Children's Institute of Cultural Appreciation and Understanding
Fostering Cultural Appreciation Today for Better Understanding Tomorrow
CICAU helps foster awareness, understanding, and acceptance by bringing childhood cultural education to the forefront.
WE ARE
Children's Institute of Cultural Appreciation and Understanding
Our goal is to inspire children, grades K-8th, to embrace and celebrate cultural diversity by fostering awareness, understanding, and acceptance. Through interactive activities, engaging experiences, and accessible educational resources, we aim to cultivate appreciation for different cultures, develop empathy, and empower them to become inclusive global citizens.
OUR MISSION
Cultural Education;
Early and Accessible
What We Do
We build awareness around childhood cultural education and help make resources more accessible to families, educators, and communities.
Why It Matters
Children grow up in a connected world. Cultural understanding builds empathy, respect, and stronger communities.
Who It Supports
Families, schools and PTAs, community partners, and organizations committed to cultural education.
OUR APPROACH
Practical Ways We Help Children Build Cultural Competence
CICAU supports cultural exposure through education, resources,
and partnerships that strengthen cultural education.
How we support Cultural Exposure
Advocate cultural competence, acknowledgment, and awareness in the classroom and beyond.
Developing and implementing culture diversity programs for children.
Build partnerships and programs that make cultural education more accessible.
Ways to Collaborate
Schools
Support cultural education programs through teacher and PTA partnerships
Research
Collaborate on surveys and focus groups to understand needs and impact.
Events
Sponsor information sessions, fundraisers, webinars, and conference programming.
WHO WE ARE
Leadership and Governance
CICAU is a women and minority-led nonprofit founded in 2022 by Ma’Keva Myricks-Puri and Preeti P. Menon, supported by a diverse Board of Directors.
Co-founders
Co-President and Executive Director of Program Development,
Marketing and Communications
Board of Director
Chair for Board of Directors
Board Member
Treasurer
Board Member
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values and guide how CICAU builds programs, governance, outreach, and partnerships.
OUR PROGRAMS
Cultural Learning Experiences that Stay With the Students
Age-appropriate, hands-on programs for grades K–8 that build empathy, cultural understanding, and global awareness through meaningful, immersive learning.
At CICAU, we offer a range of immersive, age-appropriate cultural programs for students in grades K–8. These experiences are designed to cultivate empathy, cultural understanding, and global awareness through dynamic, hands-on learning.
Each offering reflects our mission to promote and strengthen cultural diversity through exposure, education, and meaningful engagement. To ensure authenticity and depth, we engage cultural experts, tradition bearers, professional artists, performing artists, chefs, and educators to lead and enrich our programs.
Program Areas
Grades K-8
Author Reading & Writing Workshops
Arts & Performance-Based Workshops
Culinary Workshops
Cultural Immersion & Exploration Workshops
Custom Cultural Education Program Design
How We Bring Culture to Life
At the heart of our work is the belief that cultural education should be accurate, accessible, and affirming. Students engage directly with authentic cultural voices and practices through storytelling, sensory experiences, and interactive discovery.
By partnering with cultural stewards, artists, chefs, educators, and tradition bearers, we create learning experiences that are both respectful and memorable.
What Students Gain
Empathy and appreciation for cultures beyond their own
Deeper understanding through hands-on participation
Early foundations for inclusive thinking and global citizenship
