A woman with curly black hair assisting a young girl with braided hair in a yellow shirt, teaching or guiding her, in a brightly lit classroom or childcare setting.

Thank You for Making Our Inaugural Conference a Success!

Image of three conference speakers with names and titles. From left to right: Dr. Kandace Thomas, Executive Director of First 8 Memphis; DJ Pryor, Actor, Comedian, Father, Advocate; Dr. Deborah Reed, Director of Tennessee Reading Research Center. The background has colorful polka dots and the title 'Conference Keynotes' at the top.

Our inaugural First 8 Memphis Early Care & Education Conference: Innovate. Inspire. Impact. was an incredible success! Over 150+ early childhood educators, leaders, and advocates gathered for two inspiring days of learning, connection, and celebration.

From our host DJ Pryor and keynote Dr. Deborah Reed, to engaging workshops, vibrant networking, and moments that reminded us why the early years matter most—this event truly embodied our mission to innovate, inspire, and impact the future of ECE in Memphis.

A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors, planning committee, vendors, volunteers, staff and every attendee who made this experience so special. Stay tuned for highlights, photos, and announcements about next year’s conference!

A large conference room filled with numerous people listening to a speaker presenting at a podium. The room has floor-to-ceiling windows, a rock climbing wall in the background, and multiple round tables with attendees eating, drinking, and taking no
A man with a microphone taking a selfie with a large crowd at an indoor event, with many people cheering and holding up their phones.
A woman giving a presentation on a stage at a conference, standing behind a clear podium with a laptop, with a large screen behind her displaying a logo and text related to 'First Eight Memphis' and phrases like 'Innovate, Inspire, Impact.' There are
An audience of diverse women listening attentively at a conference or seminar, seated at round tables with snacks and drinks on the tables.
Audience attending a conference with a presentation on preschool years projected on a screen, set in a large hall with rock climbing wall and large windows.
A woman drawing and taking notes on a large whiteboard at a conference, with colorful illustrations and text about childhood development, early childhood education, and a keynote speaker's portrait at the top.
Group of diverse adults attending a conference or seminar, sitting at round tables with blue tablecloths, paying attention to a speaker or presentation, in a well-lit room with large windows showing green trees outside.
A woman in a suit and lime green shirt standing under a conference banner at The Jim Boyd Bridges Center, with stairs and greenery in the background, smiling and raising her arms.
A woman in a pink blazer is speaking to a group of women seated in a room. The seated women are listening attentively, with some holding notebooks. The room appears to be a casual meeting or training session.
Large conference room filled with diverse attendees seated at round tables covered with dark blue tablecloths, listening to a speaker or presentation. The room has high ceilings, ample natural light from large windows, and a modern, industrial design
Three women smiling and posing for a photo at an indoor event. The woman in the middle is holding a card and wearing a blue shirt, flanked by two women in lime green shirts. One woman on the right is jumping with one leg up. Background includes a roc
Four women sitting on chairs during a panel discussion or presentation, with a woman standing behind them and a screen displaying a microphone icon and the text 'Raise your hand if you are a...'
Two women are at a charity event, browsing a table with various items. One woman is wearing a blue blazer and jeans, holding a black folder and a patterned handbag, with a smile on her face. The other woman, dressed in a blue dress with a black jacke
People attending a conference seated in rows inside a room with large windows, some taking notes, others listening attentively.
Plate of cooked chicken with creamy sauce, garnished with microgreens and herbs.
Nine women standing together in front of a colorful balloon arch in an indoor setting, all smiling at the camera.
Women at a marketplace booth with essential oils and health products, interacting with a customer at an indoor event.
Two women wearing name tags and lanyards walk barefoot past a table with pitchers of water and a pitcher of dark beverage at a conference or workshop, with many seated people in the background.
A woman speaking at a podium with a microphone, holding a young boy in her arm. A man stands nearby, smiling. Behind them, a large screen displays a presentation slide titled 'Literacy Development.' The setting appears to be an indoor event space wit
A smiling woman in glasses and a gray blazer sitting on a blue armchair in a modern indoor setting with large windows and camera equipment in the background.
A woman in a gray blazer and plaid pants speaking at a podium with a microphone, with a rock climbing wall and orange climbing holds in the background.
A woman is crouched down and drawing on a large whiteboard with colorful illustrations and text at an educational conference, with another large illustrated board visible in the background.
People attending a conference or seminar in a bright, modern room with large windows, seated at tables with drinks and informational materials.
A young woman with purple hair in buns, smiling and holding a book titled 'Wash Day Love'. She is wearing a purple sweater, a necklace with a blue pendant, and a green lanyard. The background shows other people sitting at tables in a well-lit room.
A man standing on a black stage, speaking at a transparent podium with a microphone in a conference room. Behind him is an indoor rock climbing wall. In front, seated attendees watch and listen, with some clapping. Tables have awards, water bottles,
Two women standing behind a table with bags and T-shirts at a community event, set against a rock-climbing wall background.
A woman in a black dress holding a large white tote bag, smiling, as a man in a patterned shirt claps nearby during what appears to be an award or recognition event in a well-lit indoor space.
Two women standing together at an indoor event, smiling, one holding what appears to be a cloth or bag with text on it, surrounded by seated and standing people.
A woman in a purple coat and orange pants holding a children's book titled 'Can I Play with My Food?' speaks into a microphone at an indoor event. Behind her, two other women are seated, one in a blue blazer and green shirt, and the other in a black
A man with dark curly hair dressed in a black and white floral shirt speaking into a microphone at a clear acrylic podium during a presentation or speech in a modern indoor setting.
Four people smiling at a conference or event, with two women and two men, holding a children's book titled 'Can I Play with My Food?'. Background shows other attendees and tables.
A woman with braided hair wearing a blue hoodie is writing on a large whiteboard covered with colorful sticky notes. The whiteboard features words like 'Innovate,' 'Inspire,' 'Impact,' and several handwritten notes and diagrams.
A woman giving a presentation on boosting early childhood language for lifelong success, standing in front of a screen with a colorful presentation slide, with an audience of women and children seated facing her.
A woman is giving a presentation to a small audience in a conference room. She stands in front of a large screen that displays colorful graphics and text, including "Kawai Mullen" and "Aloha." The audience members sit on white chairs, some with noteb
A woman in a black and white striped blazer is speaking to a seated audience during a presentation in a conference room. The audience, consisting mostly of women, is attentively listening, with some holding bags and notebooks. The room has large wind
Group of five men standing indoors at a conference, smiling, with a large screen behind them displaying 'Workshop Session II' and 'First & Memphis Early Care & Education Conference'.
A woman giving a presentation to an audience in a conference room, with a large screen displaying a slide behind her.
Group of diverse women at a conference or workshop, standing and smiling in a meeting room with a large screen displaying a colorful graphic and text in the background.
Woman in black blazer writing on a large whiteboard filled with colorful notes, sketches, and inspiring words at an indoor event.
Group of people, including women and men, standing on a stage, celebrating an event related to caring for babies, with a large screen behind them showing children and the text 'Thank you for loving and caring for our babies!'
Group of people at a conference, three women and one man standing together in the foreground, with other attendees sitting in the background, indoors with large windows showing trees outside.
Smiling woman holding a large tote bag in a conference room filled with seated and standing people.

