In August 2022, LIIF launched a National Early Care and Education Practitioners Advisory Committee (NEPAC) as part of its efforts to center the voices of providers. The group comprises leaders in the early care and education (ECE) field who have successfully used LIIF grant funds in the past. Our aligned values are sustainability, respect, dignity and change, and our NEPAC geographies served are New York City, California, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Texas.
These providers work daily to set up all children for success – no matter the ZIP code into which they are born. Via listening and learning circles, the collaborative ideates and shares best practices around issues running the gamut from policy to climate mitigation to co-location of child care in affordable housing developments.
Below are highlights from NEPAC’s Washington, D.C. members, so you can learn about them, their capstone projects and their vision for their community.
Member Profiles
Cassandra Nelson, D.C. Early Learning Collaborative
“Our communities need an equity-based approach to addressing the child care crisis. There is an urgent need to reflect on our policies to understand who is benefiting. And who is being left behind?”
Bio. Cassandra Nelson has nearly 30 years of providing high-quality, affordable child care services to children and families. With a successful track record of increasing enrollment in programs and opening new facilities to address her growing demand, she currently operates three locations and is actively seeking funding for a fourth. Nelson demonstrates her commitment to Washington, D.C.’s children and families through advocacy, philanthropy and serving as a Board member for the D.C. Early Learning Collaborative and the Ward 7 Business Partnership.
Capstone Project. The Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund was created to increase pay for eligible early childhood educators. Beginning in FY24, the funds were distributed to child care providers to increase pay for teachers and teacher assistants using a formula. Quickly, the community realized this well-intended policy overlooked directors and the formula hurts some small ECE businesses. Now, they are sounding the alarm. The coalition of D.C.-based ECE providers are currently advocating for a budget that maintains the Pay Equity Fund while ensuring a move toward a more equity-based expenditure to deploy funds where they are more equitably expended.
Cynthia Davis, Kings and Queens Child Care Center
“Equity for all promotes inclusion, not exclusion.”
Bio. Cynthia Davis is the founder and CEO of Kings and Queens Child Care Center. She worked as a contractor for the Department of Justice for 23 years and now as a Family Child Care Teacher for over 15 years. Davios received her bachelor’s in Human Development and master’s in Early Childhood Education. She is currently the Executive Director of the D.C. Family Child Care Association. Her mission is to advocate for equitable pay and resources while ensuring that the voices of home-based programs/family child care are heard and recognized for their dedication and contributions to early childhood education.
Capstone Project. Davis builds advocacy tools with family child care teachers to strengthen relationships with local government officials, promoting a system of equal pay for everyone across Washington D.C. — and across the nation. Together with her community, she is a leader working to further improve, empower and encourage the growth of educators’ voices in numbers.
Delores McGee, CEO Emergent Preparatory Academy
Bio. Delores brings over 15 years of leadership experience in early childhood education and a proven track record in building high-quality learning environments that support the growth and development of young children. She currently oversees the Emergent Preparatory Academy program’s strategic and operational functions, ensuring alignment with state regulations and best practices in early education. Delores’ professional background also includes a decade of experience as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant specializing in intellectual property litigation at top law firms. This experience equipped her with strong organizational, analytical and compliance-focused skills that inform her approach to governance and leadership. Delores earned her B.S. in Early Childhood Administration from Purdue University, graduating summa cum laude, and is completing her Master of Education in Educational Leadership at Purdue. She is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, Golden Key International Honors Society and Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society, reflecting her dedication to academic excellence and ethical leadership. Delores is passionate about collaborative leadership, community engagement, and advocating for high education and child development standards. Her work on this board reflects her ongoing commitment to advancing quality, equity and innovation in the field.
Capstone Project. “Building Equity: Reimagining Early Childhood Facilities in Underserved Communities” aims to address universal disparities in the quality of early childhood education (ECE) facilities across underserved communities. Recognizing that the physical environment directly impacts children’s development, learning and well-being, this project will explore ways to ensure all children —regardless of ZIP code — have access to safe, beautiful and developmentally appropriate educational spaces.
Project Objectives:
- Identify gaps in facility equity. Analyze disparities in early childhood facilities across low-income vs. high-income communities, focusing on infrastructure, safety, aesthetics, and access to nature and learning resources.
- Assess the impact of environment on outcomes. Review current research linking facility quality to child development, family engagement and staff retention.
- Develop a community-informed facility-equity framework. Create a blueprint that centers community voices to guide future facility planning and renovation projects in underserved neighborhoods.
- Propose scalable solutions. Design practical, cost-effective strategies for transforming under-resourced ECE facilities into vibrant, inspiring spaces.
Impact Vision:
This project envisions a future where all children, regardless of socioeconomic background, learn in environments that reflect their worth, dignity, and limitless potential. It will serve as a launching point for advocacy, policy change, and investment in educational equity through the lens of infrastructure and design.
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Along with recommendations from our NEPAC providers, LIIF recently released a series of reports to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education outlining current conditions, projected future conditions and policy recommendations. Washingtonians can advocate by urging the D.C. Council to fund child care facilities.
Interested in learning more about NEPAC? Read our comprehensive report.