2nd Annual Lift Every Voice Advocacy Day
April 28, 2025
On April 16th, 2025, BlackECE held its 2nd Annual Lift Every Voice (LEV) Advocacy Day, an event dedicated to empowering and amplifying the voices of Black early care and education (ECE) providers from across California. This day was filled with advocacy, storytelling, and policy discussions aimed at dismantling the barriers Black ECE professionals face every day. Our LEV members met with legislative offices to speak directly to the people who hold the power to address these disparities in resources, wages, and more.
During the LEV Advocacy Day, our members had the opportunity to meet with key policymakers, including Senator Umberg, Senator Richardson, Assemblymember Wicks, Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, Assemblymember Stefani, Assemblymember Bonta, Senator Cabaldon, and Assemblymember Elhawary. These meetings were a powerful platform for Black educators to share their personal stories, experiences, and challenges they face in the ECE field. The ongoing fight for racial wage justice and policy reforms that support Black children, families, and providers is paramount, and LEV members made sure to highlight how these systemic issues persist in California’s child care system.
Key Issues Discussed: Our advocates spoke candidly about the systemic racism in early care and education, specifically addressing the disparities in funding, wages, and resources available to Black child care providers. As members of the LEV coalition, they brought forward critical concerns such as:
Wage Disparities: Black child care providers are consistently paid less than their white counterparts, despite similar experience and qualifications.
Access to Resources: Black early educators often lack access to professional development, quality training, and resources needed to support the children and families they serve.
Lack of Representation: The absence of Black voices in leadership positions within early education policy-making continues to undermine the effectiveness and inclusivity of California’s child care system.
The 2nd Annual LEV Advocacy Day was not just about addressing the issues at hand but also about building momentum for policy changes that will benefit Black early care and education professionals across California. The work that BlackECE does continues to make an undeniable impact, and as the Lift Every Voice coalition grows, we look forward to more victories for Black children, families, and early educators. The conversations we started in Sacramento will continue to echo throughout the state as we demand systemic change.
For more information about how to get involved or to support our advocacy work, please visit our Lift Every Voice Impact Report and see the difference you can make in the fight for racial equity and justice in early childhood education.
Black Family Cookouts
Lift Every Voice Impact Report
BlackECE was featured in the LA Times!
Governor Newsom keeps child care spending, makes no commitments to Black children, families, child care workforce
Juneteenth Campaign for Liberation
BlackECE officially has full-time staff!
Lift Every Voice 2023
