Leadership Initiative Events

As a member of the Western New York Leadership Initiative, you are invited to join our networking meetings! Meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. This is a space to share stories, strategies, feelings, ideas, resources, and words of encouragement about leading an early childhood program in Western NY.

The Early Childhood Leadership Initiative is excited to introduce a new professional learning opportunity — the Leaders Cafe! We’ll engage with videos, podcasts, TED Talks and other multimedia to explore a range of topics relevant to the early childhood community. We’ll provide you with resources and materials for discussion!

Join us for  the WNY Leadership Initiative's Leaders Cafe. This Leaders Cafe will be a time to reflect and discuss a Podcast  with Chanie Wilschanski as she interviews Simon Sinek.  In the podcast, Simon Sinek speaks with Chanie Wilschanski from “Schools of Excellence” about what it means to be a leader. Other topics include becoming a student of leadership, creating an environment for staff to flourish, and discovering your “why.”  

This is a virtual event.

The Western New York and Finger Lakes Leadership Initiative invite you to a panel discussion with early childhood advocacy organizations. Join us to learn how these organizations support young children, families, and the early childhood field and how you can get involved.

The Leadership Initiative welcomes Susan MacDonald as our speaker.

A culture of appreciation happens when everyone feels valued, respected, and seen for their unique strengths. This presentation will inspire you to incorporate easy-to-implement strategies for building positive relationships and bringing a renewed sense of joy to your school community!

This engaging session will explore positive communication techniques, the Appreciative Inquiry model, impactful frameworks, reflective exercises, and a team assessment form.

You will leave with a clear path to creating resilient relationships and a positive, supportive, respectful environment for children and adults. Participants will also receive a reflection guide with actionable tips, strategies, and resources to help you create a culture of appreciation!

This is a virtual event, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Join us for the WNY Leadership Initiative Book Group to discuss the book:

Leading for Change in Early Care and Education: Cultivating Leadership from Within by Anne L. Douglass. Douglass’s book examines an important and timely, yet often overlooked, challenge facing the early care and education profession: a leadership development gap. A gap which interferes with the ability to enact meaningful, systemic change. Having worked directly with children and families in various settings for almost 20 years before entering higher education, Douglass recognizes the valuable expertise of early educators in addressing the unique challenges of early care and education. In this book she boldly calls for a re-envisioning of access to leadership in the field.

This two-session book group will meet virtually on 11/7/24 and 11/14/24. Those who register will be provided with a copy of the book. Registration will be capped at 8,  and a waitlist will be made available.

Due to a limited number of books available, please only register if you can commit to attending and participating in both dates fully.

The Early Childhood Leadership Initiative is excited to introduce a new professional learning opportunity — the Leaders Cafe! We’ll engage with videos, podcasts, TED Talks and other multimedia to explore a range of topics relevant to the early childhood community. We’ll provide you with resources and materials for discussion!

This is a virtual event.

Join the Leadership Initiative and the Advocacy Institute for a special virtual conversation about advocacy. If you ever wondered about the policies that impact you, your team, and children and families in New York State, this is a great chance to learn more.

At times that the behaviors children exhibit can be a challenge for adults.  Often the behaviors are typical and developmentally appropriate. Are these behaviors  intensified by the curriculum, materials or room set up? Do other reasons play a part? This panel of Early Childhood leaders will share about a variety of supports for adults working with young children and how the leaders of early childhood programs can bring in various resources to supplement the program and classrooms.

This is a virtual event, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

This event is for all those in Early Childhood Education who are interested in learning more about Early Head Start, and how to potentially start their own program/relationship. Prepare to hear from experienced individuals who are advocating and supporting children and families across New York State.

Come join the WNY Leadership Initiative and Child Care Resource Network's Resource Fair, as a vendor.  We are inviting various resources from around the WNY area that support the ECE field and/or individuals as a whole.  We will be inviting the Early Childhood field to come and learn about the various resources offered.  We hope that you will join this Resource Fair so that these ECE professionals can learn about your services and how it could support the work that they do.

The Resource Fair will be held at the Child Care Resource Network, 1000 Hertel Ave Buffalo, NY 14216.

Join us to learn about the services and resources available to the early childhood field in Western New York! Meet representatives from local agencies and explore the organizations that support our region.

There are so many pieces to leading a child care program that sometimes we neglect the basics we started with — like policies and procedures, vision, hiring practices, mission and documentation. Please join QUALITYstarsNY and the Western NY Leadership Initiative for this three-part learning community to reflect on those leadership practices. We will discuss policies and procedures, staff retention and documentation.  

August 14 (hybrid): Sherry Phillips will be our guest facilitator and lead a discussion on documentation for an early childhood program.

The Leadership Initiative is pleased to bring you a valuable opportunity to develop your core business practices. Join Erica Chase-Gregory​, Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center at Farmingdale, as she leads a 3-part professional learning community where you will:  

• Build a strong business foundation
• Evaluate how legal structures and tax rules impact your business
• Calculate the true cost of care for each child in your program 
• Analyze market rate and what it means for your business
• Create a record keeping and budgeting system
• Identify community resources to support next steps in making informed business decisions 

Please note this event has a limited number of seats and is exclusive for family child care and group family child care Leadership Initiative members. 

