The Future Call
The Future Call is a community conversation about the future of early learning that takes place every other Tuesday via Zoom.
Each conversation features an initiative, best practice, or story of progress related to recommendations in Florida’s Early Learning Roadmap.
There’s still time to join us!
Past Speakers
11/12/24 - Makayla Buchanan, Director of Early Learning & Literacy, The Florida Chamber Foundation
Florida Chamber Foundation Tools Help Leaders Lead (Download presentation)
10/29/24 - Kelly Massey, Regional Director, Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UWF
Florida SBDC at UWF: Childcare Initiatives (Download presentation)
10/15/24 - Mapi Garcia, Strategic Growth Consultant, Empowering Early Learning Educators (EELE); Juanita Walker, Founder & Board Member, EELE; Shaleen Fagundo, Board Member, EELE
Empowering Early Learning Educators (Download presentation)
10/1/24 - Sheila Womble, Executive Director, Arts for Learning Miami
Arts for Learning: The Chance to Create (Download presentation)
9/17/24 - Maggie Macaulay, Trauma informed & therapeutically informed coach, Whole Hearted Parenting, CSC Broward County
Creative Tools to Confidently Lead Groups (Download presentation)*
*Trainings are open to interested parties outside of Broward County, but Broward residents have priority.
9/3/24 - Kissha Ballard, Owner/Director, Kissha's Little Angels Childcare; Erika Rohlfing, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Kinder Konsulting
The importance of mental health support in the early learning setting and how the local ELC is providing those supports for early educators like Kissha.
8/20/24 - Madeleine Thakur, President & CEO, The Children's Movement of Florida; Ian Hughes, Special Assistant to CEO, The Children's Movement of Florida
The 2024 Voter Guide (Download Voter Guide)
8/6/24 - Lesha Buchbinder, Executive Director, Early Learning Coalition of Lake County
Working Together for Children & Families (Download presentation)
7/23/24 Mary Huffsteter, Early Childhood Coordinator, St. Lucie Public Schools
St. Lucie County's Partnerships for Children (Download presentation)
7/9/24 - Dawn Montecalvo, President, The Guadalupe Center
Behavioral Health Initiative - Guadalupe Center (Download presentation)
6/25/24 - Crystal Sherwood, VPK Teacher, Play and Learn PreK
FLAEYC - Early Childhood Educator of the Year (Download presentation)
6/11/24 - Dr. Chelsea Arnold, Initiative Manager, First 1000 Days Suncoast
The three key components of a tri-county initiative in Southwest Florida: Care Coordination, Parent Empowerment, and Targeted Interventions. (First 1,000 Days Suncoast)
5/28/24 - Christine Hughes, Executive Director, Florida Association for Infant Mental Health (FAIMH)
(Monthly Office Hours can be found on our calendar: (members.faimh.org/events)
5/14/24 - Heather Siskind, CEO, Jack and Jill Center
Family As Partners (Download presentation, Parent Series Calendar 2023-2024, Family Program Info Sheet)
4/30/24 - Dr. Herman Knopf, Senior Research Scientist, Anita Zucker Center
Creating an “informal pathway” for early learning teachers to align with higher education pathways for advancement.
4/16/24 - Brigid Kolowith, COO at the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County; Kathy Cestaro, Early Childhood Specialist at Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County
LENA Grow - Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County (Download presentation, LENA Grow Funding Guide)
4/2/24 - Wendy Occhipinti, Executive Director, Florida Association for the Education of Young Children (FLAEYC)
FLAEYC's Early Childhood Educator of the Year Award (Download presentation)
3/19/24 - Anabel Espinosa, Ph.D, Director of Research and Evaluation, Early Learning Coalition of Miami/Dade/Monroe
Best Practices in Inclusive Early Childhood Education (BPIECE) Support Services (Download presentation)
3/5/24 - Ellyn Okrent, CEO, Florence Fuller Child Development Centers, Inc
On-the-job Training at the Florence Fuller Centers (Download presentation)
2/20/24 - Erin Smeltzer, President & CEO, Children's Forum
Early Educator Professional Development in Florida - Resources: (INCENTIVE$ Florida, T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship)
2/6/24 - Cari Miller, Chancellor for Early Learning, Department of Education
HB1 Implementation: Early Learning and K-12 Portal & CCDF Plan (Download presentation)
1/23/24 - Madeleine Thakur, President & CEO, The Children’s Movement of Florida
2024 Legislative Session: Proposed Bills Aligned to Florida's Early Learning Roadmap Recommendations (Download presentation)