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About Us

Finding Inspiration in Every Turn

As individuals throughout the World Forum Foundation community began expressing interest in creating intentional work around certain topics (such as supporting Men in Early Childhood, Connecting Children with Nature or Children’s Rights), World Forum Working Groups emerged. These groups of globally diverse professionals coordinate work around their topic and share their experiences, expertise and perspectives with the broader World Forum community.

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The Global Collaborative OnDesign for Children shares resources, news and ideas on designing effective and nurturing environments for children around the world.

Our Mission

Advocacy

Empowering Every Child

Partnership

Collaborating for Change

Outreach

Building a Supportive Community

We believe advocacy is a fundamental pillar of our education movement. Every child deserves access to quality education and resources.

We believe that collaboration is key to making a positive impact on the world. With change, we need perspectives from everyone around the world.

We are committed to building a supportive community that values the voices of every child. Join us in our mission to ensure that no child is ever silenced.

Group Members

Kirsten Haugen Headshot

Kirsten Haugen
Working Group Liaison

Region: United States
Profession: Director of Professional Development Resources at Dimensions / Early Childhood Specialist at Nature Explore

Sebastian Balvia Headshot

Sebastian Balvia

Region: United States
Profession: Designer at Ashley McGraw Architects

 

Dana Bush Headshot

Dana Bush
 
Region: United States
Profession: Associate Dean-College of Education and Applied Human Sciences, Department Chair, Child & Family Studies Professor

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Whitney Dickinson

Region: United States
Profession: Assistant Head of
Pre-School at Riverfield Country
Day School 

Samantha Espinoza Headshot

Samantha Espinoza
Website Assistant

Region: United States
Profession: Arts Administrator and Marketing Manager at Ashley McGraw Architects

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Sally Haughey​

Region: United States
Profession:
Founder of Fairy Dust Teaching

Jennifer Kesselring Headshot

Jennifer Kesselring

Region: United States
Profession: Pre-school Divison Head at Riverfield Country Day School

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Jeff Lindstrom

Region: United States
Profession: Senior Designer / Project Manager at Nature Explore

Vera Melis Headshot

Vera Melis
 
Region: Brazil
Profession:
Independent Management Professional

Michelle Pratt Headshot

Michelle Pratt
 
Region: New Zealand
Profession:
CEO of Enspirement,
Director New Shoots Childrens' Centres

Lucas Ritson Headshot

Lucas Ritson

Region: Australia 
Profession: Founder of Wearthy

 

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Alice Sharp

Region: Scotland
Profession:
Early Childhood Consultant and Trainer, CEO Alice Sharp Training Ltd

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Gary Bilezikian
Working Group Administrator
 
Region: United States
Profession:
President of Guidecraft

Jerry Bates Headshot

Jerry Bates

Region: United States
Profession: Head of School at Riverfield Country Day School

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Catherine Clark

Region: England
Profession: Early Years Consultant

Mike Lindstrom Headshot

Mike Lindstrom, AIA, LEED AP
Working Group Chair

Region: United States
Profession: Partner at Ashley McGraw Architects

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Miriam Beloglovsky
Exchange Everyday, Organizer for Contributions from the Group

Region: United States
Profession: Professor of Early Childhood Education at Cosumnes River College

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Jim Craddock
 
Region: Australia
Profession: Chief Education Officer at  Modern Star

Dr. Sandra Duncan Headshot

Dr. Sandra Duncan
Exchange Magazine, Organizer for Contributions from the Group

Region: United States
Profession: International Consultant

Ivan Galindo Headshot

Ivan Galindo

Region: Mexico
Profession: Founder of Colegio Erik Erikson

Liz Hall Headshot

Liz Hall, RA
 
Region: United States
Profession:
Architect at Ashley McGraw Architects

Diane Kroll Headshot

Diana Kroll

Region: United States
Profession: Founder, Imag(e)ine Collaborative

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Paola Lopez

Region: United States
Profession: Head of School at Kinderoo Children’s Academy, Director of Educational Design and Innovation at Innovia Microschools of Ocala

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Homa Miazad​

Region: United States

Profession:

Senior Child Development Specialist – Child Development Center at Portland Community College & Mentor teacher to Early Childhood Education Practicum Students

Pía Kast Headshot

María Pía Elizabeth
Kast Adriasola


Region: Chile
Profession: Coordinator at Jardín Infantil Masai

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Anna Rubia

Region: Kenya
Profession: Kenya Country Director at ICRI

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Ployshaii Tanganuratana
​
Region: Thailand
Profession: Project Manager
at Guidecraft

Kylie Durekas Headshot

Kylie Durekas, CPSI

Region: United States
Profession: Landscape Designer at Ashley McGraw Architects

 

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Cindy Gennarelli M.Ed.​

Region: United States
Profession: Director of Early Childhood Innovation at William Paterson University

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Jena Ponti Jauchius

Region: United States
Profession: Landscape Architect & Founder of N is for Nature Play

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Dr. Mukunda Kshatree

Region: Nepal
Profession: Nepal Interim Country Director at ICRI

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Ellie Mashhour

Region: United States
Profession: Executive Director at ICRI

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Tariro Nhongo

Region: Zimbabwe
Profession: Zimbabwe Country Executive Director at ICRI

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Kirti Rathore

Region: India
Profession: Interior Architect, Guidecraft, Creative learning Environments

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Stella Satiya 

Region: Zimbabwe
Profession: Zimbabwe Child Resources at ICRI

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Murielle Vautrin


Region: United States
Profession: Business Administrator at Ashley McGraw Architects

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Dr. Laura Wilhelm

Region: United States
Profession: Vice President for Professional Learning, Kaplan Early Learning Company

Emeritus

Ken Jaffe

Region: United States
Profession:  Founder at ICRI

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