Equipping Our Community to Amplify Voices

Bright BeginningsAdvocacy, Community, Preschool For All

Senator Caballero’s Recent Visit

In photo above: Maria Carmen Parra, Alma Cervantez, Senator Anna Caballero, Maria Garcia, Gaby Silva with her daughter Gabriela, Manuel Valencia III, Nina Alcaraz, District Director Anna Velazquez, Mireya Gomez-Contreras, Kendra Bobsin, Norma Villanos with her children Odalis and Esteban, and Laura Pacheco

Last month, Senator Ana Caballero heard first-hand experiences from several parent leaders, their children and Early Childhood Advocacy Network (ECAN) members in addition to a discussion around the early childhood development bills SB 142 and AB 123.

Laura Pacheco recounted witnessing a child the same age as her daughter struggling to read. This experience led her to join the Bright Beginnings Salinas Mamas. She emphasized that a half-day of quality, early childcare for young children is not enough to prepare them for school. With the support of Bright Beginnings, she was able to directly advocate for full-day quality early childcare for all children, especially for the most vulnerable.

In response, Senator Caballero highlighted that Pacheco’s work is not possible without the dedication of parents like her and local communities across the state who are filling a critical part of the legislative work that the Senator carries out daily.

We are proud of the parents who attended and are eager to engage more community members not only to participate in legislative meetings but also to learn about the legislative process to ultimately ensure that every single child has what they need, from the prenatal stage through age 8.