a monthly comm(unity) newsletter
November 2023 — Welcome to the November edition of the Inside Erikson newsletter!
November is a month filled with reflection and gratitude. At Erikson, as we are deeply grateful for and still celebrating the success of our Annual Luncheon fundraiser that took place on Friday, October 27. This year’s luncheon featured a remarkable keynote address by voting rights activist and children’s book author, Stacey Abrams. Stacey was awarded Erikson’s 2023 Equity Award alongside Erikson alum and President and CEO of the Carole Robertson Center for Learning, Bela Moté, who received the 2023 Advocacy Award. The theme of the event was “resilience” and both honorees exhibit that trait in their work that benefits children, families and communities. The luncheon was attended by over 450 people, including Valerie Jarrett and U.S Senator Dick Durbin, and raised more than $1 million to support the institute’s academic programming, clinical services, policy and research initiatives. The event also featured a special tribute to Erikson co-founder, Barbara Taylor Bowman, who turned 95 years old on October 30, and an inspirational video on resilience in early childhood education. Visit Erikson’s social media platforms to relive the highlights and visit erikson.edu/donate2023 to make your contribution today.
Erikson employees recently gathered to celebrate 25 years of partnership and support through the DCFS Early Childhood Project. During the heartfelt celebration, the DCFS team reflected on decades of major milestones, celebrated accomplishments and provided recognition to its leaders.
Research Professor, Juliet Bromer, recently co-presented “E1: Looking at Quality Through a Different Lens: Variations in the Conceptualization of Quality” and “B3: Unpacking Parent Demand and Quality Priorities for Nontraditional Hour Child Care: Fostering Economic and Cultural Equity” with other researchers at the 2023 Child Care and Early Education Research Center (CCEEPRC) meeting. She was also the moderator for “Plenary Session 3: The Early Care and Education Workforce: Research That Elevates Early Educator Strengths and Assets”. View the full list of presentations and access the videos and summaries here.
Erikson’s Policy and Leadership team is kicking off another series of Decolonizing Data and Language workshops! Join our professional development workshop on December 1 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and learn how data and language can illuminate systemic change. In this introduction to Decolonizing Data and Language, participants will explore the dangers of labels and “othering”, deficit language terms and more.
This two-hour virtual workshop, led by Penny Smith, Director of Learning and Impact, and Atena Danner, Associate Director of Learning and Facilitation, is for you if:
Erikson’s 2023 Annual Luncheon was recently mentioned in the “Taking Names” section of Politico. Read more here
We’re hiring for a variety of roles that support our mission. Please check out new opportunities here and share widely with your networks.
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.
Erikson’s Center for Children and Families offers pediatric mental health services for children birth to age 8 and their families. Services can be provided in both English and Spanish, and are available to families regardless of their ability to pay.
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
The first 1,800 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
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.
Embark on your early childhood graduate program path at Erikson Institute and start changing lives.
