Growing Together: Aligning Investment for Rural Early Childhood – An AFN Summit
Registration is now closed as we’ve reached full capacity for this event. To be added to the waiting list, contact charie@assetfunders.org
Join the San Antonio Area Chapter of the Asset Funders Network and our Host Committee for a one-day gathering focused on strengthening early childhood opportunities in the rural and small town communities around San Antonio.
Together, we’ll center community voices, explore local challenges, and identify actionable strategies to ensure families can work, centers can thrive, and communities can prosper.
Who Should Attend?
Funders, nonprofit leaders, early childhood providers, schools, and workforce partners, and policymakers committed to improving early childhood opportunities in rural communities.
Featured Speakers & Facilitators
Adrian Lopez, Workforce Solutions Alamo
Allison Pape, AVANCE Statewide
Alice Jewell, McKenna Foundation
Andrea Figueroa, San Antonio Area Foundation
Austin Dickson, Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country
Brooke Couch Freeland, Couch Family Foundation
Chris Yeschke, Leakey ISD
Dr. Leah Meunier, Raising Travis County Child Care Fund
Fran Baylor, Asset Funders Network
Katherine Pipoly, Kronkosky Charitable Foundation
Katie Sirakos, Asset Funders Network
Liza Gomez, United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County
Mark Larson, Early Matters San Antonio
Meron Tekle, School Empowerment Network
Pastor James Leinneweber, Rebecca Creek Baptist Church
Perri Rosheger, H.E. Butt Foundation
Ryan Franklin, Philanthropy Advocates
Stephanie Smith, United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County
Wendy Uptain, Early Matters Texas
Yesenia Alvarez-Gonzalez, AVANCE San Antonio
Event Host Committee Members
Alice Jewell (Chair), McKenna Foundation
Andrea Figueroa, San Antonio Area Foundation
Austin Dickson, Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country
Katherine Pipoly, Kronkosky Charitable Foundation
Katie Sirakos, Asset Funders Network
Perri Rosheger, H.E. Butt Foundation
Ryan Franklin, Philanthropy Advocates
Stephanie Smith, United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County
Program
8:15 AM | Registration & Networking Breakfast
8:45 AM | Welcome Remarks & Framing
Alice Jewell, McKenna Foundation
Austin Dickson, Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country
Katie Sirakos, Asset Funders Network
9:00 AM | Framing Presentations
Demographic & Issue Context
Wendy Uptain, Early Matters Texas
Systems-Level Work Context
Brooke Couch Freeland, Couch Family Foundation
9:30 AM | Local Landscape Panel
Moderator: Wendy Uptain, Early Matters Texas
Panelists:
Chris Yeschke, Leakey ISD
Meron Tekle, School Empowerment Network
Perri Rosheger, H.E. Butt Foundation
Yesenia Alvarez-Gonzalez, AVANCE San Antonio
10:15 AM | Networking Break
10:30 AM | Inspiration from Elsewhere
Moderator: Katherine Pipoly, Kronkosky Charitable Foundation
Panelists:
Adrian Lopez, Workforce Solutions Alamo
Allison Pape, AVANCE Statewide
Leah Meunier, Raising Travis County Child Care Fund
Liza Gomez, United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County
11:15 AM | Topical Breakout Discussions & Synthesis
Moderator: Mark Larson, Early Matters San Antonio
Table Hosts:
Andrea Figueroa, San Antonio Area Foundation
Fran Baylor, Asset Funders Network
Katherine Pipoly, Kronkosky Charitable Foundation
Perri Rosheger, H.E. Butt Foundation
Ryan Franklin, Philanthropy Advocates
Stephanie Smith, United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County
12:00 PM | Lunch
12:00–12:30 PM | Networking
12:30–1:00 PM | Fireside Chat: Early Childhood Education Provider Perspectives
Alice Jewell, McKenna Foundation
Pastor James Leinneweber, Rebecca Creek Baptist Church
1:00 PM | Funder Strategy Session
Facilitator: Mark Larson, Early Matters San Antonio
2:40 PM | Commitments & Closing Reflections
Katie Sirakos, Asset Funders Network
Mark Larson, Early Matters San Antonio
3:00 PM | Convening Adjourns
Lead Sponsor
Registration is now closed as we’ve reached full capacity for this event. To be added to the waiting list, contact charie@assetfunders.org
