Washington D.C. – The National League of Cities has selected four cities to participate in a new technical assistance initiative called Decades in the Making: Cities Supporting Early Learning and the Child Care Economy. NLC selected the cities of Boston, MA; Hartford, CT; Jacksonville, FL; and Seattle, WA, due to their long-term commitment to and achievement of better early childhood outcomes for their residents and communities.
Over the course of this two-year initiative, a series of city profiles will be created that will serve as a roadmap for NLC’s member cities, regardless of size, political structure, or starting point, to gain an increased understanding of how they can elevate and prioritize early learning and the child care economy across city government and garner buy-in from a diverse set of community stakeholders.
Through various publications and webinars, NLC’s Early Childhood Success team will share best practices and strategies gleaned from Boston, Hartford, Jacksonville, and Seattle, empowering communities nationwide with the tools and resources necessary to implement effective strategies for advancing early childhood success.
“As the National League of Cities celebrates our 100th anniversary, it’s only fitting that we also celebrate the incredible work these cities have done to support early childhood success in their community,” said Dr. Robert Blaine, director of NLC’s Center for Leadership, Education, Advancement, and Development. “We’re excited to work together and dig deeper into what’s made each of these cities such a champion for their children and young families so that we can set a framework and vision for how other communities can reflect their own early childhood priorities in their own governments.”
NLC staff will begin a series of site visits to each city in the summer of 2024 that will include interviews, program site visits, and in-depth research to capture their historical and current early childhood work. For more information and to view the latest updates about this program, visit the Decades in the Making initiative page.
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The National League of Cities (NLC) the voice of America’s cities, towns and villages, representing more than 200 million people. NLC works to strengthen local leadership, influence federal policy and drive innovative solutions. Stay connected with NLC on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.