a quarterly look at what we're building together in norwalk | |
Welcome to Summer!
It feels good to be back in your inbox.
This time of year invites us to slow down, reflect on where we've been, and think about where we're going next. As I look back on the past year at Norwalk ACTS, one word comes to mind: momentum.
Across our community, partners have continued showing up for children and families in powerful ways. Together, we've strengthened early childhood supports, elevated youth voice, deepened our use of data, invested in professional learning, and built the relationships that make lasting change possible. We know none of this happens because of one organization alone, and I continue to be grateful for all of you—people across Norwalk committed to creating opportunity for our young people.
This summer also marks an exciting new chapter for Norwalk ACTS. We welcome two new team members who will help us tell our story more effectively, deepen our partnerships, and advance our cradle-to-career work. You'll also start to see refreshed language and branding that better reflects our role as a backbone organization—connecting partners, aligning efforts, and turning shared goals into collective action.
You'll notice another change as well: Inside Norwalk ACTS will now be published quarterly. This new format will give us more room to highlight the incredible work happening across our network and the impact we're making together.
This issue is packed with examples of what is possible when a community works together on behalf of our children and youth. Thank you for being part of this effort, and for helping us ensure a stronger, brighter future for every child in Norwalk.
In partnership,
AnaVivian Escalante
CEO, Norwalk ACTS
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As summer begins and routines shift, many Norwalk families are once again navigating the challenge of finding child care that works. A newly released Local Needs Assessment (LNA) spearheaded by Norwalk ACTS and Norwalk's Early Childhood Local Governance Partner (LGP) —based on input from more than 120 families and 30 providers—puts real numbers behind what many parents and caregivers already know. Here are the top three takeaways when it comes to affordable childcare in Norwalk:
- Cost continues to be the biggest barrier to care, with the majority of families identifying affordability as their top challenge—and providers echoing that many open slots go unfilled because families simply can’t afford tuition.
- Finding care that fits a working parent’s schedule remains difficult. Families noted that program hours often don’t align with full-time work—an issue that can feel especially urgent during the summer months when school-year supports aren’t in place.
- The demand for care—especially for younger children—continues to outpace supply, with families reporting difficulty finding available affordable slots and providers pointing to staffing challenges as a key limitation on expanding capacity.
At the same time, families shared that Norwalk is a strong place to raise children overall, with nearly 7 in 10 rating their experience positively. Building on that foundation, community partners and the LGP will be using these insights to identify next steps—so that what we’re hearing from families and providers leads to equitable and meaningful action. In the coming months, we’ll continue sharing different aspects of the LNA findings. Stay tuned!
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BEHIND THE DATA
While many families are kicking off summer break, Norwalk’s kindergarten teachers are already getting ready for the year ahead—with real information about the students they’ll soon welcome into their classrooms. Across more than 18 preschool programs, educators use a simple but powerful tool called the Preschool Early Literacy Indicators (PELI) to understand how children are developing key skills like recognizing letters, understanding language, and hearing the sounds in words. Through Norwalk ACTS, that information is collated and passed along to Norwalk Public Schools' teachers as an individualized report per child before the school year even begins.
That means teachers aren’t starting from scratch in September—they already have a sense of who their students are as learners. In the 2025–26 school year, 450 Norwalk children were assessed, and those who started the year needing the most support made the biggest gains, improving an average of 58 points by the spring. With five years of consistent results showing this same pattern, teachers can use the summer months to plan ahead—thinking through how to group students, where to focus instruction, and how to support children who may need extra help right from day one.
And that kind of early preparation really matters. Research shows that children who aren’t reading proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to leave high school without a diploma. By using PELI data to step in earlier, Norwalk educators can make sure more children get the support they need right away—helping them build confidence, strengthen their skills, and start kindergarten on the right foot.
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ARE YOU READY FOR A RESET?
Join us on Monday, July 6 for our monthly meditation program for Norwalk parents at the SONO Library! Register by scanning the QR code on the flyer or clicking RESET.
Remaining 2026 program dates:
August 3
September 14
October 5
November 2
December 7
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We’re excited to welcome two new team members whose work will play an important role in the months ahead.
Tania Priatka joins us as our new Director of Engagement & Communications. She is leading a refreshed approach to how Norwalk ACTS shares its work—centering clarity, connection, and meaningful storytelling to better reflect what our work means for the Norwalk community. Her focus includes strengthening brand recognition and ensuring that partners and funders clearly understand the value of the collective impact approach we bring to the cradle-to-career space.
Tania has worked in corporate and organizational communications roles, but her passion is for the work she has done at the community level, engaging in education and youth development, community outreach, and program building. Most recently, she served as the Senior Program Manager of Immigration Support Services at Jewish Family Services in Greenwich, where she oversaw initial resettlement programs for newcomers from Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Haiti. Her new role brings her back, full circle, to her roots in communications as the through-line that connects it all.
Jumping right into our Quarterly Convening and semi-annual Day of Training in June, Tania had this to say, “there’s so much amazing work happening here, and I’m excited to help tell the story of what’s possible when a community works together!"
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We’re also pleased to welcome Andre Nelson as our new Director of Cradle to Career Initiatives.
In this role, Andre will oversee collaborative efforts across Early Childhood Development, Social Emotional Health, and College and Workforce Readiness, working alongside partners to improve outcomes for children and families throughout Norwalk.
Andre brings more than a decade of experience in healthcare analytics, program evaluation, and cross-sector collaboration. Most recently, he served as a Senior Project Manager at the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ), where he led data and evaluation initiatives focused on maternal and child health, family engagement, and systems improvement.
