MDAEYC hosted a special community screening of Make a Circle on August 12 at the historic Greenbelt Theatre in Greenbelt, Maryland. This powerful documentary highlights the voices and experiences of early childhood educators who advocate for their profession and the children they serve. The screening featured Spanish-language captioning, ensuring accessibility for Spanish-speaking colleagues and community members.
Following the film, a panel of early childhood educators and leaders discussed the documentary, the issues it raised, and their implications for our community. The conversation underscored the power of personal stories to convey the challenges and strengths of the early childhood profession. Educators Tiffany Jones and Carolina Reyes reflected on how sharing their own experiences has been effective to educate others about the realities of their work.
The documentary spotlighted educators at work in both family child care and center-based programs. Panelist Laura Weeldreyer, Executive Director of Maryland Family Network, noted that the film captured the deep relationships educators often form with families—an essential strength of early childhood education that could serve as a model for schools serving older children. Panelist Lucy Recio of Third Bloom Consulting affirmed the value of this demanding work, reminding us that educators’ stories matter. By telling these stories, we not only honor the profession but also help build momentum to address the systemic changes needed to better support educators, children, and families.
Interested in watching this powerful film? We are co-hosting another screening of this film on November 8th (which is already sold out!) with our colleagues at the Baltimore City Child Care Resource Center, the Maryland State Child Care Association, and GatherRound Consulting. If you missed these opportunities, no worries, as MDAEYC plans to host additional screenings in different regions of Maryland. It also aired on PBS September 1st, and is available via local PBS stations https://weta.org/watch/shows/make-circle.
Click here to view full Photo Gallery – Make A Circle Film Screening Greenbelt – Photo Credit: M.A. Photography.
