First 8 Memphis

First 8 Memphis First 8 Memphis was created to help achieve equity and opportunity across two generations. Our system

We're just one week away! 💚💜Language is more than communication. It's identity. It's belonging. It's family. It's how ch...
06/16/2026

We're just one week away! 💚💜

Language is more than communication. It's identity. It's belonging. It's family. It's how children connect with the world around them.

Join us on Zoom Tuesday, June 23, 12-2 p.m. CST, for the next installment of the First 8 Years Speaker Series—Two Languages, One Child: Understanding Identity, Language, and Learning.

Our guest keynote speaker, Samina Hadi-Tabassum, is the Senior Academic Director at Dominican University and a leading voice on bilingual education, language development, cultural identity, and educational equity.

✨ Samina will share practical strategies and insights to help educators, providers, advocates, and community leaders better support multilingual children and families.

🎟️ Registration for this virtual event is still open: bit.ly/F8MSpeakerSeries-June2026

Meet the keynote speaker for our upcoming First 8 Years Speaker Series event: Samina Hadi-Tabassum 💚💜 🎟️ Register today:...
06/12/2026

Meet the keynote speaker for our upcoming First 8 Years Speaker Series event: Samina Hadi-Tabassum 💚💜

🎟️ Register today: bit.ly/F8MSpeakerSeries-June2026

As Senior Academic Director at Dominican University, Samina's work focuses on the intersection of language, culture, identity, and education. Her research and professional experience span bilingual and dual language education, literacy and language development, teacher preparation, and educational equity.

On June 23, Samina will lead a virtual discussion on "Two Languages, One Child: Understanding Identity, Language, and Learning."

Together, we'll explore:
• How multilingual children develop language skills
• Why home languages matter
• How to recognize language differences vs. developmental concerns
• Practical strategies for supporting multilingual learners and families

Whether you work in a classroom, childcare center, school, or community organization, or you're simply an advocate for early childhood education and care, this conversation will provide valuable insights for supporting children and families in an increasingly diverse world.

We hope you'll join us Tuesday, June 23, 12–2 p.m. CST!

🔗 Learn more about Samina: saminahaditabassum.com

More children than ever are growing up in multilingual households and classrooms. But are we prepared to support them? T...
06/09/2026

More children than ever are growing up in multilingual households and classrooms. But are we prepared to support them?

The First 8 Years Speaker Series returns Tuesday, June 23, to explore this topic, and registration is open now. 💚💜

What happens when a child speaks one language at home and another at school? How can educators distinguish between language differences and developmental concerns?

⏰ Join us from 12–2 p.m. CST for a virtual lunch and learn: "Two Languages, One Child: Understanding Identity, Language & Learning."

Led by Samina Hadi-Tabassum, Senior Academic Director at Dominican University, this engaging discussion will examine how language, culture, identity, and belonging shape early childhood development, and what we can do to better support multilingual children and families.

Whether you work in a classroom, childcare center, or community organization, or you're simply an advocate for early childhood care and education, you'll gain practical strategies and valuable insights to support children and families in an increasingly diverse world.

🎟️ Reserve your spot today: bit.ly/F8MSpeakerSeries-June2026




To all of the educators and care providers guiding, nurturing, and supporting young children every day: your well-being ...
05/22/2026

To all of the educators and care providers guiding, nurturing, and supporting young children every day: your well-being matters, too! 💚

The work you do to support young children requires patience, presence, and compassion. Prioritizing your own mental and emotional well-being isn't separate from that work; it's part of it. When educators and caregivers are well supported, children gain the consistency and connection they need to build confidence, resilience, and a strong foundation for learning.

This MentalDonna Davis Presents, for sharing practical, meaningful strategies that support the people who shapenth, we are highlighting insights from leadership and wellness strategist Donna Davis on protecting educator well-being and preventing burnout in early childhood spaces. From pausing to reset the nervous system to leaning on community and letting go of perfection, Donna reminds us that caring for ourselves isn't separate from caring for children—it's an essential part of it.

"When educators feel supported and emotionally well, they bring greater presence, patience, and joy into their classrooms each day."

Thank you, Donna Davis Presents , for sharing practical, meaningful strategies that support the people shaping our youngest learners every day. 🫶

Donna is a minister, author, motivational speaker, certified life coach, and AI consultant.

👉 Learn more about Donna Davis Consulting at donnadavispresents.com


Interactions with other children and adults develop social skills that help children learn to make friends, cooperate, h...
05/19/2026

Interactions with other children and adults develop social skills that help children learn to make friends, cooperate, have conversations, and care for others.✨🗣️🫂

Photo courtesy of Porter-Leath 🧡

Supporting young children starts with supporting the educators who care for them every day. Registration is now open for...
05/18/2026

Supporting young children starts with supporting the educators who care for them every day.

Registration is now open for our 2026–27 Early Care & Education (ECE) Providers Training Series. This 10-month learning opportunity is designed to equip ECE professionals with proven, practical strategies to support students, teachers, and classroom communities amid challenging behaviors.

From social-emotional learning and family engagement to classroom management and developmentally appropriate practices, this series is rooted in the real needs of today’s early childhood workforce. The training is approved by TrainTN and recognized by the Tennessee Department of Human Services.

Registration Deadline: July 1, 2026
$1,050 stipend for full participation

Don't miss out! Get complete details and register today: bit.ly/4nz8de7


05/11/2026

Nearly 50% of children entering foster care are between birth and age 5. Every 10 seconds, a child aged birth to 3 is placed in out-of-home care somewhere in the United States.

This is why the launch of Shelby County’s first Safe Baby Court matters!

“Supporting babies means supporting families, relationships, and the systems that surround them,” said Dr. Kandace Thomas, Executive Director of First 8 Memphis and member of the Board of ZERO TO THREE, the national organization supporting the implementation and sustainability of Safe Baby Courts across the country.

Last week, we joined the Juvenile Court of Memphis & Shelby County along with community leaders and partners, to celebrate a major step toward a more connected, trauma-informed approach to supporting young children and families in Memphis.

We are proud and ready to support this work through advocacy, systems alignment, training, and partnership so we can help our community provide the best services for young children!

05/08/2026

Today is the 8th — and we’re asking for just $8.

Your $8 supports access to high-quality early care and education for children ages 0–8 across Memphis and Shelby County. When we invest in the first 8 years, we build stronger families and a stronger community. 💚📚❤️

Give. Share. Repeat every month. first8memphis.org/donate

05/04/2026

"We have to increase the quality" of early care and education! - Dr. Kandace Thomas, F8M Executive Director

In 2024, our Leadership Council finalized High-Quality Indicators for prenatal to 8 care, see below:

- Safe & Welcoming Environments
- Developmentally Appropriate, School Readiness Instruction
- Continuous Development & Support of Educators
- Two Generational Family Partnership

Our vision remains the same a community where every child has the resources to thrive. Read more about our High-Quality Indicators at first8memphis.org/early-childhood-system




Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Make a Circle documentary screening. We’re grateful for your time, engagemen...
04/27/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Make a Circle documentary screening. We’re grateful for your time, engagement, and commitment to strengthening early childhood in our community.

Together, we deepened our understanding of the early childhood workforce and explored how civic engagement can shape policies and opportunities for young children and families. We’re excited to see how you carry this momentum forward as advocates in Shelby County.

Address

1350 Concourse Avenue Suite 481
Memphis, TN
38103

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+19015635921

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