Building Community Capacity: SVP Influences Early Childhood Systems Change

The Early Childhood Coalition (ECC) is comprised of 36 organizations, including several past and present Community Partners: Latino Network, Metropolitan Family Service, Adelante Mujeres, and the Early Literacy Success Alliance. Additionally, the ECC is advocating for the Early Childhood Equity Fund, created by the Equity Collaborative, led by five of SVP’s culturally specific Community Partners.

Last week the Early Childhood Coalition (ECC) and Children’s Institute convened Early Childhood Lobby Day at our capitol in Salem, and SVP showed up in support of the cross-sector effort. Dressed in blue, Partners joined 142 early childhood advocates from across Oregon and met with 63 legislators to ask them to make significant, high impact investments in early childhood. One advocate, SVP Partner, Liz Fouther-Branch said, “What I found most inspiring was the turnout of nonprofit organizations interested in letting their voices be heard for childcare, early learning, and family services and supports.”We hear from Community Partners that they need to grow their policy & advocacy capabilities in order to create lasting change. Enter SVP. While we have invested in Latino Network and IRCO’s early childhood policy & advocacy efforts in the past, today SVP Partners are going a step further, standing alongside the communities they serve. As SVP Partner David Smith said, “This is the right thing for SVP and our Partners to be involved in.”Additionally, on April 11th, SVP Partner and CEO of the business Foundation, Holly Levow, joined a number of other business leaders at the Joint Committee on Student Success to testify in support of the Early Childhood Equity Fund. The Equity Fund is a step toward expanding access statewide and transforming Oregon's system to make it more inclusive and equitable. Children of color deserve the option of a culturally specific experience that could make the difference for their future success.

Reflecting on the week, Dana Hepper, Director of Policy & Advocacy at Children’s Institute said, “The SVP Partnership brings together leaders from a variety of sectors to build a better community. Having their involvement with the Early Childhood Coalition helps ensure every child in Oregon gets the best start in life with investments that grow young minds, keep young children safe, and prepare them to start kindergarten with confidence.”