Oakland Starting Smart and Strong
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***This page currently under construction.***
Logo of the Early Learning Symposium shows two purple hands holding a purple oak tree
​
​The Early Learning Symposium was born out of a collaborative effort that included Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), Oakland Literacy Coalition, Oakland Starting Smart and Strong, BANANAS, City of Oakland Head Start/Early Head Start, Alameda County Office of Education, First 5 Alameda County, YMCA of the East Bay, St. Vincent's Day Home, and the New Teacher Center.  The inaugural event in 2019 resulted in 350 participants attending. The diversity of participants included teachers, instructional assistants and directors from Head Start and state funded programs, family child care providers, and informal care providers. 

Oakland Starting Smart and Strong, Tandem Partners in Early Learning, and BANANAS, Inc. continue to partner to organize this event.

2022-23 Oakland Early Learning Symposium​
Renew & Restore!

 Part II: Building Community with LGBTQ+ Families
The agenda, resources, and recordings can be found on our past events page here.

This workshop featured the following topics: 
  • Understanding LGBTQ+ identities 
  • How to use inclusive language
  • Grounding principles for conversations about gender, love, and families in age-appropriate ways​

Participants also had the opportunity to attend an additional in-person event with free giveaways outside at BANANAS! The Saturday Symposium Social: Books, Bags, and Breakfast featured Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer, Granddad's Camper by Harry Woodgate, and Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love. 
Flyer for the second 2022-23 symposium shows a rainbow made of paintings of children's hands

Part I: Partnering with Families of Children with Special Needs
The agenda, resources, and recordings can be found on our past events page here.

​This workshop featured: 
  • Partner updates about programs and services focused on families of children with special needs. 
  • Tips on how to communicate and build positive relationships with families. 
  • Sharing and learning from each other in small groups.

Language interpretation was provided as well as professional development credits for attendees.

Participants also had the opportunity to attend an additional in-person event with free giveaways outside at BANANAS! The Saturday Symposium Social: Books, Bags, and Breakfast featured the four children's books pictured below (The Boy with Big, Big Feelings by Britney Winn Lee; Encuentra tu Calma by Gabi Garcia; Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry; and My Friends/Mis Amigos by Taro Gomi), an insulated lunch bag, and a tote to carry it all in. Thank you to everyone who made it a success! 
Featured books include: The Boy with Big, Big Feelings by Britney Winn Lee, Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, Encuentra Tu Calma: Un Enfoque Consciente Para Aliviar La Ansiedad Y Crecer Tu Valentía  by Gabi Garcia, and My Friends/Mis Amigos by Taro Gomi.

Participating partners: BANANAS, Tandem Partners in Early Learning, Oakland Unified School District, Oakland Starting Smart & Strong, Oakland Literacy Coalition, City of Oakland Head Start/Early Head Start, First 5 Alameda, YMCA East Bay, Unity Council, Alameda County Early Care and Education Program, 4Cs of Alameda County, and Family Resource Navigators. 

This free event is supported by:
Picture
Picture
Many of the photos on this site appear courtesy of Hasain Rasheed Photography
  • About
    • Our Purpose
    • Our Team >
      • Staff & Consultants
      • Supporters
      • Lead Planning Team
      • Task Force
      • Featured Leaders
    • Contact Us
  • Our Work
    • Racial Justice >
      • Promising Practices Portfolio
      • ROCK
    • Community Leadership >
      • Early Learning Symposium
    • Systems Change >
      • Developmental Screening
      • Results & Impact
    • Data, Policy & Advocacy >
      • Policy & Advocacy
      • Family Child Care Policy Program
      • Early Development Instrument
    • Collective Impact >
      • Strategic Plan
      • Year in Review
  • RESOURCES
    • Reports
    • Tools (coming soon)
  • EVENTS
  • News
    • Newsletter
  • Get Involved