Zeno

Education

Feb 4

Zeno was founded in 2003 by a group of parents who recognized the significance of math and the importance of nurturing a child's confidence in math early on through play. Their work was rooted in the belief that math could serve as an equalizer for children in disadvantaged communities. Initially, Zeno provided math programs to families from diverse racial and socio-economic backgrounds, offering reduced costs to schools primarily serving low-income children and families. However, the organization realized the need to address systemic racism in the educational system and began an internal journey to bring a racial equity lens to its work. Over time, Zeno's staff became more diverse, and the organization shifted its focus to combat the limitations posed by systemic racism on the academic experiences of children of color. This transformation led to an updated mission and programs centered on understanding the role of race, place, language, and culture in a child's early math education.

In 2014, Zeno launched the Family MathWays program to address the disparities in math skills and confidence among children entering kindergarten. The program started as a small pilot, reaching 250 families in Seattle and subsequently grew to impact over 1,500 families across multiple counties. Zeno prioritized serving families of color in low-income communities, which became its core mission.

Zeno expanded its outreach to reach 2,200 families monthly through various channels, including preschool classrooms, ParentChild+ (home visiting) programs, and in-home childcare centers. Their approach combined racial equity, family engagement, and play to inspire a love of math in young children and their families.

Zeno's vision is to create a racially just world where every child and family embraces math. Their mission is to spark joy and a love for math, with a particular focus on communities of color, through racial equity, family engagement, and play.

Zeno

Hamlin Robinson

LifeWire