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Dear 4Cs Community,
As we step into a new fiscal year at 4Cs of Alameda County, I am filled with both gratitude and anticipation. For more than 50 years, our organization has been a trusted partner to families, children, and child care providers, and that history of service continues to guide every decision we make.
Over the past several months, many of you—families, child care providers, community partners, funders, and staff—have lent your voices, time, and insight to help shape our strategic plan. Your feedback, ideas, and honest reflections have been invaluable, and I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in conversations, surveys, and listening sessions. Because of you, this new plan will reflect not only our mission and values, but also the real needs and aspirations of the communities we serve.
Each day, families across Alameda County turn to 4Cs for help navigating child care, connecting to resources, and building stability for their children’s futures. Our team walks alongside them, offering referrals to quality child care, supporting parents in accessing payment assistance, or providing training and coaching for local child care providers, so that every child has a stronger foundation from which to grow.
This year, we are reaffirming a simple but powerful commitment: to develop and coordinate resources that strengthen families and children, and to do so with compassion, accountability, and equity at the center. Our 2030 strategic plan, which we look forward to unveiling this fall, will outline clear priorities and goals that build on this commitment and chart a thoughtful path forward for the next several years. We are eager to share this roadmap with you and to continue inviting your partnership as we bring it to life.
We also recognize that our impact depends on the people who make this work possible. I am deeply grateful to our staff, who bring expertise, empathy, and perseverance to every interaction; to our board, whose governance and leadership help keep us focused and fiscally strong; and to our many partners, funders, and advocates who ensure that families are not navigating this journey alone. Together, we form a network of care that stretches across neighborhoods, cultures, and generations.
In the months ahead, you can expect to see us leaning further into collaboration, data-informed practice, and community voice. We will continue to expand access to quality child care, deepen supports for parents and caregivers, and invest in the professional growth of child care providers so that every child has the opportunity to thrive.
I invite you to stay connected by reading our updates, sharing our resources, and lifting up families in your own circles. Whether you are a parent, provider, partner, or supporter, you are an essential part of the 4Cs story, and I am honored to move into this new fiscal year with you.
With appreciation,
Takija T. Gardner
Chief Executive Officer
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