Upcoming Events
Breaking the Taboo: A Conversation on Workplaces and Family
Monday, May 6, 2024 | 5:30 - 7 pm
Brickell Area (RSVP for address and parking information)
Join us for an interactive leadership conversation on maximizing the current and future workforce in our city.
We invite leaders from businesses big and small, no matter where your organization currently stands on family-friendly practices. We hope this conversation will spark new ideas about the challenge of talent recruitment and retention, especially as more employees are asking for benefits that will allow them to contribute fully in the workplace and fulfill their family needs.
The Future Call
Tuesday, May 14, 2024 | 12 - 12:45 pm
Zoom
The Future Call
Conversations on Florida’s Early Learning Future
This is a community call for Floridians interested in supporting our youngest learners and the adults who help them thrive. It’s an opportunity to share successes and best practices aligned to the recommendations in Florida’s Early Learning Roadmap, and to collaborate for continued progress.
Past Events
Paving the Road to Early Learning Success - St. Lucie County
Friday, May 19, 2023 | 1:30 - 3 pm
Early Learning Coalition of St. Lucie County 5000 Dunn Road 3rd Floor Ft. Pierce, FL 34981
The Future Project is all about imagining a new early-learning future in Florida. Grounded in parent and educator voices, we are creating an actionable roadmap for the future of early learning policy and funding in our state.
This work has been designed with three initial phases. First, we held our listening tour throughout the state, talking to parents and educators about their dreams, challenges, and experiences with early learning here in Florida.
2023 Legislative Session Recap
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 | 12 - 12:30 pm
Learn about bills that passed this legislative session, important budget decisions, and bills that didn't make it through as our president, Madeleine Thakur, speaks with Michele Watson, CEO of the Florida Alliance of Children's Councils & Trusts.
We come together as a community to celebrate progress made before we refocus on what's next for 2024 and beyond.
Paving the Road to Early Learning Success: A Community Feedback Session for The Future Project
Thursday, May 4, 2023 | 12 - 1:30 pm
Zoom
Listening Tour Findings & Next Steps
Friday, March 17, 2023 | 12 - 1 pm
Zoom
It has been an exciting ten months since the launch of The Future Project.
Phase one of the project was our listening tour: We connected with 203 parents, 153 educators, and traveled to 22 different Florida counties, hosting 40 conversations about hopes and dreams for our children and our early learning system.
3rd Annual Built to Thrive Summit (2022)
Thursday, October 27, 2022 | 10 am - 12 pm
Zoom (con traducción simultánea en español)
For the third year in a row, our agenda included national experts and local change makers, bridging the worlds of politics, business, and early childhood. We brought together nearly 600 participants in a live, virtual event with a very active chat! To view a list of resources and links shared in the live chat, click here.
Celebrating 10 Years of ReadingPals
Thursday, June 23, 2022 | All day
Over the last decade, ReadingPals has provided volunteer mentors for more than 25,000 children in Florida and donated nearly half a million books for them to take home. Our focus has been consistent: to support and encourage an early love of reading and build community relationships. As we closed out our 10th year and prepare to launch again in the fall, we convened a virtual conference to celebrate the importance of early childhood development and the impact of ReadingPals.
Teachers, Not Babysitters. A Conversation with Jenny Gallego
Tuesday, May 3, 2022 | All day
We spoke with Jenny Gallego, a preschool teacher at Kinderoo Children’s Academy in Ocala, Florida, and FLAEYC’s inaugural Early Childhood Educator of the Year. She shares the joys and challenges of her experiences in the early learning space.
Legislative Session 2022 Recap
Friday, March 18, 2022 | All day
Learn about bills that passed this legislative session, important budget decisions and bills that didn't make it through as our president, Madeleine Thakur, speaks with Michele Watson, CEO of the Florida Children's Council.
We come together as a community to celebrate progress made before we refocus on what's next for 2023 and beyond.
