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Trying Together invites those interested in presenting at its October UnConference, “From Representation to Inclusion,” to submit proposals for presentation topics relating to working with families of other cultures in early learning settings. 

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Trying Together’s UnConference is an innovative, hands-on professional development training format where a deeper experience is provided around a particular theme related to early childhood education. Speakers are invited to present and participants are encouraged to engage hands-on in the workshops.

Trying Together’s upcoming event, UnConference: From Representation to Inclusion, will be held on Oct. 4 at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh.

Trying Together is seeking a focused range of topical presentations for the UnConference, which aims to be an introduction to working with families of other cultures in early learning settings. The audience for the UnConference will be early childhood educators – employees of child care and early learning programs – who may have limited experience working with children and families from cultures other than their own.

To submit a proposal, download the submission form. Then, submit the proposal as an attachment to learning@tryingtogether.org with the subject line “October 2025 Unconference Proposal” by 11:59 p.m. on July 25.

Choosing Topics

Appropriate topic areas include, but are not limited to:

• Language access 
• Early literacy in English learner populations
• Trauma-informed care for early learners
• Early intervention access for multicultural families
• Using the ASQ or other assessment tools with non-English speakers
• Considerations around social emotional learning/mental health
• Engaging with and showcasing the diversity in your child care program
• Important distinctions between immigrants and refugees
• Technology tools to support non-English speaking families
• Cross cultural parenting practices/family systems
• Engaging fathers from other cultures
• Culturally specific workshops – for example, working with Muslim or Latinx families (lived experience preferred)
• Community needs and resources to meet them
• Immigrant rights and advocacy
• School enrollment, adjustment, engagement, and involvement for immigrant children and their families, including kindergarten transition
• Understanding microaggressions in cross-cultural settings

Proposals will be reviewed by the UnConference’s planning committee, which will review proposals based on:

• Extent to which the proposal targets and is relevant to the early learning child care workforce in Southwestern Pennsylvania
• Experience/expertise of presenters
• Definition and focus of the topic
• Ability to engage participants in discussion and hands-on learning experiences
• Practical application of material and takeaways
• Timeliness and importance of topic

Each workshop proposal should:

• Encourage active learning
• Present culturally sensitive ideas, practices, and/or relevant research aimed at positioning attendees as leaders at the early learning programs in which they work
• Offer strategies for effective implementation of information acquired
• Include presenters who have significant expertise in the topic area and who have spoken successfully in front of groups
• Cover a 90-minute block of time

The proposal form will ask for a program description, learning objectives, and instructional methods. Those submitting proposals should provide enough detail, so the planning committee can understand how the session will be structured and which key issues will be covered. 

Stipends and Important Dates

Trying Together will offer an honorarium of $250 to any organization or individual (if not affiliated with an organization) whose proposal is chosen to be presented at the UnConference. This opportunity is open to presenters located in Southwest Pennsylvania.

Proposals will be due on July 25 and all applicants will be notified by Aug. 15 about the status of their proposal and the time of their workshop. Presentation slides and materials/overviews are due electronically by Sept. 19. The UnConference will take place on Oct. 4.