Anyone Can Be a Changemaker: The 2026 Early Childhood Changemaker Summit

As GEEARS strives to increase our statewide outreach, we’re faced with a “good problem to have”: Georgia is sprawling and diverse, with unique early childhood ecosystems in every one of our regions.   

That’s why we created the Early Childhood Changemaker (EC2) initiative to cultivate leaders and advocates in different parts of the state. As they approach the end of their one-year term, our first cohort of Changemakers from Columbus, Statesboro, Athens and Augusta have proven to be incredible networkers, organizers, and voices to power.

Getting these leaders together is an essential part of their development and thus, GEEARS recently hosted our second annual Early Childhood Changemakers Summit in Atlanta. It was a chance to herald the coming graduation of Cohort One and launch Cohort Two—who come from Dublin, Rome, Gainesville, and Athens. 

The summit’s keynote speaker, educator and motivational speaker Michael Bonner, brought the hype, encouraging the Changemakers to be “crazy and consistent” in pursuing their goals for their communities. 

Experts from GEEARS, PAACT, and partners like Voices for Healthy Kids, Neighborhood Nexus, and the Cobb Collaborative brought fascinating and helpful information to sessions like Systems Thinking, Voices from the Field, and Mobilizing for Georgia’s Children. 

The Changemakers, themselves, brought a commitment that will extend long past their stipended year in EC2, whereupon they’ll enter an alumni strategy. 

“A year is definitely not long enough,” said Cohort One’s Samanthia Valentine, “but a year will help you set the atmosphere for everything that you’re going to do in the future. One year will help you plant in the soil wherever you are located and help you reach others.” 

Most of all, Trequita Overton, EC2’s always-inspiring director, brought meaning to both the Summit and the initiative as a whole. 

“There isn’t one way to be a changemaker,” she told the group. “Some of us are storytellers, some of us are connectors, advocates, organizers, listeners, relationship-builders, or people who know how to bring others to the table. With that being said, the strength of this movement comes from all of those roles working together.” 

In other words, anyone can be a changemaker. Take it from. . .  

Shaylan Johnson, the Northwest Georgia Minority Business Association president and a community advocate with a domestic violence shelter and sexual assault center in Rome.  

“It starts with your every day. If you see an injustice, you say something. You’re a changemaker simply by showing up to certain locations and just being there. Anyone can be a changemaker.”  

Katrice Dixon, a middle school math teacher who’s collaborating with others in her Changemaker cohort to connect parents with resources in Augusta. 

“All it takes is the willingness to listen, to learn, and to grow. You don’t have to have children. You don’t have to work in education. Anyone can be a changemaker.”   

Lavonia Smith, a mother of five, Head Start advocate, and aspiring director of a 24-hour child care program in Dublin.  

“There’s no need to be intimidated. You’re probably already a changemaker without knowing it. If you’re actually doing anything in the community, you’re a changemaker.”  

Jennifer Henderson, a program director with Brightpaths in Athens.  

“We all live in the community. Just being able to share your stories and experiences and making an impact locally where you live and play—anybody can be a changemaker.”   

Click here to see photo highlights from the Summit!