Celebrating Five Years of Let’s Talk Early Learning

The idea came during the pandemic, when early childhood educators working as essential workers amid unprecedented stress and isolation needed a space of their own. At the time, the goal was to simply give early learning professionals in Oakland a place to come together safely and just share. Five years later, that monthly online community is still going strong and continues to grow.

Let's Talk Early Learning is exactly what it sounds like: a welcoming, informal peer space where Oakland's early learning professionals can breathe, connect, and grow together. Held monthly during the school year, sessions are facilitated by three dedicated early childhood educators, Ivonne Garcia, Brittany Philpart, and Annette Wright, whose leadership and experience make every conversation feel grounded and real. Between 25 and 75 early learning professionals join Let’s Talk online in the evening after spending the day in classrooms, family child care homes, and child care centers across the city and in Alameda County. Many return month after month. 

The facilitators choose topics that are top of mind for early childhood educators. Over the years, these have ranged from navigating vaccines during the pandemic, to easing families back into child care as restrictions lifted, to ensuring inclusion practices succeed in the classroom. But the real heart of Let's Talk is the moment when someone says, "Have you tried this?" or "I've had the same thing happen in my classroom," and suddenly, everyone feels a little less alone.
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Annette Wright, Pre-K Teacher for Oakland Unified School District and the longest-serving co- facilitator, said it best back in 2021 when the program launched, and her words still ring true today: "Teachers need other teachers. This is not a job that can be done alone. Collaboration and friendship are vital in keeping teachers informed and happy."

Since those early days, Let's Talk has continued to evolve. We now offer professional development hours for sessions and, in 2022, expanded to include a Spanish-speaking small group led by Ivonne Garcia. The program has also grown beyond peer support. Educators involved in Let’s Talk have contributed policy recommendations for Measure C implementation and provided input into community initiatives, most recently with the Oakland Literacy Coalition for the Oakland is a Reading Town campaign.

When educators feel supported, seen, and connected, children feel it too. Strong relationships are at the heart of early learning, and Let’s Talk Early Learning continues to nurture those relationships, one monthly session at a time.