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Our Advocacy Network in Action: Amy Bolotin
Amy Bolotin always loved taking care of kids. When she was a child and accompanied her older brother on a babysitting job, she was the one who jumped in and interacted with the baby. “Everybody I said I would be a teacher,” she recalls, “but I knew I didn't want to work in a traditional…
The BIPOC Family Childcare Collective is celebrating its third anniversary!
Picture 1: Front row: Gloria Valentin, Kim Edwards, Alexsandra Morales. Back row: Adrienne Armstrong, Den Holloway. Picture 2: Edna Cabral. It's the third anniversary of the BIPOC Family Childcare Collective (FCC)! The collective is a safe space for family child care educators of diverse backgrounds, including educators who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color…
Leadership Lessons: Eve Gilmore reflects on her time at Edward Street
Eve Gilmore had been a nonprofit leader for years before she came to Edward Street. A social worker by training, Gilmore had served on the boards of nonprofit organizations in Worcester, Mass. She has seen how organizations serve people, and now that she is newly retired from her job as CEO of Edward Street and thinking back…
The 9:30 Call: Celebrating Five Years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWn1kJTPn4g It was a joy to celebrate the fifth anniversary of The 9:30 Call last week with a live broadcast at the Worcester Public Library! We were joined by early educators and advocates from across the state. This “hybrid” event featured several live watch parties, including the main Strategies for Children event in Worcester hosted…
In quotes: Reach Out and Read addresses the stress faced by pediatricians and early educators
Photo: Cristian Rojas, Pexels Photo: Ron Lach, Pexels “Pediatric medicine and early childhood education are two systems that exist to serve families, each in its own way. “The individuals who pursue these career paths are driven by a desire to make a difference and help kids thrive. Yet right now, pediatricians and early childhood educators…
Our Advocacy Network in Action: Stephanie LaPierre
Growing up, Stephanie LaPierre says, she was surrounded by advocacy. Her parents brought her from Mexico, where she was born, to Atlanta, Ga., with, she says, “the dream of a better life.” “I would always watch these marches or protests, and I'd ask my mom what was going on, and she would say that people were…
Celebrating five years of The 9:30 Call!
Join us all this week to celebrate the fifth anniversary of The 9:30 Call! The call started in the early days of the pandemic as a way to stay in touch. Today, it’s a communication and community-building tool that connects people statewide. Here are all the ways you can join us: • Subscribe to our 9:30…
In quotes: Governor Maura Healey’s new report on early education and care
https://www.youtube.com/live/80Mau3VDo2Y “The Healey-Driscoll Administration released a report today with recommendations to make early education and child care more accessible and affordable for all families in Massachusetts. These recommendations were crafted by Governor Healey’s Inter-Agency Early Education and Child Care Task Force, which was established last year in recognition of the essential role child care plays in…
It’s the first anniversary of The 9:30 Call en español
Click on the image to hear Harold Blanco and Paula Andrea Echeverri Durango We’re excited to celebrate the first anniversary of The 9:30 Call en español. As readers of this blog know, The 9:30 Call was launched in the early days of the pandemic as a statewide way to share information and support. Strategies for…
In quotes: bipartisan child care proposal in Congress
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeic_iLa1z4 “Yesterday, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Katie Britt (R-AL) and U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) and Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) introduced the Child Care Availability and Affordability Act and the Child Care Workforce Act—bipartisan, bicameral legislation that form a bold proposal to make child care more affordable and accessible by strengthening existing tax credits to lower child…
Join us for The 9:30 Call’s 5th Anniversary Celebration
The 9:30 Call turns five this month, and we are celebrating with a live broadcast at Worcester Public Library on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Please join us in person at the library (RSVP here) or online on Zoom using the regular 9:30 Call link (sign up to get the link if you…
Our Advocacy Network in Action: Elizabeth Walsh
When she was in college at UMass Boston, Elizabeth Walsh planned to be a high school English teacher. In need of part-time work, she looked in the newspaper, found an opening for a teacher’s assistant at an Early Intervention program, and applied. “I didn’t know what Early Intervention was,” Walsh recalls, but she got the…
In quotes: employer-sponsored child care
https://www.facebook.com/Vox/posts/pfbid0UNTABRLKsHT3s8e9upYVSSjgNneeQAsqpX8mBWYSzHhiYt99Q2zmK89HA2C2ydarl “Tom Weber, the executive director of the Massachusetts Business Coalition for Early Childhood Education, a statewide coalition that formed in 2021, told me his network has reached the same conclusion as Iowa: that getting employers involved in child care must mean largely reducing the number of child care decisions individual businesses have to make.…
Local action on child care: a look at Brewster, Mass.
