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A Lasting Legacy: Gratitude for Defending the Early Years

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A Lasting Legacy: Gratitude for Defending the Early Years

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I first discovered Defending the Early Years in 2012, when I was midway through my master’s degree in early childhood education, administration, management, and leadership. At the time, it became a trusted source of research-based information—particularly as I completed my capstone project on the importance of play in early childhood.

So much of what I learned through Defending the Early Years has informed my leadership of the play-based preschool I have been privileged to direct since 2013. Their work has also strengthened my consulting practice and challenged me to advocate more broadly for developmentally appropriate practice and the essential role of play in children’s learning and development.

I am deeply sorry to learn that Defending the Early Years has lost reliable funding to continue its mission, but grateful that its invaluable resources will remain available to current and future early childhood educators. Their work has made a lasting contribution to our field and has had a meaningful impact on me, both personally and professionally.

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Thank you on behalf of Illinois' public school students, teachers and families! 

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Thank you on behalf of Illinois' public school students, teachers and families! 

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DEY will be missed in the public education advocacy world! I am so grateful for DEY and Denisha's support in helping IL Families for Public Schools to pass landmark legislation here in Illinois, the Right to Play and Too Young to Test bills in 2021 and 2022! The legacy of your efforts live on in schools where children have the opportunity to play rather than be subjected to state testing during their early childhood years! Thank you!

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Powerful Work from a Powerful Organization

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Powerful Work from a Powerful Organization

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DEY has played a key role in advocating for childhood. In addition, the focus on the critical role in fostering children's identity and the framework of Diversity is not Divisive provides relevant and important strategies for early childhood programs to use as they navigate the current political climate. As a result, the profession has been strengthened through your work.

Thank you!

Deb Lawrence, Co-President of IPA USA

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You have provided valuable conversations about education over the years. Thank you for all the work you have done to keep appropriate education for young children on everyone's radar.

Joyce Daniels

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One of the things I appreciate most about DEY is that you managed to get the most honest and important conversations about early childhood, equity, and justice into the mainstream with a depth and scope that most other early childhood orgs barely scratch the surface of. We need to keep that energy going, and I know that all of the people who made DEY great will continue to do that important work in our field. I'm so grateful for everything DEY has done, and for the ways it helped me connect with other ECE's and advocates around the country to improve the lives of children, families, educators, and the whole rest of the world too. Boundless appreciation, love, and respect to all at DEY.

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Thanks for all of the work you do and have done! I'm still hoping to see more from you in the future. This is not goodbye, but see ya later!

🩷❤️🧡💛💚💙🩵💜🤎🖤

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When my passion for the field of Early Care and Education, and child development as a whole, grew to the point that I needed more, I found this organization. I love the work you all have done, refer to your work, and have encouraged others to look you up.

You will be missed. I am forever grateful that you existed and are leaving a lasting legacy. May we all step up to stand in the gap you leave and continue, together, to Defend the Early Years. Goodness knows it is needed and will take all of us to do the work. Thank you for inspiring us to move forward boldly.

Kind regards and well wishes for bright futures,

Allison Wingerson

NC

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Thank you for the great work and support!

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Thank you for the great work and support!

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DEY has been a wonderful resource. The continued support and leadership for advocacy. I am sad to lose the resource but glad we had it as long as we did. Wishing all well in the next part of their journies.

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I am so grateful for this organization and all that you have done to raise awareness of truly critical, truly child-centered, truly humanizing early childhood education. I have learned so much and have been connected with such amazing knowledge, resources, and people. Certainly this will be the foundation for even more innovate work and collective efforts.

With deep gratitude,

Jen Stacy

University of New Mexico

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Your contribution has been invaluable for the commitment, courage and collegiality, you've brought to the task of defending the early years. The leadership of Denisha, founders, board and new generation of leaders has been a remarkable role model for other organizations. Thank you! Thank you! We all mourn this loss, especially in these times, but your decision represents your ongoing clarity and courage.

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This article, just one of so many that DEY has lifted up, is featured as an 'essential article' on NYC's People's Early Childhood Coalition website.

