The books that I make for children, for families, for people who care about children, are meant to create some more space for people to just bear witness, with compassion: What is this like for you?
– Anastasia Higginbotham, author

At Exchange, we are thankful for every opportunity to “live up to our name” – a full and vibrant exchange of ideas. Each person reading this helps us to do that, and we appreciate you deeply. The recent Engaging Exchange gathering, celebrating the Summer issue of the magazine, convened a passionate group of people dedicated to their practice, reflecting on their work with young children, and curious about one another, as well. The result was a thoughtful and lively group conversation around emergent curriculum, children’s activism, vulnerability and authenticity, representation and dignity, and opening and holding space for children to be seen for the glorious and infinite beings that they are.

We invite you to dive into this conversation, and spend time with these wise and illuminating guests: Martina Albright, Jeremy Aron, Dr. LaShorage Shaffer, Michele Hemenway-Pullen, and Anastasia Higginbotham. Each of them brings a perspective that will enrich your work in a unique way. You may find you want to add your voice to the conversation. We hope you will do just that. We are here, and we are listening.

Together with all of you, we seek to expand and strengthen an intentional community in early care and education. For us this means holding space for people to gather and share their work, their reflection and their humanity – in an open, professional, and supportive setting. We are enlivened in that space. In the energy of voices, the interplay of reflections and observations – in the “exchange” – we glimpse and experience not only our own potential, but also our interconnection with one another. Thank you to all the authors and contributors to the Summer issue of Exchange, navigating grief, loss, and resilience with young children. Thank you to our special guests, to all who attended the Engaging Exchange gathering, and to all those who will listen to it and share your ideas with us in the days to come.