Join the Council for Professional Recognition for a virtual information session to learn more about becoming a Child Development Associate (CDA) Professional Development Specialist. 

If you enjoy mentoring, meeting new people, and observing educational environments, becoming a PD Specialist may be for you! PD Specialists use their expertise in early childhood education to assess CDA candidates' competencies and facilitate reflective conversations with candidates. PD Specialists receive an honorarium from the Council for each Verification Visit they conduct.

Join us to learn more! 

As a member of the Western New York Leadership Initiative, you are invited to join our networking meetings! Meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. This is a space to share stories, strategies, feelings, ideas, resources, and words of encouragement about leading an early childhood program in Western NY.

Members of the WNY Leadership Initiative are invited to join our networking meetings. Meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. This is a space to share stories, strategies, feelings, ideas, resources, and words of encouragement about leading an early childhood program in Western NY.

Networking in the evening is from 6 to 7 p.m.

We are proud to welcome you to a follow up event with Imani Missouri on biases in early childhood. This event is intended as an opportunity to continue our conversation from our October event and deepen connections with others in the community.

At our October event, Imani led us in deepening our understanding of what unconscious bias is (and isn’t!) with an interactive session. We spoke in breakout rooms and as a large group about our experiences and ways to both identify and interrupt biases when we notice them happening. This space may have also included moments of discomfort and stretching ourselves with new ideas.

Our follow up event is by invitation only to members who attended our October Speaker Series event. We welcome you to join us to continue our conversations from October and reflect on what has come up since then. This time together will include experiences in small groups with participants from across NYS. Since we’ll have interactions in break out rooms, we encourage you to register if you are interested and able to attend the full event with your camera/microphone. We hope to see you there!

Join us as we explore this book and challenge our unconscious bias. We enter into this space knowing we each have biases. Together, we'll join in a safe space to reflect and identify how they show up. From the authors: "How can we dismantle inequities and provide nurturing, responsive care and education to all children?" This book will lead us in conversation exploring equity, bias, and creating culturally responsive learning environments. 

Join the Western NY Leadership Initiative for our final leadership panel discussion of 2023. This discussion will focus on using a strength-based optimistic approach as a leader.

We are proud to welcome you to our next Speaker Series event featuring Imani Missouri. She brings to us an opportunity to deepen our understanding of what unconscious bias is (and isn’t!) in an interactive session. Unconscious Bias is used often in our field, and together with Imani, we’ll talk about the differences between biases and racism. We’ll pause to reflect on our experience with the content and consider ways to attend to ourselves in these moments. This space may have moments where we sit bravely with productive, but transformative, discomfort.

All are welcome in this space. This time together will include experiences in small groups to learn with participants from across NYS. We aim for each participant to leave with the framework for a personal goal to increase their awareness of biases in their life and leadership role. Since this event includes interactions in small group break out rooms, we encourage you to register if you are interested and able to attend the full event. We hope to see you there!

As early childhood leaders and educators, you’ve probably noticed the “generation gap,” or how people born in different generations may think and behave differently — and you may have even experienced generational differences among your colleagues or early childhood educators at work. We invite you to join the Early Childhood Leadership Initiative for an illuminating conversation with Dr. Megan Gerhardt, an expert in intergenerational workplaces and the author of “Gentelligence: The Revolutionary Approach to Leading an Intergenerational Workforce.” Dr. Gerhardt will discuss how to reflect on your own age-based biases, look beyond stereotypes associated with different generations and develop an understanding of why people who grew up in different times may behave in unique — and valuable! — ways. 

Come join the WNY Leadership Initiative and Child Care Resource Network's Resource Fair, as a vendor.  We are inviting various resources from around the WNY area that support the ECE field and/or individuals as a whole.  We will be inviting the Early Childhood field to come and learn about the various resources offered.  We hope that you will join this Resource Fair so that these ECE professionals can learn about your services and how it could support the work that they do.

The Resource Fair will be held at the Child Care Resource Network, 1000 Hertel Ave Buffalo, NY 14216.

Come join the Resource Fair hosted by the WNY Career Development Center, WNY Leadership Initiative and the Child Care Resource Network. We have invited various local organizations that support the ECE field and/or individuals in the WNY area. This will be a time for you to visit various WNY Resource in one place and learn about their services.

This event is being held at the Child Care Resource Network. 1000 Hertel Ave Buffalo NY 14216

QUAILTYstarsNY along with the WNY Leadership Initiative welcome Sherry Phillips as the guest facilitator for this Learning Community.

In this session, you will be given a DISC Assessment tool. This tool will give you a quick snapshot into your own personal behavior styles. By understanding personality styles and behavior differences you will increase your ability to communicate with clarity, deliver your message so it will be received and not rejected, and reduce the communication barriers that disengage relationships with other personality styles. Knowing the personality of the person you are working with makes your interactions conversations instead of confrontations. Learning to use this tool effectively and taking it back to your team will be a game changer!

