Tonia McMillian
Woman Who Shakes Things Up
Tonia McMillian was a licensed Early Care and Education provider for over 29 years who retired December 8th, 2023. She primarily served low-income children and their working families. She helped educate and “raise up” hundreds of children, ages 6 weeks through 13 years old, ensuring that every child has a fair shot at achieving the “California Dream.” Following her retirement from the practice of family childcare, she accepted the position of “Woman Who Shakes Things Up” in the Black Californians for Early Childhood Education organization. Ms. McMillian is responsible for directing the Lift Every Voice Campaign which is comprised of black early educators from across the state of California. She now takes pride in uplifting, educating, and celebrating the roles that black early educators play as key figures in the lives of the children they serve in their learning environments.
She was a proud member of the CA State Assembly Blue Ribbon Commission and in 2019 was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the CA Early Childhood Workforce Policy Advisory Subcommittee. She was later appointed the Chair of the Subcommittee and, most recently, she was voted in to the Governor’s full Early Childhood Policy Council.
Ms. McMillian is serving her second term appointment as the Public Member and was recently voted President of the Physical Therapy Board of California. She is an appointed Delegate for the CA Democratic Party under Betty Yee, former California State Controller, and current CADEM Vice Chair. She is serving her 2nd term as the elected National Secretary to the SEIU National African American Caucus (AFRAM) and is a retired member of Child Care Providers United. Ms. McMillian is a member of the Advisory Council with Parent Voices CA and the Child Care Next Advisory National Board.
Ms. McMillian is a staunch advocate promoting pay equity, exposing institutional and systemic racism, sexism, caste references, and fighting biases within the ECE field. Since 2007, she worked tirelessly for family childcare professionals, mostly women of color, to win the right to collective bargaining. She, along with thousands of family child providers, was honored to celebrate her unwavering dedication to the childcare campaign on September 30 th , 2019, when Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 378 granting these workers the right to bargain and negotiate with the State of California.
Ms. McMillian has a repertoire of skills that she boasts about, including proudly wearing the title of Chef Tonia. Her catering company, Pink Skillet Catering has voluntarily created delectable dishes every year at the Soul Train Alumni Christmas Party and Toy Drive. She published her first children’s book, “Ducky Duck Wears Boots” on Amazon in December 2023 and is currently working on her book of poetry to be released later this year. Tonia has been an authorized instructor with the American Red Cross for over 15 years. She teaches BLS and Adult and Pediatric CPR, First Aid, and AED.
Last, but certainly not least, Ms. McMillian danced on Soul Train from 1979-1983. But her proudest moments are the time spent with her grandson, Amari Washington and granddaughter, Alina Noelle McKnight. Her grands are her pride and joy.
Black Family Cookouts
Lift Every Voice Impact Report
Meet the Rest of the Team!
