Transform Your Family's Future

BCDI-Atlanta’s Family Empowerment Program

BCDI-Atlanta, in partnership with NBCDI, invites parents and caregivers of young children to participate in our Family Empowerment Program, a 10-week educational experience designed to strengthen families, build advocacy skills, and connect parents with one another.

This program is designed for parents and caregivers of young children who want to deepen their knowledge, strengthen their voice, and become stronger advocates for their children and their communities.

Registration is required, and space is limited. We encourage interested families to register early!

📅 Event Details:

Date: October 1, 2026 - December 10, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: In-person and Virtual (Zoom)

Click Here to RSVP and Secure Your Spot!

WANDA and BCDI-Atlanta Convene Leaders to Reimagine Maternal and Child Health Through Food During Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

Join WANDA (Women Advancing Nutrition, Dietetics and Agriculture) and Black Child Development Institute–Atlanta for an intimate evening celebrating Black maternal and child health during the Black Mamas Matter Alliance Conference. This intimate evening brings together mothers, birth workers, healthcare professionals, educators, advocates, and community leaders to explore bold ideas around nutrition as infrastructure.

Together, WANDA and BCDI-Atlanta are helping shift the conversation—from treating disease after it develops to investing in mothers and babies from the very beginning. We'll explore how food, culture, storytelling, and community can transform maternal and child health while strengthening the next generation of healthy eaters, readers, and leaders.

✨ Special Guest: Kendall Rae Johnson, Founder of aGROWkulture and Georgia's youngest certified farmer, whose inspiring leadership demonstrates that healthy habits—and healthy futures—can begin in childhood.

What You'll Experience

A chef-inspired dinner in one of Atlanta's most historic gathering places
Meaningful conversation on maternal and child nutrition
Insights from national leaders in maternal health
Networking with healthcare, nonprofit, education, and food system professionals
A preview of WANDA's growing initiatives, including NOURISH Maternal Food as Medicine and WANDA's World

📅 Friday, September 11, 2026

🕕 6:00 PM

📍 Paschal's Restaurant – Private Dining Room, Atlanta

Admission: $65 per person. The ticket includes beverages, appetizers, a meal, and dessert.

Your ticket supports maternal nutrition education, WANDA Scholars, and NOURISH Maternal Food as Medicine.

Why This Matters

Black mothers are among the nation's most influential decision-makers when it comes to food, health, and family well-being. Supporting them with trusted nutrition education, community, and practical resources doesn't just improve birth outcomes; it helps shape healthier children, stronger families, and more resilient communities.

This evening celebrates Black mothers not simply as caregivers but as community builders, educators, food leaders, and architects of healthier futures.

Purchase your ticket today and join us as we set the table for healthier mothers, healthier children, and healthier futures.

Space is intentionally limited to foster authentic conversation and meaningful connections.

L.E.A.N. Lattes & Learning

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 · 6:30 - 8:00 pm

Join us for an engaging conversation about the power of civic engagement and the role we all play in shaping decisions that affect children, families, educators, and communities.

This month, we’ll explore the connection between equity, leadership, civic engagement, and policy in early childhood education (ECE). While the conversation is grounded in ECE, it is for everyone.

Strong early childhood systems require more than early childhood professionals. They depend on families, communities, leaders, advocates, and engaged citizens who understand the issues and are willing to use their voices. This nonpartisan, highly interactive conversation will explore how decisions affect our communities, where we have influence, and how we can participate in meaningful ways.

Come ready to:

Reflect on where you have influence
Explore how policy affects real people
Consider issues through an equity lens
Learn about different forms of civic engagement
Practice using your voice
Identify one step you can take

While our conversation is grounded in ECE, it's for everyone!

BCDI-Atlanta 8th Annual Culturally Responsive Early
Education & Care Leadership Summit

BCDI-Atlanta invites educators, trainers, leaders, advocates, policymakers, families, and community partners to move beyond ideas and into action. This year’s theme, From Vision to Reality: Building the Future Our Children Deserve, challenges us to build on the knowledge, wisdom, and aspirations of our communities to create lasting, systemic change. We are seeking dynamic trainers and workshop facilitators to deliver actionable, culturally responsive sessions that empower participants to build the future our children deserve.

We invite proposals for 60- to 75-minute interactive workshops and presentations centered on cultural responsiveness, equity, and collective responsibility. Proposals should align with one or more of the following strands:

Leadership & Policy Advocacy: Equipping ECE leaders with strategies to drive systemic change and advance policy equity.
Family & Community Engagement: Elevating practices that foster authentic partnerships, build trust, and honor family heritage.
Workforce Development & Wellness: Strengthening, sustaining, and supporting early childhood educators and care professionals.
Educational Excellence & Culturally Responsive Practice: Delivering innovative curricula, learning strategies, and environments that celebrate Black child development.

Key Dates & Details

Proposal Submission Deadline: Friday, October 30, 2026
Notification of Acceptance: Late November 2026
Summit Date: Wednesday, February 17, 2027
Location: Atlanta, GA

To submit your workshop proposal, please complete the online submission form here.

Expand ECE Fellowship Apply Now!

We are excited to offer a unique opportunity for individuals passionate about early childhood education. Our fellowship program is designed to support and empower future educators through hands-on experience, mentorship, and professional development.

Program Highlights:

Hands-On Experience: Engage in culturally responsive early childhood education practices.
Mentorship: Receive guidance from experienced educators and professionals in the field.
Professional Development: Participate in opportunities that enhance your skills and expand your professional network.
Education Coaching: Fellows will be assigned to an education coach to support their academic journey toward an Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Early Education.

Who Should Apply:

Individuals passionate about making a difference in early education.
Those seeking to engage with their communities and advocate for positive change.
Educators aspiring to grow professionally and expand their impact.

Apply Today!

Take the next step in your career and join our transformative fellowship program.

Learn more and apply.

FAQ

Tap any of the Community Engagement photos to get the latest updates on our local partnerships and upcoming events.

On behalf of BCDI-Atlanta, we would like to express our gratitude for inviting us to contribute to your literacy initiative. It was an honor to donate culturally responsive books to your primary students in celebration of your Father’s Do Read event on Friday, September 18, 2026. We truly appreciate your partnership in celebrating families and promoting a love of reading from the very beginning. Thank you for all that you do for your students and their families. We look forward to future opportunities to collaborate!

DECAL and the Workforce Supports & Learning Unit have launched the Early Care and Education Substitute Teacher Registry. The Substitute Teacher Registry was developed to help address one of the most significant challenges facing child care programs across Georgia: maintaining adequate staffing to ensure continuity of high-quality care and education for young children. The registry connects licensed child care programs with individuals who have completed the required Substitute Teacher Micro-Credential and want to provide substitute services in early learning settings.

The registry is managed through the Georgia Professional Development System (GaPDS) and allows programs to search for qualified substitute teachers by location and age group experience.

Goals of the Substitute Teacher Registry

The registry is designed to:

Increase access to qualified substitute teachers for early care and education programs across Georgia.
Help reduce classroom closures and staffing disruptions.
Support workforce stability and program continuity.
Create opportunities for individuals interested in gaining experience in early childhood education.
Build a pipeline of future early childhood professionals, including students, career changers, and individuals exploring the field.

Who Might Be Interested?

We believe the registry may be particularly beneficial for:

College and technical college students pursuing early childhood education or related fields.
CDA candidates and current CDA students.
Retired educators.
Individuals seeking part-time or flexible work opportunities.
Current early childhood professionals looking to expand their experience.
Career changers interested in entering the early care and education field.