Dear YWCA Community,
Today in two words: grateful and hopeful.
The passage of Ballot Issue 1A is more than an election victory. It is a powerful statement about who we are as a community and what we believe our children, families, and educators deserve.
For too long, we have treated childcare as an individual family responsibility, when it is actually foundational to the well-being of our entire community. Affordable, accessible childcare means parents can work, women can pursue opportunities and economic independence, educators can build sustainable careers, and children can have the strong start they deserve.
This moment belongs to so many people.
To the parents who shared their stories, the early childhood educators who spoke from the heart, the volunteers who knocked on doors, made calls, and showed up again and again, and the incredible leadership of the Early Childhood Council of Boulder County, the coalition they built with community leaders, organizations, and neighbors who believed we could do better: thank you.
At YWCA Boulder County, we see every day how childcare intersects with economic security, racial and gender equity, and the ability of families to thrive. This victory brings us closer to a future where access to quality care is not determined by a family's income or circumstances.
There is still work ahead to turn this promise into meaningful change. But today, we celebrate. We celebrate the people who made this possible and a community that chose to invest in one another.
Thank you for believing in a brighter start for every child, and a stronger future for all of us.
With gratitude and hope,
Soledad Díaz
CEO, YWCA Boulder County