Oakland Early Learning Symposium
The Early Learning Symposium was born out of a collaborative effort that included Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), Oakland Literacy Coalition, City of Oakland Head Start/Early Head Start, Oakland Starting Smart and Strong, BANANAS, 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 was attended by 350 early childhood educators. The diversity of participants included teachers, instructional assistants and directors from Head Start, state funded and private programs, family child care providers, and informal care providers.
Oakland Starting Smart and Strong has continued to organize this event in partnership with Tandem Partners in Early Learning, BANANAS, Inc and other organizations. Find more information on past Symposiums on our Events page.
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2023-24 Oakland Early Learning Symposium
Part II: Healing-Centered and Trauma-Responsive Early Learning Environments
Part II of the 2023-24 Oakland Early Learning Symposium will focus on ways child care providers and preschool teachers can increase resilience and healing and promote the healthy social-emotional development of children in trauma-sensitive and trauma-responsive environments. Participants will be introduced to the Resilient Oakland Communities and Kids (ROCK) Toolkit. It was crafted and honed to center early learning professionals so that they can offer a healing early learning environment when they are attuned to their own well-being. This symposium session will include:
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All participants are invited to attend an additional in-person event that will include wellness and self-care activities, free books, and other fun giveaways on Saturday, May 4, 2024, from 10 - noon at BANANAS, Inc.
Language interpretation is available for the online event.
Professional development credits are available for BOTH events.
Due to limited capacity, Oakland providers will be prioritized in the registration.
Language interpretation is available for the online event.
Professional development credits are available for BOTH events.
Due to limited capacity, Oakland providers will be prioritized in the registration.
Oakland Starting Smart and Strong, Tandem Partners in Early Learning, and BANANAS, Inc. partner to organize this event. This free event is supported by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and Kenneth Rainin Foundation.
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Part I: Child Development in the New Now
This workshop featured an address by Takiema Bunche Smith (Founder & CEO of Anahsa, LLC), which included the "What is your 'why'?" activity prompting attendees to reflect on what drew them to the early childhood field; information on separation anxiety from Tarsha Jordan (Family Child Care Provider); and toilet training tips from Vivien Levias and Maria Victoria Zuniga (City of Oakland, Head Start). It was moderated by Vincent Cheng (First 5 Alameda County) and Maria Sujo (Oakland Unified School District).
Resources shared included:
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Let’s Talk Early Learning
“Let’s Talk Early Learning” is an informal peer space, facilitated and led by four dedicated OUSD early childhood educators, Ivonne Garcia, Nini Humphrey, and Annette Wright. Let’s Talk sessions, which occur monthly during the school year, provide Oakland early learning professionals with a space to support and share with each other in a spirit of community.
“Let’s Talk Early Learning” is an informal peer space, facilitated and led by four dedicated OUSD early childhood educators, Ivonne Garcia, Nini Humphrey, and Annette Wright. Let’s Talk sessions, which occur monthly during the school year, provide Oakland early learning professionals with a space to support and share with each other in a spirit of community.
Spring 2024 Let's Talk Early Learning Series
Join us for Let's Talk Early Learning, once a month on Mondays from 6 - 7:30pm via Zoom. We'll be focusing on the inclusion of children with special needs in child care and early care and education classrooms. Breakout rooms offered in English and Spanish. We will be joined by special guests from the field of inclusion who will provide tips and resources.
Professional development credits available for those who attend the full 1.5 hours. |
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:
This free event is supported by: