First 8 Memphis

⏰ Tomorrow (7/31) is the last day to complete our School Readiness Advisory Committee Interest Form! 💚💜

The future of school readiness in Memphis and Shelby County shouldn't be shaped by one organization; it should be shaped by the people who know children best. That's why we are bringing together families, educators, caregivers, healthcare professionals, advocates, and other invested community members to share their voices.

If you're passionate about helping young children thrive, we hope you'll consider joining this important community effort.

📝 Complete the interest form by July 31 to learn more about joining the Advisory Committee and participating in upcoming community focus sessions.

🔗 bit.ly/F8ready

Together, we can help build a stronger foundation for every child. 💚💜

If you're a parent, guardian, primary caregiver, or other family member of a child ages 3–5, your voice can help shape the future of school readiness in our community. 💚💜

First 8 Memphis is bringing together community voices through a new School Readiness Advisory Committee to help build a community-driven School Readiness Strategy for Memphis and Shelby County. We're looking for family members of young children to share their experiences and perspectives through the Advisory Committee and upcoming community focus sessions.

💸 Family participants selected to participate will receive a $50 stipend in appreciation of their time.

⭐ We're also seeking interest from educators, childcare providers, healthcare professionals, advocates, and other community members who are passionate about helping young children thrive.

📝 Complete our interest form by July 31 to learn more about joining the Advisory Committee and participating in upcoming community focus sessions.

🔗 bit.ly/F8ready

What does it take to prepare a child for Kindergarten? We want to hear from parents, caregivers, and everyone who helps young children thrive. 💚💜

First 8 Memphis is convening a School Readiness Advisory Committee to help shape a community-driven strategy for Memphis and Shelby County, and we're inviting families, educators, healthcare professionals, community organizations, and advocates to be part of the conversation.

Together, we'll help define what "school readiness" means for our community and identify the supports children need to succeed from their earliest years through school and beyond.

📝 Complete our interest survey by July 31 to receive information about upcoming community focus sessions and learn how you can get involved.

🔗 bit.ly/F8ready.

Please help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity with parents, caregivers, educators, and others in your network. 💚💜

First 8 Memphis

On the 8th of every month, we invite you to give $8 to support children ages 0–8 across Memphis and Shelby County. Your $8 helps:

- Expand access to high-quality early care and education (ECE)
- Strengthen ECE classrooms
- Support families navigating early care
- Advocate for policies that benefit ECE

Give any variation of $8 ($38, $88, $800)! first8memphis.org/donate

Language shapes so much more than the words children speak. It shapes identity, belonging, relationships, and learning.

During our latest First 8 Years Speaker Series, we explored how educators and caregivers can better support multilingual children and families while recognizing the many strengths they bring to our classrooms and communities.

Drawing from decades of research, her own lived experience as a multilingual learner, and years of work in child development, our keynote speaker, Dr. Samina Hadi-Tabassum, challenged many long-held myths about bilingualism while highlighting the remarkable capacity of young children to learn language.

Some of the session's biggest takeaways included:

💙 Language development begins before birth.
💙 Human connection—not technology—is how young children learn language.
💙 Speaking multiple languages is an asset, not a barrier.
💙 Every child's language journey is unique.
💙 Families' home languages and cultures should be celebrated.

👉 Watch the full session and explore additional insights: bit.ly/4p1jog3

Final week to register for the 2026–27 Early Care & Education (ECE) Providers Training Series! 💚💜

Today's early childhood educators are navigating complex challenges in and beyond the classroom. Ongoing support, practical tools, and professional learning can help them meet those challenges with confidence.

This 10-month professional learning opportunity is designed to equip ECE professionals with research-informed strategies to support students, teachers, and classroom communities in addressing challenging behaviors.

From social-emotional learning and family engagement to classroom management and developmentally appropriate practices, this series is rooted in the real needs of today's early childhood workforce.

Don't miss this chance to invest in your professional growth while making an even greater impact on the children and families you serve!

