This keynote invites you to reflect on the cultural narratives and assumptions you bring to your work with infants, toddlers, and families. While cultural competence often focuses on understanding others, this session centers on examining how your own frameworks shape what you notice, value, and consider developmentally appropriate. Through storytelling, guided reflection, and interactive exercises, you’ll explore how systems of power influence which practices are seen as “standard,” and learn to approach families with curiosity rather than judgment. You’ll leave with practical tools to navigate cultural differences, strengthen partnerships, and support families in ways that honor their dignity, complexity, and agency.
Conferences & Institutes
Infancy Institute
This early childhood conference focuses on the care of infants through four-year-olds. Each year workshops focus on curriculum, infant and toddler development, challenging behaviors, working with families, and emotionally responsive practice highlighting cutting-edge developments in research, relationship-based practice, and family-centered care. The institute, founded in 1987, has educated thousands of infant/toddler specialists from around the world. We welcome caregivers, teachers, directors, trainers, home visitors, parents, early interventionists, developmental specialists, social workers, family childcare providers, and all who support young children in a variety of settings.
2026 Conference
June 15 – June 17
At Bank Street College
Monday, 10:00 AM – 4:15 PM ET
Tuesday, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday, 9:30 AM – 3:15 PM
Keynote | Melina Gac Levin
Culture on the Table: Cultural Self-Awareness as Professional Practice
History of the Infancy Institute
In 1987, faculty and graduate students in Bank Street’s Infant & Family Development and Early Intervention Program recognized the lack of professional development designed specifically to improve the practice of those working with infants and toddlers. The Infancy Institute was the answer to that interdisciplinary need in the many settings where infants, toddlers, and families interact with professionals. Highlighting cutting-edge research, development, relationship-based practice, and family-centered care, the institute has educated thousands of infant/toddler specialists from around the world.
Related Graduate School Programs
Infant and Family Development and Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special and General Education
Infant and Family Development and Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education
Infant and Family Development and Early Intervention/Dual degree with Hunter College School of Social Work
Infant and Family Development and Early Intervention (Non-certification)
Early Childhood Special and General Education Dual Certification
Early Childhood Leadership (Online)
Full List of Programs
Infant and Family Development and Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education
Infant and Family Development and Early Intervention/Dual degree with Hunter College School of Social Work
Infant and Family Development and Early Intervention (Non-certification)
Early Childhood Special and General Education Dual Certification
Early Childhood Leadership (Online)
Participant Experiences
The presenters gave such interesting, concrete examples that I could bring to my center and really understood the reasoning behind the approach.
Participant Experiences
I love the emphasis on culture, race and relationships and, of course, children!