As summer unfolds, we continue our work to create a more just and equitable future for all children. This season, we’re excited to share new ideas, partnerships, and resources that reflect our continued commitment to early childhood, research-informed policy, and equity in philanthropy.
In this newsletter, you will find:
* Exciting news about board member Dr. Velma McBride Murry (#murry)
* Upcoming events and conversations centered on immigrant family well-being (#events)
* Thought leadership from FCD President Vivian Tseng and our partners in the field (#equity)
* A free new book highlighting innovative approaches to building equitable evidence ecosystems (#book)
* Ways to connect with FCD (#connect)
Foundation Spotlight written in white over a teal box.
Congratulations to FCD board member, Dr. Velma McBride Murry, Distinguished Contributions to Interdisciplinary Understanding of Child Development awardee.
Read more. (#murry)
#paper
Recent Scholars of Color Paper ¡BIENVENIDES A LA REVOLUCIÓN! About Dr. Cynthia García Coll and the Liberation of Developmental Science.
Learn more. (#book)
** Congratulations to FCD board member, Dr. Velma McBride Murry
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Dr. Velma Mc Bride Murry of Vanderbilt University was awarded the Distinguished Contributions to Interdisciplinary Understanding of Child Development by the Society for Research in Child Development. She is recognized for her:
* Groundbreaking research on the impact of racism and sociocultural risks on African American families, emphasizing strengths-based family interventions that enhance parenting, delay youth risk behaviors, and address health disparities to advance health equity.
* Leadership in transforming developmental science from deficit-based to asset-based approaches, leveraging cultural and contextual insights to challenge perceived universals and inform character development frameworks for diverse populations.
* Impactful translation of research into practice, policy, and community-based interventions that address chronic and emerging issues, benefiting rural African American families and promoting broader social justice.
Join us in celebrating Dr. Murry's leadership and vision.
See all awardees ([link removed]) .
Resources and events written in white over a teal box.
** A National Perspective on Scaling Evidence Use | Webinar
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July 22, 2025 | 3:30-4:30 PM ET
SRI Education’s LEARN Network is hosting a summer conversation series focused on reimagining an education ecosystem where research and evidence are embedded in everyday decisions, from classrooms to policymaking.
On Tuesday, July 22, 3:30–4:30 p.m. ET, join national education research leaders Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond, Chief Knowledge Officer of Learning Policy Institute, and Dr. Vivian Tseng, President of Foundation for Child Development.
They will join moderator Victoria Schaefer (SRI) to discuss the role of researchers in the education ecosystem and in translating evidence into actionable policy and practice changes to improve teaching and learning. The event is free and open to the public.
Register here. ([link removed])
Next Generation Evidence: Strategies for More Equitable Social Impact | Chapter by Vivian Tseng on "Democratizing Evidence”
[link removed] available for free download, Next Generation Evidence (Brookings Institution Press) brings together forward-thinking voices from across policy, government, philanthropy, research, technology, and community practice. The book outlines a bold vision for a more equitable data and evidence ecosystem, one that centers the voices of those most impacted by the challenges we seek to address.
Through real-world case studies, the book shows how organizations at all stages of the evidence-building and evidence-use journey are driving toward better outcomes for communities.
Don’t miss the chapter by FCD President Vivian Tseng, “Democratizing Evidence,” which explores how we can apply the basic principles of democracy to ensuring that data and research reflect communities’ self-determined interests and priorities.
Download your free copy. ([link removed])
Supporting Well-Being for Immigrant Families, even if you are not an “Immigration Funder” | Webinar
July 24, 2025 | 3:00 PM - 3:50 PM ET
In the United States, 1 in 4 children ([link removed]) live in families with at least one immigrant parent. To thrive into adulthood, they need what all children need: nutritious food, a safe and stable home environment and a good education that prepares them to succeed in the workforce and support their communities. Although 90 percent of these children are U.S. citizens, new policies have created challenges for their safety, financial stability and overall well-being.
Learn about a new effort to create space for funders who don’t usually see themselves in the immigration or immigrant family funding arenas to learn about the issues facing children in immigrant families through research, advocacy and community partnerships. As a reminder, this call is open to funders who work for a qualifying philanthropy ([link removed]) .
Register here. ([link removed])
¡BIENVENIDES A LA REVOLUCIÓN! Dr. Cynthia García Coll and the Liberation of Developmental Science | Publication
The second paper in the Foundation for Child Development’s Scholars of Color Series, explores how Dr. Cynthia García Coll redefined child development by centering culture, confronting racism, and emphasizing community strengths to advance a liberatory developmental science.
Revolution does not come without a story, and Dr. García Coll’s transformative work could not exist without her path and decades of experience. Dr. García Coll’s liberation framework empowers scholars to partner with communities of color to confront oppression and heal from racial trauma. Her work highlights racial socialization, collective healing, and reparations as core to developmental theory and evidence-building, and her widely cited Integrative Model for the Study of Developmental Competencies in Minority Children ([link removed]) continues to shape research centered on cultural identity and community strength.
Read the paper here. ([link removed])
Interesting Read: Quebec provides universal childcare for less than $7 a day. Here’s what the US can learn.
Quebec’s universal childcare system demonstrates what is possible when early care and education is treated as a public good. Families pay less than $10 a day for year-round, full-day, high-quality care, meals, and specialized developmental support services. This is unheard of in the United States.
The approach was inspired by U.S. research, but Quebec implemented the vision by collaborating with community child care networks and putting parents in positions of leadership and power The result is a system that puts families and children first—supporting parents’ workforce participation, increasing tax revenues, and reducing child poverty.
This article is part of the ‘Unequal Beginnings’ series, supported in part by the Foundation for Child Development and philanthropic funding to theguardian.org ([link removed]) .
Read the full article. ([link removed])
Connect with us written in white over a teal box.
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