• 2027 ECE Conference RFP

  • First 8 Memphis 2027 ECE Conference

    Innovate, Inspire, Impact: Transforming Early Care and Education

    Thank you for your interest in presenting at the First 8 Memphis Early Care & Education Conference! 

    We are excited to bring local and regional early childhood professionals together to learn from one another, strengthen our practices, and celebrate the work happening across our field. We invite workshop proposals steeped in child development and infant and early childhood mental health that offer practical strategies, fresh perspectives, and meaningful learning for our diverse early care and education (ECE) community. 

    While all session topics are welcome, the following topics are areas of interest and learning for our ECE community: 

    • Support children’s mental health and social-emotional development, respond to challenging behaviors
    • Strengthen teaching and learning through literacy, STEM, play, and infant and toddler practice.
    • Create inclusive learning environments for children with development delays, disabilities and/or multilingual learners.
    • Support educator well-being and self-care.
    • Strengthen program administration and explore business solutions for ECE settings.
    • Engage in advocacy that advances the needs of young children, families, and the ECE workforce.

    Your workshop submission should reflect our diverse audience, including educators, practitioners, program leaders, mental health clinicians, researchers, family-serving professionals, advocates and others who support young children. 

    The workshop application takes approximately 60–90 minutes to complete and will guide you through all required sections. Proposals with missing required information will be considered incomplete.

    Proposals are due Friday, November 13, 2026. Submissions cannot be edited after the deadline. For questions or assistance, please email conference@first8memphis.org.

    Timeline

    • RFP Opens: October 1, 2026
    • RFP Closes: November 13, 2026
    • Session Selections Announced: December 10, 2026
    • Speaker Confirmation Deadline: December 18, 2026
    • Speaker Onboarding: December–January
    • Final Presentations & Materials Due: March 1, 2027
    • Conference: April 3, 2027
  • Have you presented at other conferences?*
  • Race/Ethnicity (Select all that apply for you and the other presenters)*
  • Gender Identity (select all that apply for you and the other presenters)*
  • Are you located in a rural, suburban, or urban area?*
  • Do you identify as a member of any of the following communities? (Check all that apply)*

  • Additional Presenters

    You may include up to three (3) additional presenters, include these details for each additional presenter:

    • Full name (w/ post-nominal letters)
    • E-Mail
    • Organization (if it should be included with your name in program listing)
  • Has this presenter presented at other conferences?*
  • Has this presenter presented at other conferences?*
  • Has this presenter presented at other conferences?*

  • The Proposed Session

    In this section, please detail the session title and type you wish to present during the conference

  • Session Types

    • Lecture Session - A single presenter or a duo delivers a structured talk on a specific topic, often including slides or other visual aids.
    • Panel Discussion - A group of experts discuss a topic or issue, with a single moderator. Audience Q&A follows.
    • Issue Intensive - Deep-dive workshops focused on a pressing issue, with facilitated discussions, activities, and actionable outcomes.
    • Fireside Chat - A relaxed, conversational format featuring a moderator and one or two guests discussing a specific topic.
    • Case Study Showcase - Presentations that highlight real-world examples of programs, interventions, or research in action.
    • Innovation Lab - Creative problem-solving sessions where participants collaborate to generate innovative solutions to real-world challenges.
    • Experiential Learning Space - Interactive exhibits or environments replicating best practices or educational settings.
  • Session Types Selection*
  • If your submission is not accepted in your chosen format, are you interested in sharing your proposed content in a different type of session and/or other format? (select all that apply)*
  • Primary target audience: Early Childhood Discipline*
  • Second target audience: Early Childhood Discipline (select one)*
  • Target Audience's Role (select all the apply)*
  • Select the primary Memphis and Shelby County early care and education System Pillar or system enabler that your proposed content will cover. These five pillars and eight enablers constitute the main elements of the system and are where First 8 Memphis supports practitioners in the direct service of the care and education of young children.*

  • The First 8 Memphis ECE Conference aims to educate and inform learners across various disciplines and at different learning levels:

    • Introductory Learners: New to the field or topic, seeking to understand basic concepts, frameworks, and principles.
    • Intermediate Learners: Understand foundational principles but are looking to deepen their knowledge.
    • Advanced Learners: Deep understanding of the field and current challenges.

    Based on your session topic and set-up/format, provide three (3) learning objectives aligned to the target audience's learning level. We have provided starters for each learning level below:

    Introductory Learners

    • Define key terms and concepts related to...
    • Identify the foundational principles of...
    • Recognize the basic components or structure of...
    • Describe the purpose and importance of...
    • Explain how [concept/practice] is used in early childhood education.
    • List the steps involved in...
    • Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamentals of...
    • Understand the role of [concept/practice] in achieving...

    Intermediate Learners

    • Apply [concepts or practices] to real-world scenarios in...
    • Analyze the effectiveness of [approach/tool] in specific contexts.
    • Explore strategies to address common challenges in...
    • Evaluate the impact of [technique/program] on...
    • Develop a plan or framework for implementing...
    • Integrate evidence-based practices into...
    • Assess the strengths and limitations of [method/theory].
    • Practice using [tools/strategies] to enhance outcomes in...

    Advanced Learners

    • Critique current policies or methodologies in...
    • Design innovative solutions for addressing challenges in...
    • Synthesize research findings to propose...
    • Lead a discussion or initiative on...
    • Collaborate with peers to create systemic strategies for...
    • Influence policy or organizational change through...
    • Advance the field by applying emerging trends in...
    • Propose new frameworks or models for improving...

  • Session Overview

    In 75 (min) - 100 (max) words, describe the essential elements of the proposed session: the focus of your content and how you intend to engage learners. If your proposal is accepted, this description is subject to editing and use in First 8 Memphis ECE Conference materials.

  • 0/100
  • 0/50

  • Evidence-Base

    As we continue to foster growth and knowledge across our learning community it is important that evidence is rooted in evidence from the field. Please provide three (3) empirical references dated within the past 5 years you will use to support your session. You may also use up to three (3) additional references to nondominant bodies of knowledge you plan to use to support your session.

    Example: Phillips, D., Lipsey, M. W., Dodge, K. A., Haskins, R., Bassok, D., Burchinal, M., ... & Weiland, C. (2023). Puzzling it out: The current state of scientific knowledge on pre-kindergarten effects. A consensus statement. Brookings Institution.
    Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu

     

  • Browse Files
    Drag and drop files here
    Choose a file
    Cancelof
  • Should be Empty: