Little Patakha Denver Community Impact Initiative: Supported by WBENC

WBENC-Certified WBE and 2023 WBENCPitch Finalist, Little Patakha, is a children’s brand that offers educational and inclusive books, games and toys for early childhood to spark curiosity, celebrate differences and shatter stereotypes. This year, at the 2024 WBENC National Conference at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Conference Center, March 19-22, 2024, the WBENC network came together to bring these high quality, screen-free media products to elementary schools within the Denver Public Schools System.

Did you know that social biases based on gender, race and culture set in by the time kids are five years of age? Before they enter kindergarten! But research shows that inclusive messaging can change these attitudes in just a few weeks.

The images, languages and ideas kids grow up surrounded by become their normal. It is vital that they are exposed to a variety of media from a young age.

But in public school systems which usually cater to a more diverse population, there is often a lack of funding for such resources. In fact, according to the U.S. Census, state expenditure towards early education has been on a steady decline in Colorado forcing teachers to spend their own money to bring resources into their classrooms.

Two Little Patakha products that encapsulated the idea behind “AMPLIFY,” the theme of the WBENC Conference and a call to action throughout 2024, were selected for this initiative:

• Different Fits – A mix-and-match game with a twist! With 10 illustrations of professions represented by diverse characters, this game helps kids look beyond stereotypes of who they can be when they grow up. By mixing and matching the pieces, they learn that we should never be defined by what we look like.
• Unstoppable Me – Affirmation cards that boost confidence and nurture empathy by teaching kids wonderful things about themselves and how they relate to others.

The incredible WBENC network stepped up to surpass our $30,000 goal in under 3 days bringing 1200 units of Different Fits and Unstoppable Me to the Denver Public Elementary School System and impacting close to 10,000 children enrolled for the year!

The products seamlessly integrate into their curriculum, inspiring age-appropriate conversations about being a part of a global community no matter who you are, what you look like or where you come from. The mix-and-match games and affirmation cards will be distributed through the year in school libraries, classrooms and at events, especially in areas with higher populations of New American students welcoming them to their new schools.

Educators are excited to have these resources in their classrooms and community to share with students over many years, thus creating a lasting impact in the region.

“My families have enjoyed the Little Papakha inclusion kits! I have given them to families who have children at home with them and they love how their children can see themselves in diverse identities.”

said Iyana Hunter, a Black Family Engagement Specialist who highlighted how this initiative allowed them to reach children who cannot access such resources since they don’t attend regular school.

The WBENC team and Akshata Nayak at Little Patakha worked closely with Sarah Rice, the Volunteer Services Manager, Family and Community Engagement at Denver Public Schools for this initiatve. She was enthusiastic about the collaboration and support from the start and helped us with our outreach into the schools.

“Our schools were thrilled to receive the Little Patakha Inclusion Kit donations! We are a very diverse school district, and having this as a resource in our classrooms will benefit many of our students. Thank you Little Patakha for this opportunity!”

This work will continue into next year where data will be collected through surveys for the educators and families and analyzed to learn the impact of this collective project.