Honoring the Inaugural Graduates of the ECE Equity Leadership Academy

By Najah Hill, Equity Leadership Coordinator

On Friday, May 29, 2026, we proudly gathered to celebrate a historic milestone, the graduation of the founding cohort of the ECE Equity Leadership Academy, at Children’s Council of San Francisco.

The evening brought together graduates, family members, colleagues and community supporters to honor the accomplishments of an extraordinary group of ECE leaders. We were honored to begin the celebration with inspiring remarks from Children’s Council of San Francisco CEO Barbara Carlson, who recognized the dedication, resilience and leadership demonstrated by each member of this inaugural cohort. We were also privileged to hear from our keynote speaker, Dr. Olabisi Adesuyi-Fasuyi of EDvance College, who encouraged graduates to lead with purpose and equity while emphasizing the importance of self-care as a foundation for effective leadership and caregiving in their communities.

As graduates shared their experiences, the room was filled with pride and inspiration. Their testimonies reflected not only the knowledge and skills they gained through the leadership academy, but also the personal and professional growth they experienced along the way. They spoke about building confidence as leaders, strengthening relationships within their communities and embracing their role as advocates for equity and social change.

Throughout the leadership academy, these San Francisco-based ECE leaders deepened their knowledge and skills in topics such as anti-racist leadership, equitable family engagement and cultural competence. Through learning, reflection and collaboration, they explored new ways to create more inclusive, responsive and equitable environments for children, families and educators. Their commitment to leadership grounded in racial equity, social justice and shared values was evident in both their learning journey and the impact they are already making in their organizations and Family Child Care (FCCs).

The graduation ceremony was a celebration of achievement, perseverance and vision. As the founding cohort, these leaders helped shape the academy’s legacy while paving the way for future participants. Their accomplishments mark not only the completion of a program but also the beginning of a growing network of equity-focused leaders committed to creating lasting change in ECE.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to each graduate for this well-deserved achievement and thank the families, colleagues and supporters who joined us in celebrating this special occasion. We look forward to the continued impact these inspiring leaders will make in their communities and beyond.

About the ECE Equity Leadership Academy
The ECE Equity Leadership Academy is an executive-level program for Center Directors, Administrators and Family Child Care (FCC) Owner/Directors to increase their knowledge, skills, and understanding of leadership grounded in racial equity, social justice and values identification. We aim to build upon the leadership in our community and amplify the voices of diverse ECE leaders.

Interested in learning more? Complete our interest form.

Children’s Council San Francisco | ECE Equity Leadership Academy