Grown Folk Conversations in Erie, PA
Erie, Pennsylvania showed up today!!!! I had the absolute pleasure of spending the morning with the good people of Child Development Centers, Inc., and they came ready to learn, reflect, collaborate, and do the work! They gathered in their groups, mapped the villages surrounding the children and families they serve, exchanged ideas, asked thoughtful questions, and leaned fully into the experience. The conversations were rich, the laughter was plentiful, and the commitment in
When the Work Is Remembered in Arlington, VA
Yesterday, I had the honor of returning to partner with The Campagna Center in Arlington, Virginia. The room was abuzz with the energy of a new program year—colleagues reconnecting, hugs being exchanged, and laughter and conversation filling the room. During our time together, I shared my From Acorn to Mighty, Mighty Oak Tree™ keynote and engaged team members in the Top-Notch Villages™ workshop. Together, they mapped the ecosystems surrounding children and families, identifie
The Village Starts Before the Classroom in Warrenton, VA
Today I had the opportunity to return to Fauquier Community Action Committee Head Start in Warrenton, Virginia, an agency I have had the pleasure of partnering with for three years. One of the things I appreciate about this team is that every time I return, they are ready to learn, reflect, and add new strategies to their practice. In fact, they were the first Head Start program to put the Acorn Affirmation on their bulletin board. So, they have been sipping the Top-Notch Koo
The Acorn in the Eyeglass Case in Tallahassee, FL
Today, I had the pleasure of working with the Capital Area Community Action Agency team right here in my own backyard of Tallahassee, Florida. It was invigorating to watch the team grasp the concepts of the Top-Notch Village™ framework. It always does my heart well to see the lightbulb moments and the a-ha moments on people’s faces as the pieces begin to connect. Then, at the end of our time together, I received a the most beautiful Godwink. The Early Childhood Development Ma
When the Acorn Movement Took Legs in Hempstead, NY
This morning, I witnessed the most beautiful thing.❤️🥰 I watched the Acorn Movement take legs. At the end of my signature keynote, we have an Acorn Commitment Ceremony where service providers make a commitment to the children they serve. Typically, we use one tree representing the entire agency. The Assistant Head Start Director of the Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau County, Inc. in Hempstead, New York, had the brilliant idea to create one Acorn Commitment Tree for
Building the Village Begins with Leadership in Orlando, Florida
There are moments in this work that leave you more energized than when you arrived. These past two days with the incredible leadership team at Orange County Head Start were exactly that. Director Sonya Hill made a powerful investment by dedicating two full days exclusively to her leadership team before the start of the school year. That decision speaks volumes. It communicates that before we ask teachers to serve children and families well, we must first ensure that leaders a
The Day the Acorn Lady Received an Acorn in Birmingham, AL
This morning, I had the privilege of sharing space with the good people of Childcare Resources at their Sky’s the Limit Conference in beautiful Birmingham, Alabama. Childcare Resources is on a mission to ensure every child in Alabama gets the best possible start in life. They do the important work of supporting children and families because they understand what decades of research have shown us: quality early learning and care programs are a smart investment that can change t
The Village Engagement Matrix
I was once an acorn who grew into a Mighty Mighty Oak Tree™. Then, I had the great honor of having my own acorn and the privilege of watching him grow from infancy into a young adult who contributes positively to his community. My acorn is on the autism spectrum and was nonverbal until nearly five years old. He is now an oak tree who finished his first semester in college with a 4.0, marched in the marching band, and established meaningful relationships on his university’s ca
From Acorn to Mighty Mighty Oak Tree™
Every child begins as a precious acorn, full of promise, purpose, possibility, and personal greatness. Every acorn has the potential to grow into a Mighty Mighty Oak Tree™ that contributes to society and improves our quality of life in the future. Every acorn needs a Top-Notch Village™ that nurtures, protects, and supports healthy growth and development so it has the opportunity to grow into a Mighty Mighty Oak Tree™. Every Top-Notch Village™ needs Well-Prepared Soil™ that pr
Episode 1: From Autism Diagnosis to College Freshman - Why we started sharing our autism journey.
Why we started sharing our autism journey. Five years ago, my son was transitioning from the Sapling stage of development (3rd–7th grade) into the Young Tree stage (8th–12th grade) within the Village Engagement Matrix™. These recorded conversations capture growth, communication, self-awareness, relationship development, and lived experience as an emerging Young Tree. Throughout this series, we explore three interconnected elements of the Village Engagement Matrix™: The develo
