Natural Start Staff

The Natural Start Alliance is proud to participate in the 2024 National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Annual Conference next week in Anaheim, California. Natural Start Director Christy Merrick will join leaders of other national organizations in a panel moderated by NAEYC CEO, Michelle Kang exploring “Climate Change and Early Childhood Education: A National Perspective.” This session will take place on Friday, November 8 from 3:00-4:00 PT.

This session is one of three conference sessions that center the impacts of climate change on early childhood education. See below to learn more about all three climate talks at the NAEYC conference.

Holding Space for Conversations About Climate Justice

Date: Friday, November 8, 10:00-11:30 AM PT

Description: While the conversations about climate change and early childhood are fairly new, some groups have been actively engaged in these conversations. This session will share two examples of how organizations are providing the space for deep, meaningful conversations and work around climate justice.

Presenters:

• Jamie Cho, President WAEYC
• Binta Dixon, Exchange Press
• Ninderjit Gill, Executive Director WAEYC
• Kirsten Haugen, World Forum Foundation
• Alissa Mwenelupembe, NAEYC moderator

The Playground is too Hot: Fostering Climate Resilience in Early Learning Settings

Date: Friday, November 8, 1:00-2:30 PM PT

Description: Early learning professionals are facing the impacts of climate change head on. In this session you will hear from program leaders who will describe how their early learning programs are addressing climate related issues and moving their work with young children towards climate resilience.

Presenters:

• Alexandra Dutton, Program Director, Old Firehouse School, Lafayette, CA
• Rixa Evershed, Beginning School and Auxillary Programs Director, Charles Wright Academy, Tacoma, Washington
• Charlene Nolan, Assistant Professor Elementary Education - Early Childhood Education Program, Western Washington University, Poulsbo, WA, moderator
• Rukia Rogers, Owner/Director, The Highlander School, Atlanta, GA

Climate Change and Early Childhood Education: A National Perspective

Date: Friday, November 8, 3:00-4:00 PM PT

Description: What are national organizations doing to support children and early educators as they navigate climate change? Join NAEYC CEO Michelle Kang along with leaders of other national organizations to learn about how they are engaging in work around climate change as individual organizations and as a group

Presenters:

• Christy Merrick, Director Natural Start Alliance
• Angie Garling, Low Income Investment Fund
• Nse Witherspoon, Children's Environmental Health Network
• Michelle Kang, NAEYC moderator

 

It’s not too late to register to attend the conference!

Register Here.