Pine Project: Professional Development

Immigrant Stories Cultivating Social Emotional Learning

The Pine Project: Professional Development is a free 5-hour self-led training. It utilizes the identity journeys of immigrant picture book characters to increase educators’ comfort in having conversations about race and culture, and the barriers and pathways to belonging.

Aligned with the five tenets of CASEL, the Pine Project: Professional Development only requires access to I’m Your Neighbor Books’ Welcoming Library. That collection, available as a free 6-week loan or for purchase, includes 30 acclaimed picture books with embedded discussion materials.

Check the Preparation page to take the survey and to see if you are ready to start moving through Pine 1-5.

This PD, commissioned by the Maine Department of Education and produced by I’m Your Neighbor Books features the voices of 17 educators, authors, and leaders, many of whom identify as Immigrant or New Generation community members.

ESSER (CRRSA and Emergency) funds received from the US Department of Education (USDOE) support the implementation of this project. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by the USDOE or the U.S. Government.