The 6th Annual Art of Play and Wonderment Conference:
Nurturing Compassion

May 31, 2025

324 W 15th Street, New York, NY

8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

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The Art of Play and Wonderment is an early childhood education conference designed to provide a space for educators, administrators, students, professors, and researchers to gather and reflect upon, celebrate, and share what we bring — and wish to bring — to our early childhood classrooms, professional practice, and research. In particular, we examine how play, joy, inquiry, and wonderment impact and inspire meaningful teaching and learning.

The 6th annual conference, taking place Saturday, May 31 at Corlears School in partnership with Brooklyn College, will be centered on the theme Nurturing Compassion.

Programming is designed by Colleen Goddard, Ph.D., the Early Childhood Division Director at Corlears School and an adjunct professor in the Early Childhood department at Brooklyn College. Colleen is joined in partnership by Jacqueline Shannon, Ph.D., who serves as Chair of The Early Childhood Education/Art Education Department at Brooklyn College; and Dr. Xia Li, an associate professor at Brooklyn College who presented last year on the topic of playful and developmentally appropriate math activities for children ages 2–5.

2025 KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Meet Takiema Bunche Smith, M.P.A., M.S.Ed

We are honored to welcome Takiema Bunche Smith, M.P.A., M.S.Ed, as our keynote speaker for the 2025 Art of Play and Wonderment Conference.

Takiema has worked for nearly three decades in support of children, families, and educational programs and systems through her work as a teacher, teacher educator, curriculum director, parent activist, and executive leader. Through executive coaching, speaking, and professional development sessions, Takiema, who has been lovingly referred to as "The Beyoncé of DEI", expertly guides leaders and professionals to ignite change in their organizations through equity, joy, and inclusive leadership. Her approach is guided by culturally- and identity-responsive perspectives, adaptive leadership frameworks, and adult learning and development theory.

Takiema's work in the early childhood education space, including her role as Executive Director at Bank Street's Center on Culture, Race & Equity, inspired her to create Anahsa Consulting, LLC as a way to bring an innovative anti-racism and social justice approach to organizations, corporations, and early childhood professionals — one that centers joy and liberation.

Born, raised, and living in Brooklyn, Takiema received her Bachelor of Science with High Honors from Mount Holyoke College. She also holds multiple Master's degrees — in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Bank Street College; in Urban Education Policy from the CUNY Graduate Center; and in Leadership and Management from NYU Wagner School of Public Service.

Visit Takiema's website to view her full bio and learn more about Anahsa Consulting.