Anchorage, Alaska — thread, Alaska’s Statewide Child Care Resource and Referral agency, will host its 6th Summit on the Economic Impact of Early Care & Learning: Building Solutions & Creating Opportunity on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Marriott Anchorage Downtown. The full-day event will bring together local and national leaders, policymakers, businesses and community advocates to focus on solutions that strengthen Alaska’s child care system.

Families, communities, and businesses across Alaska continue to face challenges due to limited access to affordable child care. Without a strong child care system, working parents struggle, businesses face workforce shortages and young children miss critical opportunities for early learning. This summit offers a platform to build solutions that create opportunities for families and strengthen Alaska’s economy.

“Child care is more than a family issue, it’s a workforce and economic infrastructure issue,” said Stephanie Berglund, CEO of thread. “This summit is about building solutions together, with families, educators, businesses, and policymakers, to ensure every child in Alaska has access to affordable, high-quality child care.”

Summit Agenda Highlights

• How Are the Children? How Are the Educators? - Hear the latest data on how children and early educators are doing and why their well-being is the foundation for building lasting solutions.

• Meeting Alaska’s Child Care Challenge - Explore the ongoing child care crisis in Alaska through data, storytelling, and updates on how thread is leading change.

• State Leadership in Action - Get updates on the Governor’s Child Care Task Force recommendations, recent legislation, and how state-level action is shaping opportunity.

• Child Care Beyond Alaska - Learn about inspiring policies and innovations advancing child care nationwide.

• Child Care Is Economic Infrastructure - Hear how leading economists, labor experts, and policy analysts are identifying barriers and strategies to strengthen the system for today’s families and businesses.

• Solutions That Shine, Part 1 and 2 - Discover creative community and sector approaches that are building and strengthening child care locally and nationally.

• Be the Change for Alaska’s Children - Turn insight into action by joining the movement to build lasting child care solutions.

Event Details

• Date & Time: Tuesday, October 28, 2025, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

• Location: Marriott Anchorage Downtown, 820 W 7th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501

• Tickets: General Admission $75 | Early Educator Admission $50 (Includes both in-person and virtual options. In-person registration includes breakfast and lunch; virtual registration includes access via Zoom.)

A special room rate of $229 per night is available at the Marriott Anchorage Downtown for summit attendees. Discounted valet parking is also available.

Sponsors

This year’s Summit is made possible thanks to the generous support of: Rasmuson Foundation, State of Alaska Department of Health, Bright Road Wealth Management, ConocoPhillips, Alaska Children’s Trust, Anchorage Sand & Gravel, Business Insurance Associates, Credit Union 1, and the Southcentral Alaska Association for the Education of Young Children (SCAAEYC).

Join Us 

Tickets are on sale now at threadalaska.org. Businesses and organizations are also invited to become sponsors and partner with thread to ensure affordable, high-quality child care for Alaska’s children and families.

About thread

For more than three decades, thread has been working to advance child development and early childhood education outcomes in Alaska. As the state’s Child Care Resource and Referral agency, thread assists families in finding affordable, high-quality child care; supports early childhood educators with training and resources; collaborates with businesses and communities; and advocates for policies that strengthen Alaska’s child care system.