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Inside Erikson | January 2022 Newsletter

January 2022 – Welcome to the January edition of the Inside Erikson newsletter!

Happy New Year! There’s something that happens to us on January 1 that allows us to reset our mind, body, and goals. There’s also excitement in the air at Erikson as we begin to look ahead to future events, collaborations, publications, research, and the much-anticipated website redesign. We are ready and hopeful that each of you will contribute to the success of our colleagues, students, and the Erikson community, as we have so much to look forward to this year.

And, as COVID continues to plague our lives at home and the world, once again, let it not stop us from our mission and let us keep moving forward together.


Updates from the President

I was so pleased to share our many accomplishments across 2021 in my end of year “Mission Moment” video, which you can watch here. I’m excited to move into 2022 as the Erikson community continues to strengthen our work towards restorative justice for young children and their families. In the coming year, I look forward to representing Erikson in new places and in new ways, such as the upcoming virtual “salon” event that we are collaborating on with Bank Street and Teachers College, Columbia University.

The event will be a conversation with many diverse voices from research, teaching, and parenting— discussing how the pandemic has exacerbated inequities in schooling and education, and how we can reimagine the potential of our education system in ways that center equity and justice. Please join me! The event on January 21 will be held via Zoom and include audience participation and discussion. To register, please click here.

Erikson Updates

Refer a Student

Along with our hardworking Enrollment team, we can all be ambassadors for Erikson!

Students, alumni, faculty and staff can win prizes for referring family, friends or colleagues who complete an application. Learn more about our “Refer a Student” program here.

Tell anyone you know who may be considering graduate education in early childhood to check out our upcoming information events here.


Upcoming Erikson Events

Virtual “Salon” Event to Feature President Souto-Manning

Please join Bank Street College, Teachers College, Columbia University, and Erikson Institute on Friday, January 21, from 4 p.m.- 5:30 p.m. CST for a 90-minute special event featuring educators and parents who contributed articles to Bank Street Occasional Paper Series #46, “The Pandemic as a Portal: On Transformative Ruptures and Possible Futures for Education” edited by our very own Mariana Souto-Manning! The issue launched in October to examine how inequities in schooling and education have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and how we can reimagine the potential of our education system in a way that centers equity and enacts justice. This event will be held via Zoom and will include audience participation and discussion. To read the full issue of Occasional Paper Series #46, please click here.


Erikson has a Podcast?

Last month Erikson announced the development of “1,800 Days”, a podcast that will explore the field of early childhood education the early-years, present, and what the future looks like. If you missed the sizzle reel during the successful virtual fundraiser, watch it here.

Stay tuned for the first episode in February!

Erikson in the News

Juliet Bromer, Ph.D., was quoted in News Nation USA discussing Michigan’s in-home daycares that can’t offer state-funded preschools leaving families with fewer options. Dr. Bromer continues her research on home-based care explicitly included in Biden’s administration’s proposed universal childcare system.

Rebeca Itzkowich, Senior Instructor and Social Content Director of the Early Math Collaborative, spoke with Reporter Lori Olinsky of Chicago Parent about creating racial justice in early mathematics. The Early Math Collaborative recently put out a call to action to the community to address long-standing racial injustices in the field of early mathematics.

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About Erikson

Graduate Education

Recognized for our groundbreaking work in the field of early childhood, Erikson specializes in preparing child development, education, and social work leaders to improve the lives of young children, families, and their communities. For more information on our degree and certificate programs, visit our website or email our admissions team.

Clinical and Community Services

As we adapt to these unexpected and challenging times due to COVID-19, Erikson’s Center for Children and Families is offering virtual mental health services to parents, caregivers, and children, as well as crisis counseling and consultation to support first responders and early childcare providers and teachers. Services can be provided in both English and Spanish, and are available to families regardless of their ability to pay.

We have also re-opened our River North clinic for services that require in-person assessments, including Early Intervention Medical and Neurodevelopmental Diagnostic Evaluations.

Policy and Leadership

Erikson’s Policy and Leadership department engages leaders in government, business, and nonprofit sectors to inform effective policies that benefit children and families. They offer unique programming that equips decision-makers and influencers with the resources, skills, and deep knowledge about early childhood development that will support their efforts to make lasting change. Learn more about our Policy and Leadership.

Give to Erikson

The first 1,100 days of life set the stage for a child’s long-term physical and emotional health, socioeconomic trajectory, life expectancy, happiness, and well-being. Can we count on you to make a gift to strengthen our ability to serve children and families, as well as our students, faculty, and staff, during this time? Your support for Erikson prepares the heroes in young children’s lives—teachers, social workers, civic leaders, parents and caregivers—to get them safely through this crisis so they can soar into promising futures. Please donate here.

More ways to connect

Learn more about Erikson’s Early Math Collaborative and TEC Center.

Join the Erikson family with monthly news + events updates shared by academics, community members, and families.

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