Rise in Your Roots! It’s Deeper Than Hair…

Intended For: All Early Learning and Care Professionals

Date: Mar 30, 2026

Time: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Fee: FREE

Current Availability: 0

Description

Date: Wednesday February 18, 2026 Time: 9:00AM – 12:00PM (3 hours)

Location: Metro Hall, Room 309 Address: 55 John St, Toronto, ON M5V 0C

This is an in-person, three-hour professional learning opportunity. Participants are asked to arrive 10 minutes early for attendance and set-up purposes.

Rise in Your Roots! It’s Deeper Than Hair… is an in-person professional learning opportunity hosted by Toronto Children’s Services and facilitated by Hello Hair. For many children, hair is more than just hair. It is deeply connected to identity, culture, belonging, and well-being. This interactive workshop is designed to support early learning professionals in building confidence, knowledge, and practical skills related to textured hair care in early learning environments.  

The session combines cultural context, accessible science, and guided, hands-on learning using Hello Hair styling dolls. Participants will explore the cultural history and meaning of textured hair, gain a foundational understanding of hair types and porosity, and engage in practical doll-based practice focused on detangling, moisturizing, tool and product use, and culturally affirming protective styles.  

The learning is grounded in an understanding of people’s lived experiences and life circumstances that shape their health, and how everyday care routines in early learning environments can support emotional safety, trust, inclusion, and connection for children and families. This professional learning opportunity is open to all educators and early learning professionals working with children and families in early learning environments across Toronto. This may include professionals working in Licensed Child Care, Home Child Care, and EarlyON programs.

Please Note: This is a stand-alone session. The workshop will be offered four times in English and twice in French over the coming months. If you are unable to attend this session, please continue to monitor the City Wide Training professional learning calendar for future offerings. Participants are asked to register for only one session.

Facilitators

This session is facilitated by a team of subject matter experts:

• Anita Grant – Author and Founder, Hello Hair
• Nikki Taylor – Licensed Hairstylist and Trichologist
• Nicole Cummings-Morgan – RECE, OCT, Professor, Lifespan Well-Being Coach  

For full facilitator biographies, please click on the facilitator names at the bottom of this event page.

Session Objective

• Build confidence through guided, hands-on practice with Hello Hair styling dolls
• Develop a foundational understanding of the cultural and historical significance of textured hair
• Learn basic hair science concepts, including hair type and porosity, and how they inform care routines
• Practise detangling, moisturizing, and protective styling techniques using appropriate tools and products
• Strengthen the use of affirming language and approaches that support emotional safety and connection
• Apply hair care practices that support inclusion and foster a sense of belonging for children and families within early learning environments
• Reflect on how hair care routines can be meaningfully applied within early learning environments

Standards of practice

• Caring and Responsive Relationships
• Curriculum and Pedagogy
• Safety, Health, and Well-Being in the Learning Environment
• Professionalism and Leadership

Presented By: Meghan Ardies (RECE), Anita Grant (Founder of Hello Hair), Nicole Cummings-Morgan (RECE, OCT, MA CSE, BASc, Adult Education and Staff Training certificate), Nikki Taylor (Licensed Hairstylist & Trichologist)

Location

Metro Hall
309 - 55 John Street
Toronto, ON M5V 0C4