Focusing on Children, Education as a Collective Responsibility

On Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Erikson Institute brought together 222 community leaders, educators, and advocates for its annual luncheon under the banner “Seeds of Joy: Growing Stronger Families & Healing Communities.” With two dynamic speakers, attendees gained insight into how the adults in children’s lives, as well as the interconnected systems that serve them, need to center joy, learning, and belonging.

In her address, Dr. Kira Banks, a professor of psychology at St. Louis University, author and co-founder of the Institute for Healing Justice and Equity emphasized, “The list of what they will need to tackle is long, but it’s essential that when we think about preparing children in the world, that we don’t skip over the part about affirming with joy who they are, affirming with excitement the history of their culture, inviting them with curiosity to deepen their understanding of their story, and the story of different people groups.”

Weston Kieschnick, a leading educator, coach, and author, echoed this sentiment. He emphasized, “We have to talk about education in the spirit of restoring joy and strength to our communities.’ Kieschnick noted that education flourishes when educators, parents, and communities share the responsibility of teaching children.

Both speakers left attendees with the charge that strengthening communities and shaping futures is a collective act, and repairing our systems is a critical part of the process. That also includes investing in children’s growth and development early on.

For more than five decades, Erikson’s impact in the world is reflected in preschool classrooms, policy changes that reshape systems accessed by families, new research that advances our understanding of child development, and reflective practice that engages families with empathy and expertise.

Many thanks to the generous donors who gave their time and talent to support and sustain Erikson’s mission.

View photos from this year’s event