Stakeholders ‘United for Change’ at the legislature

Like some of you, Liz and I spent April 19 on the Halifax Mall outside the General Assembly for the Child Care for North Carolina: United for Change event. The weather was sunny and warm, but one educator carried a sign reading, “Now is the TIME – It’s a Rainy Day!”

That’s because the state House’s budget does not include much of the funding that early childhood advocates say is necessary to provide better pay and benefits for teachers, more accessible and affordable child care for families, and more sustainable funding for providers — despite having one of the most robust “rainy day funds” in the country.

As the sign’s creator told me, “They have the rainy day fund, and if this isn’t a rainy day, I don’t know what is.”

Liz did a great write-up (with fantastic photos!) from the event, which you can read here.

This week I want to amplify the voices of those who shared their stories with Liz and me at the event, so here are some that stood out:

• “Us as teachers constantly put our lives on the line, but we still come to work for the love of our students. Teachers are very underappreciated, especially when it comes to funding.” – Bree Hewett, Garner
• “What makes me really sad is the emotional stress that this is taking on my husband and myself — something that should be a public good like child care. I feel like I’m missing out on being happy with my kids.” – Brigid Flaherty, Durham
• “Child care is on the verge of collapsing. If the system collapses, then nobody will be able to work.” – Norma Honeycutt, Salisbury
• “I am drowning. If you believe that families are the backbone of our society, if you believe that children are really our future, then we need to invest in it.” – Lwiza Escobar Garcia, Durham
• “This is not a single community problem. This is not a single city problem. This is statewide, every community, every center, everyone is struggling.” – Heather Fidler, Salisbury

And just a quick aside: I don’t know if this has been the case for y’all, but spring has been a busy season for the Early Bird team. Just speaking for myself, I attended Smart Start events in Hertford and Beaufort counties during the Week of the Young Child, then met with early childhood educators in Durham during Black Maternal Health Week. And all of this has been happening during Child Abuse Prevention Month. It’s been a lot! Please know that we see you, we appreciate you, and we’re here for you.