DCAEYC and BCDI-DC Hosted a Screening of 'Make a Circle'

On April 20, DCAEYC, in partnership with BCDI-DC, welcomed members for a special screening of Make a Circle, followed by a conversation featuring Rahshida Lowe-Watson and DCAEYC Executive Director Berna Artis. The evening created space for reflection on a film that speaks with honesty and urgency about the lives of early childhood professionals.

Make a Circle is a story about responsibility, dignity, economic reality, and the determination of educators to keep showing up for children and families while also demanding that their profession be taken seriously. The film follows several early childhood professionals whose experiences reveal both the depth of their commitment and the strain of working within a system that has long undervalued them. It moves across questions of compensation, professional respect, organizing, and the daily emotional labor required to sustain high-quality early learning environments. At the same time, it does not lose sight of the joy, imagination, and care that shape the worlds these educators create for young children every day.

Watching those stories unfold in a room with people connected to this field carried particular weight. There was a strong sense of recognition throughout the evening. The themes in the film were not distant or abstract. They reflected pressures, responsibilities, and realities that many early childhood professionals in Washington, DC know well. That connection gave the screening a depth that extended beyond the film itself.

The conversation with Rahshida Lowe-Watson and Berna Artis helped bring those connections into focus. Their exchange invited attendees to think not only about the stories presented on screen, but also about what those stories reveal about the broader early childhood landscape, including the conditions professionals continue to navigate, the leadership they demonstrate, and the importance of making their voices central in any effort to strengthen the field.

For DCAEYC, this event was an opportunity to gather around a conversation that matters. It was a reminder that early childhood professionals deserve not only appreciation, but meaningful investment, stronger systems, and conditions that reflect the importance of what they do. It was also a reminder that when educators speak, organize, and lead, they help move the entire field forward.

We are grateful to everyone who joined us for this special evening, and to BCDI-DC for partnering with us to bring this important film and conversation to our members.