Celebrating Carla Rinaldi

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Carla Rinaldi started working in Reggio Emilia in 1970, first as pedagogista, then as pedagogical director of municipal early childhood services. In 1994 she became a consultant for Reggio Children, and then she was President of the company from 2007 to 2016.

Since 2011, the year in which it was founded, she was President of the Reggio Children Foundation - Centro Loris Malaguzzi ETS until December 2024, when she was appointed Honorary President.

Since 1999 she was Professor of the course "The approach of Reggio Emilia municipal preschools" at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia.

She was Visiting Professor at Webster University (St. Louis, Missouri – U.S.A.) and at Colorado University (Boulder, Colorado – U.S.A.). Since 2012 she is one of the international partners of the project “Thinkers in Residence” at the Department of the Premier and Cabinet – Government of South Australia in Adelaide (SA).

In all her capacities Carla Rinaldi has given many conferences in Italy and abroad, done many interviews and written several articles that testify the evolution of the Reggio Emilia experience over more than forty years in Italy and around the world. Ever since our first meeting in 1996, Carlina has been an mentor, dialogist, supporter and friend to the work of Sightlines Initiative Network, and has been central to many conferences and seminars in the UK.

In 2015 she was awarded the 2015 LEGO Prize.

In February 2020 she was invited to participate in the “Workshop on Education: The Global Compact to be held at the Vatican, in the Casina Pio IV, headquarters of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, on 6-7 February 2020.”

She died on Wednesday 16tth April 2025, shortly after returning from visiting friends and colleagues of the Reggio Network Sweden.

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  • This commment is unpublished.
    · 18/04/2025
    Carla was such a powerful and sympathetic advocate for young children, and a wonderful example of the Reggio approach to early education. She combined outstanding communication skills with deep insight into the thinking of adults as well as children, which enabled her to provide very effective, principled and sympathetic teaching, She made powerful links between observers and their differing backgrounds and the imaginative, responsive approach to early education which characterises the Reggio approach. Carla will be much missed, but memory of her way of working will continue to influence teachers around the world.
  • This commment is unpublished.
    · 18/04/2025
    A beautiful person and a very special teacher and intellectual, Carlina epitomised all that is good, creative and unique about Reggio Emilia's early childhood project. Not only Reggio but the whole early childhood world has lost an irreplaceable and much loved protagonist for a democratic, emancipatory and joyful public education and for a pedagogy of listening and relationships that does justice to the potentiality of 'rich' children born with a hundred languages.
  • This commment is unpublished.
    · 18/04/2025
    Carlina was a true icon. As a kind and warm individual she was able to challenge and critique, inspire and support those, like myself, working in early education. She helped us envisage a richer, more connected perspective, one that valued and respected the children at its heart. She will be sorely missed for her wisdom, generosity of spirit and beautiful smile!
  • This commment is unpublished.
    · 26/04/2025
    Friend, Ally, Challenger, Seeker, Questioner. She made relationship and love central to life.
  • This commment is unpublished.
    · 29/04/2025
    A powerful force and inspiration to early childhood has been lost, but a guiding star remains. 
    Thank you, Carlina, for shining your light on the true potential of children, whilst we continue to navigate the maps of their learning.
  • This commment is unpublished.
    · 29/04/2025
    Carlina Rinaldi leaves us a tremendous legacy. From her we can see what is possible when we trust children as capable and creative thinkers. Her insights into deep pedagogical exchanges between children and closely observing adults are change-making. Her memory will be honoured in her legacy, and in continued evolution of child focussed, creative pedagogy around the world. 
  • This commment is unpublished.
    · 05/05/2025
    Carlina Rinaldi has had a huge impact on my practice and thinking. Hearing her speak moved me emotionally and cognitively each time. She had such great intellect and knowledge yet she was humble with all, kind in never shaming those who were still learning to think differently like myself and as I heard her say many times, was still seeking to learn more herself.  Her respect and attuned attentiveness for both children’s and adults learning processes was phenomenal.  I learned from her that generosity in thinking was rooted in sharing your point of view and in seeking and listening to different ways of thinking from your own because in difference lay possibilities and opportunities for somersaults in thinking and new learning. She leaves us all with a legacy to continue in transforming education which recognises children’s incredible capacities to learn and the educators responsibility to generate and amplify the conditions which enable their learning and flourishing. 

Due to the numerous requests received, and in honour of her memory and legacy, Fondazione Reggio Children has made it possible to offer donations.

Contributions will support quality educational projects, continuing the work that Carlina held so close to her heart.

Carlina’s spirit, values, and the impact she made continue to inspire us every day. With your support, her legacy will live on—shaping futures, nurturing hearts, and promoting quality education around the world.

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