Developed, launched, incubated and spun off ELPASO – Engaged Latino Parents Advancing School Outcomes – a movement designed to build the Latino parent voice for improved early learning outcomes. ELPASO became an independent 501c3 organization in Summer 2017. Helped pass two successful school bond campaigns, worth more than $850 million, for new and remodeled schools in every corner of Boulder County. Continued support for collaborative efforts to improve early learning and parent engagement countywide.

 

Hired a full-time director for The Community Foundation’s School Readiness Initiative. Convened leaders from a variety of sectors across Boulder County to develop a “Community Solutions Action Plan” for improving early learning outcomes. Began establishing a Children’s Reading Foundation to help carry out the Action Plan. Brought Ready! For Kindergarten – a parent skill-building workshop targeting 100 low-income families – to Boulder County. Endorsed and helped organize Boulder County Campaign for Amendment 66, which would bring full-day kindergarten to every elementary school and eliminate the preschool waiting list for families in poverty.

 

Funded and helped lead the successful “Yes on 3A” mill levy override campaign in St. Vrain Valley School District, raising an additional $14.8M annually. Much of the funding is being used to expand preschool offerings amidst a child poverty boom. Also, granted $50K to capital improvement projects at Wilderness Early Learning Center and Family Learning Center, two Boulder-based early learning facilities. 

 

Funded and provided staff and volunteer support for the successful “Yes on 3A” mill levy override campaign. The override raised $23M in additional annual funding for Boulder Valley School District, and earmarked $5M annually for expanding preschool and full-day kindergarten in low-income neighborhoods.

 

Launched Ready.Set.Learn, a vibrant public campaign about the critical need to get our Boulder County kids into active early learning. 

 

Granted $90K to PASO (Providers Advancing School Outcomes), which trains immigrant Latina daycare providers in early childhood education with the goal of bridging the achievement gap in education between Latino and Anglo students. PASO leveraged the funding to secure additional, larger grants that have helped it quadruple in size since then. 

 

Launched and successfully completed $4M Community Trust Initiative, which permanently doubled the grantmaking endowment for Boulder County nonprofits and raised $1M to help close the achievement gap through a School Readiness Initiative.