  • "My team attended the First 8 Memphis Early Care and Education Conference, and they returned with renewed enthusiasm. They gained valuable insights and are now eager to collaborate with me and other staff members to share their learnings and discuss possible implementations. Your efforts have greatly contributed to sparking the level of excitement I expect from teachers in early childhood development."

    Director, Lambs & Ivy School 

  • First the conference was very organized and the Team was very knowledgeable and they all had a very warm welcoming attitude which made conference atmosphere soothing. The [workshop] I attended was very fun and I gained a lot take ways to carry back the classroom. DJ Pryor was very motivating and inspiring. The food both days was very very delicious. I will definitely attend the next one.

    Conference Attendee

  • It was inspiring to see so many early childhood professionals come together with one shared purpose, to strengthen the foundation for every child in Memphis & Shelby County.

    Conference Attendee

Two women standing together smiling at the camera, wearing white T-shirts with the text "First 8 Memphis" and a logo. They are at an event called the First 8 Memphis Early Care & Education Conference, which is held in Memphis, TN in 2025. The backgro
Group of five diverse women smiling at the camera, standing against a yellow background with text promoting the 2025 FIRST 8 Memphis Early Care & Education Conference in Memphis, Tennessee.
Two women smiling and making peace signs with their fingers in front of a yellow wall, promoting the First 8 Memphis Early Care & Education Conference 2025 in Memphis, TN, with colorful text and graphics.
Click to View Photo Booth Content!
Click to View Photos from Our Conference!

At our Conference, we were thrilled to partner with ConverSketch to bring our keynotes and sessions to life through vibrant, hand-drawn visuals! Check out the amazing designs:

A colorful illustrated mind map highlighting themes of early childhood education, including innovation, inspiration, impact, leadership, respect, environment, inclusiveness, well-being, professional development, and parent engagement, with references to Memphis, Tennessee, and the dates October 24-25, 2025.
Illustrated notes from the Early Childhood Education Conference held in Memphis from October 24-25, 2025, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Deborah Reed, a reading research center director. Content includes topics on choosing the right tools, text types like predictable and authentic, shared reading, making reading a habit, and the importance of guided reading, literacy skills, and early childhood development visuals.
A colorful illustrated diagram about child development, relationships, early childhood systems, and brain development. It includes drawings of children, adults, trees, and various educational and psychological concepts, with key points and quotes from the Early Childhood Education Conference held October 24-25, 2023.
A woman with short curly hair, wearing a purple top, smiling, with a quote about the importance of the conference and its role in shaping young lives in Memphis, Tennessee, on October 24-25, 2025, for early childhood education.
A promotional flyer for an early childhood care and education conference taking place on October 24-25, 2025, in Memphis, Tennessee. The flyer features a woman and a young girl giving each other a high five, with text encouraging early childhood professionals to join a two-day event to connect, grow, and lead. The conference is called 'First Eight Memphis' and emphasizes innovation, inspiration, and impact.

Presenting Sponsor

Logo for The Urban Child Institute featuring a city skyline in dark green with white text.

Questions?

Contact
conference@first8memphis.org