As Norwalk ACTS continues to advance initiatives across key C2C milestones, Andre will work to align partners, data, and strategies to better support children and youth at every stage.
"Every young person deserves a clear, supported pathway to their future. By working together across schools, families, nonprofits, business and government; we can build a community where every child has the opportunity to thrive." Andre shared.
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Investing in Youth Voice
Our Youth Advocates group recently received its first-ever grant by the Fairfield County Community Foundation's Youth Philanthropy Council (YPC.)
The Youth Advocates are an extraordinary group of civic-minded future leaders selected from across Norwalk-area high schools, They meet bi-weekly during the academic year and work alongside Norwalk ACTS' Social Emotional Health Initiatives (SEH) Manager, Anamilena Lonergan.
Students are encouraged to be active and vocal in community conversations, shaping them rather than simply being bystanders. Simultaneously they learn skills in communication, leadership, and advocacy. "These bright, young students bring an authenticity, urgency, and insight to the community in ways adult-led spaces often cannot. It's amazing to see what they are capable of when given the right tools, guidance, and platform," shared Anamilena. "I look forward to expanding our activities next year, thanks in part to the funding from the YPC."
Pictured below: Anamilena Lonergan (center) at the YPC's Capstone Ceremony on June 11 at Park City Music Hall in Bridgeport.
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Strengthening Early Foundations
On June 8, Norwalk ACTS was awarded a grant from the New Canaan Community Foundation (NCCF) to advance its Early Childhood Development Initiative, a citywide effort focused on ensuring that every Norwalk child enters kindergarten ready to learn. This work brings together more than 60 partners—including Norwalk Public Schools, healthcare providers, early learning programs, nonprofits, and the municipality —to strengthen developmental screening, family engagement, school readiness, and coordination across systems.
"This investment from the NCCF strengthens Norwalk ACTS’ ability to ensure that every family in Norwalk has the support they need during the most critical years of a child’s development," noted MJ Chironna, Norwalk ACTS' Early Childhood Development Initiatives Manager.
| | | National 'Make a Difference to Children' Month | |
July is National Make a Difference to Children Month. This observance reminds us that every adult plays a vital role in shaping a child’s future.
The Summer Learning Gap
July sits at a critical point in the academic year. Without school routines, many children face the "summer slide" and lose valuable learning progress. Summer enrichment programs change this narrative. They turn potential learning loss into a time of growth, keeping young minds active, curious, and prepared.
The Power of Summer Mentorship
Mentorship is at the core of youth development and during July, can take on a highly practical role. Summer internships and youth employment programs offer teenagers their first real-world work experiences. These opportunities help young people directly connect their current education to future career paths.
You can make a tangible difference this July:
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Volunteer: Share your skills at a local youth summer camp.
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Mentor: Guide a young person navigating upcoming education or career choices.
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Donate: Support community drives for summer learning materials and books.
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Advocate: Champion local policies that fund safe, enriching summer spaces.
By investing our time and resources this month, we create a stronger foundation for the leaders of tomorrow!
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FROM THE FIELD
Norwalk ACTS CEO AnaVivian Escalante joined leaders nationwide at the 2026 StriveTogether Policy Summit in Washington, D.C.—a dynamic, three-day working session in June that focused on advancing policies that help young people thrive.
The summit brought together coalitions, community partners, and members of the Cradle to Career Network to share what’s working, tackle challenges, and strengthen strategies for equitable outcomes. Through collaboration and data-driven discussions, participants emphasized aligning systems and centering community voice.
Insights from the summit will support Norwalk ACTS’ ongoing work—expanding awareness, strengthening resident-led training, and deepening connections across its 200+ partners. The momentum continues as these ideas are put into action locally to ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed.
Pictured below: AnaVivian Escalante (center) surrounded by StriveTogether network colleagues who convened from across the country for the Policy Summit in D.C.
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Quarterly Convening
June 9, 2026
On June 9, over 60 Norwalk stakeholders gathered for the Quarterly Convening held at Stepping Stones Museum to celebrate collaboration and reflect on shared progress in strengthening systems and improving outcomes for local children and youth. Highlights included community engagement updates, insights from the CT Data Collaborative, and a discussion on data use led by Stamford Cradle to Career.
Thank you to all partners for continuing to collaborate and drive this work forward for Norwalk’s children and families.
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As this newsletter heads to print, we're excited to share that our June 30 Training Day was our biggest yet! Over 70 participants joined us for a day of learning, collaboration, and professional growth, with an impressive 17 workshops offered—the largest lineup in our training history.
We're still gathering highlights and feedback, so stay tuned! A full recap, photos, and key takeaways will be featured in our Fall newsletter.
Thank you to the administration and staff at Jefferson Elementary School for welcoming us all back once again, and to everyone who attended, presented, and helped make this event such a success.
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Did you know??
Through partnerships across education, health, and community organizations, Norwalk is building a connected system to ensure every child enters kindergarten ready to thrive. Whether you’re looking for preschool, childcare, parenting supports, or early learning opportunities, the city offers a wide range of resources for families with young children.
👉 Check out July's Early Childhood Update to explore programs and opportunities for you and your family.
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Norwalk ACTS' approach is rooted in the Collective Impact model, recognizing that no single entity or organization can solve complex challenges alone. By using data to guide decisions, we advance equitable solutions that are measurable, meaningful, and lasting for our community.
For more information about Norwalk ACTS, visit www.norwalkacts.org.
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