JOIN US FOR
Friday Cafe
A CFSP Family Engagement Initiative
WHAT IS
Friday Cafe
A morning discussion and networking series for people who work at the intersection of families and learning. We are Sponsored by a collaboration of CSDE, CT Family-School Partnership at CREC, SERC, and our Advisory Group. Our monthly gatherings feature a short talk, fresh coffee and thought-provoking conversation.
Curated Book Collection
Guided Discussion
Support for Book Events
Educator Resources
User friendly
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Collaboration & support
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Project management
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Digital strategy
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Reasonable services
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Globalization method
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Meet Your Facilitator
Judy Carson,
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Latest from the blog
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ABOUT FRIDAY CAFE
What You Can Expect
Inspiration
A short, thought-provoking talk to spark new ideas.
Connection
Time to network and share with others who do similar work.
Reflection
A space to pause, recharge, and think more deeply about your role.
Community
A welcoming environment where your work is understood and valued.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Who Can Join Us
Anyone working at the intersection of families and learning is welcome! This includes:
Friday Cafe Leaders
Judy Carson, CSDE program coordinator, CFSP staff, and Advisory Council members
Families
Parents, Caregivers, parent liaisons, and anyone passionate about supporting families
Schools
educators, school staff, family support specialists, District staff, principals, higher education and sate education agency staff, RESC’s,
Community Partners
Staff from Community Organizations, Social Services and informal learning sites like museums and libraries, home-school facilitators
Why It Matters
Friday CAFÉ creates a welcoming space for professionals who support families to connect, reflect, and grow together. It builds community, strengthens professional identity, and promotes inclusive, equitable practices. By rethinking traditional professional development, Friday CAFÉ helps foster stronger, more meaningful partnerships between families, schools, and communities.
Our Goals
- Meet one Friday a month at spots throughout the state
- Create a learning community for family and community engagement professionals
- Different topics, speakers, and venues for each month
- Inclusive learning environment for educators to learn and network with others in the field
- Expand thinking with free-flowing topics
- Develop a robust professional identity for family and community engagement staff
- Build Connections
past Friday Cafe
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGlrqvKLCmss7f_bf4nSLng
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGlrqvKLCmss7f_bf4nSLng/videos
OUR TESTIMONIALS
What Families Are Saying
Reading together gave us a reason to pause and just be together.
Parent
CFSP Partner Schools
The book night was the best family event we’ve ever attended at school.
Caregiver
GTWB Participant
Ready to Grow Together?
Let’s get started! Join our Partnership today!
123 Progress Drive, Wethersfield, CT
ct-fsp.org
Background
The idea for Friday CAFÉ came from people working in the field of family engagement in Connecticut schools and communities. Though they go by many different titles – parent liaison, partnership coordinator, home-school facilitator, or family resource specialist – they have one thing in common. There is no professional organization in the state or network for peer-to-peer learning and resource sharing.
The CT State Department of Education (CSDE) held focus groups with school and district staff responsible for family and community engagement to learn about their work and the challenges they face. The consensus was clear – working in this field can be isolating and staff want a way to network and learn from others in the field.
The Creative Mornings Model
The Friday CAFÉ (Community and Family Engagement) is based on a model started by artists in Brooklyn called Creative Mornings. Borrowing a low-cost but high-impact strategy model from Creative Mornings (which is now in over 100 cities around the world) the CSDE joined with CREC and SERC/PIRC to create a learning community for family and community engagement professionals. An advisory group of practitioners assists with choosing topics, speakers and venues for each month.
Gathering Format
Friday CAFÉ takes place one Friday morning a month, in interesting gathering spots across each participating state, such as museums, art centers and music theaters. During the discussion and gathering, there is time for networking and conversation, a brief (20-30 minute) presentation and spirited discussion. Topics have included “Trust,” “The Open-Door School” and “The Student Voice in Partnerships.”
Membership is broad, not just people who work directly with families, but also educators and administrators who supervise them and want deeper understanding of the benefits of greater family and community engagement.
It includes:
- District staff
- Principals
- Higher Education & State Education Agency Staff
- Staff from Community Organizations, Social Services and informal learning sites like museums and librarie
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