Webinar
In April 2025, The Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation officially launched Meeting the Moment, our new webinar series.
Moderated by Dr. Dan Wuori, bestselling author, expert on early childhood, and SZCF’s Strategic Advisor, these webinars foster dialogue, and explore solutions to today’s most pressing challenges. Through thoughtful conversation, we aim to spark bold ideas, drive meaningful action, and build a more hopeful future.
Our next webinar is scheduled for Friday September 15, 2025, 12pm EST
What to expect in this episode
With the publication of 1983’s Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, psychologist Howard Gardner changed the way educators and parents across the globe think about the intellectual gifts of children. As a co-founder of Harvard’s Project Zero, his enduring influence continues four decades later as evidenced by the recent publication of two compendiums of his work: The Essential Howard Gardner on Mind and The Essential Howard Gardner on Education. As he prepares for the publication of a new edition of Frames of Mind, Dr. Gardner will sit down with Dr. Dan Wuori on October 28 (12pm Eastern, -4GMT) for a wide-ranging conversation and audience Q&A as part of the Saul Zaentz Foundation’s Meeting the Moment webinar series. Don’t miss this special opportunity to hear directly from one of education’s most influential voices.
Examining and Discussing The Power of Early Relationships November 20, 2025 12-1 pm EDT
Early relationships are the key to healthy brain development, resilience, and lifelong flourishing. Join an expert panel in November for a look at how these relationships come to shape our success and mental health – and what can be done to optimize them, both in the home and at scale.
past sessions
About this episode
What happens when teachers and child care programs simply can’t afford to live in a community they’re being asked to serve? In this episode, Meeting the Moment highlighted innovative programs across the country that are providing affordable housing options for both. And spotlighted on the panel, were some of the most influential leaders in this space who are driving innovation and creating attainable options so that children, teachers and families can thrive in the future.
About this episode
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping education, offering both extraordinary opportunities and significant risks. How can educators, parents, and policymakers harness its potential while safeguarding human connection and child development? On Friday, August 15, 2025, the Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation hosted a conversation about the promise and peril of AI in education, featuring several of the field’s most prominent experts. The free webinar drew strong interest from educators, researchers, and advocates eager to explore the evolving role of AI in classrooms and in children’s lives.
Who attended?
Number of unique RSVPs for the event.
Other than the U.S., Canada, the UK, Spain, Botswana, Mexico, India, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Kenya, Jordan, Nepal, Australia, Brazil, Netherlands, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, South Africa and Peru.
The webinar was 60 minutes long. On average, participants viewed 57 minutes, or 95% of the total run time.
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
Department of Early Learning and Care
Mayor’s Office of Children Affairs
Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning
COLLEGES
University of Chicago
Stanford University
University of Northern Iowa
University of Massachusetts Boston
Arizona State University
NGOS
Child Care Aware of America
Alliance for Early Success
Clayton Early Learning
Illinois Action for Children
VOICES for Alabama’s Children
FOUNDATIONS
Buffett Early Childhood Institute
Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamps
Robert R. McCormick Foundation
The Leon Levine Foundation
Berkeley FILM Foundation
MEETING THE MOMENT | The State of Family Hardship | July 17, 2025
About this episode
In April of 2020, the RAPID Survey – now housed at the Stanford Center on Early Childhood – launched as a real-time measure of families’ challenges navigating the accelerating COVID pandemic. Five years later, the tool remains a powerful and timely vehicle through which to measure the hurdles and hardships faced by families. What is the state of family hardship in 2025? Join a panel of experts involved in collecting – and using – this important data for a look at families most pressing needs and how we might best address them.
Who attended?
Number of unique RSVPs for the event.
The webinar was 60 minutes long. On average, participants viewed 54 minutes, or 90% of the total run time.
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
Alabama Dept. of Mental Health
Georgia’s Dept. of Early Care and Learning
Maryland’s Local Early Childhood Advisory
California’s Dept. of Social Services
State of Wyoming’s Dept. of Family Services
COLLEGES
Univ. of North Carolina
Harvard University
Tufts University
Stanford University
Arizona State University
NGOS
Groundwork Ohio
Every Child California
Detroit PBS
Start Early
Zero to Three
Blue Mountain Action Council
Child Poverty Action Lab
Advancing Parenting
Rand Corporation
Buffet Early Childhood Fund
FOUNDATIONS
Harland Charitable Foundation
Clinton Foundation
Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota
The Democracy Fund
About this episode
In an increasingly online world, we are only beginning to understand the effects – both beneficial and detrimental – of digital media on children’s development. What should parents and professionals know about setting appropriate limits and choosing digital content wisely? Join Dan Wuori for this wildly insightful conversation with experts Kris Perry, Executive Director, Children and Screens, Institute of Digital Media and Child Development; Amanda Lenhart, Senior Fellow, Joan Ganz Cooney Center, Sesame Workshop; and Dr. Shayl Griffith, Assistant Professor, Florida International University.
MEETING THE MOMENT | Children and Screens | June 20, 2025
Who attended?
Number of unique RSVPs for the event.
Other than the U.S., Australia, Canada, Mexico, Italy, Botswana, Kenya, Ireland, and the UK.
The webinar was 60 minutes long. On average, participants viewed 54 minutes, or 90% of the total run time.
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
Maryland State Department of Education
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Georgia’s Department of Early Education
State of Maine’s Department of Early Education
U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s Office
COLLEGES
Univ. of North Carolina
Harvard University
Tufts University
Stanford University
Arizona State University
NGOS
AppleTree Institute Brighter Futures for Children Act for Children
Teach for America
Start Early
The Opportunity Alliance
FOUNDATIONS
Harland Charitable Foundation
Clinton Foundation
Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota
The Democracy Fund
MEETING THE MOMENT | Early Childhood and Homelessness | April 17, 2025
About this episode
An estimated 1 in every 30 American children experiences homelessness each year—a figure larger than the total number of children in 28 states. On April 17, 2025, the Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation kicked off its Meeting the Moment Webinar Series with a conversation about homelessness’ impact on the nation’s youngest learners. Host Dr. Dan Wuori explored promising policy solutions and introduced viewers to program leaders who are working to meet the direct needs of homeless children.
Who attended?
Only Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Vermont were not represented.
Other than the U.S., Argentina, Canada, Colombia, India, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and the UK.
The webinar was 60 minutes long. On average, participants viewed 56 minutes, or 93% of the total run time.
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
Alabama Dept. of Human Resources
Connecticut’s Dept. of Early Childhood
City of Oakland, Calif.
West Virginia’s Division of Human Services
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services
COLLEGES
Brown University
Arizona State University
Harvard University
Vanderbilt University
Rutgers University
Oregon State University
NGOS
Every Child California
Prevent Child Abuse America
Family Solutions Collaborative Build Initiative
Mile High United Way
American Public Human Services Assoc.
FOUNDATIONS
B & MK Pritzker Family Foundation
Bezos Family Foundation