This is an in-person event for members of QUALITYstarsNY and the WNY Leadership Initiative.

Where: Aurora Town Library  505 Main Street, East Aurora  14052

When: September 13th and October 18th

Time: 12:30pm - 2:00 pm

We are pleased to welcome our colleagues from NY Works for Children for another informative event to support leaders with the Aspire Registry workforce registry system. This event is a follow up to our July meeting. Several participants from our July meeting shared their interest in a second event with a focus on the professional development section of the Aspire Registry. Our August meeting will focus on this including information on how to create professional developments on the Aspire Registry, how to document professional development, and how to feature trainings on the Aspire Registry website. This is meeting is a statewide opportunity through the Leadership Initiative.

We offer special thanks to members who were able to participate in our July event and surveys. If you were not able to join the July meeting, you are still welcome to join our August session. Please email us if you'd like to see a copy of the recording. We hope to see you there! 

How Full Is Your Bucket? reveals how even the briefest interactions affect your relationships, productivity, health, and longevity. Organized around a simple metaphor of a dipper and a bucket, and grounded in 50 years of research, this book will show you how to greatly increase the positive moments in your work and your life -- while reducing the negative.

Filled with discoveries, powerful strategies, and engaging stories, How Full Is Your Bucket? is sure to inspire lasting changes and has all the makings of a timeless classic.

Book groups present an opportunity for members to gather to discuss leadership publications and resources and are facilitated by committed professionals, dedicated to deepening the dialogue and illuminating the key messages​

This is an in person event. We will meet at the YMCA Early Learning Center, 1050 Wayne Street, Olean, NY 14760

We are pleased to welcome our colleagues from NY Works for Children this July for an informational event to support leaders with the Aspire workforce registration system. This will be an opportunity to learn more about why this system is a valuable tool for our field and how you can use it to support your work. We've designed the content for this session after hearing from Leadership Initiative members about their needs and curiosities. We hope you can join us! 

We invite you to our next virtual WNY Leadership Initiative Book Group discussion featuring "Quiet Voice Fearless Leader: 10 Principles for Introverts to Awaken the Leader Inside" by Terrance Lee

Have you ever wondered if being an introvert is keeping you from becoming a great leader? Do you desire to grow in your career or business without compromising who you are?

At times it can feel like society labels people with introverted personalities as at least one of the following: quiet, shy, reserved, or timid. While at the same time leaders are described as dominant, talkative, and outgoing.

But what if I told you….that your introversion is your superpower.

Join our two-session book group. We will be providing those who register with a copy of the book. Upon registration we will contact you to obtain your mailing address to send you the book. Registration will be capped at 15, and a waitlist will be made available. Registration will close on Friday, June 2, 2023 to ensure enough time to receive the book and read. Due to a limited number of books available please only register if you can commit to attending and participating fully in both dates (7/11/23 and 7/18/23).

The Western NY Leadership Initiative presents our first 2023 Leadership Panel Discussion. Our panel events focus on different aspect of leadership in Early Childhood Education and feature moderated panel discussions with a diverse group of professionals.  This Leadership Panel Discussion will focus on growing and expanding your Early Childhood program.

This in-person panel discussion, “Expanding and Growing your Program: What does it Entail”, will represent diverse pathways in Early Childhood Leadership; and each will share their career pathways, along with how they decided to expand and grow their Early Childhood program. You will hear from various individuals that grew, opened and expanded their Early Childhood programs. In addition to these individuals you we will be joined by an OCFS reprehensive to share their roll in growing, expanding and opening programs.

In-person at Child Care Resource Network, 1000 Hertel Ave, Buffalo NY 14216

Come learn about the WNY Leadership Initiative.  The WNY Leadership Initiative started in September 2019, with its first event happening January 2020.  Currently the WNY Leadership Initiative offers various supports, from Networking, Leadership Panel Discussions, Speaker Series and much more.  Come join the WNY Leadership Initiative to learn what supports are offered and get answers to your questions.

event is held 1:00pm-2:00pm

Come learn about the WNY Leadership Initiative.  The WNY Leadership Initiative started in September 2019, with its first event happening January 2020.  Currently the WNY Leadership Initiative offers various supports, from Networking, Leadership Panel Discussions, Speaker Series and much more.  Come join the WNY Leadership Initiative to learn what supports are offered and get answers to your questions.

event is held 6:30pm-7:30pm

We invite you to our next virtual WNY Leadership Initiative Book Group discussion featuring "Brave Not Perfect: Fear less, Fail More, & Live Bolder" by Reshma Saujani

Imagine if you lived without the fear of not being good enough. If you didn’t care how your life looked on Instagram. If you could let go of the guilt and stop beating yourself up for making human mistakes. Imagine if, in every decision you faced, you took the bolder path?
 
As women, too many of us feel crushed under the weight of our own expectations. We run ourselves ragged trying to please everyone, pass up opportunities that scare us, and avoid rejection at all costs.

