LatinLift Conference 2026

2026 Conference Highlights

What You’ll Experience

• Practical tools and strategies from expert-led sessions in both English and Spanish.
  
• Inspiring speakers and enriching learning opportunities.
• Meaningful connections with fellow educators, administrators, and advocates.
• Access to exhibitors offering valuable resources and services.
• A vibrant cultural celebration with music and food in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
• Recognition of outstanding educators, including the LatinLIFT Teacher Awardee.
• Fun raffle opportunities throughout the event.
• PQAS and Act 48 credits to support your professional development.

Meet Our 2026 Conference Moderator, Isabel Sánchez

Latinos Educando Juntos is proud to welcome Isabel Sánchez, bilingual reporter and anchor with NBC10 and Telemundo62, as the moderator and emcee of the LEJ 2026 Conference: Sembrando Semillas — Cultivating the Future with Resilience and Rooted Care.

A bilingual journalist and community storyteller, Isabel brings a deep commitment to connecting with communities and elevating the stories and conversations that matter.

Throughout Sembrando Semillas, Isabel will help guide our conference experience, connecting voices, ideas, and moments of reflection as we explore what it means to cultivate a future rooted in resilience, care, and community.

From Resilience to Power: Advancing Latino Leadership in Early Childhood Systems

Keynote Speaker: Danielle Fuentes-Johnson

Discover how Latino leaders are reshaping early childhood systems through resilience, advocacy, and collective action. In this inspiring keynote, Danielle will share how bold leadership can drive more equitable outcomes for children, families, and communities.

Danielle is a nationally recognized systems strategist with more than 20 years of experience across Early Intervention, Early Head Start, special education, home-based child care, and support for immigrant and refugee communities. She works with states and communities nationwide to strengthen early childhood systems and ensure Latino voices are centered in leadership and decision-making.

Plant the Seeds of Change: Become a Sponsor

Why Sponsor?
Join educators and leaders to celebrate Hispanic Heritage, build resilience, and shape the future of early childhood education.

This program supports Latinx entrepreneurs, students, and professionals through mentorship, community, and leadership development—empowering them to create lasting impact.

Your support uplifts educators, strengthens communities, and connects your organization with leaders in the field.

Click here for more information

Raffle Basket Sponsor

Support our event by sponsoring a raffle basket! Your contribution helps us create exciting raffle prizes while supporting the programs and initiatives of Latinos Educando Juntos. Sponsors will be recognized during the event and in promotional materials.

Click here for more information

Showcase Your Organization: Exhibit with Us

Why Exhibit?

For just an investment of $150, you can exhibit at our conference to connect directly with 150+ Latinx educators, business owners, and advocates in a high-traffic networking space. You’ll gain valuable visibility through our digital program and conference platforms, plus dedicated time to engage, share resources, and generate leads with your target audience.

With built-in exposure, meaningful connections, and alignment with a premier Hispanic professional development event, exhibiting offers a powerful opportunity to grow your reach and impact.

Click here for more information
Registration Ended on June 30th, 2026

Meet Our Presenters & Explore Their Topics

Learn from inspiring educators, advocates, leaders, and industry experts who are shaping the future of early childhood education, leadership, family engagement, and business success. Explore each presenter’s background and discover the valuable insights they will share during their sessions.

Meet our presenters and discover the topics they’ll be leading throughout the conference. From innovative teaching practices and family engagement to advocacy, leadership, and business development, each session is designed to inform, inspire, and empower.

Alyssa Eddings

Elwyn Early Learning Services

Alyssa Eddings holds a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. With over ten years of experience in the field, she has served as a teacher, childcare director, and teacher/administrator coach. Alyssa is also a PQAS-certified professional development trainer dedicated to supporting educators and promoting inclusive learning environments.

Session Topic:
Resilient Thinking: Having a Growth Mindset to Support Inclusion

Track 1: The Rooted Educator (Early Childhood Education)

Charles De Leon

Children’s Crisis Treatment Center

Charles De Leon is a mental and behavioral health consultant, therapist, author, and public speaker with more than 20 years of experience in the mental health field. Through his work with Children’s Crisis Treatment Center, he supports children, families, educators, and community partners using trauma-informed and healing-centered approaches. Charles is passionate about helping individuals build resilience, strengthen relationships, and create safe, supportive environments for growth.

Session Topic:
Beyond the Behavior: Understanding Trauma, the Brain, and the Power of Safe Adults

Track 1: The Rooted Educator (Early Childhood Education)

Crystal Ann Hall

Black Child Development Institute 

Crystal Ann Hall is a Community Engagement Officer, educator, trainer, and advocate dedicated to strengthening children, families, and communities through culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and equity-centered practices. With extensive experience in early childhood education, family engagement, and community outreach, she creates learning experiences that inspire meaningful action, resilience, and lasting impact.

Session Topic:
The Village Reimagined: Cultivating Resilience Through Community, Culture, and Care

Track 1: The Rooted Educator (Early Childhood Education)

Deborah Vogt

Harmoney Bookkeeping Company 

Deborah Vogt is the President & CEO of Harmoney Bookkeeping Company, which provides outsourced bookkeeping, payroll, and accounting services to small and midsized businesses across the U.S. She has developed particular expertise supporting childcare centers, helping owners and directors better understand their financial data to guide decisions around enrollment, staffing, cash flow, and growth.

