Conferences
We organize International online conferences with speakers, small groups and panel discussions about Anti-Bias Education and social justice issues. The key aim of our online international conferences is to promote critical thinking and activism as well as to improve and expand our Anti-Bias Education and pedagogy globally.
STAND UP Conferences
September 28th, 2026:
The Tanta Wawas project: Making breads and engaging in social justice by valuing and strengthening cultural identity and community building.
In this seminar, Rocío Corcuera Ríos and her colleague Mauricio Pérez Arribasplata share the experience of a Warmayllu project in rural communities of Cajamarca (North of Peru).
Warmayllu (Community of children) is since 2002 a non-profit Peruvian NGO committed to creating spaces for artistic creation, dialogue and intercultural encounter.
Rocío Corcuera Ríos will also take the participants into the core elements of her work over the last 25 years: research of local situation, stimulating participation of community actors, exploring community needs and knowledge, working with teachers on personal, cultural and professional development, stimulating dialogue and critical thinking, the use of arts in education.
May 11th, 2026:
Together we create our (school) community
Online seminar about strengthening citizenship in the Cusco region and how children, families, and teachers learn together to bring change in their schools and communities.
In this seminar, Andrea Cueva van der Beek, founder of Misk’i Yachay Education in Peru and leader of the project “Together we create our (school) community”, will focus on some of the themes where she is working with her team in the city and rural areas of Cusco: strengthening self-esteem, anti-discrimination (gender, social class and racism) and environmental awareness.
November 3rd, 2025:
Art and Anti-Bias Education: Working with children, families and professionals
Art in a myriad of forms is a central part of almost all cultures. This seminar will explore the use of Art in Anti-Bias work with children, families and professionals in Greece, including children of refugee families.
It will be presented by Anastasia Vafea and Kyriaki Kolliniati, representatives of “Schedia”(Raft) - Center for Artistic and Pedagogical Training, founding members of the STAND UP International Network.
October 7th, 2025:
Families and Anti-Bias Values and Goals: Implications for Practice
International online seminar about working with families, led by Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo.
A 50-minute documentary, illuminates how families, in various ways, describe how they want their children to develop positive social identities, express comfort and joy with human differences, and form deep, caring connections. Conversations with them also reveal their hopes, fears, strengths, challenges, and the kind of world they want to create for their children.
May 26th, 2025:
In conversation with Louise Derman-Sparks and presentation of the STAND UP International Network & Website
Launch of the STAND UP International Network for Equity & Social Justice in Early Childhood Education & Care and its Website. The Website will help us to connect, communicate and share experiences and knowledge.
Prior to the Launch we will have a conversation with Louise Derman-Sparks, the great pedagogue and founding member of the STAND UP Network. She will share with us her thoughts on today's challenges and opportunities in our Anti-Bias work.
November 18th, 2024:
Children's right, democracy and Anti-Bias Education for children and adults
Democracy is under pressure in our societies. Anti-democratic positions and politics are gaining tractionin our societies and increased votes in recent elections. Educational and community projects for childrenand families that stand up for democratic values are being attacked and in some cases are losing publicfunding. Racism and misogyny are on the rise, interconnected with explicit anti-democratic activity. Children’s rights to non-violent communities and equitable school environments are being denied. It istime to explore the integral links between early childhood, Anti-Bias Education, children experiencing democracy in action, and children’s rights.
Previous International Online Conferences
November 27th, 2023:
Impact of the war in Israel and Palestine on our work with children, families, and early childhood educators
Online discussion, sharing thoughts, feelings, and concerns about the Israel-Gaza war and how it is affecting us and the children and families with whom we work.
May 15th, 2023:
Critical thinking and activism for social justice with young children
“Anti-Bias Education is a balance between child-initiated (emergent) and teacher-initiated (intentional) provocations and responses. While working with children’s questions and comments are essential to ABE, teachers and families also have the responsibility to bring up social justice and equity issues that are affecting children and families and which they believe are important for them to learn about and to engage with. Adults can provide provocations that are developmentally appropriate and can incorporate the children’s ideas.”
Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo 2021
October 24th, 2022:
Equity, Respect for Diversity and Power Imbalances in Practice in Early Childhood Education & Care
“Diversity does not cause prejudice, nor does children noting and talking about differences, as some adults fear. Children learn prejudice from messages and images of prejudice. They also learn from the silence or discomfort of adults when children ask or comment about the human differences they see around them.”
(ABE 2nd ed. 2020, p. 111)
"Differences that make a team diverse can be a source of inequality and frustration if not recognized and valued.Power differences can then arise in the relationships, which lead to uncertainty among managers, pedagogical staff and teams"
(Urban, 2006)
June 13th, 2022:
Equity and Social Identities in Practice in ECEC
‘Social identities are externally imposed and internally constructed, shaped by the ideas and practices of one’s society. This calls on us to think about learning opportunities to foster ABE goal one in a broader way.’
Louise Derman-Sparks, 2022
October 11th, 2021:
Equity and Social Justice Practice in Early Childhood Education & Care
‘Anti-Bias work is the foundation of our vision for children. No matter who you are, where you live, where you work. How will YOU bring your voice to this vision?’
Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo, 2021
Building Connections
The STAND UP network of early childhood educators, caregivers, pedagogues, managers, leaders, trainers, academics, researchers and activists supports us to act on the multiple challenges including inequalities and prejudices in our daily work and personal lives.
STAND UP creates a space for everyone implementing Anti-Bias Education to virtually connect, share experiences and perspectives, and to learn from each other across countries. Working together inspires us to recognize that ‘we are not alone’. We empower ourselves to STAND UP for a world of social, economic and environmental justice for all children, their families and communities.
Making resources available
Through this website we aim to inspire colleagues to create new resources for Anti-Bias Education as well as to make existing ones available to all.
In this way, we hope that our website will activate new food for thought and action as we strive to improve and expand our Anti-Bias Education work.
By doing so, we ...
- deepen our thinking about the many facets of each ABE goal by identifying and exploring the meaning and importance of each ABE goal for teachers, families, and children.
- expand our tools and understanding for engaging children and adults in Anti-Bias Education by sharing and reflecting on specific teaching strategies we use in our respective context.
- strengthen our work in our diverse settings through connecting with and learning from each other.
- explore next steps for ECEC equity work and identify supports needed to grow and sustain it.
- recharge our commitment to equity ECEC work with children and adults and strengthen each other to go further.
