Strategies for Early Childhood Program Growth: Advocacy Beyond Your Four Walls

Meghan is the Head of U.S. Marketing at Famly, and brings a decade of experience in early childhood education marketing, with previous roles in childcare nonprofits, B-corps, and as a consultant.

Dawn Alexander is the Executive Director of ECEA, which advocates on a systems level with the Office of Early Childhood, the Governor’s office, and the state legislature, as well as other systems advocates statewide. As the Executive Director, Dawn attends meetings with members and policymakers and shares information to Colorado providers each week. Dawn has a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado at Denver. Her undergraduate degree is in sociology and human services.

Maria-Isabel Ballivian is the Executive Director of the ACCA Child Development Center, a NAEYC-accredited program that provides high-quality early education to more than 290 at-risk and underserved young children in Annandale, Virginia. With more than 25 years of experience across various national and international nonprofits, she has held key roles including educator, administrator, trainer, advocate, and consultant. As an innovative leader and seasoned manager, she has significantly enhanced the quality of care and education for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, and actively supported strategies that encourage greater family engagement and continuous professional development of early learning teachers, especially in integrating the use of technology. She has also testified and advocated to strengthen and improve the early childhood education ecosystem at the federal, state, and local levels. Maria-Isabel holds a Master of Science in Early Childhood Services from Arkansas State University.