The Alliance for Early Childhood

09/03/2026

We're excited to present 2026-2027 Alliance for Early Childhood programming for families, parents and educators! See link in bio.
.burnell .lichterman

08/31/2026

08/28/2026

Mindful Beginnings is a monthly community meet-up for new and expecting parents, led by certified doula Kassie Leachman. Connect, share experiences, and build community. Babies welcome (carriers encouraged)!
Link in bio!

08/24/2026

The Summer Institute hosted by the Alliance for Early Childhood and Glencoe D35 acknowledged that children’s ability to attend, engage, and learn is deeply shaped by both the environments they inhabit and the relationships that surround them. The Summer Institute workshop, led by Megan Carrick of Kids In Sync Pediatric Occupational Therapy, explored how intentional classroom design—lighting, materials, layout, sound, and movement opportunities—works in tandem with responsive adult-child relationships to support children’s developing sensory regulation. Participants examined how physical spaces can either heighten or soothe sensory input and how attuned, predictable relationships help children feel safe enough to regulate, explore, and learn. Through concrete examples and reflective discussion, educators left with practical strategies for designing classrooms and interactions that support regulation, belonging, and engagement for a wide range of learners.

Thank you to our speaker, Megan Carrick of Kids In Sync Pediatric Occupational Therapy and our host, Glencoe D35!

08/24/2026

The Summer Institute hosted by the Alliance for Early Childhood and Glencoe D35 acknowledged that children’s ability to attend, engage, and learn is deeply shaped by both the environments they inhabit and the relationships that surround them. The Summer Institute workshop, led by Megan Carrick of Kids In Sync Pediatric Occupational Therapy, explored how intentional classroom design—lighting, materials, layout, sound, and movement opportunities—works in tandem with responsive adult-child relationships to support children’s developing sensory regulation. Participants examined how physical spaces can either heighten or soothe sensory input and how attuned, predictable relationships help children feel safe enough to regulate, explore, and learn. Through concrete examples and reflective discussion, educators left with practical strategies for designing classrooms and interactions that support regulation, belonging, and engagement for a wide range of learners.

Thank you to our speaker, Megan Carrick of Kids In Sync Pediatric Occupational Therapy and our host, Glencoe D35!

08/17/2026

The Alliance for Early Childhood's Executive Board and Liaison Council members celebrated 37 years of service on the Northshore and across our region! We provided support for families & children through community-wide play-based experiences. In addition, we provided support for teachers & children in 55+ schools across our region. Furthermore, The Alliance partnered with local agencies across the township to strengthen services.

08/10/2026

Stacey Sunderland has stepped into the role of Executive Director!

Stacey is a familiar face to many in our community, having served as our Board President (2020–2022). She brings a powerful mix of nonprofit passion and strategic business expertise to lead The Alliance into its next chapter.

Stacey will begin connecting with educators at the Summer Institute this week.

Please join us in thanking Carly Andrews for her incredible leadership since 2022 and giving Stacey a warm welcome! Carly has joined The Blake School as the Director of the Early Learning Center (ELC) in Minnesota.

08/08/2026

Families joined The Alliance for Early Childhood, BackYard Nature Center, and the Forest Preserves of Cook County for an afternoon of outdoor, child-directed play in the beautiful Erikson Woods. Families were invited to explore open-ended play stations and took guided walks through the forest. Families played, imagined, and connected with nature together!

08/07/2026

Thank you to Carly Andrews for four years of incredible leadership at the Alliance for Early Childhood! Our team will miss your leadership and experience in early childhood education and development, but know that you will accomplish great things at The Blake School in the Twin Cities.