Smart Start of Forsyth County hosted its first-ever SPARK provider panel, bringing together prospective high school apprentices, childcare leaders, and education partners to showcase real-world career pathways in early childhood education.

Three provider partners shared their passion and expertise with attending students and families. Dineise Gibson from Quality Education Institute, Marquite Goodman from First Baptist Church Childcare Development Center, and Dennette Bailey from Bailey Preschool offered honest insights into daily life in early childhood centers—ranging from building meaningful relationships with children to supporting their developmental milestones.

The providers highlighted mentorship, professional growth opportunities, and the lasting impact educators have on young lives. "You get to watch them evolve, and then you learn also," shared one provider, emphasizing the reciprocal nature of the work.

The session explained SPARK's one-year apprenticeship model, which begins with Forsyth Tech's Child Care Academy and includes on-the-job training, professional development, and guaranteed wage increases from $11 to $15 per hour.

Graduates earn their CDA credential and Early Intervention Certificate, positioning them for $18/hour NC Pre-K assistant teacher roles.

Mary Phillips-Hanner (WSFCS CTE Coordinator), Linda Robinson (ApprenticeshipNC Consultant), and Melanie Pilson (Forsyth Tech NC Career Coach) joined the Smart Start team—Je'Lisa Myers (Program Coordinator), Glynnise Highsmith (VP of Early Childhood Initiatives), and Daniel Ferguson (Director of Workforce Innovation & Partnerships)—in supporting students exploring this vital career pathway.

Want to learn more before applications close? 

Join us for a final community night and provider panel on Monday, March 2nd, at 5:00 PM at Smart Start of Forsyth County (7820 N Point Blvd, Ste 200). Meet providers, get your questions answered, and RSVP by February 27th at PKI@smartstart-fc.org. Applications close March 6th!

Smart Start of Forsyth County is excited to announce a new partnership with a senior capstone team from UNC Chapel Hill. This spring, the student team will work alongside Smart Start staff to analyze childcare access across Forsyth County, with a focus on underserved communities. The project will include data mapping, research, and stakeholder input to help inform strategies for expanding high-quality early childhood care from 2026–2029. A final presentation is expected in late April. We look forward to this collaboration and the insights it will bring to our community!

Smart Start of Forsyth County had the privilege of presenting at the NAACP meeting, sharing our innovative approaches to male and family engagement in early childhood education. The presentation highlighted our evidence-based strategies and the critical importance of father figures in children's early development, sparking meaningful dialogue with community leaders and advocates.

Our M.A.L.E. (Males Aspiring Long-Term Excellence) Initiative and Family Engagement Leadership Program participants joined the community in honoring Dr. King's legacy at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast. This powerful gathering reinforced our commitment to service, equity, and community transformation—values that drive our work in early childhood education and family engagement.

Smart Start of Forsyth County administers the City of Winston-Salem Transformational Childcare Relief Initiative (City of Winston-Salem ARPA Initiative), an ARPA-funded program that supports family childcare educators in Winston-Salem's Qualified Census Tract communities, where 53% of children live in childcare deserts, and 28% of facilities closed due to COVID-19. The 3-year program provides comprehensive support to family childcare educators who care for infants and toddlers.

Current results are strong with 12 participating family childcare homes, all of which have earned a 4-star or 5-star rated license, 55 children across 165 families, with educators receiving

comprehensive support. Children are showing positive development across all domains using the Teaching Strategies Gold assessment system. This early implementation success demonstrates the program's effectiveness in enhancing childcare access, quality, and workforce stability in targeted communities.

This wonderful program, providing targeted support for infants and toddlers, is currently accepting applications for participation. Partner slots are still available for the grant project. If you are interested in joining the program, please contact Vanessa Sawyer-Wilson at 336 714-4379.

Early Educators & Child Care Provider Conference 2026

Fruits of Your Labor: Celebrating Early Education, Growth, and Teacher Impact

Date: Saturday, March 14, 2026

Time: 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Location: Strickland Center, Forsyth Technical Community College (1615 Miller Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27103)

Smart Start of Forsyth County invites early educators, childcare providers, directors, and administrators to our annual professional development conference on Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM at Forsyth Technical Community College.

This year's conference features an opening keynote from Andrea Anderson, "The Path to Excellence: Why NAEYC Accreditation Matters," followed by dynamic breakout sessions on NAFCC Accreditation, Family Engagement, Modernized QRIS, Social-Emotional Practices, and Moving Little Minds. The day includes a Lunch 'n Learn presenting trauma-informed models for early childhood and closes with The Black Box Dance Theatre bringing movement and expression.

Registration opened on January 19 for pre-registration (January 19–30) and on February 2 for full registration, which remains open through March 6.

The conference is free for Forsyth County early educators, and educators from surrounding counties are welcome to attend for a nominal fee. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Participants may earn 5–6 DCDEE-approved training hours, with CEUs available pending IACET accreditation approval.

For registration and general inquiries, contact the Conference Coordinator at (336) 725-6835 or TLSSinfo@smartstart-fc.org. For program content and CEU questions, contact Tabitha McAllister, VP of Programs, at tabitham@smartstart-fc.org.

Raising Forsyth 2026

Friday, April 10, 2026

5:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Millennium Event Center (101 W. 5th St., Winston-Salem, NC, 27101)

Party Like It’s 1999 — For a Purpose

Join Smart Start of Forsyth County for an unforgettable evening where purpose meets celebration at Raising Forsyth 2026.

For more than three decades, Smart Start has led the charge in strengthening early care and education across Forsyth County. This year, we’re celebrating that legacy — and the partners, educators, businesses, and champions who make it possible for every child to receive the strong foundation they deserve.