You'll never know the reach and impact of your work over so many years, speaking truth and grounding so many of us as we all do the critical work of defending the early years, somehow stronger and more united because of sharing DEY resources. Thank you for bringing all the respect, joy and genius that young children deserve.

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I was advocating for developmentally appropriate practice via the Kindergarten and Primary Commission of what was then the Chicago Metro AEYC. We never came close to achieving our goals and there is still so much to do. I'm so grateful to DEY (and my colleague/friend Blakely Bundy) for all of the advocacy and leadership. We must continue without you but your influence will live on, I'm sure.

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I was advocating for developmentally appropriate practice via the Kindergarten and Primary Commission of what was then the Chicago Metro AEYC. We never came close to achieving our goals and there is still so much to do. I'm so grateful to DEY (and my colleague/friend Blakely Bundy) for all of the advocacy and leadership. We must continue without you but your influence will live on, I'm sure.

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I'll still have DEY bumper sticker forever.

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I'll still have DEY bumper sticker forever.

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I have had a DEY magnet on my car for over 10 years. It's faded and barely readable, but I plan to keep it on there until it falls off itself. When I was just starting in the field, in 2014, I attended my first NAEYC conference and DEY hosted an evening meeting. It was there my passions for advocacy around early childhood were ignited. I kept DEY on my "dream job" pinterest board for years.

As an educator, I used DEY's resources as tools to validate my decisions to center play, anti-racism, and childhood in my decisions. As an advocate, I learned from the powerful example DEY provided as they connected folx around the country grounded in the value of children and childhood.

Thank you, DEY, for all you have done for children, families, educators, administrators, and greater society. And for everything you've done for me, too!

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I will miss DEY so much! Such an incredible resource I used with my museum educators. I’m honestly in shocked and saddened

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Sigh. I realize, DEY, that you can't do this--and it makes me profoundly sad. Your tenacious advocacy knew no bounds, accomplish so much, and informed those who needed to open their minds to seeing young children and their families differently. Thank you for all that, and thank you for communicating in a timely fashion why you're ceasing operations. I can only hope those who need to land somewhere safely can do so. And I hope that one day we'll see a DEY 2.0.

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When so many and so much needed defending, DEY was there!

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When so many and so much needed defending, DEY was there!

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DEY has done the thing that teachers of all stripes most wish to do - make a difference in the lives of children, and especially of our littles. You have been a small but mighty organization. Thank you all.

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Thank you for your work helping our children

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Protecting Childhood, Inspiring Educators, Changing Lives

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Protecting Childhood, Inspiring Educators, Changing Lives

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Like so many others, I was saddened to hear that Defending the Early Years will be closing.

As a professor preparing future educators, I have often found myself having conversations with pre-service teachers about the importance of play, relationships, child development, and seeing children as children rather than simply future test scores. Many of my students enter my courses having experienced educational systems that emphasized standards, assessments, and academic outcomes, often with little understanding of the research supporting play-based, developmentally appropriate practices.

Organizations like Defending the Early Years helped me provide a stronger voice, stronger research, and stronger advocacy for the work I have spent years doing with future teachers. Your resources challenged educators to think critically, ask difficult questions, and remain focused on what children truly need to thrive.

Throughout my career as an educator, consultant, and advocate, I have appreciated DEY's willingness to stand firm when it was not always popular or easy to do so. You reminded us that childhood is not a race, that play is not a luxury, and that development matters. In a field that is often pulled in many different directions, DEY consistently brought us back to the child.

Perhaps what I appreciate most is that your work helped shape not only current educators but also the next generation of teachers. The conversations my students have engaged in about child development, equity, play, family partnerships, and developmentally appropriate practice have been strengthened because organizations like DEY existed to champion those values.

While I am disappointed to see this chapter come to an end, I am grateful that your resources will remain available and that your influence will continue through the educators, families, advocates, and children whose lives have been impacted by your work.

Thank you for fourteen years of courage, advocacy, leadership, and unwavering commitment to young children. Your legacy will live on in classrooms, communities, and in the hearts of those of us who remain committed to protecting childhood.

With gratitude,

Stephanie Ries

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You will be missed. Thank you.

