Do Your Homework
Anyone attending the conference for the first time would benefit from sharpening their foundational understanding of the legislation, policies, and budgetary targets that help champion their work. Having been equipped with HSH Impact Report I was able to quickly share information about our work here in Detroit. Something like this was critical when networking and connecting to the right decision-makers and leaders attending the policy conference and assisted me in intersecting with diverse sectors being championed from arts and mobility to land tax and Medicaid. Click here to see our impact report.
Remembering is a Key Ingredient of Vision
Shared history and historical context are rooted in understanding many factors driving today’s inequities. While inequities are felt and faced differently in communities across our state, our connection to our shared story can help us prioritize the collective future equitably. For example, remembering how crucial education was when the education system was collectively established in the 19th century will help us prioritize shifting the existing inequities that have placed early childhood burdens on mothers to this day. Reminding me how important it is to ensure that we continue to value no data without stories and no stories without data as we document our journey of collective impact.

A fish seller shows off his goods. A woman in the background washes cloths. A mother nurses her child. In the middle of their workday, these townspeople enjoy a lively Tarntella, a dance named after the frenzied movements brought on by the bite of a spider – the tarantula. Photo courtesy of Jeremiah White.
The Care Economy
During my time moving in and out of discussions from returning jobs, creating jobs, or attracting new employees, there was a place for childcare in the economic success of our communities and families across the state. It was understood that families make decisions about where they will live based on whether they can get ahead by working hard and the quality of care available to them and their children.
After attending the conference, I am deeply inspired to continue our work together, and I imagine what returns we could see from early childhood districts in the future of our state’s care economy.