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conference 2025 early registration

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Welcome to Dallas and Explore the Visitor Guide

Build Community and Have Fun!

We believe in the power of you, and in the power of gathering, collaborating, and meeting in person.

NAFCC 2025 conference is just around the corner! This highly anticipated event promises to bring together family child care educators, advocates, ECE agencies and friends from across the country for an unforgettable experience of learning, networking, and inspiration.

  • Download the WHOVA App
  • Join the challenge boards
  • Ask and Answer questions with folks attending the conference
  • Engage with the 100 plus diverse workshop presenters
  • Find your Sessions and claim them

Sonia Manzano

Opening Keynote

Sonia Manzano
“Maria” on Sesame Street & Best-Selling Author

When you think of Sonia Manzano, you immediately think of children and television. Her most recent accomplishment was creating a children’s program, Alma’s Way, for PBS KIDs. It has won two Imagen Awards for Best Youth Programing, a 2022 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Preschool Animated Program and a 2023 NAACP nomination for an Image Award.

But what Ms. Manzano is best known for is performing the role of “Maria” on Sesame Street for 44 seasons, where her work affected the lives of millions of parents and children and garnered her two Emmy Award nominations in addition to the National Academy of Arts and Science’s Lifetime Achievement Daytime Emmy in 2016. As a writer for the show, she took home 15 Emmys. Also – Manzano recently received the 2022 Beacon Award from PBS.

She is also the author of four picture books and three Young Adult novels. Her most recent Scholastic novel, Coming Up Cuban, set in 1959, follows the lives of four children who represent different intersections of race and class during the Cuban Revolution.

Topics:

  • Multi-Racial Latinos & the Civil Rights Movement
  • From the South Bronx to Sesame Street: A Story of Inclusion & Belonging
  • Writing For Children
  • Children & Television

Sponsors

Thank you to this year’s sponsors.

Red Leaf

think small institute

Exhibitors

Thank you to this year’s exhibitors.

Red Leaf

think small institute

Conference CEUs

Auburn University will offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for conference attendees. All attendees are required to sign-in at each session they attend during the conference.

Continuing Education Units-Conference participants may earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Please note that Continuing Education Units (CEUs) transcript will be available for purchase ($10 for one transcript) within one month after the end date of conference. A link will be emailed to all participants who have signed the sign-in-sheets during the conference sessions.

For more information, please contact us at conference@nafcc.org.

Things To Know Before You Head To Conference

COVID/Health/Safety

If individuals are feeling sick NAFCC advises you not to attend the conference. As we are concerned for your health/safety and others. Thank you for your understanding. Safe Travels!

Currently:
The City of Dallas has lifted all COVID-19 related mandates, and the Hilton Anatole does not have any Covid-19 policies in place. However, some local businesses, tours & restaurants within the city may have Covid-19 policies requiring masks, proof of vaccination or negative test results to gain access to their facility. Please be sure to check the individual venue’s Covid-19 policies prior to arrival and/or purchasing tickets.

Upcoming Conferences

July 25th-July 27th, 2024
St. Louis

July 31st-August 2nd, 2025
Dallas, TX

July 16th -July 18th, 2026
Chicago, IL

July 15th-July 17th, 2027
Jacksonville, FL

NAFCC St. Louis Conference 2024 Recap