Join our two-session book group. We will be providing those who register with a copy of the book. Upon registration we will contact you to obtain your mailing address to send you the book. Registration will be capped at 15, and a waitlist will be made available. Registration will close on Friday, February 17, 2023 to ensure enough time to receive the book and read. Due to a limited number of books available please only register if you can commit to attending and participating fully in both dates (3/14/23 and 3/21/23).

The Leadership Initiative is pleased to bring you this opportunity to develop your core business practices. Join Erica Chase-Gregory, Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center at Farmingdale, as she leads a 3-part professional learning community for family and group family providers.

Come learn about the WNY Leadership Initiative.  The WNY Leadership Initiative started in September 2019, with its first event happening January 2020.  Currently the WNY Leadership Initiative offers various supports, from Networking, Leadership Panel Discussions, Speaker Series and much more.  Come join the WNY Leadership Initiative to learn what supports are offered and get answers to your questions.

Wednesday, February 22nd from 12:30pm - 1:30pm (virtual)

As a member of the WNY Leadership Initiative you are invited to join our networking meetings. Come network with your peers. Meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. Participants will send questions in advance of the meeting or come to the meetings with questions, strategies and resources to share, or an interest in listening and learning from others' experiences.  This is a space to share stories, strategies, feelings, ideas, resources, and words of encouragement about leading an early childhood program in WNY.

Networking during the day is from 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Members of the WNY Leadership Initiative are invited to join our networking meetings. Meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. Participants will send questions in advance of the meeting or come to the meetings with questions, strategies and resources to share or an interest in listening and learning from others' experiences. This is a space to share stories, strategies, feelings, ideas, resources, and words of encouragement about leading an early childhood program in WNY.

Networking in the evening is from 6 to 7 p.m.

Come learn about the WNY Leadership Initiative.  The WNY Leadership Initiative started in September 2019, with its first event happening January 2020.  Currently the WNY Leadership Initiative offers various supports, from Networking, Leadership Panel Discussions, Speaker Series and much more.  Come join the WNY Leadership Initiative to learn what supports are offered and get answers to your questions.

event is held 1:00pm-2:00pm

Come learn about the WNY Leadership Initiative.  The WNY Leadership Initiative started in September 2019, with its first event happening January 2020.  Currently the WNY Leadership Initiative offers various supports, from Networking, Leadership Panel Discussions, Speaker Series and much more.  Come join the WNY Leadership Initiative to learn what supports are offered and get answers to your questions.

event is held 6:00pm-7:00pm

This in-person panel, “Exploring Leadership Pathways: Voices from our Field," will highlight unique early childhood leadership roles for those considering opportunities outside of programs/schools. Our panelists represent  the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services, a Quality Improvement Specialist, a Technical Assistance/Quality Initiative/Child Care Supply Specialist and  Chief Executive Office of Child Care Resource Network . They will each share their career pathways, how their role has an impact on the field, and the skills, credentials, and dispositions that have helped them to be successful in their respective positions. Attendees will also receive information on how the Early Childhood Career Development Center can help you to explore and navigate your career pathways and transitions.

In-person at the CCNY

217 E. Delavan Ave

Buffalo, NY 14208

We invite you to our next virtual WNY Leadership Initiative Book Group discussion featuring "Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself" by Nedra Glover Tawwab.

Set Boundaries, Find Peace presents simple-yet-powerful ways to establish healthy boundaries in all aspects of life. Join our book discussion group with other early childhood leaders to identify strategies to use for a more productive and balanced school year with healthy communication and established expectations. 

Join our two-session book group. We will be providing those who register with a copy of the book. Upon registration we will contact you to obtain your mailing address to send you the book. Registration will be capped at 15, and a waitlist will be made available. Due to a limited number of books available please only register if you can commit to attending and participating fully in both dates (10/19/22 and 10/26/22).

As a member of the WNY Leadership Initiative you are invited to join our networking meetings. Come network with your peers. Meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. Participants will send questions in advance of the meeting or come to the meetings with questions, strategies and resources to share, or an interest in listening and learning from others' experiences.  This is a space to share stories, strategies, feelings, ideas, resources, and words of encouragement about leading an early childhood program in WNY.

As a member of the WNY Leadership Initiative you are invited to join our networking meetings. Come network with your peers. Meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. Participants will send questions in advance of the meeting or come to the meetings with questions, strategies and resources to share, or an interest in listening and learning from others' experiences.  This is a space to share stories, strategies, feelings, ideas, resources, and words of encouragement about leading an early childhood program in WNY.

This Leadership Panel Discussion welcomes a group of individuals that  work in various roles of  Early  Intervention process. This panel will share about the process of early intervention, from observation, documentation, and working together to support the development of each child. Each individual plays an important role in a young child's life. We hope you will join us on Wednesday, September 21st, from 1:00pm-2:30pm for this virtual event.

