There was joy, professional community building, and a lot of policy insights earlier this year at the 2026 NAEYC Policy Forum.
According to NAEYC’s website, the Policy Forum was “a multi-day advocacy experience designed to help early childhood educators exercise their powerful policy voices and make themselves heard—at every level.”
There were workshops, keynote speeches, panels, and opportunities to talk to policymakers on Capitol Hill.
Emmanuelle Verdieu, Erin Bradley, Paula A. Echeverri Durango,
Harold Blanco, AmyBeth Smith, Amy O’Leary, Shaakira Parker, and
Elise Weller. Photo courtesy of Amy O’Leary
NAEYC described the event as “a call to action,” adding that it was an “opportunity to shape the future of our field by sharing your story, connecting with legislators, and speaking out about the investments and policies we need to thrive.”
Strategies for Children’s team of attendees from Massachusetts included:
- Harold Blanco of Paula’s Barn Inc. Child Care and ECCHO-Latino, Inc.
- Erin Bradley of Peas in a Pod Nursery School
- Paula A. Echeverri Durango of Paula’s Barn Inc. Child Care and ECCHO-Latino, Inc.
- Amy O’Leary of Strategies for Children
- Shaakira Parker of Strategies for Children
- Amybeth Smith of MAAEYC
- Emmanuelle Verdieu of Neighborhood Villages, and
- Elise Weller of 18 Degrees, Inc.
Here’s what they had to say about the forum:
“I had a great experience at the NAEYC Conference. From the workshops dedicated to relevant issues impacting the field to interacting with my state team members, I enjoyed it all. I also appreciated the opportunity to advocate for and alongside early educators in Massachusetts for continued and increased investment in the field. It is through continued conversations like these that real change can be made to improve the sector for children, families, and educators.”
—Emmanuelle Verdieu
Paula A. Echeverri Durango
“The NAEYC Conference was such a great experience. I especially enjoyed the congressional visits, and the strategic planning that goes into executing them. I gained a new skill in terms of thinking about how we introduce ourselves as well as elevate what’s happening at the state level to the federal level in a way that is relevant for our congress members. I also appreciated having such varied perspectives on our team, with both policy-focused team members and early educators, which I think made the visits better in terms of giving context, highlighting data, and sharing stories that give meaning to the data.”
—Shaakira Parker
Photo courtesy of Amy O’Leary
“Yesterday was “the day,” the moment when we put into practice everything we had been learning. As representatives of the Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children (MAAEYC), we were part of the Massachusetts delegation.”
“We’re proud to share that we completed 10 congressional visits in one day.
“We met with 10 of the 11 members of the Massachusetts delegation:
- Rep. Stephen Lynch
- Rep. Seth Moulton
- Rep. Jim McGovern
- Rep. Ayanna Pressley
- Rep. Jake Auchincloss
- Rep. Katherine Clark
- Rep. Lori Trahan
- Rep. Richard Neal
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren
- Sen. Ed Markey
“We were grateful for meaningful conversations with members and senior staff across the delegation.
“As first-timers — Harold Blanco and I on Capitol Hill, walking those halls felt surreal. The conversations were substantive. The energy was electric. The responsibility was real.
“We weren’t just visiting offices — we were advocating for children, families, and the early childhood workforce.
“Today, as I replay each meeting in my mind, I realize something powerful:
I was not just observing history — I was participating in it.”
—Paula A. Echeverri Durango’s LinkedIn post
“Traveling to Washington, D.C. as a representative of MAAEYC was an uplifting experience. Being able to speak on behalf of early childhood educators, children, and families reminded me just how important our collective voice truly is. Hearing the passion, commitment, and shared vision was energizing and motivating. It was powerful to see how the stories and insights from each state can help shape national conversations and guide change.”
—Elise Weller
“The NAEYC Public Policy Forum is one of my favorite events. To be sitting in a ballroom filled with 400+ advocates from every state and territory is an incredible experience. We had close to 200 First-Timers, and it was an honor to co-facilitate the session with Norma Schwartz to share information and what everyone could expect for their visits to Capitol Hill. We shared our energy, our commitment, and our concerns—and that’s going to benefit children, families, and early educators across the country!”
—Amy O’Leary