Build the Village: Powerful Partnerships for Every Child’s Journey
Save the Date for the 2026 Pathways to Quality Conference!
Join early educators and out of school time care professionals for a week filled with learning, fresh ideas, and meaningful connections.
Virtual Sessions November 9th-12th, 2026
In-person Sessions November 14th, 2026 @Hyatt Regency Milwaukee
View Recorded Sessions beginning November 16th, 2026
- Keynote
- Participant Information
- Presenters
- Agenda
- Exhibitors/Sponsors
Dr. El Brown is a storyteller, thinker, teacher, and mother who transforms moments into movements. Through her signature Top Notch Village framework, she works with families, service providers, agencies, communities, and policymakers to create thriving ecosystems that support equitable education and life opportunities.
Dr. El’s solution-oriented nature led her to found KinderJam®, a play-based early education program that began as a way to share her observations about her son’s development with his service providers. This innovative approach quickly evolved into a military family support initiative, empowering families across 11 countries and 16 states. Its success earned Dr. El an invitation to the White House for Michelle Obama’s Joining Forces initiative and a feature on The Oprah Winfrey Show as the Army Spouse of the Year.
Her Top Notch Village philosophy is informed by her lived experience as the mother of a child on the autism spectrum. Her journey, from advocating for her son, who was nonverbal at nearly five years old, to celebrating him as a college-bound student, serves as a case study for her framework. She believes that a child’s village—the people, systems, and relationships that surround them—can transform lives.
With a PhD in Education with a focus on Family Sciences, Dr. El combines academic knowledge with real-world experience to inspire collaboration and resilience. Her mission is clear: to help build Top Notch Villages that foster connection and unlock potential for generations to come.
The 2026 Pathways to Quality Conference and Resource Fair is a week-long, hybrid event that offers attendees access to live, virtual sessions Nov. 9-12 and an in-person experience on Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee. Access to on-demand, recorded sessions begins Nov. 16.
HYATT REGENCY MILWAUKEE
Our in-person experience is located at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, 333 W Kilbourn Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203 (connected to the Wisconsin Center). Registration, which begins at 7:30am, is located outside the Regency Ballroom, on the second floor of the Hyatt.
PARKING
Parking will be validated for all registered conference attendees who self-park in the Hyatt Regency parking garage. When entering the Hyatt parking garage, please pull a parking ticket. If an attendant is present, please inform them you are an attending a conference at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee. Once parked, please proceed to the ground level and exit the parking garage to access the hotel’s main entrance. Alternatively, proceed to the 3rd Level of the parking garage to enter the hotel via skywalk. QR codes will be given at the conference to allow participants to leave the garage without payment.
PheedLoop APP
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EXHIBIT HALL
Exhibitors and vendors are located in the Atrium on the 2nd floor. This space is filled with resources and information. Be sure to take time to explore the variety of support and materials available.
GENERAL CONSENT AND RELEASE FOR USE OF IMAGE
Pathways Committee members will take photographs and videos throughout the conference day. Registration and participation at the Pathways Conference constitutes an agreement for media to be used in connection with conference-related materials.
WISCONSIN REGISTRY CREDIT
Each participant will receive a general certificate of attendance in their conference folder. If you would like Wisconsin Registry Credit, you must check in to EACH session you attend, including the keynote, using the QR code check-in process posted in the workshop rooms.
Interested in presenting at Pathways? We are now seeking workshop proposals for both our virtual and in-person sessions and hope to hear from you! Proposals are due July 24, 2026.
If interested, please keep in mind our overall goal of providing participants with strategies to improve their programs, specifically around YoungStar quality indicators, through tangible skill development and changes in practices. In addition to the topics listed on the request form, we seek presentations that enhance curriculum development, support growth and development for providers, and enrich family engagement. Our audience includes both early education and out of school time care professionals.