Image Description: From left to right: Jerry Yang, Executive Director, Kai Ming Head Start; Monique Guidry, Owner, Guidry Early Child Care and Education Program; Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Emerita, United States House of Representatives; Katherine Clark, Minority Whip, United States House of Representatives; Ingrid Mezquita, Executive Director, San Francisco Department of Early Childhood; Edna Ard, Chair, Kai Ming Head Start Parent Council
On April 5, 2024, House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Whip Katherine Clark invited our Executive Director Ingrid Mezquita, along with leaders from our partners at Kai Ming Head Start and the Head Start Parents Council, the Family Childcare Association of San Francisco and African American Early Childhood Educators, to discuss the importance of investing in high-quality early care and education and its impact on our city.
As these two highly influential political leaders advocate for children, families, and early educators on the national stage, they are looking to San Francisco and DEC as encouraging examples of what a huge impact early childhood-centric policies and investments can make for children and families. Speaker Pelosi and Whip Clark congratulated us on the progress we’ve made in creating fair compensation for early care and education workers and building universal early care and education, health and well-being for children in San Francisco. “As we move forward, we must listen to your experience and expertise,” Speaker Emerita Pelosi told Director Mezquita.
Investing in early childhood education is not just a moral obligation; it’s also an investment in our future. The effects of quality early care and education can last a lifetime. The meeting with Speaker Pelosi and Whip Clark reminded us that the impact of our efforts can extend far beyond the 49 square miles of our city. We lead by example to ensure every child has access to quality early care and education in San Francisco and across the country.
Watch the roundtable and learn more about how DEC’s work influences the national conversation!