By Lookout Staff
November 14, 2025 -- The Santa Monica College Public Policy Institute's Fall Forum will focus on the importance of early childhood education and feature the perennial holiday performance of "The Nutcracker" ballet.
The symposium's theme -- “Education in 2025: Meeting Challenges Through Community, Creativity, and Collaboration" -- includes a film screening and panel discussion on "how society values the education of its youngest citizens," organizers said.
The symposium, which takes place next week, kicks off Monday at 5:30 p.m. with a screening of “Make a Circle,” a film by an award-winning filmmaking team that follows a group of child care providers.
The film weaves together "the magic they create in the classroom, the struggles they endure at home, and their tireless activism for their profession," according to the film's web site.
"Make a Circle is both "a moving portrait of life as an early childhood educator" and "a promising blueprint for fixing our broken child care system."
The screening is followed by a panel discussion presented in conjunction with the Santa Monica Early Childhood Task Force that includes City Manager Oliver Chi and task force co-chairs Gleam Davis, a former mayor, and Erika Bell.
The event takes place at the Santa Monica Main Library’s Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium at 7th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard.
The symposium continues Tuesday, November 18 at 6:30 p.m. with an SMC Early Childhood Panel on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, featuring SMC ECE Faculty.
The panel of experts will discuss what is happening with DEI "in relation to educating young children" organizers said.
Panelists include Keena Mosley, Marybeth Murray, and Sharlene Joachim, with SMC PPI co-director Shari Davis as moderator. The free event takes place at the SMC Student Services Center Orientation Hall (SSC 183) on the Main Campus.
The symposium wraps up on Wednesday, November 19, at 6:30 p.m. with a film screening of “The Dust of This Place,” a short film by Vanessa Van Wormer, a professor at SMC's Dance Department.
The screening will be followed by a penal discussion featuring Van Wormer; Kelly Hargraves, who heads Dance Camera West (DCW); Jill Nunes Jensen, a dance lecturer at Loyola Marymount University and French ballet dancer Sofiane Sylve.
The free event takes place at the SMC Student Services Center Orientation Hall (SSC 183).
From November 29 through December 7, Westside Ballet of Santa Monica will present the holiday favorite “The Nutcracker,” featuring the Santa Monica College Community Nutcracker Orchestra.
See westsideballet.com/nuttix for performance times and ticket information. The performances take place at the Eli & Edythe Broad Stage at the SMC Performing Arts Center at 11th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard..
Guests who need an accommodation due to a disability to participate in any of these events should send email to dsps@smc.edu or call 310-434-4173, at least 5 business days in advance.