It felt healing to me, and I am not even sure that I knew I needed that, but I certainly did.
~ ECFC October Member Meeting Attendee
We’re grateful for the nearly 100 funders, grantees, and community partners who joined us in Washington, D.C. on October 23-24, 2024 for our Fall Member Meeting, Resilient, Ready, and Rising: Shaping the Future of Young Children. This gathering evolved beyond traditional panels and speakers, creating relational experiences that fostered deeper connections, highlighted innovations in early childhood work, and forged pathways for collaboration to drive change for young children and families.
Our discussions focused on economic supports for families, the meaning of wealth for children, families, and communities, and lessons from the groundswell of guaranteed cash programs and other initiatives providing critical economic supports for families and early educators nationwide.
Aligned with our commitment to racial equity, we prioritized amplifying marginalized and often excluded voices. By centering these experiences, we strive to create spaces where funders and community partners can explore challenges and opportunities together. We were honored to be joined by community members and parents from ECFC supported economic programs. Learn more about our grantee and community partners who joined us.
Our time together was enriched by powerful moments:
- An inspirational opening performance by Carlynn Newhouse, a poet and educator who believes poetry is a form of activism and who reminded us of the power of storytelling and resilience. Read Resilient, Ready and Rising, a poem commissioned for our meeting that captures this moment at the “crossroads of despair and determination.” Carlynn’s words challenge us to “do the work” so we can one day tell our children we were resilient, ready, and rising when it mattered most.
- Member and grantee led sessions showcasing member supported initiatives focused on economic opportunity, financial stability, and wealth building for children, families, and early educators.
- A compelling closing discussion featuring Natalie Foster, President and Founder of the Economic Security Project, and Katie Beckmann, National Policy Director for the David & Lucille Packard Foundation. They considered how funders, collaboratives, and advocates can help families and communities build wealth and achieve financial well-being.
ECFC member meetings are a space where early childhood funders come together to “find their people”—dedicated early childhood advocates leveraging their power, investments, and passion into shaping a resilient future for young children and families. This membership community is both humbling and inspiring because of all of you.
In the weeks and months to come, we’ll continue to reflect on the lessons and insights from our Fall meeting, sharing ideas to help shape a future where economic opportunity and financial stability are attainable for all children and families. We invite you to stay connected and continue learning alongside this incredible community.
ECFC Members: Login to view meeting archives, including a catalog of ECFC member supported supported initiatives focused on economic opportunity, financial stability, and wealth building for children, families, and early educators.