“Don’t be afraid. Be focused. Be determined. Be hopeful. Be empowered.”
– Michelle Obama
CS3 Updates
New Online Course – Leading Without Authority 101
We’re excited to announce our latest eLearning course: Leading Without Authority 101. This course will enable you to lead more effectively in environments where progress depends on relationships, trust, shared ownership, and collective action rather than positional power. You will explore how collaborative change happens when multiple partners share responsibility for advancing a common vision and achieving community goals. The course examines approaches for creating alignment, fostering collaboration, and navigating the opportunities and challenges that arise when leadership and influence are exercised through relationships rather than authority.
Access this course by logging into or signing up for an account on our WeConnect platform.
Upcoming Trainings
Community Systems Development (CSD) 101
Thursday, August 20 | 10 – 11:45 a.m.
This training will provide a foundational understanding of community systems development work for new early childhood collaboration members and support existing collaborations to strengthen their core concepts.
Objectives:
- Understand the importance of racial equity in early childhood systems
- Learn about community systems development
- Understand the role of early childhood community collaborations.
This training will be facilitated by Artishia Hunter.
This training is eligible for Gateways credits and certificates issued in collaboration with The Center: Early Childhood Professional Learning.
Please note, this training will not be recorded.
Other Events & Updates
Federal Updates: Child Care Legislation
On June 9, the U.S. House of Representatives introduced the bipartisan Child Care Modernization Act. This is an identical bill to a bipartisan Senate bill introduced in 2025. The bill aims to reauthorize and update the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) to help working families access quality child care.
The Child Care Modernization Act would create child care supply and facilities grants to help providers expand and improve care options, including funding for the renovation, repair, and construction of child care facilities. Additionally, this bill would help move programs towards a more accurate reimbursement rate cost model. It would also help states better align payments with the true cost of providing quality care. For more information, read here.
Ask Congress to support the Child Care Modernization Act
weconnect
WeConnect is designed to bring together members who are dedicated to advancing community systems development in the early childhood education and care world.
WeConnect gives you access to:
- Online Communities: Connect with your collaboration, get early childhood and community systems development news, and meet other collaborations members online.
- Discussions: Ask questions and share your knowledge and ideas.
- Resource Libraries: Share and find the resources you need.
- Member Directory: Get in touch with other collaboration members.
Check your spam folder if you have not received a confirmation email.
Resources
Access Printing Support
The CS3 team is continuing to offer support in partnership with American Color Labs for printing services. If your local early childhood collaboration has marketing materials that you’d like to print, please complete this request for support form.
Printing support can include flyers, annual reports, marketing collateral, stickers, banners, posters, and more. Please reach out to the CS3 team if you have questions about this support.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a service provided specifically to early childhood collaborations. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate requests for individual programs.