The LIFE Project: Building on The Strengths Of Immigrant Families To Promote Quality Early Care And Education Access

05/26/21 • 28 min

Based in New York City, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), in partnership with Fifth Avenue Committee, LSA Family Health Service, BACDYS (Bangladeshi American Community Development and Youth Services), and Masa, launched the Linking Immigrant Families to Quality Early Care and Education (LIFE) Project to connect quality early education to immigrant families including the city's Pre-K and 3K programs. Their work builds on the passion that immigrant families have for educational opportunities and existing relationships with community programs, identifies unique barriers and challenges faced by immigrant families, and aims to build trusting relationships with the communities served. In our final episode of Season 1, we learn from Rosario, Liza, and Kim, members and leaders of the LIFE Project. Guests reflect on what brought them to this work, the strength of the communities they work with, and the lessons learned as they champion for a more equitable early education system in New York City for immigrant communities.

To learn more about the New York Immigration Coalition and their projects please visit, https://www.nyic.org/.

Guests include:

Rosario Jimenez, Community Health Worker & Early Care Education Advocate, LSA Family Health Service Inc
Liza Schwartzwald, Senior Manager of Education Policy, New York Immigration Coalition
Kim Sykes, Director of Education Policy, New York Immigration Coalition
Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Network

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland
Edited by: Resonate Recordings

To learn more about the New York Immigration Coalition and their projects please visit, https://www.nyic.org/.

Guests include:

Rosario Jimenez, Community Health Worker & Early Care Education Advocate, LSA Family Health Service Inc
Liza Schwartzwald, Senior Manager of Education Policy, New York Immigration Coalition
Kim Sykes, Director of Education Policy, New York Immigration Coalition
Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Network

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland
Edited by: Resonate Recordings

Previous Episode

Austin Neighborhood Network: The Value of Collaboration & Community Driven Vision

What does it look like to engage with community stakeholders to co-design a community plan for revitalization that authentically centers the needs of the local neighborhood? In our 14th episode we feature Austin Neighborhood Network, located in the largest geographic neighborhood of Chicago, to learn more about their participatory efforts to collectively transform their community. Listen in to learn more from Jose Abonce, Ruth Kimble, and Sandra Diaz, as they share the successes, challenges, and insight about how their coalition works to build up community infrastructure by following four of the highest priorities set by community members as part of their Quality of Life Plan, including 1) access to quality early learning opportunities, 2) living wage careers, 3) safe neighborhoods and, and 4) healthy and affordable housing.

To learn more about the Network and their backbone organization, Austin Coming Together visit their website https://austincomingtogether.org/.

Jose Abonce, Lead Organizer, Austin Coming Together
Ruth Kimbel, Community Partner & Owner/ Operator of Austin Childcare Provider’s Network
Sandra Diaz, HUB Coordinator, Austin Coming Together
Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, Vital Village Networks

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland

Edited by: Resonate Recordings

Next Episode

Powerful Pathways through Creative Placemaking and Community-Led Design

Welcome to Season 2 of In the Arena with NOW! As organizers, advocates, and communities continue to work towards systems transformation, what does it look like to make cities more equitable and sustainable? And, what can we learn from leaders who are centering anti-racism and anti-classism through creative placemaking and equitable community design? In our first episode of the season, we speak with Allentza Michel, of Powerful Pathways, who has long been leading efforts to elevate community leadership at the intersection of community design, urban planning, and arts and culture work. We learn more about the need for social change agents and creative thinkers more broadly, particularly in the realm of public policy and community development planning processes that have historically excluded community voices and leadership. Hear more about Allentza’s journey, hear examples of bright spots in Boston, MA, and unpack what it means to shift away from creating policies “for” community and instead design and make policy decisions “with” community.

Featured guest: