The 2024 Conference was kicked off in the Opening General Session by Dr. Anton Treuer, sponsored by the support of Enterprise Mobility’s Road Forward Initiative. Dr. Treuer, an educator and advocate for Indigenous people, emphasized the need for deeper listening and understanding of inclusive practices to close the “achievement gap” and foster true equity in communities. He shared insights from his work on cultural competency, racial equity, and the preservation of Indigenous languages, and reminded attendees of the important lessons we have to learn by embracing Indigenous cultures.
Tuesday’s Plenary featured five home visitors from different states around the U.S. in a panel entitled “Supporting Newcomers and First Generation Immigrant Families”. Panelists discussed their experiences serving the immigrant and refugee population group and how to best support the families they work with and the parent educators providing the services given the unique challenges they face.
Wednesday’s Plenary left attendees feeling inspired and encouraged by keynote speaker and early childhood professional, Rachel Giannini, followed by a LIVE recording of the Teachers, Toddlers, and Tissues podcast hosted by Giannini and Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, a practicing pediatrician and Parents as Teachers Board Member. The topic of conversation was burnout among early childhood professionals where the audience got a chance to share out their stories and experiences leaving not a dry eye in the room. Check out the episode on XXX wherever you find your podcasts. *Not sure if it has been published yet?*
The week of learning wrapped up with a Closing Luncheon featuring best-selling author and award-winning speaker Josh Shipp. Shipp shared the emotional story of his experience growing up in the foster care system, highlighting the profound impact of being supported by adults who stepped in during his moments of rebellion, recognizing it as a cry for help.