News, Notes, and Announcements from 4Cs | | | A Note From Our Chief Executive Officer | |
Dear 4Cs Community,
Spring has arrived—a season that always reminds me of the power of growth, renewal, and new beginnings. At 4Cs, this season mirrors the heart of our mission: nurturing strong foundations so children can thrive.
This month, we’ll join partners across the nation in celebrating the Week of the Young Child. This special week, championed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), shines a spotlight on early learning, play, and the dedicated educators and families who make a difference every day. Each themed day—Music Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Work Together Wednesday, Artsy Thursday, and Family Friday—honors the many ways young children grow, discover, and build skills that last a lifetime.
I invite our entire 4Cs community to take part by celebrating with your children, thanking a teacher, sharing your stories, and helping raise awareness of the importance of early learning and care. Together, we can lift up the voices of our youngest learners and those who nurture their potential.
May we all carry forward the spirit of the Week of the Young Child—investing in growth, celebrating joy, and nurturing the bright future blooming all around us.
Warmly,
Takija T. Gardner
Chief Executive Officer
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Myeshia Jefferson
Mother, Business Owner, Community Advocate, and
Hero Sponsor of 4Cs' 2026 Children's Fair
| | | | "What I love most about the 4Cs team is their genuine care for families. They do more than provide services. They create a sense of support, trust, and connection. As a parent, that kind of care makes a real difference. You feel seen, heard, and supported during important moments in your child’s development." | | |
Myeshia’s journey with 4Cs of Alameda County began in 2012. Over the years, she has seen our impact across generations—from receiving child care assistance for her oldest child to navigating specialized care for her autistic toddler today. By guiding her through every step of the enrollment process for our Child Care Payment Assistance Program, 4Cs provided the stability and trusted care her family needed to thrive.
In a powerful full-circle moment, Myeshia has tranformed from a parent in need into a passionate advocate for the community we serve. As the Founder and CEO of Beauty Makes Cents LLC, she is helping underserved populations improve their health and wellness through education, services, and tools. And as a Hero Sponsor for 4Cs of Alameda County's Children’s Fair, she is contributing what she can to ensure other parents access the same critical resources she received. We are so grateful for Myeshia’s partnership; her dedication and heart for our mission truly shine!
Looking to make a lasting impact in the 4Cs Community? Follow in Myeshia’s footsteps and become a champion for local families by sponsoring our Annual Children's Fair. Please submit your sponsorship donation by TOMORROW, April 16, at give.classy.org/2026ChildrensFairSponsor.
| | Book and Food Giveaways at 4Cs' Children's Fair | | |
Our Annual Children’s Fair is next month! This FREE event is on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 22351 City Center Drive in Hayward from 10am to 1pm. Carpooling is recommended as there are limited spaces available at the Plaza Center parking lot.
Through generous partnerships with Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation and Alameda County Community Food Bank, there will be FREE books, meals, and produce at our Children’s Fair. We are proud to work closely with these community partners along with two dozen others who will be sharing about their services and programs at our annual event!
Get the latest Children's Fair updates at 4calameda.org/childrensfair.
| Thank you to our Presenting Sponsors | | Get Involved for Week of the Young Child by April 20 | | |
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has joined 4Cs of Alameda County in celebrating our youngest community members, and the caregivers, educators, and families who love, nurture, and support them! We’re not finished yet—there are still a few ways to get involved and help raise awareness and funds to support 4Cs of Alameda County before we wrap up Week of the Young Child on Monday, April 20th:
1. Donate to Support Our Programs and Services
Make a donation to our WOYC Fundraising Page. Thanks to generous support, all donations up to $2,750 will be matched!
2. Enter for a Chance to Win Our Giveaways
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In celebration of "Artsy Thursday", we are giving away a customized gift basket filled with kid-friendly arts and crafts! To enter, complete the form.
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Thanks to our friends at the San Francisco Exploratorium, we are giving away a family pass (up to 16 guests) to the Exploratorium for "Family Friday"! To enter, complete the form.
