What's New at COAEYC?
- COAEYC Board Elections: It's that time of year when we are seeking individuals interested in serving on our non-profit board. We are filling three seats: one student enrolled in a college-level or CTE early childhood program, one early childhood educator, and one general seat open to anyone with a passion for advocating for Colorado's children and educators. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, September 4th. Click here for more information and to apply.
- COAEYC Welcomes New Leadership: With sadness and gratitude we announced changes to COAEYC's leadership earlier this month. Erin Mason's term as board chair ends on September 30th, 2020. Additionally, Akane Ogren will transition out of the interim executive director position to focus more on teaching. COAEYC has greatly benefited from their leadership, guidance, and their commitment to advocating for young children, families, and educators. Though they will be greatly missed, we are excited to welcome incoming leadership -- Board Chair Nathaniel Cradle and Interim Executive Director Enola Garland. Click here to read the full statement.
|
|
Your continued support allows NAEYC and COAEYC to continue advocating for early childhood and to create affordable professional development opportunities for educators.
Click here to renew your membership or join.
|
|
|
Registration for Strolling Thunder is OPEN!
Join the Raise Colorado Coalition and our partners at a virtual rally to raise our voices in support of pregnant people, infants, toddlers, and their families! This family-friendly advocacy opportunity includes story-sharing with elected officials and each other, a snack prep demo with Cooking Matters, kid-oriented self-care with Remembrance Wellness and Yoga, dancing our worries away with Baby Rave, and much more. The first 100 registrants at bit.ly/StrollingThunder2020 will be entered into a drawing for two prizes (you must be present to win.) Let’s make some noise to remind policymakers and others to #ThinkBabies in the 2020 election, the upcoming legislative session, and beyond!
Click the image below to register!
|
|
COVID-19 Stories
We want to know how COVID-19 has impacted you and your program!
If you have been open during this time--what has that looked like for you and for your students? If you are in a program that is preparing to open virtually, with a hybrid model, or for full in-person learning, what kind of preparations are you having to make? What are the challenges? What successes have you had during this time? What are some needs that you have that are not being met?
Thank you for taking the time to share! We use these stories help inform people outside of early childhood (or even in other sectors of it) on the challenges that programs and educators are facing in the wake of COVID-19. Additionally, your perspectives and experiences allow us to represent you when we communicate with state and federal lawmakers.
|
|
Has your program permanently closed? NAEYC wants you to share your story with policymakers.
We are deeply saddened by the permanent closures of childcare and early education programs across the state as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
From the onset of the pandemic, NAEYC has been working to sound the alarm on the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on child care programs and the need for Congress to pass emergency, dedicated funding to stabilize the child care sector...and our work is not done.
As Congress moves forward on the next COVID-19 relief package, we think your story will help policymakers and the public understand the painful realities and consequences of program closures.
Will you share your story as a permanently closed child care program?
By sharing your story, you will help us better illustrate what is at stake if Congress chooses not to #SaveChildCare. Completing this form will only take a few minutes, yet the impact of your contribution will be felt across the country.
Thank you in advance for your engagement during this difficult and complex time.
|
|
A Conversation with COAEYC's Incoming Board Chair
|
|
This month we wanted to take a moment to introduce you to COAEYC's incoming board chair, Nathaniel Cradle. Nathaniel is the co-founder and president of Venture for Success Preparatory Learning Center, a nonprofit early learning center based in Denver, CO. Nathaniel has been in early childhood education since 2006 and has since turned a business opportunity and desire to help his mother into a passion for offering high-quality education to children from less affluent communities and communities of color.
|
|
|
|
How did you get into early childhood education?
My mother started out in early childhood care. She was doing it on her own watching community children , until she found out later, unbeknownst to her, she was actually not in city compliance. She didn’t know anything about licensing! When she found this out, instead of disbanding her business, they gave her the opportunity to get licensed. She was extremely busy. She literally had a 24-hour operation where children would get dropped off so their parents could work the night shift and they would get picked up in the morning. I proposed to her that I go to college for business and help her. I finished my Marketing degree and started marketing the program's ideas. But what about the curriculum? What about the disparities? I didn’t find that out until later; in the meantime, It was just daycare - fast forward, now I really despise the reference “daycare.” I want this to be a well-respected industry of practitioners. Now a non-profit, my wife and and I have partnered with many organizations and stakeholders over the years and because of this, I’m looking at the industry as a whole now.
What inspired you to join COAEYC and NAEYC?
My goal was to understand how to better advocate for teachers. The glaring issue that sticks out is more pay. How do we find ways to make sure that these teachers are equally compensated for the work that they do each day? It’s not just parents coming in with more money--it's having states and counties working together more closely with the federal government to subsidize care. That will translate into higher paying salaries, more qualified programs, and more level four and fives [in Colorado Shines] out there easily. I also want to ensure that children of all demographics have access to the same high quality learning; specifically children of less affluency.
What hopes do you have for early childhood education in Colorado?
Whether it's the current one or a future one, I hope that we get an administration that whole-heartedly supports early education. Not just teachers in elementary, middle, or high school. My wish is that the administration, whoever we get, really supports whatever we are promised and that they get it done now.
What is your favorite children’s book?
Lady and the Tramp. I like the clear picture painted of the struggle and the realness of poverty, but then the power of love... it was awesome.
|
|
Upcoming Webinars and Virtual Trainings
Cooking Matters FREE Virtual Classes
- Meal Appeal: Saturday, August 29th from 9:00am to 10:00am
- Menu Management on a Budget: Saturday, August 29th from 10:00am to 11:00am
- Cooking Matters at the Store: Wednesday, September 23rd from 1:00pm to 2:00pm
- Creating Positive Mealtime Attitudes: Saturday, September 26th from 9:00am to 11:00am
- Partnering with Parents: Saturday, September 26th from 11:15am to 12:15pm
Register on PDIS by going to ecpd.costartstrong.org. Go to the Calendar and find Cooking Matters Trainings.
|
|
Tell Congress to #FundChildCare!
|
|
While the House passed the bipartisan Child Care Is Essential Act (S. 3874/ H.R. 7027) proposing $50 billion for the child care industry, Congress and the White House did not reach an agreement on overall relief spending, leaving millions of families and thousands of providers without any source of relief. It remains crucial that constituents continue to sustain pressure on Congress. Reaching out to your Members of Congress reinforces that families, providers and the economy are depending on them to ensure at least $50 billion in stabilization funding for child care is included in this next package. - Center for American Progress
Sometimes the hardest part of advocacy is knowing where to start! Visit this link for an email template that you can copy, customize, and send to your representatives and senators.
"While we’re angry that children are without care, providers are shutting down, and a field that is told it is essential is being ignored, we are resolved. Resolved to do everything we can and center the voices of providers and families, so they’re heard. We can’t know exactly what happens next, she said, but what we do know is that we’ve only gotten this far because of the great work that’s been done. This is a collective problem that requires collective action. Congress can’t get away with assuming that the child care field will figure it out like we always have. We cannot accept that. We must help each other to keep it up because we can – and will – do this together." -Lauren Hogan, NAEYC
|
|
|
|
