Citywide Early Childhood Research Roundtable

Join us as we connect Chicago’s early childhood researchers, evaluators, and analysts.

The Citywide Early Childhood Research Roundtable, hosted by the Early Childhood Research Alliance of Chicago (EC*REACH), will take place Wednesday, April 8 at 12:00-1:00p on Zoom.

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Meet our presenters‍

In this roundtable, Drs. Teresa Eckrich Sommer and Lauren Tighe will present on The Linked Lives of Parents and Children: Applying Theory andEvidence to Promote Family-Centered Systems Change in Chicago

Two-generation, or family-centered, approaches align high-quality, intensive education services for parents and children in the same family at the same time. Their overarching aim is to reduce educational and economic inequities for families. In this research roundtable, we will describe the theory and evidence that supports two-generation investments, nationally and globally. We will then introduce our new initiative, the Chicago 2Gen Research and Integrated Data Alliance, for feedback and discussion. The goals of the Chicago 2Gen Alliance are three-fold: (1) create a two-generation community of practice in the city, (2) integrate existing data systems for adults and children, and (3) answer the most pressing program and policy concerns with data on the linked lives and outcomes of parents and children in Chicago. They welcome your input and ideas.

Teresa Eckrich Sommer is a Research Professor at the Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, and the Director of the Northwestern Two-Generation Research Initiative (NU2Gen)which she co-founded in 2012. Sommer designs and promotes research-practice partnerships to study pressing issues in education and social policy. Her main areas of focus are the dual development of children and parents and the economic mobility of families. Sommer began her career at the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice following a Coro Foundation Fellowship in Public Affairs. Over the course of her career, she has worked to advance social policy and practice for families in the U.S. and globally, including Ireland and Jamaica. Sommer has a MPP and PhD in Public Policy, Harvard University and a BA in Human Biology, Stanford University.

Lauren Tighe’s research focuses on the role of families in the development and academic success of children and youth. At the Institute for Policy Research, she co-directs the Northwestern University Two-Generation Research Initiative (www.nu2gen.org),which studies the implementation and effectiveness of family-centered education programs in promoting economic equity. She is a four-time University of Michigan alumna and received her PhD in Developmental Psychology and Social Work.

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