About bia obi & Dr. Odim
bia obi ❁
We draw on the knowledge young children (and their families) bring to create curriculum. Small class size, research-based curriculum with individualized and child-interest based activities, exposure to new concepts; with highly qualified, passionate educators and community based leaders.
Vision ❁
We aim to create welcoming and inclusive environments where children feel belonging and discernment. We focus on creating a space where important, challenging and supportive play can happen with children, friends, family members, and community members.
We believe play is a beautiful opportunity to weave skill development in critical thinking, dialogue across disciplines, consider a range of ideas and have fun!
We draw on global theories in literacy, environmental studies, early childhood, Indigenous knowledges, and languages studies.
Our Goal ❁
A space where children grow. A place where teaching, pedagogy, and childcare engages the mind (cognitive learning), heart (emotional learning), and soul (socio-moral learning) to support young children who contribute to a socially just and sustainable society.
About Founder and Director: Dr. Nnenna Odim ❁
bia obi was founded by Dr. Nnenna Odim who sees the brilliance in children and wants schools to embody their knowledge of science, arts, math and literacy in a small communal setting.
A formally trained cultural ethnographer in Education with a focus in Curriculum and Instruction, early childhood, and childcare. Her research focuses on child storytelling and curriculum development that supports creativity with critical thinking skills.
Dr. Odim’s experiences include U.S. and international classroom teaching in early childhood, elementary and college level courses, implementing education policy in state early learning quality rating systems, developing curriculum for public/private/charter elementary schools, and co-designing qualitative research programs.
Experience teaching in early learning and elementary classrooms.
Nola.com Article: New Orleans collaborative helps child care providers access more resources with help from JPMorgan Chase investment
Author: Amanda McElfresh, Sept 10, 2023
Co-creating a participatory action research program with brilliant PAResearchers This NOLA.com article describes strategies of weaving community needs into a formal research design similar to the methods that bia obi include in recruitment, community engagement and ongoing curriculum development. Read the full article.
Other Related Published Work
Odim, N., Vasudevan, P. (2024). Moving with Land: BlackIndigenous Stories of Place. Garden and Landscape Studies. Dorries, H., & Daigle, M. (Ed) Land Back: Indigenous Landscapes of Resurgence and Freedom. Dumbarton Oaks.
Park, S., Lee, S., Odim, N., & Adair, J. K. (2024). Redefining Quality to Center the Capabilities of Young Children. Occasional Paper Series, 2024(51), 6.
Odim, N. (2022). Otros Ahoritas: Belleza y angustia en memorias de familia/ Other Nows: Beautyache in Family Memories. KIPUS Collection: Special Issue: Growing Up Antiblack in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Nxumalo, F., Odim, N, & Smith, A. (2021). Black geographies in early childhood studies. In Yelland, N.J., Peters, L., Fairchild, N., Tesar, M., & Perez, M. (Eds.). The SAGE handbook of global childhoods. London, UK: SAGE.