2026 Big Voices for Little Children

Join us for an unforgettable evening of inspiration, connection, and commitment to Mississippi’s youngest children.

The Mississippi Early Learning Alliance (MELA) is thrilled to host our second Big Voices for Little Children event, an evening cocktail reception celebrating Mississippi employers who support families and strengthen the workforce. 

The event will highlight effective policies and practices to improve hiring, retention, and productivity that also help parents of young children. Bringing together business leaders, policymakers, and advocates, the evening will showcase what’s working—and how to expand it across the state.

Our 2025 inaugural event featured a special appearance by Academy Award-winning actor, director, and Mississippi native, Morgan Freeman, and this year will be another exciting experience. 

The evening will bring together business leaders, philanthropists, policymakers, and advocates who share a common goal: to give every child in Mississippi the strong start they deserve. Together, we’ll celebrate Mississippi companies who are investing in their employees in ways that encourage recruitment and retention of talent, while also supporting the health, well-being, and education of young children.

We hope you’ll plan to join us. Check back soon for more information about our honorees.