Strategies for Early Childhood Program Growth: Advocacy Beyond Your Four Walls

Presented by Dawn Alexander, Executive Director, Early Childhood Education Association of Colorado; Maria-Isabel Ballivian, Executive Director, ACCA Child Development Center (VA); and Meghan Cornwell, Head of US Marketing, Famly

Sponsored by Famly

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Policy decisions being made right now in your state will affect how many families may be able to enroll in your program next year. Subsidy rollbacks, universal PreK expansion, and licensing changes all have a direct impact on your bottom line.

Some directors aren’t just watching these changes happen. They’re showing up at local, state, and federal offices, and shaping the systems their programs operate within. The ripple effects go beyond policy wins: stronger community trust, deeper family loyalty, and a program reputation that no marketing campaign can manufacture.

In this conversation-style edWebinar, you’ll hear directly from two directors who embraced advocacy as a means to support their families and businesses. They’ll get specific about what they pushed for and what changed as a result.

Join us to explore:

• Real stories and what happened when directors showed up and spoke out
• How advocacy builds the kind of community trust and visibility that helps programs in the long term
• How to get your families and staff fired up about issues that affect your program
• Where to start, even if you’ve never contacted a lawmaker in your life

Whether you show up at the Capitol every year or you’ve never thought of yourself as an advocate, this session will leave you inspired, informed, and equipped to lead beyond your four walls. This edWebinar will be of interest to PreK teachers, school leaders, and education technology leaders.

About the Presenters

Dawn Alexander is the Executive Director of the Early Childhood Education Association of Colorado (ECEA). ECEA advocates on a systems level with the Office of Early Childhood, the Governor’s office, and the state legislature, as well as other systems advocates statewide. As the Executive Director, Dawn attends meetings with members and policymakers and shares information to Colorado providers each week. Dawn has a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado at Denver. Her undergraduate degree is in sociology and human services.

Maria-Isabel Ballivian is the Executive Director of the ACCA Child Development Center, a NAEYC-accredited program that provides high-quality early education to more than 290 at-risk and underserved young children in Annandale, Virginia. With more than 25 years of experience across various national and international nonprofits, she has held key roles including educator, administrator, trainer, advocate, and consultant. As an innovative leader and seasoned manager, she has significantly enhanced the quality of care and education for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, and actively supported strategies that encourage greater family engagement and continuous professional development of early learning teachers, especially in integrating the use of technology. She has also testified and advocated to strengthen and improve the early childhood education ecosystem at the federal, state, and local levels. Maria-Isabel holds a Master of Science in Early Childhood Services from Arkansas State University.

Meghan Cornwell is the Head of U.S. Marketing at Famly, an all-in-one childcare management software. With over a decade of specialized experience, Meghan has dedicated her career to promoting the value of early learning through resonant marketing strategies. Her background includes roles in educational nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and B-corporations, and as a consultant. You can often find Meghan hosting webinars, as a guest and producer of ECE podcasts, and attending advocacy events throughout Virginia and D.C. to increase quality and accessibility of high-quality, equitable childcare. Meghan holds a Bachelor of Arts from Virginia Wesleyan University, where she studied Theatre and Communications. She currently lives in Richmond, VA.

Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features.

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