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Thank you so much for advocating for the value of play, and for children's rights.  I am grateful for your work to help change the culture.

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Thank you so much for advocating for the value of play, and for children's rights.  I am grateful for your work to help change the culture.

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I want to share my appreciation for all of the support DEY has given to me personally, and the ECE field as a whole! I have used your materials in my nursery school classroom, as well as in trainings for parents, ECE professionals, and library staff. Our library system was the recipient of one of the mini-grants that was used for parent/child library and outreach programming on the importance of talking, singing, playing, and sharing books with babies and young children to encourage pre-literacy skills. We were so grateful for that!

It breaks my heart that ECE is still not a priority for ECE and related advocacy! Who knows, hopefully in the future, everyone will understand it's importance and DEY will rise again. Thank you, and I know all of you will continue doing your important work in different ways.

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I am eternally grateful for DEY and to everyone who advocates so tirelessly on behalf of all children and their right to play. This is the second time I have read the announcement that DEY is coming to an end, and the second time I find myself in tears. I am so grateful that you'll continue making all your resources available via your website. I have shared DEY's message and resources with my colleagues and students over the years and will continue to do so, as the message is more needed now than ever before. I don't remember exactly how I became aware of DEY, but Nancy was my professor for several classes when I was a student at what was then Lesley College (now Lesley University) and I always kept up with her activities and writing throughout the years. I was excited about the formation of the regional working groups and was honored to serve as co-chair of the California Work Group and excited to have the opportunity to work with Denisha. I am a big fan of Kisha's and follow her on social media. I have loved participating in Book Talks, and particularly appreciate the Banned Book Club. I just want to send heartfelt thanks to all and say I will miss DEY. Warmly, Lisa Gerber

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Thank you so much for all you have done for the ECE field. You have offered to all of us so many resources, webnairs, book talks and more. You help remind me of the importance of what we do and remind us how it is driven in research and love. Thank you for what you do. I am so grateful . Thank you for giving all children a voice

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Thank you so much for your dedication to this important work. I personally recommended the DEY Institute to my colleagues every chance I had as a robust, inclusive, accessible opportunity. The resources and community you built have been invaluable in times of dire need. DEY's leadership and advocacy will be greatly missed!

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Reading this news brought a wave of emotions. While searching for resources to deepen my knowledge in early childhood development and advocacy, I came across Defending the Early Years, and it became such a meaningful and resourceful space for me and the work I care about.

What stood out about DEY was its unapologetic passion to defend childhood in a world that increasingly expects children to perform beyond their developmental stage. DEY constantly reminded us that children are human beings who deserve time to play, explore, imagine, create, and learn at a pace that respects their development not machines expected to constantly achieve unrealistic academic expectations.

As someone who was fortunate to receive one of DEY’s grants, I will forever be grateful for the support and encouragement. Beyond the funding itself, it was meaningful to feel seen and supported as someone working to advocate for young children and developmentally appropriate practices within my community and beyond.

I am also thankful that the organisations resources will continue to remain available and will continue educating, guiding, and inspiring many people around the world for years to come.

Your work helped keep important conversations alive about child-centered learning, play-based education, and protecting the wellbeing and dignity of young children. That message has reached and inspired people far beyond your borders, including advocates like me in Malawi.

Thank you for being a voice for children all over the world for so many years,Your impact will continue through the many people your work has informed, encouraged, and empowered.

Wishing all of you the very best in the journeys ahead.

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I’m saddened to hear that this chapter is coming to an end and deeply grateful for the work you all have done!

I was so inspired by the Virtual Summer Institute presented by Defending the Early Years in July 2022, and the workshop titled Centering Racial Justice in Education with Takiema Bunche Smith, Rukia Rogers, Maurice Sykes, and Julie Nicholson, that I proposed a project to our school board to focus our own work on anti-racist education. This 2022 DEY workshop, and the subsequent relationship that grew with Takiema Bunche Smith, has had a profound impact on our school, our staff, our practices, our children and families, and on our own professional growth. We have revised our curriculum, changed enrollment and hiring practices, and are using our experiences to engage and inspire other educators.

