From two days together to the fight still ahead. Thank you for joining AQE’s first Diapers to Diplomas conference to imagine a more just future through public investment in children, from birth through graduation. Having so many people in one room who care so deeply about children and their communities reminded us that, even when the work feels difficult, we have one another to learn from and organize alongside. We opened and closed each day with a commitment to abundance, imagining what becomes possible when we organize around what our communities need. On the second day, a sound bath led by ArinMaya gave us space to pause and recharge, reflecting the place of healing in our organizing. Meanwhile, graphic recorders, Annabelle and Crystal, brought our conversations to life through their artistic drawings, helping us visually see connections across the ideas we shared in real time. Images from day one (left to right, starting with the top row): Ravo Root and Salka Valerio of Citizen Action of New York led a conversation about how parents can turn their experiences into collective power and shape the decisions affecting their communities; Marian Bott, school finance expert and longtime AQE supporter; Terrence Winston of the Coalition for Community Schools Excellence explored how community schools connect education with the support children and families need; Jania Witherspoon, executive director of Circle Keepers, joined Ishna Ahmed from NYCLU and Blaise Tasnim from YA-YA Network to discuss the changes young people want in the schools and systems shaping their lives; Senator Jabari Brisport, Shoshana Hershkowitz of the Empire State Campaign for Child Care, Abe Fernandez of the National Center for Community Schools, and Salka Valerio of Citizen Action of New York explored how connected public services can support children and families as they grow; Shanita Bowen of ECE on the Move and Dede Hill of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy discussed better compensation and equity for the educators supporting children’s earliest learning; Dr. Jamaal Bowman joined us for a keynote and Q&A, alongside the launch of his book UNpolishED; Clarence Okoh of TechTonic Justice examined how communities can hold education technology accountable to students and families; Team AQE; our partners and fellow organizers Andrea Ortiz of the Dignity in Schools Campaign and Kaliris Salas-Ramirez of Rutgers University. The experiences families and young people shared helped us connect our conversations to the daily lives of communities, whose needs don’t begin or end at their classroom’s door. From better compensation for early educators to moving towards a future where every school is a community school, we explored how public investment can give children consistent support as they grow. Keeping families at the center also means giving them a voice in decision-making at their schools, including how emergent technology is rolled out and put to use. Making that vision a reality is going to require resources, which brought us to the fight to tax the ultra-wealthy and highly profitable corporations, and the power we can build together to win that investment. Images from day two (left to right, starting with the top row): Emily Eisner of the Fiscal Policy Institute, Gray Hawranek-Burce of the Dignity in Schools Campaign, special education and District 75 advocate and AQE parent Paullette Ha-Healey, Pete Nabozny of The Children’s Agenda, and Brahvan Ranga of Invest in Our NY discussed revenue and organizing strategies to fund public education and child care; Wendy Lecker and Danielle Farrie of the Education Law Center examined the school funding landscape and the fight for investment that meets students’ needs; ArinMaya led a sound bath offering us all some time to pause and reflect together; Team AQE with Erica Phillips, Deputy Chancellor of the Division of Early Childhood Education; Pete Nabozny of The Children’s Agenda and Shoshana Hershkowitz of the Empire State Campaign for Child Care explored how New York can better connect early learning programs to support families and educators; Jasmine Gripper of New York's Working Families Party closed the conference with a conversation about strengthening democracy and advancing justice for children and families; The Resistance Revival Chorus brought us together through music, closing two days of learning and organizing with some collective joy; Annabelle Heckler and Crystal Clarity's graphic recordings captured the connections between our conversations and the work ahead for education justice; last but not least, Team AQE (Dante, Kaiser, Zakiyah, Soraya, Marina, Kayla, and Julia – missing Morgan and Smitha, who were there with us in spirit). We hope you left feeling as encouraged and energized as we did, with new connections to lean on and ideas to bring into the fight ahead in the 2027 legislative session. Thank you for sharing so much of yourselves with us and for being part of the community working to make universal child care and well-funded, supportive public schools a reality. In solidarity, Marina Marcou-O'Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari Co-Executive Directors, Alliance for Quality Education AQENY.org   Facebook   Instagram    Bluesky Donate

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