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Neighborhood Villages in the News
Child care centers in Mass. are near a breaking point, advocates warn
Advocates and lawmakers are pushing for more government funding for families and child care providers in Massachusetts, warning that without it, child care centers could close and the cost for families could increase.
Massachusetts National Guard teaming up with state, nonprofits to provide winter clothing to migrants
Of the 7,500 families in temporary shelters across the state, officials estimate the population of children younger than 5, or younger than school-age, to be around 5,000. The partnership, also comprising Neighborhood Villages, Cradles 2 Crayons and Horizons for Homeless Children, is planning a second delivery of items including “seasonally appropriate” clothing, pajamas, socks, underwear, sneakers and a hygiene kit for the spring.
With funding challenges looming, Mass. child care could be in jeopardy
Many early education providers in the state have already reached a breaking point. The loss of additional state funding in June could be devastating.
Early Education Apprenticeship Program Celebrated During Massachusetts Apprenticeship Week
Neighborhood Villages, in partnership with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce and City of Boston, launched the program one year ago to help address early education workforce crisis.
Massachusetts child care centers struggling with a shortage of workers. Why it's happening
Amid a nationwide child care crisis, Massachusetts struggles to retain and bring in early educators due to the state’s high living costs and the industry’s low wage and benefits.
'The math is pretty simple': Advocates testify for child care assistance in Massachusetts
Parents, teachers and advocates are sharing their support for legislation in Massachusetts that would help make child care more affordable for families — and increase pay for early childhood educators in the state.
Neighborhood Villages Stands Strong in Support of Child Care Reform Bill Urging Immediate Action
Neighborhood Villages–a Boston-based systems-change nonprofit that advocates for solutions to the greatest challenges faced by the early education sector–rallied at the Massachusetts State House in support of two child care bills (H.489/S.301) that would help make child care more affordable for more families.
Neighborhood Villages Statement on FY24 Legislative Budget Veto Overrides To Support Early Education And Care
Today, Neighborhood Villages — a Boston-based nonprofit that advocates for solutions to the greatest challenges faced by the early education sector — celebrated the Massachusetts’ State Legislature’s FY24 budget veto overrides to restore critical funding for early education and care resources, and resulting in a FY24 state budget that prioritizes children, parents, and providers.
Low wages and worker shortages are driving ongoing child care crisis
Like many industries that have faced a worker shortage since the pandemic, the child care industry is in an ongoing nationwide crisis.
Kids Are Back in School—But What Are Working Parents Supposed to Do Between Dismissal and Dinner?
Figuring out what to do with kids after school is out and the workday ends is mentally and financially draining—but it doesn’t have to be. As for a solution, all three experts agree that what we need is more public funding. Herbert recommends that parents find organizations that are advocating to improve the system (Neighborhood Villages is one of them) and then find ways to get involved.
MacKenzie Scott’s Recent Giving for Early Education Spotlights the Power of Advocacy
Early childhood nonprofits that recently received gifts in amounts ranging from $1 to $10 million include Alliance for Early Success, Parent Possible, Neighborhood Villages, Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students, Early Edge California, Raising Childcare Fund, Parents as Teachers, Start Early and Zero to Three.
Gov. Healey's first budget invests in early education
Last week, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed a $56 billion state budget for the fiscal year of 2024. Included in that budget are several considerable investments in education in the state, from free lunches for K-12 students to free community college tuition for nursing students.
Neighborhood Villages Celebrates Governor Healey’s Signing of FY24 State Budget
Today, Neighborhood Villages — a Boston-based nonprofit that advocates for solutions to the greatest challenges faced by the early education sector — celebrated Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey’s signing of the FY24 state budget. This year’s state budget commits nearly $1.5 billion to early education and care, including $475 million for the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grant program.
Neighborhood Villages Celebrates Historic Early Education Funding in FY24 State Budget
Today, Neighborhood Villages — a Boston-based nonprofit that advocates for solutions to the greatest challenges faced by the early education sector — celebrated the FY24 state budget put forward by the Massachusetts Legislature that commits a record $1.5 billion to early education and care, including $475 million for the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grant program.
Mass. House, Senate send $56.2 billion budget to Governor Healey’s desk
Less than 24 hours after negotiators inked a compromise on a $56.2 billion annual spending plan, House and Senate lawmakers, with little debate, voted Monday to send the fiscal year 2024 package to Governor Maura Healey. The chambers’ action on the budget legislation, representing a record level of spending, came nearly a month after the July 1 deadline for the start of the new fiscal year.
Acton will give $3,000 toward child care costs to each eligible family
The town of Acton is giving away $3,000 to eligible families to help pay for child care and after school programs for children ages 13 and under, Town Manager John Mangiaratti announced in a press release Wednesday. | The Boston Globe
Mayor Wu Announces Investment In Citywide Bike Riding Instruction For Kids
Today Mayor Michelle Wu, Boston Parks and Recreation, Boston Centers for Youth & Families, and the Office of Early Childhood announced investments in child bikes and bike instruction through “Connect, Learn, Explore: Boston’s Commitment to Youth.”
Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donates $2 million to Neighborhood Villages for quality affordable child care
Neighborhood Villages, an organization pushing for structural transformative change in the early education and care system, has received a $2 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott to help make child care more affordable and higher quality. | The Boston Globe
Neighborhood Villages Receives $2 Million Donation from Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott for Work to Solve Child Care Crisis
Neighborhood Villages has received a $2 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott to further their efforts to create a more equitable, accessible, and high-quality child care system.
No, Pinterest Isn’t the Place to Build Lesson Plans
When Neighborhood Villages, a nonprofit based in Boston that advocates for early childhood education, first started working with childcare centers, they noticed that it wasn’t easy for teachers to find quality curriculum for their young students that was both play-based and culturally relevant. As a result, teachers often turned to a fun but unlikely curriculum source: Pinterest. | Harvard Ed. Magazine