Friday, June 5

As you get ready for your weekend I wanted to send you a quick message of strength and solidarity. I am encouraged as I join the rallies to end police violence and recognize that Black Lives Matter—and see the numbers, the diversity, and the youth. It's up to you—and each of us—to keep this going until the change we need is secure.

There is a charter amendment in the works in San Francisco now to remove the minimum staffing levels for the police force—this has been suggested many times before—but now could become real. In Los Angeles $250M was taken from the police budget and redirected to other community needs. This is not nearly enough, but a start. With your action we can make this real. Join a rally, write a letter, talk to a neighbor, and wear your mask.

Along with hope, I also want to recognize how hard it is, and the sacrifices that will be made along the way. Sean Monterrosa was killed in San Leandro during an action against police violence—a victim of police shooting. Sean, a fellow caregiver and educator, worked at the Boys and Girls Club in San Francisco. A rally was held for him today. Bring his name to Candlestick Park tomorrow.

As further encouragement that your organizing and advocacy makes a difference, see the press release on the $1Million in funds allocated to Family Child Care—thanks to the hard work of Family Child Care advocates—and community leaders who listen. See the press release, Saturday rally, and next Wednesday's CPAC General Meeting announcement below.
In solidarity,
Sara Hicks-Kilday
ECESF Director
Joint ECESF/CPAC Workforce Meeting

Wednesday, June 10
9:30-11:15 AM
ZOOM info to come

Updates and Q&A with:

  • Katie Dellamaria of SF Department of Health
  • Mayor's Budget Impact on OECE (Denise Corvino)
  • Re-opening: overview of priorities for enrollment, health & safety guidelines (OECE & F5SF team: Denise Corvino, Lisa Lee, and Jennifer Martinez)
  • State updates and letter to the Governor (Action)
Rally at Candelstick Park Tomorrow
$1M for Family Child Care
"San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed, Board of Supervisors President Norman Yee, and Supervisor Ahsha Safaí today announced the creation of a new program to support Family Child Care (FCC) educators. FCCs provide child care for children ages 0 to 12 and are a vital resource for families, particularly in communities with a high need for early care and education but with limited child care resources. Like most small businesses in San Francisco, many child care providers are struggling financially due to COVID-19.

The Office of Early Care and Education (OECE) will use $1 million in funding from the Give2SF COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund to create a Family Child Care Emergency Operating Grant program. The program will provide up to 150 FCCs with funding they can use to cover operating expenses such as staff retention, rent or mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, and any other expenses related to typical program operations. The grant program will focus on supporting child care operators who are not eligible or do not have access to many of the funding resources available to other business sectors...

“As a small business owner, COVID-19 has been devastating! Many of us applied for grants and loans but only a few received help,” said Esperanza Estrada, FCC Educator, Excelsior Neighborhood. “Family Childcare Educators live paycheck to paycheck – this public health emergency has made it impossible to survive. Family Childcare Educators are a valuable community member and the backbone for our economic recovery. We need all the support and help to survive this emergency.”
 
Contribute to Give2SF
Anyone interested in making a monetary contribution to the City and County of San Francisco’s Give2SF Fund can do so at www.Give2SF.org . Money can be donated via check or wire to the Office of the Controller or through the Give2SF website via credit card. It is preferable that large donations be made by check or wire so no credit card merchant fees are incurred."

Image of Esperanza Estrada, FCC Educator, at Walk Around the Block Rally.
Read the full press release on our website here .