https://www.facebook.com/brewstermass/posts/pfbid0tikojrHbry37LsrxuTjt6RqSiZC4vGs3kS3gr2vdvXk73ycX8A2WaBtVqpWpyzN2l Across the country, cities and towns are taking action to strengthen child care. Among them is Brewster, Mass., on Cape Cod, where residents are waiting to see the results of a strategic, $250,000 investment of town funds that voters approved. In 2023, Brewster was exploring the feasibility of town-funded child care. In 2024, Brewster announced…
Our Advocacy Network in Action: Danielle Pazos
Danielle Pazos was inspired by her childhood. She remembers growing up in two worlds: the city of Chelsea, Mass., where she lived with her family, and a rural community on Canada’s Prince Edward Island, where she spent her summers as a child. In Chelsea, Pazos says, “I was lucky enough to live in the same house…
In quotes: location, location, location
https://www.facebook.com/hechingerreport/posts/pfbid0yUcnf9Gc3q2ZvELSQfPD5z452CXnJPU8hFmatGTfzQaLpYXwgjN2bavEVRReE4Fwl “Alief Independent School District, which serves about 40,000 children in west Houston, is one of a growing number of districts across the country to pump money into creating a building that is tailor-made for pre-kindergarteners. Its new facility cost about $21 million and enrolls nearly 400 4- and 5-year-olds. By making the investment, school…
Our Advocacy Network in Action: Alannah Olivastro-Pagani
Alannah Olivastro-Pagani is an optimist. And her upbeat perspective spills over into her career as an early educator. Everywhere she looks, she sees possibilities for growth and progress. “I truly believe that Massachusetts has immense potential when it comes to educational policies and government initiatives. I see a real effort to create meaningful change in multiple…
In quotes: Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont calls for a Universal Preschool Endowment
“In close coordination with Treasurer Russell and Comptroller Scanlon, I am proposing we move an additional 3% of revenue from our pension paydown into the General Fund, and any surplus, which is estimated at $300 million per year, will be deposited in our brand-new Universal Preschool Endowment. “This fund will be a downpayment on making…
In quotes: early childhood news from Massachusetts and Pennsylvania
https://www.facebook.com/MassEEC/posts/pfbid025314M4rJCQyQvE1G94AwG3uD4B1ufQvPnN4ksRzcmGovWN9EUbMKaYXmCtYRfHXQl “Massachusetts expanded its childcare system by 8,700 seats last year, fueling a continued recovery of the sector once battered by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new figures released by the Healey administration Wednesday. “The state noted that its now-permanent grants for childcare providers have increasingly funneled to workforce-related expenses and supported a 20 percent…
CFCEs in Massachusetts – Part One: Supporting Early Childhood Development and Family Engagement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jq6T1IKZrg One vital source of support for children, families, and early educators across Massachusetts is the state’s Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) Network. As the CFCE website explains, its programs “are locally-based,” and they provide “child development services and resources to families with young children.” “There are over 80 CFCE programs across the state,…
Advocacy Day at the State House for the Massachusetts Head Start Association
Join the Massachusetts Head Start Association (MHSA) for its Advocacy Day at the State House, on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. You can register here. Be sure to wear something red to make it easier for everyone to see how much support there is for Early Head Start and Head…
Massachusetts guidance on federal immigration policy from Secretary Tutwiler and Elizabeth Matos of the Attorney General’s Office
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH4pquSoZEg Yesterday, Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler and Elizabeth Matos, Civil Rights Division Chief and Senior Advisor to the Attorney General of Massachusetts, joined The 9:30 Call to share information about federal immigration policies and the rights of families. Videos of the call are available in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. The Department of Early Education and Care also…
It’s time to share tax season resources
Now that the winter holidays are over, it’s tax filing season — and the Healthy Families Tax Credits Coalition is sharing key resources people can use to fill out their tax forms. “With tax season underway, hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts families could be eligible for cash that could help cover rent, groceries, and other…
CFCEs in Massachusetts – Part Two: A Vital Hub to Bridge Gaps and Strengthen Community Connections
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jq6T1IKZrg One vital source of support for children, families, and early educators across Massachusetts is the state’s Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) Network. In part one of this blog series on CFCEs, we explored how these programs promote and support early childhood development and family engagement. CFCEs also play a vital role in local…
Secretary Patrick Tutwiler Delivers Massachusetts’ 2025 State of Education Address
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_RLfn0WdQY “In Massachusetts, we have a long history of educational excellence. Everything we are doing today is because of our commitment to carry this educational excellence into the future. We will continue to lead the way in making sure our schools reflect our communities and our values. Our students deserve nothing less.” — “Secretary Tutwiler…
Liz Sweet of the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition joins The 9:30 Call