Come learn about the WNY Leadership Initiative.  The WNY Leadership Initiative started in September 2019, with its first event happening January 2020.  Currently the WNY Leadership Initiative offers various supports, from Networking, Leadership Panel Discussions, Speaker Series and much more.  Come join the WNY Leadership Initiative to learn what supports are offered and get answers to your questions.

event is held 1:00pm-2:00pm

The Child Care Resource Network and the WNY Leadership Initiative have collaborated to present the upcoming, in person, Leadership Panel Discussion “Understanding Trauma to Build Resilience Within and Supporting Others as Leaders”.  Our panelist will share information on trauma and supports to build resilience within and strategies to support others.  Our panelists with share their career pathway to their current work, along with the understanding the effects of trauma and strategies for leaders to build resilience practices within.

Location: Buffalo History Museum, One Museum Court (Corner of Elmwood Ave and Nottingham Terr), Buffalo, NY  14216

Our next book group will feature:
 "Educated"  by Tara  Westover.
Join us on July 19th and July 26th from 6:00pm-7:30pm . This interactive, virtual book group will engage leaders to reflect their personal development as a leader and establish the practice of authenticity.

Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent. When another brother got himself into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home.

The WNY Leadership Initiative invites you to the upcoming Speaker Series focusing on Recruitment, Retention and Onboarding. The last few years have brought much change in the hiring process, between Covid-19 and the Great Resignation.  As families return to the work force, they will be relying on Early Childhood Education programs.  Are you ready? Do you have the staff? Have you reviewed your hiring practices? Come reflect upon your current practice and what changes you may wish to bring. Lisa Stefanie from Triple Track HR Partners will lead us though the practices of Recruitment, Retention and Onboard with a new lens. Come join us on June 10th from 1:00pm-2:30pm for this virtual Speaker Series.

Friday, June 10th from 1:00pm-2:30pm

Come learn about the WNY Leadership Initiative.  The WNY Leadership Initiative started in September 2019, with its first event happening January 2020 with Ann McClain Terrell.  Currently the WNY Leadership Initiative offers various supports, from Networking, Leadership Panel Discussions, Speaker Series and much more.  Come join the WNY Leadership Initiative to learn what supports are offered and get answers to your questions.

event is held 1:00pm-2:00pm

Over the last few months, there has been an increased focus on investment in early childhood care.  With new federal and state investments, WNY leaders should examine their business practices. We are launching our first learning community focused on calculating the true cost of care. In these sessions, leaders will examine their program costs by age group and identify the "gap" between program expenses, cost per child, and teacher salary.  Erica Chase will lead the group to explore trends and discuss ways in which leaders can strengthen their business practices to ensure stability for their programs.  We plan to have our first meeting Thursday, May 5th.   Please note this event has a limited number of seats and is exclusive for family child care and group family child care Leadership Initiative members.

The WNY Leadership Initiative along with QualityStarsNY presents a Learning Community: “Intentional Leadership with Heart”.  Dr. Lynn M. Lubecki will lead the Learning Community in a 3-part series, using the book “Coaching with Powerful Interactions,” by Judy Joblon, Amy Dombro and Shaun Johnson.  These sessions will focus on the Directors role in supporting their teachers in developing Professional Development Plans.  Individualized plans provide a roadmap for building meaningful relationships with children, families and colleagues and for creating nurturing and stimulating environments.  Discussions will focus on: supportive supervision, strength based feedback, goal setting, and mindful mentoring. 

"The Gifts of Imperfection, Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are"  by Brene Brown.

A motivational and inspiring guide to wholehearted living, rather than just the average self-help book, with this groundbreaking work Brené Brown, Ph.D., bolsters the self-esteem and personal development process through her characteristic heartfelt, honest storytelling. With original research and plenty of encouragement, she explores the psychology of releasing our definitions of an “imperfect” life and embracing living authentically. Brown’s “ten guideposts”  are benchmarks for authenticity that can help anyone establish a practice for a life of honest beauty—a perfectly imperfect life.

Facilitated discussion of leadership books
Book groups present an opportunity for members to gather to discuss leadership publications and resources and are facilitated by committed professionals, dedicated to deepening the dialogue and illuminating the key messages​

Please register for a Book Group, as there is limited space.

Participants will be provided a FREE copy of  "The Gifts of Imperfection, Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are"  by Brene Brown

We welcome Terrance Lee to join us and speak to his work on core leadership principles that can enhance our stance as leaders. He will share thoughtful insights on being identified as an "introvert" and the misconception that this attribute prevents one from becoming an "ideal" leader. Participants will have an opportunity to reflect on their stance as a leader, hear about principles that can enhance their daily practice in a leadership role, and learn about the inner power introverts bring to every team.

Come learn about the WNY Leadership Initiative.  The WNY Leadership Initiative started in September 2019, with its first event happening January 2020 with Ann McClain Terrell.  Currently the WNY Leadership Initiative offers various supports, from Networking, Leadership Panel Discussions, Speaker Series and much more.  Come join the WNY Leadership Initiative to learn what supports are offered and get answers to your questions.

event is held 1:00pm-2:00pm

The WNY Leadership Intiative invites you to join a Learning Community foucsed on the NAEYC book, "Advancing Equity & Embracing Diversity in Early Childhood Education: Elevating Voices & Actions" 
 by Iliana Alanis, Iheoma U. Iruka, with Susan Friedman

This  Learning Community will be faciliated by Candice Thompson from OCFS.

