What does the Backbone do?
The Bright Beginnings Backbone provides strategic management of the countywide early childhood development initiative, ensuring forward movement of the countywide strategic framework by convening partners, engaging in policy change, mobilizing resources, and internal and external communications, and capacity building. Staff and consultants also offer various types of practical support for strategy-aligned action teams, such as:
- Process and meeting facilitation
- Project management support
- Community engagement
- Data, evaluation and monitoring
Want to know more? Contact us!
Bright Beginnings Initiative Core Backbone Team
- Sonja Koehler – Lead
- Iris Gamez – Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator
- Laura Keeley-Saldaña – Program Manager – Early Learning Systems Coordination
- Stephanie McMurtrie – Project Manager (consultant)
- Child Care Accessibility Project: www.MontereyCountyChildCare.org
- Home Visiting
- Maria Carmen Parra – Community Organizer (consultant)
- Michelle Molina – Evaluation and Monitoring (consultant)
- In addition to supporting above-listed projects, also:
- Gonzales – Informal Caregiver Capacity Building
- North Monterey County – Summer Bridge
- Michelle Slade, Project Manager (consultant)
- Spoke Consulting – Communications
Initiative Co-Chairs
- Edward Moreno, Public Health Officer, County of Monterey
- Francine Rodd, Executive Director, First 5 Monterey County
Bright Futures Steering Partners
- Caryn Lewis, Assistant Superintendent – Educational Services, Monterey County Office of Education
- Josh Madfis, Vice President, Community Investments, United Way
- Francine Rodd, Executive Director, First 5 Monterey County
- Shannan Watkins, Executive Director, Early Development Services