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBon1eN3FEw&t=3s Yesterday, Liz Sweet, the executive director of MIRA, the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition, joined The 9:30 Call. She shared updates on federal immigration policy and on President Donald Trump's recent executive orders. Sweet also discussed individuals’ legal rights and shared immigration resources. Sweet's slides are posted here. And there's a video recording…
The Alliance for Early Success shares policy wins from all 50 states
Screenshot: Alliance for Success Check out the good news: in its 50-State Early Childhood Policy Progress and Landscape Report, the Alliance for Early Success documents 2024’s early childhood victories and reflects on the potential for more wins in 2025. The Alliance asked its grantees to share legislative highlights, the report says, “and the results show…
In quotes: Governor Healy releases FY’26 state budget proposal
https://www.facebook.com/MAGovernor/posts/pfbid0dnhePajUntzpZvk8kk4F7gWzautY5kuiBC77mN6Akz12JkxFKDL7WTy8WauiJrQ7l “Today, we submit our administration's budget recommendations for Fiscal Year 2026. “Our budget is a balanced, fiscally responsible blueprint that shows we can invest in our people and our institutions while also being good stewards of our residents’ tax dollars. We understand that the cost of everything from food to energy continues to strain…
It’s The Early Childhood Agenda’s second anniversary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miPv14t4NL0&list=PLDKYhQWZh8UOPvrsNdYHJPjvvawLAYKPv&index=32 This month marks the second anniversary of our release of The Early Childhood Agenda at the State House. We are excited for the next evolution of The Agenda, beginning with the upcoming publication of recommendations from our six workgroups. Stay tuned for details in the weeks ahead! In the meantime, catch up on all…
Governor Maura Healey’s State of the Commonwealth Address touches on child care
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7yhHo0Rk9g&t=12s “We know that people need child care. After the pandemic, child care across the country was collapsing. Child care centers were closing. We got to work here in Massachusetts; and we got to work because we know our working parents are counting on us. “Do you know that we are — and I'm proud…
Kim Davenport is the new CEO of Edward Street
Congratulations to Kim Davenport! She has been named the new CEO of the Worcester-based, early childhood organization Edward Street. Davenport will have the mentoring support of Edward Street’s retiring CEO, Eve Gilmore. “The board is thrilled to have Kim as the next CEO of Edward Street – she has a deep understanding of the landscape and…
In quotes: quitting jobs to qualify for child care
https://twitter.com/jackiemader/status/1868654817176068168 “The first time I talked to Amy Lee Funes, our conversation left me stunned. “In spite of the fact that she earned only $35,000 a year and lived in one of the most expensive cities in the world, Funes made too much to qualify for public assistance paying for child care. Her only option…
A new year of making powerful connections
Amy O’Leary. Photo Luisa Munoz It’s a new year, and Amy O’Leary, Strategies for Children’s executive director, is thinking about what’s next for early childhood advocacy in Massachusetts. “For so long we were making the case, with a little bit of a chip on our shoulder, about early education and how other pieces like health…
Happy holidays!
Strategies for Children will close for winter break from Monday, December 23, 2024, through Friday, January 3, 2025. We will be back in action on Monday, January 6, 2025, starting with The 9:30 Call. Please join us!We wish you good health, well deserved rest, and time with your loved ones this holiday season. ~ Team…
Free housing for early educators: how it’s being done in New Haven
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjbI_m8kTlk Looking for a bold idea? Here’s one, free housing for early educators: “In 2019 we launched our Teacher Housing Initiative, which provides rent-free housing to our teachers,” Allyx Schiavone explained during a recent 9:30 Call. “This initiative supports our essential workforce and elevates our teachers compensation through the salary benefit of free housing.” What…
Fun food justice on The 9:30 Call
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHJlLJB-2ew “When you have great teachers, the things that typically hold them back in schools [is] the ecosystem around them,” Tracy Skelly said, introducing herself on a recent 9:30 Call, where she explained her transition from education to what she called “operations.” What kind of ecosystems don't work? Skelly points to food — and to the…
In quotes: What if high-quality child care were affordable?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WBa4LDBOxo “What would happen to families in Massachusetts if high-quality child care and early education were affordable?” “Our research team from UMass Boston has developed a tool to study the impact of these proposals.” — Anne Douglass, UMass Boston Early Ed Cost + Usage Simulator Project: MA proposal impacts
Anne Kandilis joins our board
Please join us in welcoming Anne Kandilis to Strategies for Children’s Board of Directors. Strategies’ Board Chair Sally C. Fuller says, “Anne brings a wealth of experience to the board. She has worked in Boston as a tax professional and as the project director of the Springfield Public Schools’ Preschool Expansion Grant Strategic Plan. Her broad…
Recap of The Early Childhood Agenda Winter Convening
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kFxJkOgDWU Last week was the winter convening of The Early Childhood Agenda, which is hosted by Strategies for Children. It was an exciting event: more than 85 people attended and heard updates from Amy O’Leary, Strategies’ executive director, and Marisa Fear, Strategies’ director of policy. “What we want to make sure that we do as…