Our Work

Upcoming Events

Explore our upcoming training opportunities on community systems development and early childhood collaboration topics. All of our provided trainings are eligible for Gateways credits and certificates issued in collaboration with The Center: Early Childhood Professional Learning.

All events are virtual unless otherwise noted. Registration will open one month prior to each event. Please visit often, as spots fill up quickly!

Webinar — Introduction to Facilitating Effective Community System Development Meetings: A Handbook for Collaboration Leaders

Watch this webinar to learn how our new handbook, Facilitating Effective Community System Development Meetings: A Handbook for Collaboration Leaders can build your facilitation competence. Learn how it is unique, who can benefit, an introduction to the contents, and additional related supports.

Collaboration Highlight: Lunch & Learn – Sauk Valley

Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 11:00am – 12pm

REGISTER NOW – Virtual

Please note, this training will be recorded.

Get inspired by the groundbreaking work happening across our state in our Community Collaboration Highlights Lunch & Learn series! This series offers opportunities to hear directly from partners who are leading the way in innovation and excellence in early childhood community systems.

In this session, you’ll hear from Sauk Valley Early Childhood Coalition as they introduce their newly launched interactive Resource Hub, O.W.L. This online platform is designed to help families and caregivers easily access local early childhood resources, programs, events, developmental screenings, and childcare information across all three counties.

This session will be facilitated by Jaclyn Vasquez.

Rural Voices, Real Data: Tools for Community-Led Data Collection and Use

Wednesday, September 24, 2025, 10:00am – 1pm

REGISTER NOW – Sterling, IL

Please note, this training will not be recorded.

This workshop is designed to address the unique challenges in dealing with data faced by early childhood collaborations in rural communities. Together, we’ll build a foundation for equity-driven decision making tailored to the needs of your community.

Participants will:

Understand the importance of disaggregating data by race, income, and other priority population data points.
Explore innovative examples and approaches for data collection in rural communities across the U.S.
Learn outreach strategies for communities with limited capacity to conduct outreach.
Provide actionable tools and strategies to support early childhood community collaborations in data collection, analysis, and utilization.

This training will be facilitated by Jaclyn Vasquez and Rebecca Halperin.

Enhancing Racial Equity in Early Childhood Collaborations and Systems

Part 1: Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 10:00am – 1:30pm

Part 2: Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 10:00am – 1:30pm

REGISTER NOW – Virtual

Please note, this training will not be recorded.

This training is designed to help participants understand and embody equity within the context of Early Childhood Collaborations (ECC) and Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). It aims to empower participants with an understanding of racial equity, providing them with the best practices to integrate these principles into their professional activities and daily lives. Attendees will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to foster and sustain equitable environments in early childhood systems.

Part 1: Foundational Knowledge

Part 2: Application of Knowledge

This training will be facilitated by Artishia Hunter and Dra. Alexandra Escobar.

From Partnership to Leadership: Family Leadershp Development Peer Learning & Panel

Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 10:00am – 12:00pm

REGISTER NOW – Virtual

Please note, this training will not be recorded.

Join us and other Illinois early childhood collaborations to reflect on and learn about each other’s family leadership development practices. Our time together will consist of small breakout conversations, full group discussions and a panel on family leadership development featuring collaboration members, including families in leadership positions.

Training participants will:

Explore and understand the concept of leadership development
Hear about other collaboration’s experience with family leadership development
Learn about two existing Illinois community collaboration leadership development efforts.

This training will be facilitated by Janet Vargas.

Collaboration Highlight: LuncH & Learn – IRIS

Thursday, December 11, 2025, 11:00am – 12:00pm

REGISTER NOW – Virtual

Please note, this training will be recorded.

In this session, you’ll hear from Kane, Will, and Sangamon counties as they share their experiences with the Integrated Referral and Intake System (IRIS), a community referral platform designed to streamline connections and better support families. IRIS keeps efficiency in mind while centering the needs of families, making it easier for communities to access and coordinate local early childhood resources and services.

This session will be facilitated by Jaclyn Vasquez.