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Early Learning Nation

The Gathering Place for #Brainbuilding Communities
July 2021, Issue #12
When the young graduates at PS 187 in Washington Heights, NYC, marched outside of their school wearing caps and gowns at the academic year’s end, parents and neighbors clapped, cheered and yelled: “You made it!” The sentiments—and tears— were as much a celebration of the work of educators, families and caretakers as they were for the students. Although the upcoming school year offers new uncertainties, for now, we’ve made it to summer. Let’s savor it.

New work:
It’s no secret: We love reading, libraries + librarians.
Contributor K.C. Compton reports on the PopUp Storywalk in Seattle that combines great stories with the great outdoors. We’ve previously covered the rise of the Rural Library Network; the Free Little Libraries that have popped up across the U.S., er, globe; a Mind Field column devoted to literacy; and a Community Cultivators interview with our amazing Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. We find every opportunity to cover Kyle Zimmer and First Book. And, in this Early Learning Nation Studio interview with Professor Susan B. Neuman, she discusses our country’s book deserts as she shares how language development is critical to children’s development. Indeed, it’s the foundation for early literacy.
Innovations in the States
We take special delight in highlighting innovations and successes from the field. This month, contributor Mark Swartz wrote about Caring Arizona, a terrific program offering targeted support for informal caregivers. Journalist Bryce Covert wrote about Connecticut, the first state in the nation to offer Baby Bonds to help tackle intergenerational poverty. And top voice in early learning, Elliot Haspel, gave us a brilliant state roundup of ambitious child-care work, including a cross-section of bold moves in New Mexico, Illinois and Connecticut.
Gen-Z Parenting
Generation Z—those born roughly from 1997 to 2010—are entering their mid-twenties, graduating college, entering the workforce and having children. As this first post-Millennial generation reaches adulthood, get ready for a once-in-a-generation transformation in parenting and childhood. Fascinating Opinion piece from Joe Waters, co-founder and CEO of Capita, and Meghan Chaney, senior consultant at Openfields.
 Also in July:
  • Mark Swartz wrote about the research behind “Historic Crisis, Historic Opportunity in early childhood development (ECE).
  • In “Milestones Matter,” Swartz wrote about an innovative partnership between Vroom and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that helps families track child development.
  • Although we’re still holding off on taking our Early Learning Nation Studio to in-person events, we’re covering top virtual events via our Top Takeaways column. Our latest offerings feature “Tools of the Mind: Key Steps in Creating a Culture of Learning” and the Reagan Institute’s Summit on Education: “Disrupted: From Crisis to Innovation.” Read all of the Top Takeaways.
  • Our new Community Cultivator is singer, songwriter, author Mary Gauthier. “Music is very, very important for brain development,” she says, “Especially when you sing together.” It’s a beautiful interview. We’ll be reading her new memoir: SAVED BY A SONG: The Art and Healing Power of Songwriting. And, learn more about her work, “Songwriting with Soldiers.” Read all of the Community Cultivators about the visionaries working to build global communities.
  • Want to know happening in early learning at the state level? Our latest “5 Questions for the Governor,” our partnership with The Hunt Institute, offers this deep conversation with Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson. Read them all.
  • REGISTER NOW for this Hunt Institute conversation on Tuesday, August 3, to hear about four innovative literacy initiatives that help states support literacy development. It’ll feature our favorites Kyle Zimmer (First Book), Brian Gallagher (Reach Out and Read), Carolyne Crolotte (Early Edge CA) and Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi (Always dream).
So many reasons to follow us on social!
For example, on Twitter, we began a list of our favorite #ECE experts of color and invited all to join in and share their favorites. What began with eight experts has grown to 60+ (and growing). As New America shared in its recent newsletter:
“It is critical that those working to solve or reporting on the care crisis listen to experts closest to these problems and experts who build an intersectional, racial justice lens into every care conversation. Our friends at Early Learning Nation have compiled a list of experts of color on early childhood education, caregiving and care work. Scroll through the list and get to know the experts. Then, be sure to hit the 'follow' button so you’ll continue to get the latest insights from these experts in your feed.”
Who are your favorite experts of color? Who are we missing? Help us to elevate their work. Check out the list and let us know!
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Early Learning Nation is an independent, nonprofit magazine devoted to early learning. Original content—local + national news, features, interviews—focuses on brain building and community building with early learning professionals, parents, policymakers, scientists and community leaders.

Early Learning Nation is an initiative of the Bezos Family Foundation.
Early Learning Nation Bezos Family Foundation 1700 7th Ave Ste 116 Seattle, WA 98101-1323 USA
info@earlylearningnation.com
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