Voting opens for Childcare & Family Legacy Awards ahead of Richmond conference

Public voting opens this month for the 2nd Annual Childcare & Family Legacy Awards, part of a two-day conference set for Sept. 25-26 in Richmond, Virginia. The event aims to recognize parents, educators and childcare professionals while offering sessions, networking and resources for the broader community.

Why it matters: - The awards and conference are designed to recognize people whose work with children and families often happens behind the scenes but has a lasting impact. - Organizers are also using the event to give attendees practical tools, professional connections and community resources. - Public voting gives families and local communities a direct role in choosing award recipients.

What happened: - Public voting opens this month for the 2nd Annual Childcare & Family Legacy Awards. - The awards are part of the Childcare & Family Legacy Conference, founded and hosted by Dr. DeShonda Jennings. - The two-day conference will be held Sept. 25-26, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia. - The event will bring together childcare professionals, parents, educators, business owners, mentors, community advocates and other leaders focused on children and families.

The details: - Award categories include Parent of the Year, Family Day Home Leadership, Child Day Center Excellence, Religious Exemption Leadership, Pre-K Teacher of the Year, Early Childhood Educator of the Year, Childcare Professional of the Year, Homeschool Educator of the Year, Infant Teacher of the Year, Toddler Teacher of the Year and Voluntary Registration Excellence. - Voting will be open across the award categories for people nominated for leadership, service, professionalism and commitment to children and families. - The conference is built around education, networking, vendor access, lunch networking, legacy strategies and additional resources. - Sessions will cover parent-professional partnerships, resilient children, family engagement, financial literacy, business strategy, leadership, team management and the future of childcare, technology and changing family dynamics. - Attendees will also be able to connect with community resources, visit vendors and celebrate nominees and recipients. - Keynote speakers include Taurea Vision Avant, Yolanda T. Richey, Lajoyce Lewis and Tiffany Johnson. - The conference runs Friday, Sept. 25, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for a VIP dinner and networking event. - Saturday, Sept. 26, runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with sessions, panels, networking, vendors and awards. - The venue is 3030 The Venue, 8257 Hull Street Road, Richmond, VA 23235. - More information is available at the conference website. - The organization also lists social media pages on Instagram and Facebook.

Between the lines: - The conference is trying to position itself as more than an awards program by pairing recognition with professional development. - Dr. Jennings is framing the event as a support system for families and childcare workers, not just a ceremony. - The broad list of categories suggests the awards are meant to span multiple roles in early childhood and family education.

What's next: - Communities in Virginia, the U.S., Canada and beyond are being invited to vote, attend, sponsor or support nominees. - Organizers expect the September conference to serve as both a recognition event and a networking platform for attendees. - Additional speakers, panelists, honorees and industry professionals are expected to be part of the program.

The bottom line: - Dr. Jennings is using the 2026 conference to turn public recognition into a community-driven celebration of childcare and family leadership.