The R.E.S.T Conference
The R.E.S.T. Conference is a national convening hosted by the Early Childhood Leaders of Color (EC LOC) Collaborative and its members.
Our 3-day program creates space for EC LOC to build community, share learnings, laugh, explore, and celebrate our contributions to our communities and the early childhood field.
R.E.S.T. stands for Restoration, Enlightenment, Solidarity, and Transformation. Explore each theme below.
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Take the time to rejuvenate and replenish. Restoration is essential for sustained leadership.
"Restoration" represents a heartfelt call to reconnect with one's inner self and the essence of one's actions. It embodies a healing embrace, a safe haven where individuals can rediscover their core energies and find a space to rejuvenate, recover, and thrive.
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Embrace the opportunity to learn, grow, and gain new insights. Relationships illuminate our path as leaders.
Enlightenment embodies the awakening of profound awareness, stemming from our deep connection with a shared purpose. It signifies the realization of our collective potential and the understanding that, as leaders of color, our narratives and experiences possess invaluable wisdom to guide the early childhood sector.
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Connect with fellow leaders. Forge bonds and foster a sense of community that transcends the conference walls.
Solidarity represents the unbreakable bond that unites leaders of color, serving as a testament to our shared journeys, aspirations, and obstacles. It's a unity that magnifies our collective voice, fortifying our determination to create inclusive spaces where every leader is acknowledged, heard, and empowered.
Leadership is not a solitary path; it's about building bridges, forging connections, and drawing strength from unity.
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Be open to transformation—personal and professional—that can arise from the shared experiences and wisdom within this community.
Transformation embodies the profound metamorphosis that unfolds when leaders of color unite, collaborate, and co-create. It signifies a radical departure from existing paradigms, ushering in a new reality where equity, inclusivity, and liberation are not merely ideals but tangible, lived experiences for every early childhood leader of color.
Registration Now Open!
Join us in New Orleans, April 29th - May 1st, for the 2025 R.E.S.T. Conference!
Reach out to ecloc@promisestudio.org to learn how you can get involved.
The R.E.S.T. Conference is offered cost-free, removing financial barriers so leaders can fully engage in transformative work. Sponsoring the conference supports each leader and hundreds of early childhood development (ECD) initiatives that strengthen children, families, communities, and the workforce.
Supported By
Collaborative Sponsors
Institutional Investors
About the EC LOC Collaborative
Launched in September 2022, the EC LOC Collaborative is a national, self-organized network for leaders of color in early childhood.
We dream that the Collaborative is a transformative network for members because it is designed by, for, and with them. We strive to center our voices, needs, and aspirations. This practice of co-design and co-creation in community is essential.
At present, we have over 150 active members across 31 states, representing various areas of early childhood. We believe increasing the sustainability, social capital, and power of proximate leaders in the ECD field will lead to thriving, liberated environments for children, prenatal to five, nationwide.