Inclusion Matters

Join our guests, Amanda Ziebell Mawanda, Art Rolnick, and Jamie Bonczyk in this three-part series as they discuss how budgeting decisions in the early childhood education sector translate into positive brain development in young children.  Barriers are highlighted as we talk through ways to foster organizational shifts, economic investment, stressing board recruitment and engagement as ways to support your organization’s work. 

Join our guests, Amanda Ziebell Mawanda, Art Rolnick, and Jamie Bonczyk in this three-part series as they discuss how budgeting decisions in the early childhood education sector translate into positive brain development in young children.  Barriers are highlighted as we talk through ways to foster organizational shifts, economic investment, stressing board recruitment and engagement as ways to support your organization’s work.   

Join us as we talk with Ashley Olthoff from the Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota.  She is the Director of the Family Connector Program, set up to help families feel more connected and be more equipped to navigate systems and access resources. For more information, please visit:https://dsamn.org/

Join us as we talk with Heather Stillwell, Strategic Initiatives Lead at the Southeastern Minnesota Center for Independent Living, Inc. (SEMCIL).  Learn about SEMCIL and the 5 Core Services which are provided free of charge to anyone who identifies as having a disability in the 11 counties in SE Minnesota.  Heather also explains that there are 8 other Centers for Independent Living that serve every county in Minnesota.  Listen for information on this amazing free support.

En este episodio de Inclusion Matters, damos la bienvenida a Angele Sancho Passe, autora de numerosos libros, uno de los cuales habla sobre el liderazgo y dirección de programas. Como líder, ¿cómo podemos apoyar a nuestro equipo de educadores, especialmente a los educadores que hablan español? Únase a nosotros en esta conversación donde hablamos sobre el importante papel que desempeña el liderazgo en el apoyo tanto a los educadores como a los niños. In this episode of Inclusion Matters, we welcome Angele Sancho Passe, author of many books, one of which highlights Leadership and Program Management. As a leader, how can we support our team of educators, especially Spanish-speaking educators? Join us in this insightful conversation in which we talk about the important role leadership plays in supporting both educators and children. 

Tracy Schreifels,  Executive Director of Ellison Center in St. Cloud, MN joins us for an important conversation centered around the pandemic and what it was like for young children and their families.  We discuss some key questions that can help us to begin to process the impact. What are our bodies holding related to this trauma?  How do we process and name our experiences so we can start to heal?  How do we help young children organize their experiences and move forward?   

Inclusion Matters welcomes Olivia Christensen and Jon Vaupel from the Minnesota Department of Education, Division of Early Learning to discuss supporting children and their learning pathway-starting with kindergarten.  This podcast highlights the Successful Learner Equation, which recognizes that children are always ready to learn and that it is the responsibility of adults and systems to be ready to support all children as they grow and develop, and as they transition to kindergarten.  Listen and learn more about this exciting way to look at a child’s foundation for learning.  

This podcast episode allows us to hear a unique perspective from a parent as she looks back over her family’s journey through a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.  Each path is unique in this process and we are able to hear the ups and downs from her individual perspective and learn what is working for her child, based on his needs.

Escuche a nuestra entrenadora de CICC, Karina Pliego Vergara, describir la forma en que el coaching gratuito de CICC puede mejorar y apoyar el trabajo que realiza como educador de la primera infancia para brindar atención de calidad a todos los niños. Listen as our CICC Coach, Karina Pliego Vergara describes the way CICC free coaching can enhance and support the work you do as an early childhood educator to provide quality care for all children.

Pediatric Occupational Therapist Alyssa Mason discusses sensory needs of trauma-affected young children, emphasizing recognizing triggers, personalized supports, and creating a secure environment. The podcast explores strategies for emotional well-being, co-regulation, and practical sensory support tools for children who have experienced trauma.