Keynote speakers announced for 2024 Families Learning Conference

We’re just five short months away from this year’s Families Learning Conference, happening November 18-20 in Louisville Kentucky, and the excitement is starting to build. Not only does each year’s event provide 70+ concurrent sessions featuring innovative learning strategies and resources to support families, it also offers keynote speeches from both luminaries in the field and key emerging voices. The 2024 Families Learning Conference is no exception.

At Monday’s opening general session, our keynote will be provided by Dana Suskind, MD, Founder and Co-Director of the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health at the University of Chicago. A recognized thought leader on the national stage, Dr. Suskind has dedicated her research and clinical life to optimizing foundational brain development and preventing early cognitive disparities and their lifelong impact. Her presentation will highlight the unique opportunity we have—right now—to shape the future of artificial intelligence and leverage emerging technology to ensure it is used responsibly and equitably to help optimize children’s early development.

Children’s book author and Entrepreneur Daniel Vandever (Diné) will headline our Tuesday general session. His debut picture book, Fall in Line, Holden!, was a 2018 Honor Book for the American Indian Youth Literature Award and his follow-up picture book, Herizon, was recognized as the Best Picture Book of 2022 by the American Indian Library Association. Mr. Vandever will reflect on literacy and education for Indigenous peoples, relying on his multiple perspectives as both an author and a father. 

Rounding out our lineup, on Wednesday we’ll welcome Mildred Otero, President of Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE), an organization focused on developing leaders to change the face and values of civic leadership in America. Before joining LEE, Ms. Otero served as chief education counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions, where she managed the Senate majority’s education agenda, and its policy development and strategy for children from cradle to career. She’ll consider the importance of building a diverse movement of equity-minded leaders across civic leadership pathways and the significance of public service in changing laws for families and communities.

Don’t miss out on this dynamic group of speakers and all the learning and networking opportunities available at the 2024 Families Learning Conference. Visit conference.familieslearning.org to start the registration process. And be sure to complete your registration by June 30th to save $100 off your 3-day registration with early bird pricing.