Child care is in my blood - my grandparents ran a child care center called "Happy Time" for 50 years in West Caldwell, NJ, and I pretty much grew up there - I even worked there in my teen years as a "junior counselor." Some of my best memories from childhood are from Happy Time. But it wasn't until I began working at Launch and then became a stepparent that I really understood how vital child care is for our community. And of course the pandemic made it so clear how much our lives and our children's wellbeing is dependent on access to high quality child care.

One of the reasons I'm still working at Launch after 8 years is because I see every day the difference our programs make for kids and families. I love that Launch creates a space for children *and* staff to bring their whole, authentic selves into the classroom. Personally I find a lot of meaning in working for a nonprofit that isn't just paying lip service to the idea of removing barriers and ensuring racial and economic justice, but is actually working to truly help children, families, and staff members thrive.