Building on the historic foundation of the Early Learning Nation Initiative, this program recognizes a core truth: municipal staff – at every level of city government – play a vital role within a broader, collaborative ecosystem that supports young children and their families.
This unique technical assistance program is intentionally designed to reach across multiple levels of municipal leadership – equipping both the decision-makers and the on-the-ground implementors with the expertise, confidence, tools, and peer support needed to champion early childhood success in their communities.
Elements of the Initiative:
Through a 15-month intensive leadership program, cities across Michigan and Tennessee will engage in three interconnected strands of learning:
Participating cities will also join a broader Peer Cities Network, strengthening relationships and accelerating shared progress nationwide.
Cities in Action
Offers intensive coaching and support to design Early Learning Community Action Plans in partnership with community leaders.
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Who
Municipal staff and cross-sector community partners, including families, youth, early care and education professionals, and community-based organizations.
What
Local teams participate in regular virtual learning sessions and receive tailored coaching to strengthen strategy, alignment, and execution toward designing and implementing an equitable Early Learning Community Action Plan in partnership with community leaders. The program also includes in-person site visits.
When
The initiative is structured in two-month learning cycles. Each cycle includes one virtual learning session per month, followed by a scheduled pause to allow for deeper engagement activities such as site visits, Leadership Bootcamps, or Common Ground Forums. Individual in-person site visits will be scheduled once cities are selected.
Result
Municipal staff and their community partners are supported and equipped to design, implement, and advance equitable Early Learning Community Action Plans rooted in community voice and local context.
Leadership Bootcamp
Equips elected officials and executive staff to embed early childhood priorities into municipal governance, creating a strategic link between executive decision-making and project implementers.
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Who
Elected officials (council members and mayors), executive staff and municipal staff engaged in Cities in Action.
What
Designed to fit the demanding schedules of city leaders, this in-person intensive Leadership Bootcamp leverages NLC’s expertise in supporting municipal leaders through high-quality training and leadership development – ensuring early childhood priorities are embedded into day-to-day governance.
When
September 2026
Result
Elected and executive leaders will be equipped with the knowledge, tools, and peer connections needed to serve as visible and sustained champions for early childhood – working in tandem with their municipal teams to drive holistic, systems-level progress.
Common Ground Forums
Bring elected municipal leaders together with their county and state counterparts to engage in cross-jurisdictional collaboration and develop shared policy solutions for young children and families.
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Who
Municipal, county and state elected and executive leaders.
What
State-based, in-person roundtables will bring together city, county, and state officials across regions and political perspectives to strengthen relationships, align policy and funding priorities, and co-create solutions for young children and families across levels of government.
When
November 2026, March 2027, July 2027
Result
Local and state leaders will discover common ground across jurisdictions, creating the conditions for lasting, unified change—anchored in their shared commitment to the young children and families they serve.
*A full calendar will be shared once cities are selected to participate. Please note that dates for in-person events are subject to change.
Participating Cities
Michigan Cohort
- Cadillac, MI
- Detroit, MI
- Farmington Hills, MI
- Sterling Heights, MI
- Westland, MI
Tennessee Cohort
- Chattanooga, TN
- Johnson City, TN
- Memphis, TN
- Nashville, TN
Join the Quarterly Calls
Register now for the Early Childhood Leaders Peer Network Series. This four-part peer learning series is designed to support cities as they strengthen early childhood systems, learn from one another, and stay connected to what’s emerging nationwide.
This series introduces the Municipal Roadmap to Early Childhood Success, a practical framework grounded in real city experience, peer exchange, and strategies that help local governments protect progress and build responsive systems for children and families.
This Pathways for Early Childhood Leadership Initiative is made possible by the generous support of the Bezos Family Foundation.