Throughout the tour, New Mexico has been held up as the shining example of communities coming together to energize voters and pass funding for early child care. For over a decade, organizers worked tirelessly to pass a constitutional amendment which increased funding for early childhood education.

This week, we meet panelists Trisha Moquino, founder of Keres Children’s Learning Center, a not-for-profit educational organization that supports Cochiti Pueblo families; Elizabeth Groginsky, cabinet secretary for early childhood education for New Mexico; and Javier Martinez, an attorney and Speaker of the House in the New Mexico Legislature.

The three panelists speak with host Gloria Riviera about how advocates built a grassroots movement for 12 years, making the state a national leader in child care and early education. They also discussed the importance of creating a culturally aware curriculum and having educators who are well trained in diverse experiences.

Show Notes

Presented by Neighborhood Villages. Neighborhood Villages is a Massachusetts-based systems change non-profit. It envisions a transformed, equitable early childhood education system that lifts up educators and sets every child and family up to thrive. In pursuit of this vision, Neighborhood Villages designs, evaluates, and scales innovative solutions to the biggest challenges faced by early childhood education providers and the children and families who rely on them, and drives policy reform through advocacy, education, and research.

This season was made possible with generous support from Imaginable Futures, a global philanthropic investment firm working with partners to build more healthy and equitable systems, so that everyone has the opportunity to learn and realize the future they imagine. Learn more at www.imaginablefutures.com

This episode is made possible through the sponsorship and support of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Check out these resources from today’s episode: 

Learn more about the Keres Children’s Learning Center’s educational work with Cochiti Pueblo families.

Laugh, cry, be outraged, and hear solutions! Join our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nooneiscomingtosaveus. 

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. 

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/.

Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. 

For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.