Previously, in May 2022, I had been invited to be a guest on the DEY podcast, hosted by Kisha Reid, another inspiring educator and advocate. I will always be grateful for the opportunities that Defending the Early Years has presented to challenge and deepen my thinking and for the professional relationships it has fostered.  I wish all of you continued passion, courage and creativity as you carry this important work forward in new ways. Thank you for helping so many of us reimagine what early childhood education can and should be.

With gratitude,

Leigh Ann Yuen

Garden Gate Child Development Center

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Defending the Early Years has been a steady source of courage, clarity, and community for me. Your emails and advocacy didn’t just inform my work; they strengthened my voice and reminded me that being a “good troublemaker” is both necessary and noble in this field. I always felt in good company with you.

Thank you for leading with heart, integrity, and unwavering commitment to children and educators. Your impact will continue to ripple through our classrooms, our policies, and our collective advocacy. Selfishly, I wish you could join the NYC Public Schools ECE team as your leadership is exactly what our system needs.

Wishing you rest, renewal, and the knowledge that your work has truly mattered.

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Thank you so much for all your work in defense of children's rights. Your advocacy for developmentally appropriate learning and play is essential to children's healthy development and joy. Thank you for supporting the humanity of all young children through your inclusion and advocacy for Black children, children of color, and Palestinian children.

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I am shocked and saddened by this news. DEY has been such an important voice in our fight to protect young children from the vagaries of corporate ed reform, including the elimination of play and choice, over-testing, the standardization of everything. Many thanks to Nancy, Diane, and Ed for starting DEY and to Denisha, Geralyn, and Blakely for continuing and expanding this critical work. DEY will truly be missed.

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I am shocked and saddened by this news. DEY has been such an important voice in our fight to protect young children from the vagaries of corporate ed reform, including the elimination of play and choice, over-testing, the standardization of everything. Many thanks to Nancy, Diane, and Ed for starting DEY and to Denisha, Geralyn, and Blakely for continuing and expanding this critical work. DEY will truly be missed.

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I was so sad to read this update about DEY. I can't recall my first interaction with DEY but I think it was as an adjunct instructor teaching early childhood courses. DEY is still an important part of my courses several years later. I assign a podcast episode or another resource each semester and it always adds to our understanding of early childhood and early care and the advocacy that is so critical in our work. Thank you for all that you have done and will continue to do through the resources that will still be available to the community.

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I first heard about DEY in the spring of 2020 during COVID. It was such a needed connection to a larger early childhood family. The work done by DEY is still so needed. Thank you for validating everything I know in my heart and head to be true regarding the needs of young children, families, and early educators. It is hard not to focus on the brokenness of the world that I currently feel, the loneliness of this work. Thank you, DEY, for creating a community to remind us we are not alone, that what we do matters, that it is important and needed more than ever. I am so grateful the resources will still be available. Thank you to everyone that has been a part of and contributed to this initiative, to honor and advocate for the divine beauty of child development.

Wishing this early childhood family well,

Dawn Chandler, Kansas

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This is truly a sad moment for the ECE field. Defending the Early Years has shaped many of my trainings and informed my way of thinking since first coming across a video of play 3 years ago at a 21CSLA training.

That prompted me to attend a virtual summit which still informs how I approach my job today.

You all have been visionary and tireless in your advocacy for early learners and those of us who educate them. Thank you for your thoughtful leadership over these years it has truly changed lives.

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I learned about DEY through Dr. Diane Levin (many years ago). This work has inspired and shaped my work as an educator. It has also shaped my own philosophy. Advocacy work is still needed and we need to continue moving forward. We can still continue this work. Defending the Early Years is such an important organization. We must continue this work. I am thankful DEY.

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I can't believe this is happening. DEY may be the most valuable early childhood organization there is. I have mentioned it s a resource in every book I've written since it was founded. I'm grateful that the resources will live on. I'm just so very sorry the work won't continue. Many thanks to all of you for everything you've done for the children. With much love -- rae

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With gratitude for all you’ve shared. Let’s continue the journey through our collective efforts! Peace and Blessings- Michelle Marigliano