As the month of February comes to an end, the significance of Black History Month will continue. It is our job not to constraint such an important topic to just one month. Black history is every day, every month, and more importantly it is present everywhere.

Voices of Tomorrow’s preschool teachers are positively impacting black students in the East African community one classroom at a time. Making early education accessible using a dual language program has helped many teachers at this school to better connect with their students. As well as having teachers that reflect who the students are. Today, we are highlighting a remarkable teacher who has embraced her students and created an impactful and fulfilling learning environment.

Nima Ali is a teacher at Voices of tomorrow’s Bowlake location. Just like many of the students in her classroom, Nima wears a hijab for religious purposes. It is beneficial for a young black Muslim child to see representation of themselves in their teachers. Nima says that “it boosts the academic performance of students of color, including improvement in their development. This allows students to interact in a wider range of social groups and feel more confident in themselves as well as in their interaction with others.” Nima completed Early Childhood Education and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Art Degree. For Nima, teaching at a school that offers a dual language program was important, being able to help nurture a child’s native tongue cultivates child to become bilingual-bicultural. “Not only does it help them stay grounded to their roots, but it also gives children a variety of economic, cultural, cognitive, and psychosocial advantages,” says Nima Ali. She spent many years volunteering at local elementary schools, daycares, and community organizations, which shows Nima’s dedication to supporting children. Now, Nima is focused on completing her BA and she is excited to be able to bring her love of art to her students.

It is important for us to acknowledge the importance and benefits of having diverse teachers. When I visited her classroom, I was greeted with many different bright colored hijabs. There was pink, blue, white, and some more variations of pink. The atmosphere of a classroom like this was different, it was wholesome, and it was healing. Many black children don’t feel represented in the world but having classrooms like this where it is tailored to them specifically is amazing. As we reach the end of Black History Month, remembering the past historical events, acknowledging the present change, and working towards a better tomorrow is not just on Black History Month. Black history is every day, every month, and more importantly it is present everywhere even in VOT’s classrooms much like Nima Ali’s.