thrilled to highlight Irma Acosta, who runs a family home child care business and a child care center in Brewster, Washington.   MEET IRMA Irma Acosta’s years of dedication to child care have made her a leader in her community. She has run her family home child care business, Happy Faces Daycare, for 20 years. In September 2023, she opened Bilingual Child Care Center as well. Her work has helped keep her area from being considered a child

Read More
A graphic with a cartoon image of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the words "teach kids about Dr. King and civil rights"

Teach Kids about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Civil Rights

Monday, January 15, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year. Kids are never too young to learn about civil rights and how to treat others with kindness and respect. Here are some resources for teaching kids about this important holiday. Watch In this segment from “Sesame Street,” Elmo, Abby Cadabby and their friends learn about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and dream. The characters work together to decorate a Peace Treaty showing how they can be part of Dr. King’s

Read More
A child making a pumpkin craft with glue, feathers and pompoms

Imagine Spotlight: Linda Leslie

This week, we are thrilled to spotlight Linda Leslie, owner of Sweet Pea’s Early Learning Place in Yelm, Washington. MEET LINDA Linda is a family child care provider and a state-approved peer Mentor who started her business 23 years ago! Linda grew up in Washington State and has lived in many communities in Western Washington. She worked as a preschool teacher before building her home in Yelm. Linda was seeking child care for her own two children when she decided to make

Read More

Help Kids Take Care of Their Teeth for National Dental Hygiene Month

Healthy teeth matter at every age! For National Dental Hygiene Month, here are some kid-and family-friendly resources for encouraging healthy habits and finding dental care. For Kids Daniel Tiger Gets His Teeth Cleaned Going to the dentist can be full of questions for toddlers and preschoolers. Help them get to know what happens at the dentist’s office and feel less scared of unfamiliar tools with this video. Why Do We Brush Our Teeth? Learn the science of teeth, cavities and more n

Read More

Check Your Child’s Car Seat This Child Passenger Safety Week

It’s Child Passenger Safety Week! Here are some tools to help you make sure the children in your life are safer when they ride in vehicles. Why should children use car seats? Car seats save lives. In 2021, 711 children under the age of 13 were killed in passenger vehicles, and more than a third of them weren’t buckled up, according to the Centers For Disease Control. Using a car seat or booster seat instead of a seat belt alone dramatically reduces

Read More

Imagine U to Increase Child Care in the SeaTac Area

Every child in the SeaTac area deserves high-quality child care. The city’s partnership with the Imagine Institute’s Imagine U program will help train new licensed family child care providers and prepare them to start their own businesses serving SeaTac families. Imagine U is one of The Imagine Institute’s signature programs, pairing experienced and talented licensed child care providers with those interested in becoming licensed. Imagine U graduates have opened 562 new child care businesses statewide since the program started in 2017. Beginning

Read More

Program Spotlight: Shared Services Brings Child Care Providers Together

Child care providers across Washington build friendships and find support through the Shared Services Hub! Shared Services is a partnership between The Imagine Institute and the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families. It connects licensed family child care providers and child care center directors to resources and services to help grow their businesses, build bonds with fellow providers, and access free training and expert advice. All licensed family child care providers and independent child care center directors in Washington State

Read More

Imagine Spotlight: Mumina Hassan

This week, we’re proud to feature Mumina Hassan, who is a lead mentor with the Imagine Institute, a state-approved trainer, and child care provider in Seattle. MEET mUMINA The Imagine Institute is supporting providers across Washington State, offering resources to help them learn more about child care and teaching them about the services they provide. This week, we want to introduce you to a lead mentor who has been with Imagine from the beginning, Mumina Hassan. FINDING HER PASSION Mumina came to

Read More