Uncategorized

Kwanzaa 2025

Uncategorized / Robert Henry

Kwanzaa 2025 Read More »

Every Child Ready to Read

Uncategorized / Lola Rooney

Every Child Ready to Read Read More »

BCDI – Philadelphia & Vicinity Christmas Message

Uncategorized / Shawnik M. Rice, Ph.D.

As we walk together towards this joyous season, let us distill the moment and listen to the hailing trumpet of the good news about Christmas. The trumpet sounds in praise

BCDI – Philadelphia & Vicinity Christmas Message Read More »

Book Tasting Event Recap by Carly Sitrin, Chalkbeat

Uncategorized / Lola Rooney

I had such a great time meeting parents, students, and local authors at last weekend’s “book tasting” event in West Philly organized by the Black Child Development Institute of Philadelphia.

Book Tasting Event Recap by Carly Sitrin, Chalkbeat Read More »

About Us

Who We Are
President & Team
Our Programs
Partners
News

Ways To Give

Donation
Membership

Contact Info

5100 Hazel Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19143
(267) 591-1554
bcdiphiladelphia@gmail.com

Marsha Williams, M.Ed.

Presently work in the field of Early Learning Education, engaging with children and families. She holds a Master’s in Education with thirty plus years working with young children, families, and early educators. She holds a strong passion for improving those working in the profession of educating young children and the teachers in their classroom environments. She is currently serving as a coach for early educators, working with family engagement programs and supporting childcare sites in improving their programs and structure for high quality care. Her career journey has allowed her to serve as an Early Learning Educator, Childcare Director, School District of Philadelphia Liaison, Program Coordinator, and an Early Learning Specialist Coach.

Louis Mason

Bachelor of Science in Education/Elementary Education from West Chester University, Master Education from Cheyney University, currently in second term as School Board Director for Norristown Area School District, current Joint Operations Committee Board member for Central Montco Technical High School Plymouth Pennsylvania, current Executive Board Member, Greater Norristown NAACP

Monroe D Griffin, II

Currently serving as a part-time faculty member in the division of Business, Computing and Social Science at Delaware County Community College. Moreover, I advise students and teach courses in elementary education. In addition, I teach and mentor high school students that are enrolled in the dual enrollment program at Delaware County Community College. My academic interests include elementary education and early childhood, black male student success, and K-6 inquiry based science education.

Kimberly Raile, M.Ed.

CEO/Executive Director, Mariah Group Unlimited
Literacy Specialist(s) Children’s Literacy Initiative.- Free Library of Philadelphia

Master’s in Education. Thirty+ years in education arena. Pennsylvania State Teacher & PQAS Certifications • Current: Specialist, Children’s Literacy Initiative. Previous: Regional Head Start Federal Reviewer. Disability Coordinator, Easter Seals of SEPA. Acting Director/Education Coordinator Early Childhood Programs, Phila. Housing Authority. Adjunct Professor(s) Eastern & Newman Universities. Instructor, Nanjing China, International School. Article: Railey, Kimberly, (2012) Obstacles in Early Intervention and Special Education Services for African American Children. p.14 NBCDI-PA. “Being Black Is Not a Risk Factor”

Horace R Rooney Jr

Working in the field of education for over twenty years as an educator and administrator. He is currently a curriculum supervisor for English/Language Arts for the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District, located in Chester County. His experience in education has also included work with notable institutions such as Fellowship Farm, the YMCA, the NBCDI, and local faith-based organizations, as well as programs including the Philadelphia Writing Project. He strives to use his experiences as a teacher and leader in order to provide continued edification for young people. He attends The Family Church of New Jersey under the leadership of pastors Ted and Dawn Winsley. A native Philadelphian, he continues to reside there with his wife and four children.

Lynnette K DeShields

Lynnette DeShields studied Social Work and Early Education at Temple University in Philadelphia PA. Her career spanned over thirty years of extensive work with children and families. Lynnette is a caring and passionate professional who always gives one hundred percent of herself. She worked in the Health Care Profession as a Behavior Specialist at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and in the field of Child Welfare as a Resource Foster Family Recruiter. Lynnette also prepared Child and Family Adoption Profiles for children waiting for permanent homes. She especially enjoyed Training; Consulting and Facilitating Groups for Parents and running Social Skills Groups for Children using animation, such as puppetry.

Phyllis Mason

A charter member of BCDI Philadelphia & Vicinity and currently serves as the Vice President. She retired from the School District of Philadelphia after serving as Grant Compliance Monitor for Title I and other Federal Programs. Her prior employment experience included positions of Program Manager for Early Care Education and After-School Programs under the Center for Youth Development, both at United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Although retired, she continues to work as an Educational Consultant for Discovery Toys. Mason has over 30 years of experience in program management including development and implementation. In addition to her service commitment to BCDI, Phyllis is an active volunteer at George Washington Carver Community Center and is the founding President of Mt. Zion Community Tennis Association.

Dr Shawnik Rice

An author, founder of Building Bridges International Foundation, Inc., motivational speaker, educator, multicultural strategist, and advocate for marginalized populations. She is a native of Philadelphia and is highly respected by community leaders. Dr. Rice has served as a Professor of English as a Second Language, Vice Principal of an elementary school, director of educational programs, elementary teacher, and a community activist. Upon successful completion of her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, Dr. Rice decided to continue her studies in education, and later attained a master’s in Education with an emphasis on Multicultural Education, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership. Currently, she is completing a doctoral program in Marriage and Family Therapy. Dr. Rice also holds a Master of Theological Studies and has a gift of empowering youth, women, and leaders toward transformational change. Dr. Rice has also attained instructional certificates from the Pennsylvania Department of Education for Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Special Education, English as a Second Language, and English.

Celestine Wiggins

Tine has over 38 years in the community working in educational, recreational, physical, nutritional, and administrative capacities. B.S. in Health & Physical Education, M.S. in Administration, and Principal Certification. Populations include adults, youth, emotionally disturbed, learning and physically challenged, intellectually gifted, and youth with behavioral and eating disorders. Many accomplishments coaching recreationally interscholastic, and intercollegiate sports. Services to adults include life skills and health awareness training, conducting health and fitness classes, and providing home care and hospice care to the elderly. y associates. Thanks again for your help.

Adesola K. Adegbesan, Esq

Adesola K. Adegbesan, Esquire is a 2018 graduate of Widener University Delaware Law School, where she was involved in varied activities and organizations during her education. She served as a Superior Author on the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law; a Competing Member on the Moot Court Honor Society; a Member of the Transactional Law Honor Society; and a Competing Member on the Moe Levine Trial Team. Socially, she served as President of the Black Law Students Association to drive diverse initiatives across social and educational needs, and served on the Student Bar Association’s Budget Committee to assure that diverse student associations were awarded the funds to continue efficient programming. After graduating, she clerked for the New Jersey Superior Court with the Honorable Terrence R. Cook, Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division for the Burlington County Vicinage. Since then, she has worked with a small firm (medical malpractice defense work), where she served as Founding Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee; a mid-sized firm (products liability and commercial litigation work); and a large firm, Greenberg Traurig, LLP (employment law, commercial litigation, and medical device manufacturer defense work). Adesola currently works as an Assistant General Counsel with PECO, an Exelon Company, where she represents the Company before state and federal regulatory agencies to accomplish diverse business objectives. Within the community, Adesola is an Adjunct Instructor within Temple University’s Fox School of Business, and she serves as a Board Member on both The Legal Intelligencer’s Young Lawyers Editorial Board and the Board of Directors for The Arc of New Jersey, Middlesex County.

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