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"Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality."
-Warren G. Bennis
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The Leadership Initiative is growing!

We now have dedicated Leadership Initiative teams in Long Island as well as the Western New York, Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions. If you live and/or work in any of these regions, visit your regions website:

Upcoming Events

Home-Based Providers Network Meeting

Network Meetings are a space for us all to connect, to share ideas and learn from each other’s experiences in a community setting. This is intended as an opportunity to welcome you to join other leaders of programs in reflection and conversation who are also supporting and leading family and group family child-care spaces.  If you’re available, we hope you can come! 

We start with a question for group reflection and then share topics that participants would like to discuss as a group for additional questions, experiences, and perspectives. All are welcome in this space, particularly leaders and providers of family childcare programs.

If you have any questions or would like support in registration, please email us at: leadershipinitiative@earlychildhoodny.org

Wednesday, October 4th 2023 6:30pm - 7:30pm

"Identify & Interrupt Unconscious Bias in Early Childhood" led by Imani Missouri

We are proud to welcome you to our next Speaker Series event featuring Imani Missouri. She brings to us an opportunity to deepen our understanding of what unconscious bias is (and isn’t!) in an interactive session. Unconscious Bias is used often in our field, and together with Imani, we’ll talk about the differences between biases and racism. We’ll pause to reflect on our experience with the content and consider ways to attend to ourselves in these moments. This space may have moments where we sit bravely with productive, but transformative, discomfort.

 

All are welcome in this space. This time together will include experiences in small groups to learn with participants from across NYS. We aim for each participant to leave with the framework for a personal goal to increase their awareness of biases in their life and leadership role. Since this event includes interactions in small group break out rooms, we encourage you to register if you are interested and able to attend the full event. We hope to see you there!

Wednesday, October 11th 2023 6:30pm - 8:00pm

October 2023 Networking Meeting

Network Meetings are a virtual space for us all to connect, to share ideas and learn from each other’s experiences in a community setting. This is intended as an opportunity to welcome you to join other leaders in our field for reflection and conversation. Members who are support or directly leading early childhood learning spaces are all welcome. These conversations are held via Zoom. If you’re available, we hope you can join us!

Leaders and those aspiring to leadership roles in early childhood are welcome to join us! We're proud to offer a space where family child cares, child care specialists, community-based programs, and supporting organizations can all share space together. We start with a question for group reflection and then share topics that participants would like to discuss as a group for additional questions, experiences, and perspectives.

 

If you have any questions or would like support in registration, please email us at: leadershipinitiative@earlychildhoodny.org

 

Wednesday, October 18th 2023 5:30pm - 6:30pm

"The Sum of Us" by Heather McGhee

This illuminating and powerful text will take us on a journey through hundreds of interviews across the U.S. to better understand the impact of public policy and infrastructure. Through this text, we’ll have the opportunity to consider the history behind systematic inequities in our communities and how they show up in our society today. This may be a new lens for readers to view the constructs of the communities we live and work in every day as leaders in early childhood. This book follows a hopeful narrative for ending a “zero sum” mentality and embracing abundance and equity for all.

 

Sessions Available
Wednesday, October 25th, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Tuesday, November 14th, 6:00pm - 7:30pm

The Power of Optimism

The Early Childhood Leadership Initiative is proud to present the Playmaker Project, facilitated by Ant Toombs Sr. The Playmaker Project provides “play-based, trauma-informed training and support for early childhood professionals.” Playmakers offer a framework that enhances existing priorities and increases social and emotional wellness among kids and staff.

The Leadership Initiative encourages leaders to join with an open heart and mind, learning techniques to bring optimism, joy, and healing to themselves, to staff, and to children.

Optimism matters. An optimistic disposition enables us through everyday and extraordinary struggles  to look for the goodness in ourselves, in others, and in the world around us. For professionals working with young survivors of trauma, optimism isn’t just a critical tool; it’s the pathway to healing for kids in need. This inspiring, interactive presentation helps individuals discover the power of optimism to create safe, joyful, engaging environments where kids can grow, heal, and learn. Using research, humor, and personal stories from +30 years in the field, Playmaker Project Guides share how optimistic individuals can bring out the best in their students, colleagues, and leaders.

Wednesday, November 8th 2023 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Subscribe to the Leadership Initiative Mailing List

Early childhood leaders, as well as those who aspire to leadership roles in the future, are welcome to participate in the Leadership Initiative in a variety of ways. Sign up below to start to receiving our periodic newsletter and event announcements!

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About the Leadership Initiative

Comments or Questions?

Contact us with questions about the leadership initiative:

leadershipinitiative@earlychildhoodny.org

718-254-7353

The Leadership Initiative serves leaders from all areas of early childhood, including direct services and support services in family/group family homes, centers, schools, shelters, and faith based settings. Non-direct care leadership roles such as system leaders, policy advocates, and promoters of our workforce are also supported by our community.

The excellence of early childhood programs is reliant on the quality and caliber of the leader. The program leader sets the mission, vision, philosophy, and culture of a program. And yet, too many leaders come to the work with limited knowledge and expertise in early childhood management and leadership. The New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute leads the Leadership Initiative, designed to support the professional development and success of current leaders and prospective leaders in the early childhood field. The Leadership Initiative and this website provide early childhood leaders, as well as those who aspire to leadership roles in the future, with resources and opportunities to engage with their peers and support professional development promoting access to excellence for all young children.

The Initiative Newsletter

Our monthly newsletter offers a round-up of the latest Leadership Initiative events, the books we're reading, member spotlights, resources and opportunities. If you signed up as a member, you'll already be getting our next issue!

Read the Latest: July, 2023 Browse our newsletter archive

Other News and Resources

Our Guide to NYC Leadership Degree and Credential Programs

We've compiled a list of degrees and credentials that leaders can pursue to advance their careers and enrich their practice. From NYAEYC credentials to Master's degrees for school principals this guide will help you find your next step in your journey.

Download the PDF Guide

Children's Program Administrator Credential

The Children’s Program Administrator Credential (CPAC) is a state-recognized credential that addresses the components essential for running early childhood and school-age programs. Both new and experienced administrators may choose to obtain the credential, as well as current teachers who aspire to administrative positions. Those individuals without program management experience will need to complete an internship to obtain the credential.

Learn more about the CPAC on our Career Development Services page.


Listen! Sherry Cleary on Leadership

Sherry Cleary, Executive Director of the New York Early Childhood Institute shared her thoughts about the importance of leadership with HiMama's The Preschool Podcast



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