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The Village Ltd., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is on a mission to transform social-emotional learning. We aim to create a more empathetic and inclusive society by developing research-based programs that impede bias development, cultivate empathy, and build executive function skills in children from preschool to 12th grade.
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Our flagship program, The Firefly Kids™ I BElong!™ Series, ignites a revolution in early childhood social-emotional development. This groundbreaking initiative empowers PreK - Grade 3 students with the cognitive and emotional tools they need to think flexibly, regulate their emotions, and connect authentically with others. By intervening during critical developmental windows when biases first begin to form, our programs provide children with skills that go beyond awareness—teaching them to recognize their own thinking patterns, practice perspective-taking, and develop genuine empathy as a lived skill. Through building healthy self-images and strengthening executive function, children learn to navigate their ever-changing environments while forming authentic connections with peers from all backgrounds—including differences in race, gender, religion, ability, sexual identity, and family construct. The Village Ltd. aims to cultivate a society where every child develops the social-emotional competencies needed to thrive in an increasingly complex world.
Bias, a pervasive issue, undermines the principles of equity and inclusion. Even at a young age, children are exposed to societal norms, stereotypes, and biases that can shape their perceptions and attitudes. Corporate DEI training programs focus on addressing the outcomes of bias in adults rather than preventing bias formation during the critical early childhood years when biases first develop—an approach research shows often fails.
The I BElong!™ Series is a groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind program designed for early childhood education that targets the critical developmental windows when biases first form. This research-backed program utilizes an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from developmental psychology, sociology, early childhood education, and bias and behavioral development, to create a year-round social-emotional learning experience. Engaging read-aloud stories and purposeful activities immerse young minds throughout the entire school year, building the executive function skills, empathy, and cognitive flexibility they need to navigate an increasingly complex world.
Our program is designed to:
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Impede Bias Development: The I BElong!™ Series intervenes during critical early childhood years, using stories and activities that help children develop positive associations and flexible thinking about people who are different from them, before biases take root.
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Cultivate Empathy: Through interactive stories and activities, children practice empathy as a lived skill—learning perspective-taking, emotional recognition, and authentic connection with peers from all backgrounds.
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Build Executive Function Skills: The program strengthens essential capabilities including self-regulation, cognitive flexibility, working memory, and problem-solving—foundational skills that support both academic success and social-emotional development.
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Foster Healthy Self-Image and Belonging: Our approach helps children develop strong, positive self-concepts while creating safe, inclusive learning environments where every child feels valued and connected, regardless of their background or identity.
Understanding that biases often take root during early childhood, The Village strategically focuses on this critical age group. Our year-round program utilizes immersive classroom kits, packed with engaging storybooks, activities, and educational toys. This "mesh scaffolding"—an interconnected system of reinforcing experiences—fosters the development of essential social-emotional and executive function skills needed to impede bias formation and cultivate empathy.
The Firefly Kids™ I BElong!™ Series operates on several key tactical fronts:
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Research-Based Program: The cornerstone lies in comprehensive, research-backed program developed in collaboration with experts in early childhood education, developmental psychology, sociology, and bias and behavioral development. This ensures the program's effectiveness in impeding bias development, developing empathy, and building executive function skills.
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Immersive Classroom Kits: These kits, integrated into classrooms and preschools, offer a blend of teacher-led and student independent activities, catering to diverse learning styles and fostering consistent active engagement.
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Playful Learning: Educational toys and activities make learning fun and interactive, solidifying key concepts, encouraging executive skill development, and promoting positive social interactions.
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Storytelling Power: Engaging storybooks within the kits act as powerful tools for sparking discussions, fostering empathy, and building flexible thinking in a relatable and age-appropriate manner. This is where the Village Ltd. breaks ground:
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Nine Child Protagonists: Instead of a single central character, the stories revolve around nine distinct child characters, each representing diverse backgrounds, abilities, and personalities. This intentional choice embodies equity right from the base, as children are more likely to identify and connect with a character who shares their own characteristics or experiences.
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Shared Narrative: These nine characters navigate different situations and challenges together, learning and growing alongside each other. This collective journey reinforces valuable lessons about collaboration, acceptance, and celebrating differences.
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By equipping a single classroom with the I Belong!™ Series, you ignite a spark of change. Each kit empowers on average 25 young minds annually to celebrate their identities, embrace differences, and foster a more inclusive learning environment. But the impact doesn't stop there. Over the 3-5 year lifespan of a single classroom kit, it can touch the lives of 75 to 150 students. With each additional kit distributed, we nurture a generation of empathetic and bias-free thinkers.
By supporting our program, you're nurturing a generation of empathetic and bias-free thinkers, one classroom at a time.
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Unlock Potential in Every Student: We aim to provide free classroom kits to schools nationwide, ensuring every child benefits from this impactful program.
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Multiply the Impact: Each kit empowers numerous students, creating a lasting ripple effect for future generations.
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Measure Success: We'll conduct impact studies to analyze how the program fosters social-emotional skills and reduces bias.