2025 CDS Annual Conference

Communities for Kids (C4K) was founded with the vision of ensuring communities can thrive by
strengthening the community-based early childhood care and education system. C4K began its
journey by listening to the voices of struggling communities and moved forward to develop a
community organization approach emphasizing collective impact and providing flexible
technical assistance. The partnership between C4K and Nebraska communities is built on the
belief that the best solutions come from within the community. We will share community stories
grounded in three pillars: Engagement, Data Utilization, and Connection. These stories will
focus on community power and strong local collaborations.

Storytellers will share stories from across Nebraska highlighting the power of local efforts and
the guiding philosophy that answers to a community’s challenges will be found in that
community. These stories align with the conference theme of "Innovative Pathways to Thriving
Communities," showcasing the importance of building a collective approach, community
exploration of opportunities, leveraging resources, and co-creation of effective solutions by
community members. The impacts are measured through collection of quantitative data and
community conversations related to the Community Capitals Framework.
C4K partners with communities to increase access to quality early childhood care and education
through a framework that helps guide the community planning process. Community participation
within C4K is a fundamental element that ensures inclusivity by reaching out to various sectors
within the community. This requires thoughtful strategy, and the importance of this effort lies in
acknowledging that any segment of the population left unengaged represents a loss to the overall
effort.

Communities for Kids partners with over 70 communities across Nebraska, each taking a unique
approach to strengthening early childhood care and education. These communities focus on
raising awareness of the importance of early childhood programs, emphasizing their connection
to economic development, workforce support, and providing quality experiences for young
children during their critical developmental years.
A variety of stories will be shared, including one about a community that influenced a statewide
system to support non-English speaking early childhood teachers, unique partnerships developed,
and how focused communities shape the priorities of statewide agencies and early childhood
policy.