Bosses for Babies Live: Maximize Your Impact with Kyle Baltuch
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 | All day
Kyle Baltuch serves as the senior vice president of Economic Opportunity and Early Learning for the Florida Chamber Foundation. He spoke with Movement president Madeleine Thakur about where and how business leaders can make the biggest impact with donations of time or treasure.
Bosses for Babies Live with Matthew Love!
Wednesday, December 8, 2021 | All day
Matthew Love, President and CEO of Nicklaus Children's Health System, joined us for a conversation about how the hospital's family-friendly policies have evolved to better support employees and how their ENRICH Literacy Program has grown to support new parents inside and outside the hospital.
Give Miami Day
Thursday, November 18, 2021 | All day
Zoom
Hosted by The Miami Foundation, Give Miami Day is the county's largest philanthropic event of the year. Last year, more than $11.5 million was raised for 750 local nonprofits. Supporters and friends of the Movement may donate online from 12:00 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, November 21. On this day, your donation will be partially matched by local funders and sponsors.
Built to Thrive 2021
Friday, October 8, 2021 | All day
Zoom
For the second year in a row, our agenda included national experts and local change makers, bridging the worlds of politics, business, and early childhood. We brought together more than 700 participants in a live, virtual event
Bosses for Babies Live: How Your Small Business Can Make a Big Impact For Children
Tuesday, March 30, 2021 | All day
John Birney is the founder/owner of JB Financial, a financial consulting firm in Flagler Beach. Throughout his time as a business owner, he led the way for literacy in his community. His story is about leadership and the impact that a galvanized chamber of commerce can bring. Learn about how thousands of children have been served by literacy programs and how he brought those programs to life.
Bosses for Babies Live: What Florida Businesses Can Do To Win The Talent War
Tuesday, February 16, 2021 | All day
The Children's Movement of Florida and Sachs Media partnered to bring Floridians a clear picture of the challenges and experiences parents have encountered relating to child care and employment before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings point to family-friendly policies as an easy way to attract and retain the best and brightest talent and diversify your workforce.
Bosses for Babies Live: Family Friendly Pinellas Award Winner: Directions for Living
Tuesday, January 26, 2021 | All day
President Madeleine Thakur spoke with April Lott, CEO of Directions for Living and Dr. Bilan Joseph, Director with Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County' collective impact Thrive By Five Pinellas, about what it takes to be a standout family-friendly business.
Learn how they are committed to keeping their community competitive and vibrant, while supporting the local economy and wellbeing of families with their focused policies and workplace culture.
Built to Thrive 2020
Tuesday, December 8, 2020 | All day
Ten years after The Children’s Movement of Florida began with a “Milk Party” tour engaging more than 15,000 Floridians all across the state, we decided to convene parents, teachers, business leaders, politicians, and state leaders to again focus on children’s well-being: We launched our Built to Thrive summit with more than 700 participants in a live, virtual event.
Bosses for Babies Live: Meeting Employees' Child Care Needs - A Worthwhile Investment
Thursday, October 22, 2020 | All day
PGT Innovations, headquartered in Venice, FL, designs and manufactures technically advanced and impact-resistant windows and doors. They have long invested in early childhood programs in the community and, in recent years, added a health clinic and on-site child care on their company's main campus. We hear from Debbie LaPinska, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, on the return these investments have brought to the organization.
Bosses for Babies Live: What Can Businesses Do For Child Care -- The COVID-19 Context and Beyond
Wednesday, August 26, 2020 | All day
This conversation features the Association of Early Learning Coalitions Executive Director, Erin Smeltzer, and Gordon Gillete, CEO, Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County (former President & CEO, Tampa Electric, and President of Florida Operations, TECO Energy). We discuss how business leaders can partner with Florida’s Early Learning Coalitions to meet the early learning needs of their individual communities.
Bosses for Babies Live: Mark Wilson and Vance Aloupis
Thursday, July 23, 2020 | All day
Enjoy this conversation with Florida Chamber President and CEO Mark Wilson and our CEO Vance Aloupis to learn more about why business leaders should invest in early childhood.