Celebrating five years of The 9:30 Call!

Join us all this week to celebrate the fifth anniversary of The 9:30 Call!

The call started in the early days of the pandemic as a way to stay in touch. Today, it’s a communication and community-building tool that connects people statewide.

Here are all the ways you can join us:

• Subscribe to our 9:30 Call email list to get the weekly schedule.

• ">Watch our first-ever live broadcast from the Worcester Public Library on Thursday, March 20! RSVP to join us in person or join on Zoom!

• Share this email with three people who have yet to attend The 9:30 Call and encourage them to join us on Zoom or watch past recordings on our YouTube channel, and

• Like and share our posts on social media—find and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, or Bluesky.

And be sure to join us for this week’s 9:30 Calls. Here’s the line up:

MONDAY, MARCH 17

Doug Howgate, President of Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, will present on the potential impacts of federal funding decisions on the Massachusetts state budget and child care.

TUESDAY, MARCH 18

Danielle Ewen, Sixth Street Associates, will share comprehensive updates on policy and budget at the Federal Level that impact early childhood at all levels.

This call will not be recorded.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19

Commissioner Amy Kershaw, Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, will share agency updates as well as an overview and reflections on the release of the Inter-Agency Early Education and Child Care Task Force Year 1 Report: Community & Executive Branch Engagement on Early Education and Child Care in Massachusetts March 2025. Live interpretation (English to Spanish and Portuguese) for this call will be provided by Excel Linguistics.

► Miércoles 19 de marzo: La Comisionada Amy Kershaw, del Departamento de Educación y Cuidado Infantil de Massachusetts, compartirá actualizaciones de la agencia, así como una descripción general y reflexiones sobre la publicación del Informe del Año 1 del Grupo de Trabajo Interinstitucional de Educación Temprana y Cuidado Infantil: Participación de la Comunidad y el Poder Ejecutivo en la Educación Temprana y el Cuidado Infantil en Massachusetts, marzo de 2025. La interpretación en vivo (inglés a español y portugués) para esta convocatoria estará a cargo de Excel Linguistics.

► Quarta-feira 19 de março: A Comissária Amy Kershaw, do Departamento de Educação e Cuidados Infantis de Massachusetts, compartilhará atualizações da agência, bem como uma visão geral e reflexões sobre o lançamento do Relatório Ano 1 da Força-Tarefa Interagências de Educação Infantil e Educação Infantil: Envolvimento da Comunidade e do Poder Executivo sobre Educação Infantil e Cuidados Infantis em Massachusetts, em março de 2025. A interpretação ao vivo (Inglês para Espanhol e Português) para esta chamada será fornecida pela Excel Linguistics.

ALSO on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 at 6:00 PM

Join us on The 9:30 Call in Spanish on Wednesday, March 19 at 6:00 pm to hear from State Representative Carlos González, who was recently appointed to serve in a leadership position in the MA House of Representatives. Representative González will talk to us about his journey to the state house, where we are in the FY26 budget process, and what we can do to advocate for a stronger early education and child care system in our local communities and across Massachusetts. This call will be held completely in Spanish – no interpretation to English.

► Únase a nosotros en The 9:30 Call en español el miércoles 19 de marzo a las 6:00 p. m. para escuchar al representante estatal Carlos González, quien fue nombrado recientemente como líder de division en la Cámara de Representantes. Representante González nos hablará sobre su trayectoria a la Cámara de Representantes, dónde estamos en el proceso presupuestario del año fiscal 26 y que podemos hacer para abogar por un sistema de educación temprana y cuidado infantil más fuerte en nuestras comunidades locales y en todo Massachusetts.

THURSDAY, MARCH 20 FROM 9:30-10:30 AM

Join us on Zoom AND in-person as we celebrate our vibrant early education and care community with a special, extended LIVE Broadcast of The 9:30 Call from the Worcester Public Library! Strategies for Children’s Executive Director Amy O’Leary will host, and we’ll hear from special guests, including State Senator Robyn Kennedy, First Worcester. Register to attend in-person. Everyone is welcome!