Cultivate MN

08/11/2024

We are on a mission in 2025 to increase support for children and families within the community. Our goal is to raise $150,000 to continue supporting the following initiatives:

- Sensory library for children, families, and providers in the community to use to support children with sensory processing needs both at home and in the community.

- Community Child Care fund which has allowed the organization to help over 25 families with financial tuition assistance across child care programs.

- Program Hardship Fund that allows providers (whether in home or center based) to apply for funds to use during hardship to continue supporting their programs.

- Advocacy efforts for policy reform

- Professional Development opportunities for the community including conferences and individual licensure/program credentials.

- Statewide leadership training for early education professionals.

- High School CDA program as a response to the declining rate of child care professionals entering the field.

- Cooperative Purchasing model to help support child care providers cost and needs with supplies/materials/vendor purchasing (this was especially beneficial during COVID-19).

- Mental Health and Relationship Based Professional Development opportunities for professionals working within early education.

- Community podcast to bring awareness not only to child care, but to additional programs that support children and families.

Take a minute to donate today either through Facebook or directly through this link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=7VKXRLUG9BV9A

05/22/2023

𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝘿𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨, 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘼𝙙𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨 in Early Education..... 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗬𝗢𝗨!

Virtual, affordable, effective tools & communication, & proven results!

Register by June 15 and get 20% off early bird special with promo code: EARLYBIRD20

This is a high impact, accessible, and low cost leadership series focused on creating healthy leaders and healthy cultures! Now, more than ever, we need to come together and support each other in our leadership roles!

05/09/2023

Guess what?! Our Cultivate MN Sensory Library is now open to the community! Check it out here: https://rentle.store/cultivatemn/shop

Reserve anytime and pick up Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Sensory Library made possible by Southern Minnesota Community Donations – Thank You!

05/02/2023

We are back! Podcast COMING SOON!

Topic: Pediatrician's Role in Development

Dr. Katie Smentek, Pediatrician, and Laura Walser, CultivateMN Co-host, had a great conversation about pediatricians' role in development, what it looks like from her end of putting referrals through for services, and her views on community needs/support. Dr Smentek is a Mankato native, works at the Mankato Clinic Children's Health Center and is highly involved in the Mankato Community.

03/23/2023

"Ellie goes above and beyond with her work at the Infant Development Center. The love she has for the infants is clear in everything she does! She is a team player in every sense of the word."

Congratulations Ellie and thank you for your dedication to Early Education! Keep an eye out for an appreciation package from CultivateMN.

If you would like to nominate a deserving Minnesota Early Educator, fill out our nomination form below and we will send some LOVE!

https://share.hsforms.com/1t7vLySCdSeuGCRWFHoeTEg2tmcl

03/13/2023

"Katie has a very kind and loving heart, works hard, and loves what she does. Her passion for teaching goes over and above."

"She has always wanted to be a teacher! I love hearing about what she’s up to at school and how creative she is!"

"Her passion and dedication is unmatched!"

"Very passionate about her purpose in life. Katie is well deserving and deserves this recognition."

"Katie is very dedicated in her profession and takes extra effort to make sure her kids are safe while having fun. She also communicates well with the parents."

"Katie goes above for each of her students and theirs parents. She works hard to make a great environment for the kids."

"Katie is a passionate and dedicated teacher who truly loves her job and believes in making a difference. She goes above and beyond to support her kiddos."

Congratulations Kate and thank you for your dedication to Early Education! Keep an eye out for an appreciation package from CultivateMN.

If you would like to nominate a deserving Minnesota Early Educator, fill out our nomination form below and we will send some LOVE!

https://share.hsforms.com/1t7vLySCdSeuGCRWFHoeTEg2tmcl

03/01/2023

"Kay is one of the most natural and talented teachers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. She dives into her work daily and makes real and loving connections with families and the staff. She dedicates any free time to work and help take coworkers shifts while being a full time student. Kay loves her job and puts everything into every day. She is one of the best teachers I’ve came across."

Congratulations Mikayla and thank you for your dedication to Early Education! Keep an eye out for an appreciation package from CultivateMN.

If you would like to nominate a deserving Minnesota Early Educator, fill out our nomination form below and we will send some LOVE!

https://share.hsforms.com/1t7vLySCdSeuGCRWFHoeTEg2tmcl

03/01/2023

"Darla recently helped facilitate moving to a new center (where I work and my children attend). She worked countless hours to ensure our center would still be able to provide care for kids, and kept the transition as smooth as possible for kids and staff. She is always advocating for her staff and families, trying to keep open throughout covid, moving centers, and battling the short staff epidemic that the child care industry is currently facing."

Congratulations Darla and thank you for your dedication to Early Education! Keep an eye out for an appreciation package from CultivateMN.

If you would like to nominate a deserving Minnesota Early Educator, fill out our nomination form below and we will send some LOVE!

https://share.hsforms.com/1t7vLySCdSeuGCRWFHoeTEg2tmcl

02/27/2023

"Olivia is a great infant teacher. She puts her heart and soul into caring for the children in her room, and loves them dearly."

Congratulations Olivia and thank you for your dedication to Early Education! Keep an eye out for an appreciation package from CultivateMN.

If you would like to nominate a deserving Minnesota Early Educator, fill out our nomination form below and we will send some LOVE!

https://share.hsforms.com/1t7vLySCdSeuGCRWFHoeTEg2tmcl

02/22/2023

"Lynn has been the director of Little Giants Early Learning Center in Blue Earth for 30 years. She built the program from the ground up and it started as Little Luke’s within our local nursing home where she worked hard to encourage multi-generational relationship building. In 2008, Little Luke’s outgrew its space as the demand for childcare grew… Lynn moved the program to a new location and Little Giants opened its doors to many new families in need. She has worked hard over the past 30 years going above and beyond to make space for young families in our community. Sticking it out through all of the new regulations, changes in parenting styles, new inclusion policies, and all of the big challenges that COVID-19 brought to the early learning dynamic. Not only is Lynn the director for Little Giants Early Learning Center that offers care to 71 children aged 6 weeks thru 5 years old… she also is the director and built the Jumpstart Full Day Pre-K program and the Be A Kid School Age Care program, which includes a summer care program. She is a huge asset to our community and rarely gets the appreciation she deserves!"

Congratulations Lynn and thank you for your dedication to Early Education! Keep an eye out for an appreciation package from CultivateMN.

If you would like to nominate a deserving Minnesota Early Educator, fill out our nomination form below and we will send some LOVE!

https://share.hsforms.com/1t7vLySCdSeuGCRWFHoeTEg2tmcl

02/20/2023

"She is always willing to do anything for, not only the children she works with, but also the families."

Congratulations Rosalee and thank you for your love and dedication to Early Education! Keep an eye out for an appreciation package from CultivateMN.

If you would like to nominate a deserving Minnesota Early Educator, fill out our nomination form below and we will send some LOVE!

https://share.hsforms.com/1t7vLySCdSeuGCRWFHoeTEg2tmcl

02/17/2023

"Stephani goes above and beyond as a provider, she puts in countless hours of her own time and money making sure her classroom is the best environment for the babies in her care. She has been all 3 of my boys’ teacher and she treated them like they were her own. She made it so much easier to drop them off each morning and I never had to worry about the care they were receiving, I knew they were in the best hands."

Congratulations Stephani and thank you for your love and dedication to Early Education! Keep an eye out for an appreciation package from CultivateMN.

If you would like to nominate a deserving Minnesota Early Educator, fill out our nomination form below and we will send some LOVE!

https://share.hsforms.com/1t7vLySCdSeuGCRWFHoeTEg2tmcl