Session Topic:
Running a Thriving Childcare Center: 10 Financial Indicators Every Director and Owner Should Be Tracking

Track 3: The Resilient Enterprise (Financial & Business)

Javier Martínez

AP-OD

Javier Martínez serves as the Managing Director of National Policy at AP-OD. He previously worked as Lead Organizer at the Partnership for Community Action in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he contributed to efforts that helped advance the state’s first-in-the-nation universal childcare program.

A first-generation immigrant and college graduate, Javier earned his law degree from the University of New Mexico. He is actively engaged in community service, including volunteering with North Valley Little League, and serves as the 31st Speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives. Javier Martínez

Session Topic:
Advocacy & Movement Building: NM’s Universal Childcare Story

Track 2: The Visionary Leader (Leadership & Advocacy)

Joanna Hightower

Innovageous

Joanna Hightower is a bilingual educator and executive leader with over 20 years of experience serving Black and Brown students and families in North Philadelphia. She is recognized by the School District of Philadelphia as a Peer Leader in K–8 schools and has led high-performing schools, including securing a rare charter renewal without conditions and approval for school expansion. She also led the development of a $20M+, 48,000-square-foot school facility serving more than 600 children.

Session Topic:
Visionary Leadership: Rooted in Values, Growing with Purpose

Track 2: The Visionary Leader (Leadership & Advocacy)

Lisbeth Little

Little Education Consulting / Little Learners Academy

Lisbeth Little is a passionate education advocate dedicated to empowering families of children with developmental delays and disabilities. For over a decade, she has supported parents and caregivers in navigating their children’s unique journeys, equipping them with knowledge, confidence, and culturally responsive support—particularly within Latino communities.

Session Topic:
Bridging Cultural Wealth: Transforming Family Engagement through Raíces

Track 1: The Rooted Educator (Early Childhood Education)

Maritza Guridy

MGuridy Consulting

Maritza Guridy is a mother of five, educator, and community advocate dedicated to strengthening the connection between families, schools, and communities. She has served in multiple leadership and advisory roles across Philadelphia and Camden, including parent association leadership, school advisory councils, and national family engagement organizations focused on elevating parent voice and advocacy.

Session Topic:
Collaboration Between Schools, Families, and Communities

Track 2: The Visionary Leader (Leadership & Advocacy)

Natalie Flores

The Pennsylvania Key

Natalie Flores holds a Master of Education degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, with a focus on advancing equitable and sustainable practices in early childhood education. She specializes in early childhood assessment systems, workforce development, integrated data systems, and teacher education. With nearly 20 years of experience as an educator and teacher educator, Natalie has supported young children from infancy through second grade while promoting culturally sustaining, child-centered learning practices. 

Session Topic:
Exploring the New PA ECE Career Pathway

Track 1: The Rooted Educator (Early Childhood Education) 

Rachel Camacho

First Up

Rachel Camacho is a bilingual and biliterate early childhood professional from Philadelphia, raised by Puerto Rican and Dominican parents. She currently serves as Senior Early Learning Specialist at First Up, bringing over a decade of experience as an educator and leader, including work as a Head Start Director of Education. 

Session Topic:
United by Reading

Track 1: The Rooted Educator (Early Childhood Education) 

Samantha Rosthauser

Elwyn Early Learning Services

Samantha Rosthauser is an experienced education leader with over 18 years in the field, including 15 years in special education. She serves as Director of Community & Family Engagement and Director of the Family Resource Center at Elwyn, leading key transitions into preschool early intervention and from preschool to school-age services. Throughout her career as a teacher, supervisor, and principal, Samantha has championed inclusive, student-centered practices and strong family and community partnerships.

Session Topic (Co-Presenter):
Resilient Thinking: Having a Growth Mindset to Support Inclusion

Track 1: The Rooted Educator (Early Childhood Education)

Stefanie Adorno

Independent Contractor

Stefanie Adorno, M.Ed., MSOL, is a bilingual early childhood educator, private childcare consultant, and adjunct instructor at Esperanza College of Eastern University. With more than a decade of leadership experience, she founded and operated a licensed early learning center in Philadelphia for 13 years before transitioning into consulting, higher education, and educator mentorship.

Session Topic:
Rooted in Equity: “The Quiet Bias in Early Childhood Classrooms… and How to Disrupt it.”

Track 1: The Rooted Educator (Early Childhood Education)

Finanta

Ernesto Gonzalez, Community Microlender
Franklin Baez, Community Lender
Marilyn Morel, Community Lender

Since 1992, Finanta has provided loan capital to small business owners, nonprofit organizations, and community development projects in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and Delaware. In 2021, we launched Finanta Credit Union to serve low-income residents by offering ethical financial products and services and creating financial equity through wealth building opportunities.
Guided by the voices of those we serve, we design client-driven solutions that foster wealth creation and strengthen community economic development.

Session Topic:
Building Financial Stability: Smart Budgeting, Retirement Planning, and Employee Retention Strategies for Childcare Providers

Track 3: The Resilient Enterprise (Financial & Business)

Need a Hotel?

We have pre-reserved a limited number of rooms for registrants to make booking more convenient.
Room charges will be paid directly by registrants and are not covered by the organizers. These rooms were reserved in advance to help ensure availability.

Cut-off date for reservations: August 25, 2026.

Book Your Hotel Room here

Lead support is provided by the William Penn Foundation