California Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Early Learning Nation

“Clarissa’s Battle” and the Campaign for Child Care Subsidies

Talking to the director and the title subject of an important new documentary

Mark Swartz·May 24, 2022·4 min read

“Clarissa’s Battle” tells the story of a 10-year campaign for a tax increase to subsidize child care in Alameda County,...

The Child Care Sector Starts to Flex Its Muscles

Elliot Haspel·May 17, 2022·4 min read

Child care has traditionally been a politically quiet sector. I don’t mean there hasn’t been resolute advocacy, but that has largely (though certainly not entirely) happened behind the scenes -- at least in the U.S. there isn’t a long history of major public actions such as protests and strikes.

AlegreMENTE: A “Happy” New Two-Gen, Spanish-Language-First Museum Exhibition

Mark Swartz·Apr 7, 2022·3 min read

A field trip inside the mind—it may sound like a psychedelic rock song, but that’s the big idea behind AlegreMENTE...

Lily Mei: Understanding Diversity to Strengthen Education

The Editors·Mar 30, 2022·8 min read

As Fremont (CA) Mayor Lily Mei notes, for four of the past five years, Fremont has been listed as the happiest city in the U.S. The city also boasts incredible diversity, drawing families across multiple backgrounds and a range of languages. One area where that diversity pays off is in education. With some 35,000 kids and 42 schools, Fremont has focused on building new early learning centers, high-ranking schools and equitable access, including with special-needs pre-K programs.

Pippin Dew: Investing in Early Education Delivers Incredible Long-Term Returns

The Editors·Mar 30, 2022·3 min read

For a community looking to address various social challenges, Vallejo, CA is starting with early childhood learning. As City Councilmember Pippin Dew says, programs such as the new First 5 Center not only help set children for future education success, but also helps families be the most productive they can be.

Latinx Fathers Speak Their Babies’ Love Language, Though They Might Not Realize It

K.C. Compton·Feb 16, 2022·7 min read

If you were to ask a group of Latinx dads if they speak in any special way to their babies,...

Thirty Years after Her Gold, Kristi Yamaguchi Reflects on Parenthood, Competition and Kindness

Mark Swartz·Feb 15, 2022·6 min read

Just as Early Learning Nation showcases the ways families, researchers and grassroots nonprofits and organizations are building an early learning...

Boosting California’s Early Childhood Capacity

Sacramento Council Member Eric Guerra Fights for Kids

Mark Swartz·Feb 23, 2021·4 min read

The son of farmworkers, Eric Guerra remembers tagging along with his mother while she picked figs for a dollar per...

5 Top Takeaways from the Webinar “A Path for Every State”

A New Document Points the Way for Effective Policy

Mark Swartz·Oct 5, 2020·4 min read

Because we can’t take our Early Learning Nation Studio on the road during this time, stay tuned as ELN recaps...

Going Big for Our Youngest with Jim Steyer

The Founder of Common Sense Media and Wide Open School

Mark Swartz·Jul 15, 2020·5 min read

Just as Early Learning Nation showcases the ways families, researchers and grassroots nonprofits and organizations are building an early learning...

5 Top Takeaways from the “Black Lives Matter for Families” Conversation Hosted by Common Sense Media and the Commonwealth Club

Mark Swartz·Jun 25, 2020·2 min read

On Thursday, June 18, Common Sense Media and the Commonwealth Club hosted a conversation titled “Parenting in Support of Black Lives: How to Build a Just Future for Kids (and How Media Can Help).” Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith, a clinician, consultant and trainer, moderated the conversation, with Julie Lythcott-Haims (How to Raise an Adult) and Ibram X. Kendi (How to Be an Antiracist) weighing in on a range of urgent issues for parents and, really, anyone concerned about the state of our union. Here are five takeaways from the event, which is available for viewing.