Together, the voices of early childhood educators, scholars, and professionals can sound the call to advance the profession towards more equitable educational experiences, systems and practice for all children.
The book showcases many of tese voices from acrss the field of early childhood education and invites you to think about and discuss ways you can add your own voice to that call.

This learning community will meet monthly for 3 months. Meetings will be from 6:00pm-7:30pm.
January 27th
February 24th
March 31st

Come learn about the WNY Leadership Initiative.  The WNY Leadership Initiative started in September 2019, with its first event happening January 2020 with Ann McClain Terrell.  Currently the WNY Leadership Initiative offers various supports, from Networking, Leadership Panel Discussions, Speaker Series and much more.  Come join the WNY Leadership Initiative to learn what supports are offered and get answers to your questions.

event is held

6:00pm-7:00pm

As a member of the WNY Leadership Initiative you are invited to join our networking meetings. Come network with your peers. Meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. Participants will send questions in advance of the meeting or come to the meetings with questions, strategies and resources to share, or an interest in listening and learning from others' experiences.  This is a space to share stories, strategies, feelings, ideas, resources, and words of encouragement about leading an early childhood program in WNY.

Meetings will start at 6:00pm.

As a member of the WNY Leadership Initiative you are invited to join our networking meetings. Come network with your peers. Meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. Participants will send questions in advance of the meeting or come to the meetings with questions, strategies and resources to share, or an interest in listening and learning from others' experiences.  This is a space to share stories, strategies, feelings, ideas, resources, and words of encouragement about leading an early childhood program in WNY.

"Celebrating  Early Childhood Education Leaders" featuring  Dr. Lynn M. Lubecki

We invite you to the WNY Leadership Initiative Speaker Series in December. This month we will "Celebrate Strength in Leadership” with Dr. Lynn M. Lubecki. Throughout the global pandemic, Early Childhood Leaders have stayed strong and focused, keeping programs open and operating, caring for our young children so that parents could continue to work. Programs were flexible, they shifted, adapted, and despite all of the challenges, remained optimistic and hopeful. Lynn will present characteristics of resilient leadership, often built into our field, and together, we will imagine the future of Early Childhood Education. Come celebrate the exceptional leadership of early care and education and think about the many opportunities that are ahead of us.

In "Latina Empowerment Through Leadership", 8 women of color come together to share stories, untold secrets and life lessons about what it truly means to be a mindful leader. Thoughout these pages, you'll hear from women:

• * Who have found self-love in the darkest of times,
• * Who have built business and failed before they found success,
• * Who have started over after broken relationships,
• * and who have fought tirelessly to build a life they love.

Facilitated discussion of leadership books
Book groups present an opportunity for members to gather to discuss leadership publications and resources and are facilitated by committed professionals, dedicated to deepening the dialogue and illuminating the key messages​

Please register for a Book Group, as there is limited space.

The Western NY Early Leadership Initiative is proud to present the next event in our Leadership Panel Discussion. Each session focuses on a different aspect of leadership in Early Childhood Education and features a moderated panel discussion with a diverse group of professionals.

This session is desgined to to support Early Childhood Leaders in self-care. Join us for an evening with self-care professionals and learn ways to nurture your physical, emotional, and mental health. Come join this Leadership Panel Discussion, Wednesday, November 10th from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.

Our distinguished panel of leaders include:

• Tami Best
• Jehrin Calhoun
• Ruth Connor
• Sheila Tumiel 

As a member of the WNY Leadership Initiative you are invited to join our networking meetings. Come network with your peers. Meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. Participants will send questions in advance of the meeting or come to the meetings with questions, strategies and resources to share, or an interest in listening and learning from others' experiences.  This is a space to share stories, strategies, feelings, ideas, resources, and words of encouragement about leading an early childhood program in WNY.

Meetings will be scheudled for the last Thursday of the month. Please note that November will be a week early due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

A professional learning community of early childhood leaders interested in reflecting on and learning about cultivating resilience in themselves and others. This learning community features the book Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators by Elena Aguilar.

September 2021-September 2022

You heard Ann Terrell Speak on Graceful Leadership. Now join the WNY Leadership Initiative and your colleagues in a book group discussion focusing on the book "Graceful Leadership in the Early Childhood Education".

Facilitated discussion of leadership books
Book groups present an opportunity for members to gather to discuss leadership publications and resources and are facilitated by committed professionals, dedicated to deepening the dialogue and illuminating the key messages​

Please register for a Book Group, as there is limited space.

As a member of the WNY Leadership Initiative you are invited to join our networking meetings. Come network with your peers. Meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. Participants will send questions in advance of the meeting or come to the meetings with questions, strategies and resources to share, or an interest in listening and learning from others' experiences.  This is a space to share stories, strategies, feelings, ideas, resources, and words of encouragement about leading an early childhood program in WNY.

