More than 400 community leaders—including those in education, economic development, child care, business, government, health care, higher education, and philanthropy—met Sept. 16 in Kearney to focus on high-quality early childhood education and its connection to economic development and community vitality.
The keynote speaker this year was Dr. Helen Raikes, Willa Cather Professor of Child, Youth and Family Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She talked about what it takes for caregivers, educators, and communities to help children really thrive and reach their potential.
Panel discussions and workshops featured community leaders from across the state who shared how they built high-quality early childhood programs and discussed why quality early childhood care and education is an economic development tool that can attract and retain a quality workforce and grow our state's economy.