by Diona Williams, Early Childhood Education Professor, TOCC

2023-2024 Ihduwiyayapi: Advancing Indigenous Early Childhood Education Grant Program

The Tohono O’odham Community College Early Childhood Education (ECE) Program’s Ihduwiyayapi: Advancing Indigenous Early Childhood Education grant, titled I:We-Mta: Working Together, had three goals: to increase student satisfaction and sense of belonging through site visits, to increase program offerings to sister tribes and throughout the state of Arizona, and to improve the program’s cultural and academic alignments. The Tohono O’odham ECE Program grew significantly over the last four years, particularly thanks to the free tuition the college offers for all Native students with tribal identification. This growth is a testament to our commitment to providing quality education to our community.

Sense of Belonging

Last year students expressed the desire to connect in person, which led to the birth of ECE Gatherings. These gatherings, which started with students in our ECE 228 Family, Culture, and Community course, have continued to evolve, with more students getting involved in the planning process and clarifying the purpose of the gatherings.

Phoenix Campus

Throughout the academic year, the advisory team made regular visits to TOCC’s Phoenix Campus to provide monthly advising for students onsite and via Zoom. These advising sessions, which included group sessions with ECE and elementary education faculty, significantly increased student satisfaction and support. Students expressed that they feel supported by the advisors and faculty, which reassures us of the positive impact of the Phoenix Campus on our students.

Tohono O’odham Community College Phoenix Center.

ECE Gatherings

ECE faculty member, Diona Williams, hosted four ECE Gatherings this past year, two online and two in-person, at the Tohono O’odham Community College and Phoenix locations. The online sessions were provided during the fall and spring semesters to allow students to connect outside of class. In the sessions, students heard the American Indian College Fund’s Program Administrator, Cassandra Harden, speak about her journey as an early childhood education student at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) and her career at the College Fund. An interactive education program called Padlet is used during ECE Gatherings to provide insight for the ECE program by asking students survey questions and identifying their location.

The ECE Gatherings have provided a valuable forum for students to connect and share their experiences and have also contributed to their academic and cultural growth. Students discussed traditions from their tribes, shared ECE stories, and developed professional relationships with other students. Their success has spurred the ECE and Elementary Education faculty to start an education club, further enhancing the students’ involvement in their education program.