We are getting geared up to deliver a GIANT thank you card to local Dayton, OH leaders for being early learning champions on October 19th!

Yes – you heard that right!

Mayor Nan Whaley and Dayton City Commissioners Matt Joseph, Jeffrey J. Mims,Chris Shaw, and Joey Williams have been leading the way on the early education of our littlest residents by working to make Dayton a “City of Learners.” Under the leadership of Mayor Nan Whaley, the City of Learners Committee met with almost 450 parents, educators, community leaders, and early childhood specialists in 11 listening sessions to learn what are strengths and obstacles to accessing high-quality services and early education in the community. The city is also working to fund early childhood education and universal pre-school. 

Moms and dads know the power of positive feedback. Together, we can keep the momentum for early learning moving forward by recognizing Dayton, Ohio for their work to lift up early learning programs like childcare and pre-k.

Leaders in Dayton are doing great work on early education and care, but they can’t do it alone. And they need a strong showing of public support to do more. They need to know that parents and local residents are behind them -- that’s why we’ll be delivering your thank you directly to the Mayor and city leaders on October 19th, 5:45 pm at the City Commission's meeting.

By sharing your thanks, we'll show Mayor Nan Whaley and each City Commissioner that ensuring children have quality, affordable early learning opportunities is popular and they should keep at it. As an added bonus, while city workers begin implementing new measures on early education, we'll show them that moms have their backs!

We will also ask Dayton leaders to do everything in their power to ensure that these programs continue to be available for local children, families, and providers.

And this isn’t just great for Dayton families, but for families in cities across the nation because the city is setting a great example for other cities.

The mayor has been featured in the Strong Start for Strong Cities guide, a city resource MomsRising created in partnership with the National League of Cities and School Readiness Consulting with proven best practices, stories from families, and tools for advancing high-quality early learning at the city and municipal level. And this guide is already making its way into the hands of city leaders across the nation to help inspire them to make affordable, quality early learning programs, like pre-k and childcare, a top priority.