Dear United Way Friends and Supporters,
It feels as though every day, UWLC’s priorities of youth, education and financial stability are making headlines. Of most significant interest this month was the news of Larimer County’s decision to freeze CCAP enrollment due to the absence of state and federal funds to meet the growing demand for accessible child care. This news was released on the same day the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado unveiled the Intersections Report in which access to child care was noted as a key community issue.
This isn’t new news. The child care situation in Larimer County has been at the forefront of community conversations for years. It’s why UWLC launched the Larimer Child Care Fund in 2020 and why we signed on to lead the $2M renovation campaign for the Loveland Youth Campus. While these are important steps in the right direction, we know they are short-term solutions to a much larger problem.
As I write this, I sit in the lobby of a hotel, on a CO ski trip with my family, I overhear a little voice saying, “Hey dad?” as he runs from the back of the lobby where his tablet, some snacks and stuffed animals sit, to the front desk where dad is handing me my room key and apologizes for the interruption. The last time I stayed in a hotel (also in CO), I returned to my room to grab something I forgot, and the housekeeper had already started cleaning the room. Sitting at the desk was her toddler with a coloring page and crayons, following her mom around from room to room as she worked.
Friends, we are in a crisis – a crisis for children, for their families, and for our economic well-being. The long-term solutions to secure public dollars for this market failure are not insurmountable and must be pursued. Activist and author bell hooks wrote “we learn about love in childhood” in her book All About Love. And if this is true, it’s on us to teach love through creating places and spaces, that are not hotel rooms or lobbies, where children can thrive and parents can peacefully contribute to our economy and community.
In this month’s eNewsletter, we’ll share updates on how we’re continuing to tackle our community’s most pressing issues like child care, and share invitations on how you can be part of this important work. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our community.
In partnership,
Joy D. Sullivan
President & CEO
United Way of Larimer County
