2025 Symposium
Design For Early Learning Symposium
Saturday April 26th, 2025
9am–5:30pm
Charles Wright Academy | Tacoma WA
Presented by Design for Early Learning, with Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center and Washington State DCYF
Join us as we celebrate the culmination of the Capital Readiness Pilot Project. We’ll hear from speakers in the fields of early education, architecture and design; tour the beautiful space at Charles Wright Academy; and explore together:
How can partnerships between educators and architects lead to engaging and wonder-filled environments for children?
Agenda
Networking
8am–9am
Meet the design cohort from the Pilot of the Early Learning Facilities Capital Readiness Project as well as your fellow attendees.
Coffee and light snacks will be provided.
Welcome!
9am-9:15am
A brief welcome to the symposium and an introduction to the work of Design For Early Learning and the pilot program, with remarks from the DFEL team and virtually from Washington State Senator Claire Wilson.
Outcomes Panel
9:15–10:35 am
80 minute session with Q/A and a video produced by Charles Wright Academy
The members of this panel, key contributors to the Early Learning Facilities Capital Project Readiness Program, will discuss what we have learned (and what we hope to explore further!) from our Pilot version of this program.
Speakers
Pilot Project Participants
Alyssa Johnstone, Brilliant Beginnings
Mona Zellers, Johnston Architects
Rae White, Kids 1st
Seong Shin, McGranahan PBK
Angel Camacho, Little Angel’s Bio-Dome ELC
Anjali Grant, Anjali Grant Design
Gail Neal, Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center
Dr. Nnenna Odim, Founder + Director at Bia Obi School
Keynote: Design for Early Learning
10:50am–12:15pm
90 minute session with a Q/A
This session focuses on reimagining the possibilities for creating inspiring and intentional environments for children. We will discuss how to consider these spaces from the perspectives of both the child and educator.
Speaker
Bridgitte Alomes, CEO + Founder, Natural Pods
Lunch
12:15pm–1:15pm
Opportunities for tours, poster sessions, networking and engagement
1:15pm–1:30pm
Reflections on the morning sessions
During the lunch period, there will be opportunities to tour the classrooms at Charles Wright Academy and meet the design professionals who participated in the Pilot Project.
Lunch will be provided.
Designing with Your Values at the Core
1:30pm–2:50pm
80 minute session with a Q/A
Early learning facilities and environments should be designed to contribute to the values of educators and their educational philosophies and structures. We will explore creating built space that reflects, supports and enhances your values and educational philosophy.
Speakers
Brittain Zimmerman, Director of Education, The Ivy School at Oregon Center for Creative Learning
Rixa Evershed, Beginning School Director at Charles Wright Academy
Brice Maryman, Principal at MxM Landscape Architecture
Materiality: Sensory Importance in Early Learning
3pm–3:50pm
50 minute session with Q/A
What will young children in early learning spaces see, hear, touch and smell? How will this influence their development and learning?
We will consider the importance of the senses in design and how to create sensory environments that promote personal and educational growth for our youth.
Speakers
Mona Zellers, Johnston Architects
Seong Shin, McGranahan PBK
Forrest Murphy, CAST Architecture
Reflections and Networking!
4pm-5:30 pm
To conclude the symposium, there will be a facilitated discussion of the day's sessions: What will you take back to your organization, and what are your hopes for your upcoming projects?
Then, we welcome you to join your fellow early learning professionals, administrators and designers for an hour of snacks, mingling and networking.
Beverages and light snacks provided.