EELC Corner: A Conference Like No Other

July 24, 2024

“There’s only one DC,” boasts the latest slogan for the capital of our nation. And it’s true, says Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser. “There is only one place in the world where you can visit the White House during the day and Ben’s Chili Bowl at night. There’s only one place where you can take in the history of our nation, while enjoying the culture of the 700,000 people who call DC home.” And you’ll get a real DC experience when you join us at the Early Educators Leadership Conference, a time to advance equity, justice and diversity in our field.

The conference kicks off with a reception at the Hirshhorn Museum, where the exhibits reflect the diverse art scene today. Our Monumental Night at the Museum will give you a chance to mingle with colleagues while looking at murals from Brazilian twin brothers Gustavo and Otavio Pandolfo and paintings by renowned Black artist Mark Bradford. His monumental works are a meditation on race, class and gender, key topics for society and our field.

You’ll also see the faces of prominent folks who’ve embraced these ideals when we visit the National Portrait Gallery, close by the Capital Hilton, our conference hotel. It’s a chance to view portraits of author James Baldwin, former President Barack Obama and Frederick Douglass, a great advocate for human rights. Douglass knew “it is easier to build strong children than repair broken men”—and DC acted on these words when it pioneered high-quality preschools for all.

That’s also a dream that unites our field as we strive to provide skilled, credentialed teachers for all young children. And you’ll draw strength to fight on when we visit the National Mall, where Martin Luther King, Jr. made a famous speech. Standing on the mall’s western end, he said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” And the Supreme Court in DC has advanced this goal through landmark cases like Brown v. Board of Education, which banned segregation in public schools.

The fight for equity in education goes on at research centers across DC, including Child Trends and Excelencia in Education. And our conference will feature Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek a researcher and bestselling author who’s sparked a movement to reimagine education. You’ll see how crucial this is when we screen Starting at Zero: Reimagining Education in America.

We’ll also feature some of the leaders who are already taking bold steps to make a difference for young learners. You’ll hear from Eddie Koen, president of the Institute for Educational Leadership which knocks down systemic roadblocks that stand in the way of success for youth from pre-K through college age. And you’ll be stirred by those who are transforming our field when Council CEO Dr. Calvin E. Moore, Jr. hosts a panel of trailblazers in innovation.

Our speakers come from diverse backgrounds, ranging from administration to academia, but they share a common commitment to advancing equity for children and their teachers. It’s part of “justice for all,” words that appear on George Washington’s statue in the center of town. And you can take some time to view it during your stay in DC. The opportunity to see historic sights and hear from our high-profile speakers will add up to a capital time—and a conference like no other. This year, as always, there’s only one EELC.

EELC: A Conference Like No Other
Share:

Recently Posted:

Blog - Text Search
Blog - Category Search
Blog - Search by Tags
Blog - Publish Date

Experts Speak: Autism and Apraxia

Experts Speak Autism and Apraxia with Elizabeth Vosseller Early childhood educators play a critical role in the lives of young children and their families around the world. As the administrator of the Child Development Associate®...