Fw: Call for Proposals - Save the Date!
Alamu, Tewonia (MiLEAP)
The Michigan Community Schools Coalition (MCSC) and the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) Office of Family Partnerships are calling for stories of success and workshop proposals for our statewide family, school, community partnerships conference to be held in Mt. Pleasant, MI September 29-30, 2026.
2026 Michigan Community Schools & Family Engagement Conference
Proposals are due May 22, 2026.
Click here to submit your proposal today.
About the Event
Family engagement is a partnership among families, students, educators and community partners built on trust, respect and common goals, so that every learner thrives.
In the first of its kind in Michigan, The Michigan Community Schools Coalition (MCSC) and the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) are co-hosting a statewide event to spotlight both the work of the 10 Regional MiFamily Engagement Centers and 155 community schools dedicated to building, growing, and sustaining key family engagement and partnership practices across the state.
This two-day conference will take place at The Comfort Inn & Suites in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and offers a unique opportunity for people across Michigan to come together for shared learning and direction setting. MCSC and MiLEAP are anticipating 225 attendees, across the full family, school, and community partnership ecosystem—families, educators, district and ISD leaders, community schools and student success coordinators, local organization leaders, early literacy and out-of-school time partners, and state leaders from MiLEAP and the Departments of Education (MDE) and Health and Human Services (MDHHS)—all working together to support positive outcomes for children.
This event will also feature the release of the long-awaited revised version of the MiFamily: Michigan’s Family Engagement Framework and introduce the Michigan Community Schools Coalition as a multi-stakeholder, multi-organization coalition committed to strengthening and growing the practices that help children thrive in schools, families, and communities.
About the Keynote Speakers
- Ari Gerzon-Kessler is a sought-after speaker, trainer, and coach working with schools and districts committed to forging stronger school-family partnerships. He is the author of On The Same Team: Bringing Educators & Underrepresented Families Together, which won the Gold Medal from the Independent Publishers Book Awards for outstanding education book of 2024. Ari is the founder and CEO of Same Team Consulting and also leads the Family Partnerships department for the Boulder Valley School District (CO). Ari has been an educator since 2000, having served as a principal and bilingual teacher.
- Dr. Noel Kelty - is an Assistant Professor at Oakland University whose work focuses on family engagement, program evaluation, family literacy, and early literacy. She is the co-author of Empowered Together: Evidence-Based Strategies for Partnering with Families in PreK–12 Education, a practice-centered resource that supports educators in building meaningful, research-informed partnerships with families. Dr. Kelty brings a wealth of leadership experience from her time at the Michigan Department of Education’s Office of Great Start, where she served as Director of Early Childhood and Family Education, 619 Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator, and Early On Coordinator. Her professional background also includes roles as an ISD Director and program consultant, as well as direct service as a PreK–3rd–grade teacher, home visitor, family literacy district coordinator, and early interventionist.
About the Workshop Sessions & Sharing Stories of Success
We are seeking presenters to conduct 60-minute workshops that develop the knowledge and skills of participants. We are also seeking presenters to share Promising Practices and Stories of Success*. The following topics have been requested by our constituents (choose one):
- Building Trusting Relationships
- Developing Collaborative Leadership Practices and Structures
- Elevating Family Voice/Creating Parent Leaders
- Supporting Educational Outcomes: Literacy and Family Math
- Data and Evaluation
- Promising Practices and Stories of Success*
*There will be additional opportunities and/or formats to present and share this information within the conference agenda. More information will be provided directly to applicants.
You will be asked to indicate the primary audience of your presentation (all that apply):
- Families/Caregivers
- Educators
- Educational Leaders (Principals, District Leaders, ISD Leaders)
- Community Partners
- Out-of-School Time
- Community School Coordinators
You will also be asked to indicate the most accurate age range of children, programs, and/or teachers that your presentation would best support (all that apply):
- Birth-Preschool
- Elementary
- Secondary
- Postsecondary
Proposals are due May 22, 2026.
Click here to submit your proposal today.
Questions? Contact Shanon Everett, Ever...@michigan.gov
Tewonia Alamu, LLMSW-Macro, CD
Family Engagement and Early Literacy Specialist
Office of Education Partnerships
Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP)
Work Cell: (517) 896-2022
