Coffee & Conversation: Strengthening Early Childhood Systems Through Research and Policy

The last event in this season’s Early Childhood Coffee & Conversation series took place online on June 12. The topic of discussion? The newly formed Early Childhood Exchange, which launched that very day—the website went live during the event. The Early Childhood Exchange (ECX) is a partnership that will amplify and streamline the work of allied organizations to strengthen the link between early childhood research and policy in Massachusetts. 

Supported through a novel collaboration of funders—the Boston Foundation, the Commonwealth Children’s Fund, Eastern Bank Foundation, and the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation—the ECX brings together Strategies for Children, the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy, and the Massachusetts Early Childhood Policy Research Collaborative to better connect research, policy, and decision-making. By offering rapid-response analyses, fast facts, and other actionable products, ECX will support more informed, evidence-based policies to benefit young children and families.
As TBF Associate Vice President for Programs Antoniya Marinova said in her introductory remarks, “We know that while new research continues to emerge and to shape the field, policymakers still have limited access to that and to research that is nimble and adapted for practical use.” ECX will address this gap. Marinova teed up the morning’s conversation, which came in two parts—first with the Exchange members and then with the funders, followed by an open question period.

Jill Norton, founding facilitator of ECX, first shared the timeline of the Exchange’s evolution, from a 2025 survey showing the need to “un-silo” research to the development of relationships with partners in the early childhood ecosystem to the exploration of possibilities to the final shaping of the ECX solution, where each member leans into its area of strength while identifying areas of common or shared work. The official launch was a major milestone; next steps include “building a strong foundation of trusting relationships, identifying pressing policy needs, planning the work, and building external relationships,” Norton said. She then moderated a discussion with representatives of ECX’s organizational partners—Amy O’Leary (Strategies for Children), Kimberly Lucas (Massachusetts Early Childhood Policy Research Collaborative), Chad d’Entremont (Rennie Center)—asking, “What from your own work made this seem necessary?” and “What does collaboration do for the effort?” and “How do we amplify and add value rather than duplicate our work?”

The conversation flowed easily and displayed something they all reflected upon: Relationships matter. In d’Entremont’s words, “This doesn’t happen overnight. Amy, Kim, and I all worked at Strategies for Children at the same time and built initial relationships there. That gives you an enormous sense of trust. Even when there might be a disagreement, it’s easy to talk through. Perhaps the reason relationships matter most is you never doubt for a second that everyone wants to do what’s best for the early childhood field, for children, and for families.” He added that the Exchange will be an inclusive place beyond these three organizations.

Collaboration and developing new relationships will keep it growing. Lucas said she was inspired by “the joy of creating a new thing with others,” adding, “Collaboration also entails thinking hard about one’s role. Keeping in mind: What do folks in early childhood want and need, where are the gaps?” O’Leary built on that saying, “We’ve seen through our 9:30 Call, through our advocacy network for early childhood, that people who are doing the work every day are interested and are actually researchers themselves. …While we may have some of these connections and we’re able to leverage them, I think that what we’re most excited about with the Exchange is that there’s a place where people can go to say, ‘I really want to know about this,’ or ‘Hey, did you know about this research that’s happening?’”