RISE and THRIVE: A New Dawn in Early Learning

The 3rd Annual RISE & Thrive Summit marks a new dawn for early learning in Franklin County—a full day of learning, connection, and celebration as we move from identifying what our children and families need to designing the systems that deliver it. This summit brings together providers, educators, families, and community partners around a shared belief: that every child in Franklin County deserves a high-quality early learning experience. Through interactive sessions, a community resource fair, and collaborative discussions, we'll explore how to build classrooms where every child is seen and celebrated, strengthen the workforce that makes early learning possible, and connect families to the full network of support surrounding them. When we invest in joy, equity, and the people doing this work, we create the foundation for every child to enter kindergarten with confidence, curiosity, and the support they need to succeed.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul

Join award-winning author, educator, and New York Times best-selling writer Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul for a keynote on reading instruction rooted in cultural, community, and collective practices. Founder of Red Clay Educators and co-director of the Institute for Racial Equity in Literacy, Dr. Cherry-Paul brings more than twenty years of classroom experience and a nationally recognized framework for teaching beyond representation toward liberation. Learn how to build early literacy practices that honor children's identities, families, and communities — and walk away with strategies you can use in your setting the very next day.

After you register/closer to the date, you will receive a link to choose your preferred breakout sessions. Topics will fall within the following tracks:

• Track A: Inclusive Teaching & Learning Environments — Build classrooms where every child is seen and set up to thrive through play-based learning, engaging boys in early literacy and STEM, and inclusive strategies across the 0–5 classroom
• Track B: Workforce Development & Sustainability — Invest in the people who make early learning possible through educator wellness and renewal, navigating Ohio's quality rating system as a roadmap for your program, and financial literacy and economic stability for early childhood professionals
• Track C: Family & Community Partnerships in Action — Connect the early learning village through welcoming multilingual children and families into the full life of your program, plus an extended afternoon Community Resource Fair featuring 12–15 community partners across a variety of sectors

Summit Objectives

1. Build Classrooms Where Every Child Is Seen

Celebrate the rich diversity of Franklin County's children by equipping educators with culturally affirming, play-based, and inclusive practices that honor every child's identity, language, and way of learning — from the earliest months through the transition to kindergarten.

2. Invest in the Educators Who Make This Work Possible

Joyful children need supported educators. We'll focus on the structural conditions that allow early childhood professionals to stay and thrive in this field because a sustainable workforce is the foundation of a sustainable system.

3. Connect Families to the Full Village Around Them

Children do not arrive at our programs alone — they arrive with families, languages, histories, and needs that extend well beyond the classroom door. We'll strengthen the referral relationships and community connections that make early learning programs true anchors in their neighborhoods.

Note: This summit will be offered free of charge to all participants.

Walk away with practical, immediately implementable strategies rooted in equity, joy, and possibility. Together, we'll transform early childhood education in Franklin County — one child, one family, one educator at a time.

We're creating brighter futures for all of Franklin County's children and families. A new dawn starts here!

Event venue & nearby stays

Creekside Conference & Event Center, 101 Mill Street, Gahanna, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

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