The Tauck Family Foundation hosted its fifth annual Investee Cohort Gathering at the University of Bridgeport.

Event participants included staff and board members from investee organizations, community partners, local area funders, and Tauck Family Foundation Board Members, Advisory Committee Members and staff.

The event began with a Brain Game called “My Hat Has Three Corners”, led by Laura Stickle from the Harvard Graduate School of Education/EASEL Lab. This is one of many Brain Games created by the Harvard team which help children learn how to listen carefully, exercise self-control, think flexibly, and remember and follow directions.

The Foundation then recognized and celebrated each investee for their dedicated partnership and unwavering commitment to the social and emotional development of Bridgeport students. A video to highlight the achievements of each investee was shared and each investee was presented with an award and a set of SEL and equity-related children’s books to add to their site’s library.

Following the celebration of each investee, the Tauck Family Foundation was honored to host an esteemed panel, moderated by Dr. Gretchen Brion-Meisels from the Harvard Graduate School of Education/EASEL Lab, on “Equity and Social and Emotional Learning” to discuss why equity is important, particularly as it relates to SEL and working in the Bridgeport community.

Panelists shared their expertise on this topic. Dr. Dena Simmons, Director of Education, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence discussed settings that promote SEL and equity and the subsequent panelists discussed how they apply an equity lens to SEL as it relates to their specific setting: Dr. Colin Rose, Assistant Superintendent of Opportunity and Achievement Gaps, Boston Public Schools (district-level perspective); Heron Russell, Music Teacher and Priscilla Valentine, Literacy Enrichment Specialist, both from the Conley Elementary School, Boston Public Schools (school/classroom-level perspective); and Dr. Robert Jagers, Associate Professor, University of Michigan School of Education (out-of-school time perspective).

Following the formal panel, each panelist facilitated a smaller table discussion on their area of expertise. In addition, Dr. Craig Bailey, Director of RULER for Early Childhood, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and Jennifer Miller, SEL Family and Education Consultant, Confident Parents, Confident Kids served as facilitators to discuss this topic as it relates to early childhood and family/parent involvement, respectively.

After a robust discussion, each table shared a key takeaway with the whole group. Dr. Brion-Meisels closed with a call to action to continue our collective social and emotional learning work in solidarity and with an equity mindset, in Bridgeport and beyond.

Foundation staff then shared an update on the Foundation’s 2018-2023 strategy and Liz Walters, Tauck Family Foundation President, gave closing remarks. Led by Dr. Dena Simmons, the group concluded the evening by participating in a Gratitude Circle.

Thank you to all who participated in the evening and congratulations to our investees on the incredible work you continue to do in the Bridgeport community!