High-quality early care and education (ECE) is foundational to Kansas City’s economic growth, family stability, and children’s lifelong success. This pledge invites leaders across government, philanthropy, and community organizations to work together toward shared responsibility for young children and families.
I have listened to the voices of parents in the Raising KC Photovoice Project and commit to the following shared beliefs and actions:
Our Shared Beliefs
- All children deserve access to safe, nurturing, and high-quality early care and education that allows them to reach their full potential.
- Strong families depend on stable foundations: affordable child care, fair pay, housing, transportation, and food security. These supports are interconnected—when any one is missing, families and communities suffer.
- The early care and education system cannot thrive without thoughtful public investment, effective coordination, and policies that strengthen both families and the workforce.
- Parents and early educators are essential partners in shaping children’s futures. Both deserve respect, support, and a meaningful voice in the decisions that impact young children and families.
Our Shared Actions
I pledge to use my influence, resources, and platform to:
- Uplift parent leadership by ensuring parents from all backgrounds are engaged as decision makers in planning, funding, and accountability efforts.
- Assess and refine existing early childhood policies to ensure they meet the real needs of families and providers.
- Champion sustained and equitable investment in early care and education, ensuring competitive wages for educators, affordable access for families, and local solutions to bridge funding gaps when federal resources fall short.
- Work to remove barriers that prevent families from accessing care and limit providers’ ability to deliver it.
- Stay accountable to Kansas City families by listening, responding, and acting on their priorities.