The Institute is hosting a professional development offering: Introduction to the Revised New York State Early Learning Guidelines: A Child Development Resource for Educators of Children Ages Birth Through Eight. These sessions are designed specifically for Directors and other leaders of early childhood programs. This professional development session will provide an overview of the shifts within this new and improved version of the New York State Early Learning Guidelines. A specific focus will be provided on utilizing this resource as a leader in your program and supporting its use among your staff. 

Choose one of the session dates and times that works for you. 

Join us for a Leadership Speaker Series event, featuring:

Ann McClain Terrell
Author Graceful Leadership in Early Childhood Education
President, NAEYC Governing Board
and former Executive Director of the Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Inc.

Admission is free for this virtual event!

Wednesday June 30, 2021 5:30pm-7:00pm

*We will have a capacity of 300 for this event. Waitlist is available. Priority registration give to individuals in Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties, as well as the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions.

"Leadership is not about titles, status, and wielding power. A leader is anyone who takes responsibility for recognizing the potential in people and ideas, and has the courage to develop that potential."

"When we dare to lead, we don’t pretend to have the right answers; we stay curious and ask the right questions. We don’t see power as finite and hoard it; we know that power becomes infinite when we share it with others. We don’t avoid difficult conversations and situations; we lean into vulnerability when it’s necessary to do good work."

"But daring leadership in a culture defined by scarcity, fear, and uncertainty requires skill-building around traits that are deeply and uniquely human. The irony is that we’re choosing not to invest in developing the hearts and minds of leaders at the exact same time as we’re scrambling to figure out what we have to offer that machines and AI can’t do better and faster. What can we do better? Empathy, connection, and courage, to start."

Book groups present an opportunity for members to gather to explore and discuss issues in early childhood and in leadership-deepening the dialogue and considering key messages in their work.

Join us for this special two-part Leadership Speaker Series event, featuring Abby Thorman.

"Making Impact: Strengthen Your Voice, Your Message, and Your Story-telling"

As professionals and leaders we have responsibility to use our experience and knowledge to inform and influence others about appropriate practices and the needs of the early childhood field (Core Body of Knowledge 6.6).
Abby will explore and help attendees understand the skills and components of effective storytelling for early childhood advocacy. Part 1 on May 26th will cover crafting effective messages, using those messages for advocacy, and strategies to achieve power in numbers. Join us again on June 3rd in an interactive session with Abby to hone those message-making skills with opportunities for feedback and strategizing.

Networking meetings bring together leaders in the WNY area to discuss leadership topics, share ideas, concerns and suggestions with peers. Currently network meetings are held virtually through zoom. Meetings are held bi-weekly (twice a month). One meeting will be an open format to discuss the needs of the group, the other meeting will feature a guest facilitator, to discuss a specific topic.  If you are interested, please sign up, a zoom link will be sent by email closer to the networking dates.

At this virtual Leadership Panel Discussion, we will hear from a moderated panel of early childhood professionals and leaders about their work to create equitable environments for children in early childhood settings. This panel will allow participants to dive into what it means to truly have an equity stance. Come and be inspired to hear from our panelists to see how you can put your equity stance into practice. Participants will be encouraged to set a goal to work towards advancing equity in early childhood education.

Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion! 

At this virtual Leadership Panel Discussion, we will hear from a moderated panel of early childhood professionals and leaders about their work to create equitable environments for children in early childhood settings. This panel will allow participants to dive into what it means to truly have an equity stance. Come and be inspired to hear from our panelists to see how you can put your equity stance into practice. Participants will be encouraged to set a goal to work towards advancing equity in early childhood education.

Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion! 

The NY Early Childhood Leadership Initiative is proud to present a Leadership Speaker Series event in our 2021 series. This event is co-hosted virtually by the NYC, Western NY, and Long Island regional Leadership Initiative chapters. Grace Reef, President of Early Learning Policy, will explore and help attendees to consider what is on the horizon for early childhood education with the new federal administration. Who are the key players? How will priorities shift with this new leadership and in response to COVID? What are the opportunities for change, innovation, and advocacy? What can you do as leaders in early childhood education?

Networking meetings bring together leaders in the WNY area to discuss leadership topics, share ideas, concerns and suggestions with peers. Currently network meetings are held virtually through zoom. Meetings are held bi-weekly (twice a month). One meeting will be an open format to discuss the needs of the group, the other meeting will feature a guest facilitator, to discuss a specific topic.  If you are interested, please sign up, a zoom link will be sent by email closer to the networking dates.

"Leadership is hard. Convincing others—and yourself—that you are capable of taking charge and achieving more requires insight and courage."  
"Lead from the Outside discusses candidly what Stacey has learned over the course of her impressive career in politics, business and the nonprofit world: that differences in race, gender, and class provide vital strength, which we can employ to rise to the top and create real and lasting change."

Book groups present an opportunity for members to gather to explore and discuss issues in early childhood and in leadership-- deepening the dialogue and considering key messages in their work.

Book Group will run on both nights March 4th and March 11th 5:30pm-7:00pm.

Each registered participant will be mailed a copy of the book.