✨ Practical tools and strategies you can apply immediately
✨ Support for managing challenging behaviors & strengthening classroom culture
✨ TrainTN-approved training hours
✨ $1,050 stipend for full participation

⏰ Registration closes July 1, 2026.
👉 Get complete details and register today: bit.ly/4nz8de7

First 8 Memphis | Join the Early Learning Movement Today Explore First 8 Memphis for early childhood education, Pre-K programs, community involvement, and initiatives promoting children's lifelong success in Memphis and Shelby County.

⏰ TOMORROW: Don't miss out on our next installment of the First 8 Years Speaker Series 💚💜

More children than ever are growing up in multilingual households and classrooms. But are we prepared to support them?

There's still time to register for this important virtual discussion, "Two Languages, One Child: Understanding Identity, Language & Learning."

Drawing from both personal experience and professional expertise, keynote speaker Samina Hadi-Tabassum of Dominican University will explore how language, culture, identity, and belonging shape early childhood development.

Whether you work in a classroom, childcare center, school, nonprofit, or community organization, this conversation will provide practical strategies and valuable perspectives you can apply immediately.

✨ Understand multilingual language development
✨ Learn why home languages matter
✨ Recognize language differences vs. developmental concerns
✨ Gain tools to better support multilingual learners

We hope you'll join us! 💚💜

🎟️ REGISTER NOW: bit.ly/F8MSpeakerSeries-June2026

We're just one week away! 💚💜

Language is more than communication. It's identity. It's belonging. It's family. It's how children connect with the world around them.

Join us on Zoom Tuesday, June 23, 12-2 p.m. CST, for the next installment of the First 8 Years Speaker Series—Two Languages, One Child: Understanding Identity, Language, and Learning.

Our guest keynote speaker, Samina Hadi-Tabassum, is the Senior Academic Director at Dominican University and a leading voice on bilingual education, language development, cultural identity, and educational equity.

✨ Samina will share practical strategies and insights to help educators, providers, advocates, and community leaders better support multilingual children and families.

🎟️ Registration for this virtual event is still open: bit.ly/F8MSpeakerSeries-June2026

Meet the keynote speaker for our upcoming First 8 Years Speaker Series event: Samina Hadi-Tabassum 💚💜

🎟️ Register today: bit.ly/F8MSpeakerSeries-June2026

As Senior Academic Director at Dominican University, Samina's work focuses on the intersection of language, culture, identity, and education. Her research and professional experience span bilingual and dual language education, literacy and language development, teacher preparation, and educational equity.

On June 23, Samina will lead a virtual discussion on "Two Languages, One Child: Understanding Identity, Language, and Learning."

Together, we'll explore:
• How multilingual children develop language skills
• Why home languages matter
• How to recognize language differences vs. developmental concerns
• Practical strategies for supporting multilingual learners and families

Whether you work in a classroom, childcare center, school, or community organization, or you're simply an advocate for early childhood education and care, this conversation will provide valuable insights for supporting children and families in an increasingly diverse world.

We hope you'll join us Tuesday, June 23, 12–2 p.m. CST!

🔗 Learn more about Samina: saminahaditabassum.com

More children than ever are growing up in multilingual households and classrooms. But are we prepared to support them?

The First 8 Years Speaker Series returns Tuesday, June 23, to explore this topic, and registration is open now. 💚💜

What happens when a child speaks one language at home and another at school? How can educators distinguish between language differences and developmental concerns?

⏰ Join us from 12–2 p.m. CST for a virtual lunch and learn: "Two Languages, One Child: Understanding Identity, Language & Learning."

Led by Samina Hadi-Tabassum, Senior Academic Director at Dominican University, this engaging discussion will examine how language, culture, identity, and belonging shape early childhood development, and what we can do to better support multilingual children and families.

Whether you work in a classroom, childcare center, or community organization, or you're simply an advocate for early childhood care and education, you'll gain practical strategies and valuable insights to support children and families in an increasingly diverse world.

🎟️ Reserve your spot today: bit.ly/F8MSpeakerSeries-June2026

First 8 Memphis | Join the Early Learning Movement Today Explore First 8 Memphis for early childhood education, Pre-K programs, community involvement, and initiatives promoting children's lifelong success in Memphis and Shelby County.