VOCEL

READY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VOCEL?💡 Join us virtually on August 1st and dive into our playful learning approach that supports the adults who care for our youngest learners. We will share insight into the VOCEL way, SEL practices that guide our work as well as our current offerings of programs for caregivers, educators, and school leaders! . . All are invited to join us whether you are curious about the work we do or you are interested in bringing VOCEL to your community, we hope to see you there! Click the link below to RSVP: https://lnkd.in/g43nz6QH

Join us on September 19th at Rockwell on the River for GROW: VOCEL's Annual Benefit Dinner! On the heels of our 10th Anniversary, VOCEL is setting a bold vision to triple the number of young children we reach by 2029 — by growing our programs for parents, early childhood teachers, and school leaders in Chicago and Chicagoland. At GROW, you'll experience our latest creative take on a joyful fundraising event and learn how we plan to achieve this growth in partnership with families, educators, communities, and champions. Tickets to GROW include a seated dinner program, an open bar, optional valet parking, and hands-on opportunities to play, build, and invest. Grab yours today at www.vocel.org/grow!

📣 Calling all CPS educators, school leaders, and community-based organizations serving families with children ages 0-4 🎉 🌟 Join our virtual info session and unlock a world of possibilities as we dive into our family program offerings and professional development opportunities for teachers, and school leaders. 🏫👩👧👨🏫 Don't miss out on this chance to gain valuable insight from members of our team and find out how VOCEL can enhance early learning in your community! 👉 Click the link below to reserve your spot today and SHARE with someone in your network who can benefit from FREE early learning programs for children ages 0-4 and the adults who care for them💫💙 https://lnkd.in/g-G68Rka #education #virtualinfo #learningopportunities #investinearlylearning #communityprograms #cpspartner #vocel

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to our summer interns Dulcemaria Rincon & America Salgado. They will be working in collaboration with our program team to support recruitment and engagement efforts over the summer at VOCEL and we are so thrilled to continue nurturing their professional growth this summer. This opportunity was made possible by our partnership with The CAFE Group which connects college sophomores and managers in social impact with the experiences and networks necessary to excel. They will be providing practical insights and professional development opportunities that prepare interns to be the next generation of change-makers in education and philanthropy. #socialimpact #nonprofit #summerinternships #paidinternships #buildingequity #promotingchange

Last week we celebrated the end of the year for our Building Early Learning Leaders (BELL) and Early Educators for Thriving Children (EETC) cohorts. Teachers and school leaders gathered with us for some celebratory toasts featuring summery vibes and a DIY bouquet station put together by our Member Experience Manager Julio Rodriguez and our Senior Program Manager of EETC Jamie Huenink  . . Congratulations to all the fellows who graduated after two years of hard work and dedication to the program. We are so glad that you committed to advancing early learning at your schools. This work could not be done without your continued partnership and support! . . Applications for our SY25 BELL & EETC cohorts are now live on our website! Click the link below for more info or reach out to our Partnerships Manager Deb Perez at deb@vocel.org!

Last month we gathered with our Powered by VOCEL Leaders to celebrate their growth for this school year 🌺 Our fantastic team organized a celebration lunch where parents and caregivers were invited to reflect on their accomplishments and celebrate each other 👏👏🍹✨️🙌⁠ .⁠ .⁠ Thank you to our Senior Program Manager of Powered by VOCEL, Nelly Pineda, and our Family Support Manager Dolores Vaca for stewarding our caregiver leaders through an amazing school year. A special thank you to the leaders who signed up to facilitate the Child Parent Class at their school this year. We are thrilled to continue nurturing communities of early-learning champions alongside you all ✨️🙌⁠

Check out some pics from our annual Trivia Night last month! Thank you to all for celebrating with us. It’s truly touching to see so many folks come together to support our mission to help all young kids thrive – all while engaging in some friendly yet very competitive trivia, of course! . . Together, we raised over $9,900 to support VOCEL’s child-focused programs for parents and caregivers, teachers, and school leaders for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. In the past year alone, VOCEL has reached 6,000 young children – and we’ve just set an ambitious plan to more than triple our impact over the next five years, reaching over 20,000 children annually by 2029. We’re deeply grateful for your support as we kick off this exciting new chapter of growth for our community.  . . Curious to learn more about serving on our Associate Board? Please reach out to our Development Manager, Anais at anais@vocel.org.

Last week our💡Early Educators for Thriving Children cohort met at our office space for their last session focused on building a community of care. We examined the impact of play-based learning and identified practical ways they can create a community of care as educators within their schools. We ended the workshop with a playful activity where educators got to create sensory bins to enjoy! . . Applications for our SY25 cohort are now available online at the link below! We welcome all prek-2nd grade teachers looking to grow their teacher network and strengthen their approach to play-based learning. ✨️ https://lnkd.in/g-RbBYm7 . . #earlyeducators #investinteachers #earlylearningmatters #playbasedlearning #teachercohort #cpsteachers #vocel

There is still time to sign up and join us virtually next week for our BELL and EETC info sessions. SWIPE through the post below to view more info and click the links to RSVP!

“VOCEL’s special sauce truly makes them stand out: 1. Strong Entry Point for Families: VOCEL excels in welcoming families into the education system, fostering trust, and engaging parents through developmentally appropriate activities. 2. Comprehensive Early Childhood Education Programs: Their programs not only enhance the capabilities of teachers and school leaders but also significantly impact underserved families, creating a robust ECE culture. 3. Innovative Play-Based Learning: VOCEL leads with a play-based approach that underscores the developmental benefits of play, promoting high-quality, human-centered, and joyful learning experiences.” What a joy it was to work alongside you Alberto Morales, MPA and Grisel Maldonado, MBA throughout this process! We can’t wait to put this strategic plan into action 👏👏🙌🙌