Today, the Alliance for Early Success announced 10 leaders who will participate in the Early Childhood Emerging Policy Professionals of Color (EPPOC) cohort over the next year. This cohort represents national and state advocacy organizations from across the country. They will co-design EPPOC, receive professional development, and access mentorship to support their work across the Birth to Eight Policy Framework.
EPPOC will bring together a racially diverse group of next generation leaders who will change the face of the early childhood policy and advocacy field. It will be a place for cross-sector collaboration, peer networking, professional development, and authentic discussion of topics and issues co-created and co-facilitated by its own members. The inaugural EPPOC cohort will co-create EPPOC with the Alliance team and cohort facilitators by helping to set the vision, design programs and activities, and operationalize the peer community.
“We are committed to being responsive to the needs of these young professionals, starting with asking them to guide the design process for this network.”
Helene Stebbins, Executive Director
Alliance for Early Success
Over the past year, the Alliance for Early Success pursued the idea of creating a networking community of young professionals of color who work in the field of early childhood policy. State and national allies of the Alliance expressed the need for a space where young professionals could build community, deepen professional networks, and explore the dynamics of race and identity at work. The Alliance team listened and, after a year of planning, set out to catalyze the emergence of a new generation of leaders who will bring important perspectives and experiences to the early childhood policy and advocacy field.
The Alliance believes EPPOC will help shift existing power structures and address systemic racial issues in the sector. Amplifying diverse voices in the field will lead to better policies for young children and their families.
The 2022 inaugural cohort members are:
- Alejandra Londono-Gomez, Center for Law and Social Policy
- Amy Meade, Groundwork Ohio
- Kaitlyn Rabb, Rhode Island Kids Count
- Keshia Jenkins, The Children’s Movement of Florida
- Kyra Miller, National Women’s Law Center
- May Esperanza Losloso, Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota
- Melissa Mares, Colorado Children’s Campaign
- Micayla Tatum, Mississippi First
- Sydelle Barreto, National Association for the Education of Young Children
- Tobi Adejumo, Center for the Study of Child Care Employment
To learn more about the inaugural cohort and EPPOC, please follow this link.