Networking meetings bring together leaders in the WNY area to discuss leadership topics, share ideas, concerns and suggestions with peers. Currently network meetings are held virtually through zoom. Meetings are held bi-weekly (twice a month). One meeting will be an open format to discuss the needs of the group, the other meeting will feature a guest facilitator, to discuss a specific topic.  If you are interested, please sign up, a zoom link will be sent by email closer to the networking dates.

The Western NY Regional Early Childhood Leadership Initiative is proud to present a film screening and discussion, featuring the film "Resilience: The Biology of Stress & The Science of Hope."  The event will include a screening of the film followed by a interactive discussion with Tim Hathaway, Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse New York. This event is co-hosted by the regional Leadership Initiatives of New York City, Western NY, and Long Island. The event will be hosted live over Zoom, the Zoom link will be provided at a later date.

How Full Is Your Bucket? reveals how even the briefest interactions affect your relationships, productivity, health, and longevity. Organized around a simple metaphor of a dipper and a bucket, and grounded in 50 years of research, this book will show you how to greatly increase the positive moments in your work and your life -- while reducing the negative.

Filled with discoveries, powerful strategies, and engaging stories, How Full Is Your Bucket? is sure to inspire lasting changes and has all the makings of a timeless classic.

Book groups present an opportunity for members to gather to discuss leadership publications and resources and are facilitated by committed professionals, dedicated to deepening the dialogue and illuminating the key messages​

Book Group will run on both nights November 16th and 23rd.

You will need to come and pick up your book at the Child Care Resource Network. Further information will be sent to you after you register.

This virtual panel will present diverse perspectives on developing a trauma-informed lens in leading your early childhood program and supporting your program staff.  We will learn from the experiences and perspectives of a trauma systems therapy trainer, Early Childhood program director, social worker and behavioral specialist, and an assistant professor in human development and education. Our panelists will also share their career pathways and what has led them to this work. Attendees will walk away with important considerations and strategies for leadership, program culture, trauma-informed care, and resiliency in caring for staff, children and families.

In an interview moderated by Sherry Cleary, University Dean of Early Childhood Initiatives and Executive Director of the New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute, Melodie Baker will share her experience as a black female education leader and advocate.  She will share her factors to success, navigating challenges, and balancing family and work.

Melodie Baker has spent her career working to advance education opportunities for disadvantaged students. Prior to joining Just Equations she was the director of education at United Way of Buffalo and Erie County. Melodie Chairs and Co-Chairs various national, state and local coalitions including, Erie Niagara Birth-8, Raising New York, and The Coalition for Community Schools. In 2014, she co-founded the first inquiry-based school in Western New York, The Charter School of Inquiry to build on an early learning program she implemented earlier in her career as assistant director for a Head Start.  Her work in education has led to several noteworthy appointments such as being selected to serve on Governor Cuomo’s Reimagining Education Advisory Council and leading the research and evaluation for Rockefeller Institute of Government’s First 1000 Day’s on Medicaid initiative headed by the New York State Department of Health. In 2019, Baker was the first African American to run for the Democratic nomination in New York’s 27th Congressional District.

This month we will launch our second book group using a podcast format.  We will engage in a two-part discussion on Himama podcasts.  Links to the episodes of the Himama podcast that we will discuss in each session are listed below.

Elena Aguilar will explore high leverage strategies that anyone can use to build their resilience, as well as the resilience of others. Attendees will understand how to use these strategies and why they are so effective, particularly in times of crisis and change. 

Elena Aguilar is the Founder and President of Bright Morning Consulting. She has trained trained thousands of educators in transformational coaching. Elena’s expertise derives from twenty five years as a classroom teacher, instructional coach and leadership coach working in diverse school environments. She is the author of four highly acclaimed books: The Art of Coaching, (2013) and The Art of Coaching Teams, (2016) Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators (2018) and the Onward Workbook (2018), and the forthcoming Coaching for Equity (August 2020). She is a regular contributor to Edutopia and ASCD’s Educational Leadership, and she was a blogger for EdWeek Teacher for many years.
 

This virtual panel, “Leadership During a Time of Crisis”, moderated by Sherry Cleary, Executive Director of the NY Early Childhood Professional Development Institute, will focus on the many qualities and considerations for effective leadership in a time of crisis. We will learn from the experiences and perspectives of a former CEO of a social service non-profit, a licensed child development mental health expert and play therapist, a social worker and FEMA crisis master trainer, and an executive director of a child care program. Attendees will walk away with important considerations and strategies for leadership, trauma-informed care, building resiliency, crisis management and coping, and planning for change. 

You heard Ann Terrell Speak on Graceful Leadership. Now join the Buffalo Leadership Initiative and your colleagues in a book group discussion on Graceful Leadership in the Early Childhood Education.

Facilitated discussion of leadership books
Book groups present an opportunity for members to gather to discuss leadership publications and resources and are facilitated by committed professionals, dedicated to deepening the dialogue and illuminating the key messages​

Please register for a Book Group Cohort, as there is limited space.

Join us for our first Leadership Speaker Series event, featuring:

Ann McClain Terrell
Author Graceful Leadership in Early Childhood Education
And Executive Director of the
Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation

Admission is free for members of the Leadership Initiative