Community Engagement Archives - Early Learning Nation

Tonja Rucker, Program Director, Early Childhood Success, National League of Cities

How U.S. Cities Are Leading the Way to Support Early Learning

The Editors·Sep 27, 2018·3 min read

How are cities and towns grappling with a host of urgent challenges? According to Tonja Rucker of the National League of Cities, mayors and city leaders are testing cutting-edge strategies and developing bold solutions that place children at the center of every decision.

Save the Children’s Creative COVID-19 Response

Mark Swartz·Apr 7, 2020·3 min read

It’s a cruel irony of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic: the youngest children, whose brains depend on education for healthy brain...

Facing Facts, Finding Solutions in the Race Against Black Postpartum Depression

K.C. Compton·Jan 28, 2020·9 min read

For babies to have the best start in life, they need to form a deep emotional bond with the person...

AlegreMENTE: A “Happy” New Two-Gen, Spanish-Language-First Museum Exhibition

Mark Swartz·Apr 7, 2022·3 min read

A field trip inside the mind—it may sound like a psychedelic rock song, but that’s the big idea behind AlegreMENTE...

Early Childhood Connector: Ounce of Prevention Creates Systems-Based Solutions for Building Early Learning Communities

Mark Swartz·Jul 23, 2020·5 min read

There are more than 19,000 cities and towns and more than 13,000 school districts in the United States, and it’s...

Better Communities Collaborative in Athens, Ga. Supports Families and Communities, Inspires Others

Mark Swartz·Mar 7, 2023·4 min read

Southern Living magazine calls it the South’s Best College Town, but Athens-Clark County also has its challenges, including a 30%...

Meeting (and Teaching) Families in Unexpected Places Can Transform Cities

Grocery stores, bus stops, laundromats… what’s next?

Mark Swartz·Jun 25, 2019·5 min read

School is a great place to learn, but it’s not the only place. No matter how excellent our teachers are, no matter how enriching the curricula, school accounts for only about 20 percent of children’s waking hours. That’s why a growing number of education pioneers are building out nontraditional sites for young minds to develop their language skills and to learn about their world.

Tackling the Play Deficit

Mark Swartz·Feb 6, 2020·4 min read

Our kids need to put the devices down and to play outdoors more. This isn’t just another parent waxing nostalgic...

5 Questions for the Governor: Missouri’s Governor Mike Parson

The Editors·Feb 18, 2020·3 min read

I was a sheriff for 22 years. What I learned the most is that we must be proactive instead of reactive. Bettering our communities starts with taking care of our children.

Teaching Kindergarten Conference: Giving Teachers What They Need for Learner-Centered Classrooms

K.C. Compton·Feb 20, 2020·6 min read

Teaching is a creative profession, as much art as science, and for those who go into the field, it can...

Act Naturally: The Benefits of Wet Hands and Muddy Feet

An Interview with Richard Louv

Mark Swartz·May 22, 2019·7 min read

How do we get today’s kids active and in tune with nature? And if the current generation of young parents missed out on personal experiences with nature, who will teach their children?