MN Association for Family and Early Education

Today is International Day of Families. 💚

The United Nations' 2026 theme - Families, Inequalities and Child Wellbeing - speaks directly to the work Early Childhood and Parent Educators do every day here in Minnesota.

Widening inequalities affect how families form, how children learn, and what futures become possible. Access to early childhood education, family support services, and community connection aren't extras - they are essentials.

MNAFEE members across the state are on the front lines of this work, championing programs that give every child a strong start and every family the support they deserve. Today, we honor that work and recommit to the belief that strong families build strong communities.

Thank you to every educator, advocate, and early childhood professional making a difference in Minnesota. 💙

📣 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐚 𝐄𝐂𝐄 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 — 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐕𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬!

If you work in early care and education, you are invited to participate in the Minnesota ECE Workforce Survey.

Your experience in the field matters — and your feedback will help inform future decisions that impact early childhood professionals and programs across Minnesota, including areas like professional development, grants, and policy priorities.

⏱️ The survey takes about 10–15 minutes to complete.
💳 Eligible participants will receive a $10 electronic gift card as a thank you.

This effort is sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the Minnesota Children’s Cabinet, and conducted by The Improve Group.

Take the survey on line at: bit.ly/4dgSfQY
Know others in the ECE field? Please help spread the word!

Questions? Contact Taryn at [email protected]

📢 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 - 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦!

The 𝐌𝐍𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐄 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 has been updated with new opportunities in family and early education across Minnesota. Whether you're just starting your career, ready for a new chapter, or know someone who belongs in this field - this is a great place to look.

Early childhood and family education work is some of the most meaningful work there is. These roles shape children's first experiences with learning and support families during the years that matter most. The right people in these positions make all the difference — and we want to help connect them.

🔎 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: mnafee.org/job-opportunities.html

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠? MNAFEE member organizations can submit a Job Opportunity Form to get their listing added and reach qualified candidates across our network. We'd love to help you find the right person for your team.

💼 Share this with someone who's looking - you never know whose next chapter you might help launch. 🧡

𝐀 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬!

We are excited to share this wonderful opportunity for connection and self-care! Registration is now open for the 𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬, and we would love to see our community represented there.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬:
📅 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧: July 22–23, 2026
📍 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: Mt. Olivet Conference & Retreat Center, Farmington, MN
🔗 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://forms.gle/SfrefTRWvY2XdXCh6

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭?

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: Peaceful hiking, 24-hour beverage access (coffee!), a hot tub, pool, and chef-prepared meals tailored to your needs.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞: Join 50+ professionals from across the state. As Paul Wellstone said, "We all learn better, when we all learn together!"

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: It’s your "summer camp." You choose the balance: attend informal topic-oriented sessions or simply rest and recharge.

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎, but don’t wait! Overnight rooms are limited and filling up fast.

📜 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1odVoSWtsf6S3VHiXf1fTG8DvLt8fFx72Faccw_5nUCs/edit?usp=sharing

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬? Reach out to Susan Walker at [email protected] for more info!

Last night was something special. ✨

Our MNAFEE Annual Conference kicked off Wednesday evening with Joe Davis - award-winning spoken word artist, bestselling author, and activator of joy - and wow, did he set the tone. 🌱

𝘞𝘦 𝘙𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳: 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘦𝘦

Through poetry, storytelling, and powerful prompts, Joe reminded us that culture isn't something we just inherit - it's something we build together, every single day. He challenged us to reconnect with our purpose, reimagine leadership as a daily relational practice, and affirmed that every one of us, no matter our title or role, has the power to shape the environment around us.

The room was electric. 💛

Thank you, Joe, for the perfect reminder of WHY we do this work and WHO we do it for.

🌟 𝐍𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐌𝐍𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐄 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 🌟

Do you know an educator, leader, supporter, or program making a meaningful impact in 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 across Minnesota? Now is your chance to help them be recognized!

The 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐌𝐍𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐄 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 celebrate the people and programs who inspire, innovate, and lead in our ECFE community.

🏆 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬:
• Lois Engstrom Leadership Award
• Emerging Leader Award
• Friend of the Year Award
• Innovative Programming Award

🗓️ Nomination Deadline: February 23, 2026
🔗 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: mnafee.org/mnafee-awards.html

Your nomination helps shine a light on the excellence that strengthens early childhood education statewide. 💙

We're excited to announce that ECFE and Successful Learners merchandise is now available! 🎉

Our lineup includes cozy quarter-zip pullovers, classic crew neck sweatshirts, stylish hooded and full-zip sweatshirts, short- and long-sleeve t-shirts in a variety of colors (available in unisex and women's sizes), and a tote that's perfect for carrying your essentials!

Order now at: bit.ly/ECFE_Merch

⏰ Ordering window closes December 19th. Merchandise will be delivered directly to you in about 3-4 weeks.

Show your ECFE and Successful Learners pride! 💙💚