Mar 17, 2025

Press Release: Advocate, educators, families, gather for Early Childhood Day

Early Childhood Day featured activities, performances, speakers, and a visit from Alax at the at Roundhouse Monday

Visit the Early Childhood Education and Care Department Newsroom here .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 17, 2025

CONTACT

Julia Sclafani

Public Relations Specialist

Email: julia.sclafani@ececd.nm.gov

Mobile: (505) 699-5937

1120 Paseo De Peralta

Santa Fe, NM 87501

nmececd.org

Advocates, educators, families gather for Early Childhood Day

SANTA FE – Today, the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) hosted the fourth annual Early Childhood Day at the Roundhouse.

This year’s motto was “Meeting the Moment, Building the Future—Let’s work together to strengthen and sustain early childhood programs for generations of New Mexicans!”

The event gathered programs and community partners from across the state that illustrate the richness of New Mexico's prenatal-to-5 system in a resource fair flanking the Rotunda. Exhibitors also offered children’s activities, storytime, and model classrooms to explore.

The day’s central event comprised a press conference and a series of performances:

Welcome remarks from ECECD Sec. Elizabeth Groginsky.

Testimonials from early childhood professionals across program and service areas.

Dance performance by students from the Pueblo of Tesuque Early Childhood, accompanied by kindergarteners from Te Tsu Geh Oweengeh Community School.

A singalong led by the Santa Fe Symphony director of youth programs.

A live segment of “Ask Alax,” and a preview of the upcoming season of “The Early Show with Alax.”

“Early Childhood Day is an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the dedicated educators and professionals that are helping our youngest New Mexicans thrive,” said ECECD Sec. Elizabeth Groginsky . “New Mexico is modeling what a high-quality, accessible prenatal-to-age-5 system can achieve when we support young children and their families during this critical period of growth and development.”

Early Childhood Day was attended by members of the early childhood community, lawmakers, school groups, and young children and their families, along with the broader public.

Find more information on ECECD’s webpage Early Childhood Day at the Roundhouse 2025 .

Find the recording of the day's press conference and performances on ECECD's Facebook page.

Photos from Early Childhood Day are available in the full press release published on NMECECD.org.

Access EC Day media assets

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Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham launched the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) in 2020, making New Mexico among the first states to consolidate all early childhood programs and services under a single cabinet-level agency. Under this administration, ECECD has led the nation by expanding access to free New Mexico PreK, overseeing the largest investment in early childhood infrastructure in state history, and implementing cost-free child care for a majority of New Mexico families. Learn more about how ECECD supports children, families, and the early childhood professionals that serve our communities at nmececd.org, or find us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram as @NewMexicoECECD.

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