2024 Day of Learning Virtual 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 an afternoon panel of early education specialists and grief experts discussing the support young children need following a significant loss. All who regularly interact with children or are interested in bereavement are encouraged to attend this virtual session. 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 in Eastern Time.

• 1:45 pm: Virtual room opens
• 2:05 – 2: 25 pm: Welcome Remarks with a special chat with Sesame Street’s Elmo and Jessie
• 2:25 – 2:40: Transition/Resource Highlights
• 2:45 – 3:45pm: Growing as We Grieve: a panel with children 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
• Elmo
• Jessie
• Cookie Monster

Notable

As the event draws closer, meeting dial-in information will be provided via email at the address used for registration. Should you have colleagues, friends, or trusted adults in a bereaved child’s life that could benefit from the Day of Learning, please share the meeting registration information with them.

For those who are local to New York and are interested in attending this event in person, please register here.