Built to Thrive 2021

Built to Thrive

Friday, October 8, 2021

2nd Annual Built To Thrive Summit

For the second year in a row, our agenda included national experts and local change makers, bridging the worlds of politics, business, and early childhood. We brought together more than 700 participants in a live, virtual event, featuring:

  • A keynote presentation from john a. powell, Director, Othering and Belonging Institute, Professor of Law, African American, and Ethnic Studies, University of California at Berkeley.
  • An address from Florida's first early learning chancellor
  • A media panel highlighting why child care has been featured so heavily in the news since COVID-19 began and providing advocates with tools to keep our issues in the media.
  • A snapshot of the status of the health of Florida’s infants and their families and a look at what we can do to improve health disparities.
  • A discussion of a successful community initiative that brought together public and private sectors to coordinate a holistic approach to care for families.
  • A panel featuring Florida legislators and our CEO Vance Aloupis, covering workforce development and two-generation approaches.
  • And more!

2021 Agenda & Video Archive

Keynote - Getting to the Universal Goal: All Florida Children Ready for Kindergarten

Professor john a. powell

Professor john a. powell

Director, Othering and Belonging Institute, University of California at Berkeley

Business Leading the Way in Early Childhood

By supporting families with young children—either philanthropically or within their own operation—business leaders can make a community thrive. Learn about the "adopt a neighborhood" approach Harris Rosen has taken, and why he decided to focus on early childhood for greatest impact

Harris Rosen

Harris Rosen

President & COO, Rosen Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

Dr. Charles Dziuban

Dr. Charles Dziuban

Coordinator, Rosen Tangelo and Parramore Programs for the University of Central Florida

David Lawrence Jr.

David Lawrence Jr.

Founder and Chair, The Children's Movement of Florida

A Message from Florida’s Division of Early Learning

Matt Mears

Matt Mears

Chancellor of Early Learning, State of Florida

The Impact of Child Care on Families

Hear from Otis M. Shavers, a father to two beautiful boys. He is a manager at an electronic retailer and relies on child care to work. He shares the story of how he became a single father and the role child care has played in helping him bring up his boys.

Otis M. Shavers

Otis M. Shavers

father

Presentation of Findings from Florida’s 2021 Child Care Survey

In June and July 2021, The Children's Movement of Florida conducted online surveys in both English and Spanish. Join us at Built to Thrive for a snapshot of the challenges families have encountered in their search for and experience with child care in Florida.

Child Care in the Media

Join us for a discussion on why child care has received so much media coverage since COVID-19 began, how to become a trusted source for journalists, and how to keep our issues top of mind going forward.

Alia Wong

Alia Wong

Reporter, USA TODAY

Chabeli Carrazana

Chabeli Carrazana

Economy Reporter, The 19th

Jackie Mader

Jackie Mader

Early Childhood Education Reporter, Multimedia Editor, The Hechinger Report

In the Early Learning Classroom

In 2021, the Miami-Dade Early Learning Coalition debuted a new course in their Professional Development Institute—Equity and Inclusion in the early learning classroom. Through a difficult year, devoted teachers took time out of their day to attend training and improve as educators

Gail Roberts

Gail Roberts

Early Learning Educator

Jina G. Carvajal CDA, FCCPC, ECPAI

Jina G. Carvajal CDA, FCCPC, ECPAI

Early Learning Educator, JC Preschool Services, LLC

Nouchy Phillips

Nouchy Phillips

Early Learning Educator, YWCA-IG/ Metro Dade

Carla Garcia

Carla Garcia

Early Learning Educator, World To Grow Learning Center

What's Next for Children in Florida?

Hear from two of Florida's state representatives on what they plan to tackle for children and families in 2022. Moderated by the The Movement's CEO, Vance Aloupis.

Representative Fentrice Driskell

Representative Fentrice Driskell

State Representative, Florida House District 63

Representative Dana Trabulsy

Representative Dana Trabulsy

State Representative, Florida House District 84

Vance Aloupis

Vance Aloupis

CEO, The Children's Movement of Florida

How Are the Babies?

Join Dr. Remikie for a snapshot of the status of the health of Florida's infants and families and a look at what we can do to improve health disparities

Dr. Sharetta Remikie

Dr. Sharetta Remikie

Director, Maternal Child Health-March of Dimes

First 1,000 Days Suncoast

Learn about this incredible community initiative that brings together public and private sector organizations to coordinate a holistic approach to care for parents and babies.

Sandra Frank

Sandra Frank

CEO, All Faiths Food Bank

Mary O'Connor

Mary O'Connor

MSN, RNC, IBCLC, Manager, Community Outreach, Women and Children's Services, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System

Maria Somera Ram

Maria Somera Ram

Parent Advisor, First 1,000 Days Suncoast

Dr. Chelsea Arnold

Dr. Chelsea Arnold

Initiative Coordinator, First 1,000 Days Suncoast

Built to Thrive 2021 Sponsors

See our summit archive

Child with building blocks

Built to Thrive 2020

Our first annual summit featured keynote presentations from Dr. Jack Shonkoff and Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, and conversations with legislatiors, business leaders, and community champions.

Learn More