The inaugural Mecklenburg County Early Childhood Summit, presented by Vanguard is not just a convening, it’s a launchpad for collaborative action. To unite Mecklenburg County’s most influential voices, from business, early childhood education, philanthropy, and government, in a groundbreaking, solutions-driven summit dedicated to tackling the childcare crisis head-on. With a shared commitment to ensuring every child has access to high-quality early learning and care, this summit aims to align strategy, inspire investment, and mobilize leadership to drive measurable change across our community.

By gathering key stakeholders in one room for a full day of informed dialogue, data-driven insights, and real-world innovation, we will illuminate both the cost of inaction and the transformative potential of collective response.

PANELS
8:30 AM – 9:15 AM: Continental Breakfast and Networking
9:30 AM – 10:15 AM: Smart Starts, Stronger Futures: Why Early Care and Education Deserves Real Investment
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM: Who’s Caring for the Caregivers? Why Early Educators Deserve More
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM: FEATURED SESSION – The Business Imperative: How the Child Care Crisis Impacts Mecklenburg County
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM: What Now? A Guided Discussion on Moving from Crisis to Change
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Networking Reception