Celebrating leadership, community, and the growing impact of the LSL Fellowship
From July 31 to August 2, NPLI joined our partners at the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) in Dallas, Texas, for the 2025 NAFCC Annual Conference. The theme this year, “Bigger, Better, Bolder: A New Legacy for FCC!”, reflected the energy and determination felt throughout the event.
NPLI has a long-standing partnership with NAFCC through the Leaders Shaping Leaders (LSL) Fellowship Initiative, a yearlong leadership experience built partly on the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) model. The fellowship supports family child care educators as they grow their civic leadership, entrepreneurship, and advocacy skills.
At this year’s conference, we celebrated the graduation of LSL Cohort IV. Fellows presented their capstone projects during a Gallery Walk that highlighted creative, community-based solutions to the challenges facing the field. These projects demonstrated the profound care that these educators have for the children and families they serve.
We also led workshops and joined the joyful energy of a conference that continues to uplift family child care professionals across the country. The event featured engaging sessions, inspiring conversations, and a keynote from Sonia Manzano, known to many as Maria from Sesame Street.
It was a celebration of leadership, care, and community. We are proud to walk alongside these family child care leaders as they continue shaping a new future for early childhood systems.
To explore more highlights from NAFCC’s summer conference, visit nafcc.org/nafcc-on-the-move-july-august-2025-highlights