On Friday, April 10, 2026, the Millennium Event Center will transform into a vibrant 90s-inspired experience featuring a bold Prince colorway theme that invites guests to step up and step out. The evening will include:

• A live Prince tribute performance
• DJ entertainment spinning favorites from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s
• A lively dance floor
• Silent auction
• Full dinner service
• Powerful mission moments from individuals whose lives have been transformed

This is not just a celebration — it is a movement.

Every ticket purchased and every sponsorship secured fuels critical services that directly support more than 15,000 children and families each year, including:

• Emergency childcare assistance that keeps parents working
• Diaper Bank distribution for families in need
• Family Resource Center services
• Professional development that strengthens our early educator workforce

Become a Sponsor. Be a Champion.

Sponsorship opportunities range from $2,000 to $15,000, with all sponsors receiving event recognition, premium access, and a post-event impact report detailing how their investment changed lives.

Attend. Celebrate. Invest in the Future.

Individual tickets and tables are now available. Bring your team, your friends, or your family — and join the leaders who are shaping the future of Forsyth County.

To secure tickets or explore sponsorship opportunities, click the button below or visit:https://smartstart-fc.org/get-involved/raising-forsyth-2026/

For sponsorship inquiries, contact Marvin Fulwood III at marvinf@smartstart-fc.org.

Let’s party like it’s 1999 — and build the future while we do it.

Community Connection Carnival

Saturday, April 25, 2026

12:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Bolton Park (1590 Bolton St. SW, Winston-Salem, NC, 27103)

Join us for a day of family fun featuring games, resources, health screenings, and more! This FREE community event brings families together while connecting them with valuable early childhood resources.

Vendors Welcome! We are looking for businesses, nonprofits, and food vendors to join us. Sign up to be part of this exciting community event.

February is Black History Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the achievements, contributions, and resilience of Black Americans throughout history and today. From innovation and leadership to culture and community impact, Black history is an essential part of our shared story.

At Smart Start of Forsyth County, we remain committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where diversity is valued, voices are heard, and everyone feels respected and supported. This month—and every month—we encourage learning, reflection, and meaningful conversations that help strengthen our understanding of one another.

Together, we can continue building a workplace rooted in equity, respect, and opportunity for all.

This Black History Month, we recognize the vital contributions Black innovators have made to technology and IT—from early pioneers to today’s leaders shaping cybersecurity, software development, data science, and digital infrastructure.

Innovators like Mark Dean, who helped develop the personal computer, and many others have played a key role in advancing the technology we rely on every day. Their work continues to inspire progress, creativity, and inclusion across the IT field.

As an IT team, we’re committed to supporting technology that empowers people, protects data, and creates access and opportunity for all.

Experiment in Self-Reliance

Over 60 Years of Empowering

Families in Forsyth County

At Smart Start of Forsyth County, we know that strengthening families requires a network of dedicated partners working together. That's why we're proud to spotlight one of our valued community partners — Experiment in Self-Reliance (ESR).

Founded in 1964 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty, ESR is one of North Carolina's original 11 Community Action Agencies and has been a cornerstone of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County community for more than six decades. Their mission — to empower social and economic self-reliance for working low-income families — aligns closely with our shared goal of building stronger, more resilient households.

Meeting Families Where They Are



ESR takes a holistic, family-centered approach to breaking the cycle of generational poverty. Their case managers work with entire households to understand what success, stability, and upward mobility look like for each family, then tailor emotional, social, educational, and financial resources to meet those unique goals. This whole-family philosophy mirrors our own belief that when we invest in the well-being of the entire household, children thrive.

• Self-Sufficiency Program — One-on-one counseling to help low-income working households increase their standard of living and build lasting economic independence.
• New Century IDA — Helps individuals and families build assets, achieve first-time homeownership, or grow a small business through economic literacy training and matched savings.
• Forsyth Free Tax — Provides free tax preparation services each year for low-income residents, putting money back into the pockets of working families.
• Empowerment Series — Financial literacy sessions designed to challenge, teach, and prepare participants for a more financially secure future.

How You Can Get Involved

ESR offers multiple ways for community members to make a difference — whether through volunteering, attending events and trainings, or exploring career and internship opportunities. To learn more about how you can support their mission, visit www.eisr.org or check out their Get Involved page.

When You Love a Book by Kaz Windness

What happens when you truly love a book? It becomes part of who you are. This poetic celebration of reading explores how the stories we discover as children stay with us forever, growing and changing right along with us.

Through playful rhymes and tender illustrations, When You Love a Book reminds us that "a book is a friend found in all shapes and sizes, a buddy who's bound to be full of surprises." Young readers will delight in spotting clever nods to beloved classics tucked throughout the pages, while parents will recognize the profound truth at its heart—the books we read to our children today become the memories they carry tomorrow.

This heartwarming story is perfect for families who want to share their own love of reading with the next generation. Whether you're introducing your little one to their very first book or building a home library together, When You Love a Book celebrates that magical moment when a story captures a child's imagination and never lets go.



Winner of the 2025 CLEL Bell Award, this charming ode to readers of all ages shows us that when you love a book, you're never reading alone.

Wondering how to introduce Black History Month to your toddler or preschooler? Start simple and make it part of everyday life.

Young children learn best through stories, music, and play. Choose picture books featuring Black characters in everyday situations, not just historical figures. Listen to music from different Black artists and cultures during playtime or car rides. Point out Black excellence in your community: the pediatrician, teacher, store owner, or neighbor doing amazing things right now.

Make it ongoing, not just February. Black history is American history, and children benefit from seeing diverse faces and stories year-round in their books, toys, and daily experiences.

You're building their understanding one story at a time.