What would it take to transform early childhood education and strengthen Akron’s workforce at the same time? Richelle Wardell (City of Akron) and Laura DiCola (GAR Foundation) unpack theUnified Early Learning Pilot, a bold effort to stabilize childcare providers, boost quality, and get more kids kindergarten-ready. They discuss the data linking early literacy to long-term success, the staffing shortages pushing providers into crisis, and how strategies like substitute pools, leadership training, and on-site navigators aim to bring coherence to a patchwork system. With phase one underway and phase two already forming, they share what success could mean for families, employers, and the future of Summit County.