Jessica,

We are thrilled to share some exciting news and celebrate recent victories for All Our Kin and the child care industry.

Earlier this month, the NYS Legislature passed the state budget, which will fund child care assistance in our state until April 2024. Thanks to the tireless advocacy of educators across the state, the budget includes several wins for family child care educators and the families they serve!

The budget allocates $500 million for stabilization grants for family child care educators, a $157 million increase from last year, that will go straight into the pockets of educators and staff. Recognizing the financial challenges faced by families receiving child care assistance, the budget also includes provisions to reduce co-payments and will expand eligibility so that more families will have access to the child care assistance they need.

To dive deeper into the budget details and explore what lies ahead, we invite you to join us for a NYS Budget Debrief. Our NY Policy Director, Steven Morales will lead the session, providing a comprehensive review of the budget and answering any questions you may have. You can sign up to participate in the upcoming virtual information session here.

We are also proud to introduce All Our Kin's new Chief Strategy Officer, Dr. Brandi King! Dr. King brings a wealth of experience in designing, implementing and leading national initiatives to support the childcare workforce. She is committed to our vision, a champion for educators, children and families and passionate about transforming family child care.

Please join us in giving Dr. King a warm welcome and read on to learn what inspires her work in a special Q&A below.

Advocacy

All Our Kin Joined the National

Day Without Child Care Rally in the Bronx!

Our commitment to securing fair compensation for family child care educators remains steadfast. Last week, All Our Kin proudly joined forces with ECE on the Move and Child Care Change makers for the national Day Without Child Care, where we came together to rally in the Bronx!

Thank you to everyone who came out to help make this an important day of action. If you missed it, you can catch a glimpse of inspiring moments from these events on our Facebook page here.

Events & Workshops

Final Workshop

Learning Through Play: Sand and Water

The sand and water areas within our learning environment are much more than just play spaces. They serve as dynamic educational settings where children can engage their senses, foster observation skills, and embark on exciting experiments. These areas are designed to enhance motor skills, promote exploration, and ignite the spirit of discovery!

We invite you to join the New York Education Coaches for an enriching experience as we present the final installment of our "Learning Through Play Series" on June 21. Participants will receive 1.5 credits towards professional development.

Virtual

New York State Budget Debrief

Dive deeper into the state budget details with our New York Policy Director, Steven Morales, on May 24.

Virtual

Bridgeworks

Let’s come together to wrap up the year with a memorable bang! Join us for the last Bridgeworks event of the year, where we’ve curated a blend of educational activities and self-care experiences for you to enjoy. Get ready for an evening filled with fun, relaxation and opportunities to win exciting raffle prizes!

This virtual event will be held on June 28 at 6:30 p.m.

RSVP TODAY

Foundations of Color-Brave Caregiving

Embrace Race's "Foundations of Color-Brave Caregiving" program will be offering two training sessions designed for caregivers of young children (0-8) who are starting their racial learning journeys or want to fill in gaps in their foundational knowledge. The program consists of four 90-minute meetings, one in June and one in July. A sliding scale fee ranging from $25 to $100 helps cover facilitation costs, but they don't want the fee to be a barrier to participation.

Register now and indicate which group you would like to join. For the June session, click here. To participate in the July session, click here.

VIEW OUR CALENDAR FOR ALL WORKSHOPS >>

Q: How long have you worked in early childhood education?

A: I have had the pleasure of working in early childhood education for 16 years!

Q: Who has inspired your career and passion for supporting providers, children and families?

A: All the children are truly inspiring. Witnessing their growth and seeing how they thrive when they receive care and love from exceptional teachers is a constant source of inspiration. Observing the journey of children from their early years in childcare to the transition into kindergarten, and seeing the changes they undergo, is particularly rewarding.

Q: Looking back, do you have any fond early childhood experiences that have impacted you?

A: As a preschool teacher, one of my fondest memories was story time. It brought me immense joy to witness the faces of children lighting up as they heard familiar stories.

Q: What are you looking forward to most at All Our Kin and working with family child care educators?

A:I am excited to get to know the All Our Kin family and delve deeper into how our direct service providers are thriving and impacting their communities.

Q: What is a quote/mantra that serves as a guiding principle in your life?

A: “Don’t settle for average, bring your best to the moment. Whether it fails or succeeds, at least you know you gave it all you had. We need to live the best that’s in us.” - Angela Bassett

Contact:

New York: [email protected]; 917-933-3282