In a COVID-19 age, TFEC’s Early Education Initiative Still Works to Convene Early Learning Educators

HARRISBURG, PA, (Jan. 15, 2021) – The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) will still hold it’s annual Early Learning Conference for early education providers from Monday, March 15, 2021 through Friday, March 19, 2021. This year’s conference follows the cancellation of this same event in 2020, during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

 The mission of the TFEC Early Education Initiative is to cultivate, convene, and strengthen community opportunities for growth, safety, and wellness for all children. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic TFEC’s Early Education Initiative released their Early Education Resource Center that provided parents and educators insights to help them navigate the transition to learning from home, mental-health, and a trauma-informed community. 

 The 2021 Early Learning Conference keynote speaker is David Jacobson from the Education Development Center (EDC). A nationally recognized expert and innovator in education reform, he brings deep experience in early childhood education, school improvement, applied research, strategic planning, collective impact, placed-based initiatives, and addressing inequality. He designed and leads EDC’s First 10 initiative, which supports school-early childhood- community partnerships to improve outcomes for children ages birth through 10 and their families.  

 “We are ecstatic so glad that we were able to hold this event in 2021, even if it had to take place virtually,” says Janice Black, president & CEO of TFEC. “The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the face of education and we hope to create a space where providers can convene and learn how to navigate this pandemic together.” 

 The virtual Early Learning Conference will “release” two new presentations each day. These presentations will be available online for viewing over the weekend (March 20-21, 2021), especially for family childcare home providers that may not have a chance during the week to view these presentations due to being the sole teacher. 

 Act 48 hours will also be offered for all provides in need of continuing education credits.  

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ABOUT THE FOUNDATION FOR ENHANCING COMMUNITIES 

The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) is a community foundation which aims to stimulate philanthropy and enhance the quality of life in the community through accumulating, managing, and disbursing financial assets while serving as a catalyst and neutral convener to meet a wide range of community needs in the south central Pennsylvania counties of Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, and Perry, and also in the Dillsburg area. Regional foundations of TFEC include the Greater Harrisburg Foundation, the Franklin County Community Foundation, the Mechanicsburg Area Community Foundation, the Perry County Community Foundation, and the Dillsburg Area Foundation. For more information on TFEC, please visit www.tfec.org.

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