2024 Day of Learning In-Person Event

Welcome

For the 1 in 12 children who will lose a parent or sibling before the age of 18, it can be difficult to feel heard, understood, and adequately supported both immediately following a loss and for the years to follow. Loss is not a one-time event but rather a lifelong experience that ebbs and flows, making it critical that all who work with and care for bereaved children understand the role they play in providing support.

Since 2008, New York Life Foundation has been committed to understanding the impact and providing resources for bereaved families and the supportive adults in a child’s life. Through thoughtful partnerships, we tailor our resources to different communities to meet the needs of bereaved children and meet them where they already receive support.

In partnership with Sesame Workshop, the global impact nonprofit behind Sesame Street, we share a deep commitment to supporting families with young children – especially as it relates to coping with death, and the multi-faceted, ever-changing, enduring nature of loss. Our suite of resources has included videos, activities, and worksheets dedicated to helping young children understand their feelings and how they can keep the memory of their loved ones alive. Most recently, we have published a digital, interactive resource Growing as We Grieve. This award-winning resource helps adults understand how feelings of grief change over time and how they can speak to children regarding loss.

As part of their partnership, New York Life Foundation and Sesame Workshop are proud to present the 2024 Day of Learning: Growing as We Grieve. This annual event held every November honors Children’s Grief Awareness Month, a nationwide call to understand the role we all play in a bereaved child’s story. This event will feature programming for both adults and young children (around ages 4 –6). While children are enjoying supportive programming and milk and cookies, adults will benefit from a panel of early education specialists and grief experts discussing the support young children need following a significant loss.

Families, supportive adults, and those working in bereavement are encouraged to attend this in-person afternoon in New York City. There may even be special guests visiting from Sesame Street!

Agenda/Attire

Below is an overview of the meeting agenda. Please note that all times are Eastern Time.

• 1:30 – 2:00 pm: Arrival and Welcome Onsite
• 2:05 – 2: 35 pm: Welcome Remarks with a special chat with Sesame Street’s Elmo and Jessie
• 2:35 – 2:40: Transition/Resource Highlights
• 2:45 – 3:45pm: Growing as We Grieve: a panel with early childhood education and grief experts
• 3:45 – 4:00pm: Closing Remarks

Speakers

• Heather Nesle, President of New York Life Foundation
• Jeanette Betancourt, Ed. D., Senior Vice President of U.S. Social Impact of Sesame Workshop
• Megan Lopez, MSW, LMSW, National Program Director of National Alliance of Childrens Grief
• Sesame Street's Elmo, Jesse, and Cookie Monster

Hotel/Travel

Location:

New York Life Building

51 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10010

14th Floor – Jaydev Patel Conference Center

Hotel:

There is no hotel block being provided for this event. For those in need of a hotel, please contact [email protected] for local recommendations.

Fees and Expenses

This event is free of charge. All who are interested are welcome to register and attend. For those traveling to New York, all costs of travel are the responsibility of the attendee.

Notable

Please note that space is limited. Once registration for in-person attendance has reached capacity, a waitlist will be availablet. For those who would like to attend the event but cannot travel to New York, please consider registering for our virtual livestream here. Note that the virtual event will only feature the adults' portion of the program.