Highlights from Educare Chicago’s 25th Anniversary Symposium

Creating a Culture of Learning & Growth for All

Educare Chicago has long recognized that high-quality early learning requires more than strong classrooms. It requires a culture where every role, from teachers and family engagement staff to school leaders, parents and community partners, is engaged in continuous growth.  

This panel explored how the Educare model sustains a culture of ongoing learning and improvement and drives outcomes, pointing to Educare’s deep commitment to embedded opportunities for professional development, collaboration, data-use and research-practice partnerships.

Celebrating Identity as a Path to Excellence

At Educare Chicago, we believe that true excellence in early childhood emerges when children, families and staff are not only included, but fully seen, valued and celebrated for who they are.

This panel focused on how purposeful programming and teaching practices can transform early learning centers into environments where culture is a living source of strength, pride and belonging. Panelists discussed how family engagement, professional development and data are used to understand the backgrounds of families and staff and how programs can ensure their curriculum reflects those findings.

Meeting the Evolving Needs of Communities

When Educare Chicago opened its doors 25 years ago, the challenges facing young children and families looked different than they do today. At the time, infant and toddler mental health was rarely named as a critical need, disability diagnoses were less common, and families had far fewer options for developmental and specialized supports. 

This panel highlighted how practitioners, educators and parents work together to adapt services so that mental health, disability and developmental supports are not “add-ons,” but embedded into everyday practice.

Special Remarks:

Educare Chicago’s story began long before this building opened its doors in 2000. Portia Kennel, co-visionary of Educare Chicago, shared how the journey to create a permanent and safe space for families came to be and ultimately how it became a reality for families in Chicago’s most under-served communities.