3. Engage With Us on Social Media
Visit our Week of the Young Child webpage to see how we've celebrated every day of Week of the Young Child, including "Music Monday" ideas on Pinterest that focus on active, hands-on musical engagement for young learners!
| | Join the 4Cs Community Services Special Event Volunteer Team | | |
4Cs of Alameda County hosts events for community members to access food, diapers, wipes, clothing, essential needs, books, and toys. Help us make a difference by volunteering at one of our community events:
- Monthly Food Distributions – First Thursday of every month
- Special event distributions (diapers, backpacks, toys) – Dates to be determined
Volunteer roles include set up, clean up, and hospitality. Check out our flyer for further details.
If you are interested, email 4Cs’ Family Resources Supervisor,
Jeanette Calixto, at rise@4c-alameda.org or complete the interest form at 4calameda.org/volunteer.
| | VITA at 4Cs is Closed for 2025 Tax Season | | |
April 10, 2026 marked the final day for 4Cs of Alameda County’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to accept tax returns for the 2025 season. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our clients for trusting us with your tax preparation needs. Your continued support means the world to us, and we are honored to serve such a wonderful community.
We look forward to continuing our service and assisting you again next year!
| | Registrations Open for A Free Booster Car Seat | | |
Safe Kids Alameda County is hosting Safe Kids Day on Saturday, April 25, at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland, CA) and giving away FREE booster car seats at the community event.
Alameda County families must register to receive a free booster seat by clicking your preferred language below:
Note that in order to receive a booster, children must be:
- Minimum of 5 years of age
- Weigh between 50-100 pounds
- Measure between 46-55 inches tall
Boosters are the only offering that requires pre-registration. The rest of the event is open to the public and completely free of charge (including parking)! In addition to booster seats, Safe Kids Day will offer community resources, fun activities, free diapers, free bicycle helmets with on-site decorating, and more all available while supplies last. For more information, view the flyer in English, Spanish, or Chinese.
| | Featured Events & Trainings | | |
Strength in Connection: Thriving through Stress, Adversity and Trauma
May 6-May 27
Wednesdays | 6pm-7:30pm
3 virtual sessions and 1 in-person celebration session at 4Cs Hayward Office (22351 City Center Drive)
*Session in Spanish
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Fuerza en la Conexión: Prosperando a través del Estrés, la Adversidad y el Trauma
06 de mayo-27 de mayo
Miércoles | 6pm-7:30pm
3 sesiones virtuales semanales y 1 sesión de celebración presencial en la oficina de 4Cs Hayward (22351 City Center Drive)
*Sesión en español
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You are invited to a FREE parent workshop! These are 4 parent workshops that will allow participants to listen and learn from each other, while providing specific and meaningful content related to Thriving Through Stress, Adversity, and Trauma. This series will support participants' ability to create, support, and maintain safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments for all children, especially children in and out of formal learning environments. View the flyer here.
Register at 4calameda.org/strength-in-connection.
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¡Está invitado a un taller de padres en línea GRATUITO! Se trata de 4 talleres para padres que permitirán a los participantes escuchar y aprender unos de otros, al tiempo que proporcionarán contenido específico y significativo relacionado con Prosperar a través del estrés, la adversidad y el trauma. Esta serie apoyará la capacidad de los participantes para crear, apoyar y mantener relaciones y entornos seguros, estables y enriquecedores para todos los niños, especialmente los niños dentro y fuera de los entornos de aprendizaje formal. Ver folleto aquí.
Registrarse a 4calameda.org/strength-in-connection.
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Parent Café: Parenting and Discipline
Thursday, May 14 | 6:30pm-8pm | Virtual
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We warmly invite you to join our discussion-based virtual Parent Café—a supportive space to connect with other parents and reflect on everyday parenting experiences. Together, we will explore how parenting approaches shape children’s behavior and learn practical, positive strategies to support their development.
Register at 4calameda.org/events-trainings/parent-cafe-parenting-and-discipline. All participants will receive a gift card as a thank-you for joining!
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Upcoming
4Cs Events & Trainings
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Learn more about what is happening in your community! Find the latest resources from organizations within Alameda County below:
4calameda.org/community-resources
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Child Care Services Specialist (Provider Services)
Full-Time
Hayward Office
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Director, Community Services
Full-Time
Hayward Office
| Volunteer with 4Cs and make an impact in your community! We have volunteer opportunities to suit a variety of schedules, skills, and interests. | | Give to 4Cs of Alameda County | | Thank you for helping us uplift families, providers, and our community! | | | | |
