The SMC Public Policy Institute, Santa Monica Early Childhood Task Force, SMC Education/Early Childhood, and SMC Dance will host a three-day forum titled "Education in 2025: Meeting Challenges through Community, Creativity, and Collaboration" Nov. 17-19.
The forum launches Monday, Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the Santa Monica Main Library's Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., with a screening of "Make A Circle," a documentary examining challenges facing early childhood educators.
The screening will feature a panel of experts including former Santa Monica Mayor Gleam Davis and Erika Bell, co-chairs of the Santa Monica Early Childhood Task Force. Santa Monica City Manager Oliver Chi will deliver opening remarks.
From an award-winning filmmaking team, "Make A Circle" follows child care providers working to change how society values early childhood education. The documentary weaves together classroom experiences, personal struggles, and activism efforts, presenting a portrait of life as an early childhood educator and proposing solutions for the child care system.
Tuesday and Wednesday programming will feature SMC early childhood educators and movement artists discussing their approaches to current policy and cultural challenges. The PPI's Fall Forum continues with its annual collaboration with Westside Ballet of Santa Monica's "The Nutcracker" at The Broad Stage.
Additional details and RSVP information are available at www.smc.edu/ppi.
Edited by SMDP Staff