For the first time in almost three years, staff and select partners gathered for the Child Care Aware of Minnesota Institute on May 5 and 6 in Minneapolis. The Institute is a biennial training event for Child Care Aware network staff and partners hosted by the Child Care Aware of Minnesota Coordinating Office. This year’s theme was “Harnessing the Power of Self-awareness to Build an Intercultural Mindset.” Over 150 attendees had the opportunity to join four breakout sessions, which focused on exploring self-awareness to improve our understanding of other cultures.

Reverend Anthony Galloway was the featured Keynote Speaker in “Stuff You Missed in ‘Racial’ History Class: Telling the Stories We Don’t Often Hear.” This address explored the historical narratives that are often missing from historical and racial discourse.

Strengthening our commitment to intercultural understanding is crucial to continue building an equitable early care and education system for the children and families of Minnesota. As a network, we appreciated this opportunity to learn from experts and each other.