2009-2011 Fellows
Fellows activities include:

Fellows Seminar

Fellows meet every month in a day-long seminar. Seminars address three themes: early childhood issues, leadership, and making change.

2011-12 Seminars have included orientation to the program (along with mentors, the program’s co-chairs, and the 2009-2011 Fellows); a session about DISC (a leadership assessment tool) and with young nonprofit leaders of color; and a day-long training in strategic communications (which several Fellow colleagues also attended). 

Professional Development and Networking
Fellows frequently attend events and conferences to meet colleagues, learn about the field, and build their networks.  2011-13 Fellows have attended:

• - Harris Early Childhood Speakers Series
• - National Association for the Education of Young Children National Conference
• - Zero to Three National Training Institute
• - Statewide Conference for Teachers of Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Students
• - National Council of La Raza Annual Conference
• - Illinois Infant Mental Conference
• - Healthy Teen Network Annual Conference
• - White House Connecting Communities for the Common Good Conference
• - Chicago Forward: Education
• - Lillian and Larry Goodman Annual Hunger Forum
• - Family Focus Symposium
•  

Training
The Fellows are also encouraged to take advantage of other training opportunities, including workshops, webinars,and conferences on topics that include:

• Leadership
• Advocacy
• Grant writing
• Presentations
• Management
• Facilitator training
• Undoing racism
•  

Joint Projects & Presentations
Fellows are encouraged to undertake projects with colleagues in their host organizations, with each other, and with experts in the field, and to present the results of their work at local and national conferences. 

2011-13 Fellows have made the following presentations:

Saleem Hue Penny

DCFS Office of the Inspector General:  “Risk Reduction & Education Training for Male Parenting Teen Wards”

Illinois Action for Children Associates Board: “Family and Neighborhood Partnership Program”

Liliana Martin
Bilingual Certification Forum: Presentation on Bilingual pre-k legislation and administrative rules to representatives of Chicago-area institutions of higher education.