DCAEYC Attends The Road Ahead: Finding Clarity Amidst the Chaos

On December 9, DCAEYC attended The Road Ahead: Finding Clarity Amidst the Chaos at The Hamilton Live. Being physically present among community leaders, policy experts, and fellow advocates offered a meaningful moment to reflect on the challenges that many DC families and early childhood professionals continue to face.

The panel, moderated by Indivar Dutta Gupta, brought together Mahogany Thomas of Bread for the City, Wendy Chun Hoon of CLASP, and Abel Nuñez of the Central American Resource Center. Each speaker shared insight on how federal and local policy shifts are affecting access to safety net programs, community stability, and the well-being of families across the District.

Their discussion aligned closely with the issues we encounter in our work at DCAEYC. Early childhood professionals rely on stable systems of support, and families depend on policies that protect their access to health care, food assistance, and safe environments. Hearing these perspectives in person underscored the urgency of remaining engaged in the policy landscape, especially as decisions continue to influence the conditions in which children learn and grow.

We were glad to be joined by our partners from Under 3 DC, who participated alongside us. Their commitment to lifting the voices of families and educators strengthens the broader effort to build equity and stability across the early learning landscape.

As always, DCAEYC remains focused on advocating for policies that honor the early childhood workforce and support the well-being of children and families in Washington, DC. Events like this help ground our work in real experiences and deepen the partnerships that move our mission forward.

We extend our appreciation to the organizers and panelists for creating a thoughtful and timely conversation. Our work continues, and we remain committed to advancing a strong, stable, and equitable early childhood system for all.