Greetings and Happy New Year!
It has been a little over a year since the November 2020 election and about 9 months since I began my position. 2021 was a year of unprecedented change and loss. In the midst of this, Preschool for All emerged as a unique symbol of hope for our community, specifically for families and young children in Multnomah County.
What excites me, is that not only are we investing in children, but also acknowledging that the programs that serve these young learners also need our investment. Child care providers are essential workers that have, for too long, survived without enough public investment or support. Building this critical infrastructure, first in marginalized communities, will make a critical difference in the lives of all children.
This year, we are excited to offer the first Preschool for All slots to families in our priority populations! In order to achieve this milestone, we’ve been working hard to establish the foundational elements of our work and keeping a consistent focus on racial equity.
Our growing team has 12 staff members, including staff who identify as African, Asian, Black, Latinx, immigrants, refugees and English language learners. We have the unique opportunity and responsibility to build a different type of system, one that honors family choice, authentic partnerships, and deeply values the work of early educators. In order to successfully achieve our goals, we must look both inward and outward to understand how systemic barriers uniquely affect Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color.
