The 17th NAREA Summer Conference

We are delighted to welcome everyone to the 17^th NAREA Summer Conference: Creating Conditions for Learning and Living in Schools for Young Children: Reggio Emilia’s Experience. Through the years, NAREA and Reggio Children formed an alliance to bring professional development opportunities to over 250,000 educators, families, advocates, policymakers, and community members across North America. We value past collaborations and look forward to a future filled with new opportunities that include the co-actions of NAREA, Reggio Children, and educators in North America. The current global crisis has re-taught us that when we stand and act together, we can make positive changes in the world.

NAREA envisions a world where all children and all adults are respected for their humanity. So, like you, we stand with children, families, and educators to promote and defend children’s rights to be seen and valued as citizens with agency and intelligence. We enthusiastically join Reggio Emilia in ever-evolving research and action for excellence in education.

With great pleasure and gratitude, we welcome our colleagues Laura Castagnetti, Elena Maccaferri, Moira Nicolosi, and interpreter Jane McCall from Reggio Emilia, Italy. Through their sharing and exchange, we will continue to construct strong interpretations of the values, principles, and experiences of the municipal infant-toddler centers and preschools of Reggio Emilia. With deep appreciation, we recognize those who worked to make this virtual event a reality—during a period of tremendous uncertainty. We know we speak for all of us in thanking the community of Reggio Emilia, including Reggio Children and Istituzione, for all they are doing to move education to a position of priority globally.

By joining with others in professional formation and embracing a virtual way of being together, you demonstrate your dedication to the children and families that share your daily life. We realize this year has held many challenges for teachers and schools, so it is with great respect and understanding that we encourage you as you invest in an approach that values the exchange of ideas, on-going study, research, innovation, and collaboration. Please enjoy this time of comparison of ideas, co-participation, and co-responsibility.