Global Challenges and Opportunities Facing Children, Youth and Families

Wheelock College will celebrate its 125^th Anniversary in 2013. As part of the College's yearlong celebration of this important milestone, Wheelock will gather national and international educators, practitioners, researchers, philanthropists, students, and policy leaders to explore pressing issues affecting children, youth, and families in education, health, and human rights across the globe. Participants will examine the interconnectedness of global challenges and opportunities for young people and families.

The conference from June 19-22, 2013 is the cornerstone event commemorating Wheelock's 125^th anniversary and builds on Wheelock's mission and commitment to improve the lives of children and families, while advancing the College's strategic goal to promote responsible and effective child- and family-focused research, policy, and practice around the world. 

Continuing Lucy Wheelock's Passion

"Many causes will solicit your interest and aid.  Which will you serve?"
- Lucy Wheelock 

Since its founding in 1888, Wheelock has been dedicated to developing teachers and leaders with vision, passion, and the ability to inspire positive change around the world. Our founder, Lucy Wheelock, was the College's first internationalist, traveling to Europe to pursue leading theories about the role of play in the development of young children and incorporating her findings into programs that prepared Boston's earliest kindergarten teachers. The Wheelock community continues to pursue wisdom and expertise that lead to improving the lives of children and families, wherever they may be found.

Today's children and families face myriad challenges in education, health, and human rights. Globalization means that, now more than ever, we need new wisdom, policies, and practices that unlock the potential of all children and families. We need to share research about brain development with families and educators around the world, assisting them in thinking about the implications for developmentally appropriate policies and practices. We need to determine how best to gather, analyze, and disseminate research findings on the effects of trauma from a decade of war and worldwide natural disasters on generations of children.

At the international conference, Wheelock will convene leading national and international experts to pursue, document, and share promising practices and innovative solutions.   

Who Should Attend?

This conference will appeal to those interested in the impact of globalization and its intersection with education, health, and human rights, especially in developing countries and with under-served and diverse populations. Outreach has begun to noteworthy dignitaries including researchers, practitioners, and policy makers from the United States and abroad to lead the discussion and compel action.